Space Age: Hardcore Mode
Space Age: Hardcore Mode is a collection of mods & tweaks that tighten the gameplay of Space Age by removing shortcuts and adding interesting challenge.
It's not a gratuitious difficulty mod, and can be extended with further mods if desired. We simply mean to change some design decisions in Space Age to be more testing.
Features
- Players are forced to build from scratch on Tier 1 planets (Vulcanus, Fulgora and Gleba) as cargo pod drops require protective materials native to each planet.
- Each planet has gameplay tweaks. In particular, Tier 1 planets have technologies that incentivize a small science build before launching your first rocket.
- Certain technologies are delayed in the tech tree.
- For example, science packs from each Tier 1 planet are required to research 'Logistic System', the technology gating the more advanced features of logistic robots.
- Efficiency modules are somewhat less effective, bringing trouble to bases that scale up too quickly. Utility science packs are three times as costly.
- Optional dependencies with further content.
- And more...
Get started
- Download and install from the Factorio mod portal.
- Map generation sliders (on 'New game') act independently of the mod.
- The Deathworld preset is recommended for the 'best experience', except some players might wish to turn the time factor of evolution back to its default setting.
- The modpack is compatible with existing saves.
- There is currently a public multiplayer server graciously hosted by Comfy Industries which is sometimes on rotation.
- The modpack is currently iterating based on playtest feedback, so please let us know how it goes. You can discuss the pack in the Discussion tab or on Discord.
- The
#hardcore-changes
channel on Discord provides a running changelog of gameplay changes across the entire modpack.
- The
Dependencies
Mandatory dependencies are listed here. Some contain dependencies themselves.
- Burning Cargo Pods
- Roc's Hardcore Delayed Tech Tree
- Roc's Hardcore Vulcanus
- Roc's Hardcore Fulgora
- Roc's Hardcore Gleba
- Roc's Hardcore Aquilo
- Space Undergrounds Require Research
- Better Platform Drag
- Planetary Distance Adjustments
- Behemoth Enemies
Standalone tweaks in this mod
Each tweak can be disabled in the settings.
- Efficiency modules are 25% less effective.
- Nights on Nauvis are significantly darker.
- Lighted electric poles are available to help with visibility.
- Biters deal slightly more damage during the night.
- Half of all Nauvis iron, copper, stone and coal patches are mixtures of all four. Ore ratios are the same as vanilla on average.
- The starting patches are unmixed.
- Enemy units have +20% HP (except spider units).
- Utility science packs require 3x the materials.
- The Landmine technology is disabled.
- Space platform foundation tiles have greater weight.
- Asteroids have extra HP.
- Medium asteroids have some base physical resistance.
- Relatedly, asteroid crushing ore yield is increased, and advanced metallic asteroid processing is available in early-game space, meaning copper can be obtained on platforms.
- Locomotives burn fuel at a greater rate.
Special Thanks
- Tserup created the custom technology icons.
- NekoBaron for design conversations while observing the public server.
- kocur4d for verifying with statistics that the mixed ore generation algorithm works as intended.
- All those that contributed playtest feedback.