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.

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.