Space Age: Hardcore Mode

Space Age: Hardcore Mode is a collection of mods and tweaks which tighten the gameplay of Space Age to be more skill-testing. It's not a gratuitious difficulty mod, this is hardcore in a different sense. Nor is it a full overhaul. It stays close to vanilla, and can be extended with further mods if desired.

Features

• Players are forced to build from scratch on Vulcanus, Fulgora and Gleba, as cargo pod drops require protective materials native to each planet.
• Certain technologies are delayed to later planets. In particular, Logistic System (e.g. requester chests and active provider chests) require science packs from all three 'tier 1' planets.
• Underground belts are forbidden on space platforms, adding extra complexity to building in space.
• Efficiency modules are somewhat less effective, bringing trouble to bases that scale up too quickly.
• Each planet has extra challenges to gameplay.
• Several optional dependencies with 'Vanilla+' content will be available and listed below. (For now there are just a couple.)
• And many more...

Installation

Download and install from the Factorio mod portal. The pack is compatible with existing saves (though you may wish to manually remove forbidden entities and items from your save).

This modpack is under active development, so community feedback and ideas are welcome. Comments and notes can be left in the Discussion section of the web portal.

Dependencies

• Roc's Hardcore Cargo Drops
• Roc's Hardcore Delayed Tech Tree
• Roc's Hardcore Demolishers
• Roc's Hardcore Lightning Storms
• Roc's Hardcore Probabilistic Farming
• Roc's Improved Platform Drag
• Better Melting Ice
• No Undergrounds in Space
• Planetary Distance Adjustments
• Expensive Mode (optional)
• Behemoth Enemies (optional)
• Roc's Rusting Iron (optional)

Standalone tweaks in this mod

These changes didn't fit neatly into a mod by themselves, so they're here at the top level of the modpack. Each can be disabled in the settings. They're likely to change over time based on playtesting.

• Utility science packs requires 3x the materials.
• Underground belts require 2x the gears and plates.
• Landfill requires 2x the stone.
• The Landmine technology is disabled.
• Spoiling items on Gleba spoil 50% faster.
• Recycling of non-scrap items takes longer.
• Non-spider enemy units have +40% HP.
• Efficiency modules are 25% less effective.
• Locomotives burn fuel at 3x the rate.
• Asteroids have more HP.
• Space platform foundation tiles have 25% greater weight.
• Nuclear fission reactors cannot be built on Aquilo.