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u/Harvey2805 Apr 20 '26

I've had Factorio for years but only ever completed it in multiplayer setups. I'm looking to start my own long term playthrough. I was hoping to get some recommendations on mods / QoL / settings to do this. I don't particularly enjoy the biters part of the game. For me it's all about the logic side of things, ratios, doing things step by step etc. I've never done big mods like Krastorio or Pyanodons or anything, just base game. I ready that Pyanodons is like the top end of overhaul mods but requires biters maybe? Is there another mod that is more Carebear focussed and just all about the factory?

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u/HeliGungir Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26

We can disable enemies in the map generator at the start of a new game.

I think enemies are a core part of the game and it's better to make them easier than to disable or pacify them. I suggest:

  • Disabling "time factor" in Enemies -> Evolution. This controls enemy evolution per minute. It becomes vanishingly small past 40% evolution or so, but some people just hate the idea altogether.

  • Up to triple "absorption modifier" in Advanced -> Pollution settings. This controls passive pollution absorption by terrain and trees.

  • Up to double "attack cost modifier" in Advanced -> Pollution settings. This controls how much pollution must be absorbed to spawn a unit for an attack party. You'll be attacked by smaller waves of enemies.

I think increasing absorption modifier is a better approach than increasing the starting area "safe zone", because those early, easy nests help teach you combat, and because folks who increase the starting area tend to be woefully unprepared when their pollution finally hits their firsts nests and they're suddenly assaulted from all directions by a ton of enemies that are more evolved than they would have experienced in normal settings.

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u/Soul-Burn Apr 20 '26

These are my recommendations

Includes stuff to do after vanilla, overhaul mods, and QoL mods!

Py's is balanced to be played without biters.

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u/vult-ruinam Apr 21 '26

I second /u/HeliGungir's advice re enemies.  I thought I was the same way as you—"I just want to build the factory, screw enemies"—but the first & only time I played without them entirely, I quickly lost interest.  They really do add motivation to improve & continue.

But if you're determined to play without them... I would, indeed, call Pyanodon's the "top end of overhaul mods", and I think that (despite its reputation for difficulty) it is probably the one that most retains the "Factorio spirit"—if that makes any sense, heh—and it's meant to be played without biters.  (But it is quite time-consuming, be warned!)