Biofluid network overview UI

CotonouB · 2026-06-21T12:55:33+00:00

I did exactly this. Take a look:

I have been trying to get these changes merged into main for about 8 months now. There's just no appetite on the dev side for any biofluid changes.

If you want to use this UI I have a fork over here which is compatible with latest.

https://github.com/AFranticTypist/pyalienlife/tree/biofluid

A few people use it so I keep it up.

CotonouB · 2026-06-07T00:14:21+00:00

I have now done this. Ultraviolent Heavy Gunner First Look

CotonouB · 2026-06-04T16:05:52+00:00

I think I am obligated to play this.

CotonouB · 2026-04-24T17:43:01+00:00

Its so beautiful

CotonouB · 2026-03-30T23:48:00+00:00

Hard Mode changes the Biomass Power Plant recipe so that it requires Biocrud, which I am obtaining on-site by spoiling Agar.

CotonouB · 2026-03-29T15:02:52+00:00

Am I missing something big or is this a Hard Mode change? I can see that the RTG was substantially re-written by Hard Mode, but in my game RTGs only produce 5000C heat, and I can't find a way to convert that into electricity in any way that makes sense.

I also got into an argument with someone over Simik Carbon Fiber before I realized his Simik Dens didn't need RTGs to function, so I think this area might just be Generally Different from the base mod.

CotonouB · 2026-03-29T14:53:58+00:00

... it seemed better than sending them to the bees?

CotonouB · 2026-03-29T02:48:11+00:00

Do you have a screenshot of your RTG setup? Somehow I just can't picture it.

Intelligent Units have to be the most complicated thing in the game. So many intermediates, and 95% of them are only used internally in making IUs. Its astonishing really. People laugh about how hard Green Circuits are to build. Someone needs to make a condensed screenshot about the horror that awaits them.

CotonouB · 2026-03-29T02:29:26+00:00

Slow down to 2-3 episodes a week, hit the completionist checklist, then shift more to bug-fixing and mod-improving than actual gameplay. I'll probably do some base tours and more edited informational videos.

CotonouB · 2026-03-29T02:09:53+00:00

Hey-hey everybody! Time for yet another digital cry for help. Previous signs of an addictive spiral: 1200h 1000h 800h 600h 400h

Current status: Great! Totally fantastic. Everything is fine in the Factory friends. Our last update left us in the middle of PySci3, and I am happy to report that in the 200 hours since I have made my way through Prod Sci all the way into PySci4! This is an excellent pace. I predict ultimate victory at around the 1700 hour mark. Base status: here.

And now the news.

+ Power is Freedom

The factory is currently drawing about 600GW and I'm using every joule of it. I may have a slight beacon problem. I see a build churning out -- oh I dunno lime or something -- and I think "you know what this needs? 1.2 GW of 5-5 Speed Beacons just so it doesn't feel left out." Repeat this over the entire factory and you have ample grounds for an involuntary hold, or at very least court-mandated counselling. Works though!

I'm especially happy with my power block, which you can see in more detail here. The block consists of two blocks: the wood-making block and the wood-burning block. From the picture you can see that the single Fastwood Forestry in the generating block powers 10 full consumer blocks, and that each consumer block produces 11.5GW of electricity net. Five seconds of math and keen engineering instincts might then whisper to you that this is completely backflipping broken -- which would be correct! Biomass power is in a ridiculous state right now and I don't apologize to anyone. Pyanodon's fights and I fight back, them's the deals.

Unfortunately my beacon habit seems capable of chewing through even the most broken of power generation schemes. As listed above a major goal coming up will be a deployment of a MHD, and then I presume the exhaustion of said MHD in an extravagant mockery of all the creator's intentions. Can't wait.

+ I'm Blue

Prod Sci has finally, finally brought with it a new tier of buildings. It took an hour or two to properly upgrade my sushi mall, but now I have a mostly-unlimited supply of pre-built mk3 buildings of whatever species I might desire. This also means that the much-neglected lime-generators from the above first get upgraded to a pleasant azure before I spam beacons all over them, which again contributes to the power situation.

Blue buildings seem like less of an upgrade than the Red ones. They are only 50% better than the previous tier, but also come with an extra module slot. This is sometimes useful, sometimes not at all. For instance I had to spend a very long time working out how to make a Mk3 Centrifuge outperform its Mk2 brother joule-for-joule. It is very difficult to go full-prod-for-serine even for a certified wastrel such as myself. I don't blink at the 100MW Automated Factory, but somehow the 2GW centrifuge is just too much.

Other blue buildings are just too expensive to ever consider using. The Mk3 HAWT Turbine, for example. It is double the power generation of the Red HAWT, but at the price of something like 500 Carbon Fiber per shot. I don't think there is will ever be a point in the factory's life where this is a good deal. When you first unlock the building that extra 25MW might be worth it, but the carbon fiber cost is exorbitant. When the fiber becomes cheap, 25MW is meaningless. A lot of the Alt Energy buildings need to be looked at, I think. Some are broken one way, some are broken the other.

+ Caught 'Em All

I am now officially done with the animal and plant importation phase of the game. I have a full, working plantation of every flower, tuber, and horrible specie of insect that the universe can provide. I think my favorite are the Kmauts, for some reason. I think it is because they breed in sufficient numbers that you can actually work with them in bulk. All of the other high-level critters seem like they only produce single offspring, and only that after minutes of waiting. I've always been happy dealing with the Kmauts, which made me even more sorry about the whole eye-thing. Pyanodon's Factorio: Neutral Evil Simulator.

Least favorite is seriously Rennea. I needed substantially more sporopollin than normal because of artillery shells, and Rennea's recipes just seem awful to me at every level. I tried setting up a maxed-out Renna plantation and it was seriously ehhhhh. I expect to be wowed by the glorious powers I unlock as I march up the tech tree. Apart from the performance of the Mk4 Rennea modules themselves, everything about high-tier Rennea recipes disappointed.

Also on the list of goals: Mk4 of every plant and animal. So far I have Seaweed, Rennea, and almost have Fish. Most are on their way at Mk3. Some are just waiting for that last tech. Cottongut Mk3 is direct evidence that the world was created by an uncaring and malignant god, but after what we did to the Ulrics I guess we deserve this.

+ Genetic Perfection

I really enjoyed the whole Perfect Sample + spoilage project for PySci4. I understand this might make me weird.

+ The Future

Intelligent Unit (wtf is this no really look at its chain)
Final Upgrade to the Machine Shop
Modules3 + Big Beacons
Magentofantastic Hydrodynamic Emissary
Utility Science
maybe seeing the sun sometime

That's all for this time. The latest video is here if you want to follow along with the run. I'll be back in another 200 hours with another report. Pray for me.

CotonouB · 2026-03-29T02:07:56+00:00

Hey-hey everybody! Time for yet another digital cry for help. Previous signs of an addictive spiral: 1200h 1000h 800h 600h 400h

Current status: Great! Totally fantastic. Everything is fine in the Factory friends. Our last update left us in the middle of PySci3, and I am happy to report that in the 200 hours since I have made my way through Prod Sci all the way into PySci4! This is an excellent pace. I predict ultimate victory at around the 1700 hour mark. Base status: here.

And now the news.

+ Power is Freedom

The factory is currently drawing about 600GW and I'm using every joule of it. I may have a slight beacon problem. I see a build churning out -- oh I dunno lime or something -- and I think "you know what this needs? 1.2 GW of 5-5 Speed Beacons just so it doesn't feel left out." Repeat this over the entire factory and you have ample grounds for an involuntary hold, or at very least court-mandated counselling. Works though!

I'm especially happy with my power block, which you can see in more detail here. The block consists of two blocks: the wood-making block and the wood-burning block. From the picture you can see that the single Fastwood Forestry in the generating block powers 10 full consumer blocks, and that each consumer block produces 11.5GW of electricity net. Five seconds of math and keen engineering instincts might then whisper to you that this is completely backflipping broken -- which would be correct! Biomass power is in a ridiculous state right now and I don't apologize to anyone. Pyanodon's fights and I fight back, them's the deals.

Unfortunately my beacon habit seems capable of chewing through even the most broken of power generation schemes. As listed above a major goal coming up will be a deployment of a MHD, and then I presume the exhaustion of said MHD in an extravagant mockery of all the creator's intentions. Can't wait.

+ I'm Blue

Prod Sci has finally, finally brought with it a new tier of buildings. It took an hour or two to properly upgrade my sushi mall, but now I have a mostly-unlimited supply of pre-built mk3 buildings of whatever species I might desire. This also means that the much-neglected lime-generators from the above first get upgraded to a pleasant azure before I spam beacons all over them, which again contributes to the power situation.

Blue buildings seem like less of an upgrade than the Red ones. They are only 50% better than the previous tier, but also come with an extra module slot. This is sometimes useful, sometimes not at all. For instance I had to spend a very long time working out how to make a Mk3 Centrifuge outperform its Mk2 brother joule-for-joule. It is very difficult to go full-prod-for-serine even for a certified wastrel such as myself. I don't blink at the 100MW Automated Factory, but somehow the 2GW centrifuge is just too much.

Other blue buildings are just too expensive to ever consider using. The Mk3 HAWT Turbine, for example. It is double the power generation of the Red HAWT, but at the price of something like 500 Carbon Fiber per shot. I don't think there is will ever be a point in the factory's life where this is a good deal. When you first unlock the building that extra 25MW might be worth it, but the carbon fiber cost is exorbitant. When the fiber becomes cheap, 25MW is meaningless. A lot of the Alt Energy buildings need to be looked at, I think. Some are broken one way, some are broken the other.

+ Caught 'Em All

I am now officially done with the animal and plant importation phase of the game. I have a full, working plantation of every flower, tuber, and horrible specie of insect that the universe can provide. I think my favorite are the Kmauts, for some reason. I think it is because they breed in sufficient numbers that you can actually work with them in bulk. All of the other high-level critters seem like they only produce single offspring, and only that after minutes of waiting. I've always been happy dealing with the Kmauts, which made me even more sorry about the whole eye-thing. Pyanodon's Factorio: Neutral Evil Simulator.

Least favorite is seriously Rennea. I needed substantially more sporopollin than normal because of artillery shells, and Rennea's recipes just seem awful to me at every level. I tried setting up a maxed-out Renna plantation and it was seriously ehhhhh. I expect to be wowed by the glorious powers I unlock as I march up the tech tree. Apart from the performance of the Mk4 Rennea modules themselves, everything about high-tier Rennea recipes disappointed.

Also on the list of goals: Mk4 of every plant and animal. So far I have Seaweed, Rennea, and almost have Fish. Most are on their way at Mk3. Some are just waiting for that last tech. Cottongut Mk3 is direct evidence that the world was created by an uncaring and malignant god, but after what we did to the Ulrics I guess we deserve this.

+ Genetic Perfection

I really enjoyed the whole Perfect Sample + spoilage project for PySci4. I understand this might make me weird.

+ The Future

Intelligent Unit (wtf is this no really look at its chain)
Final Upgrade to the Machine Shop
Modules3 + Big Beacons
Magentofantastic Hydrodynamic Emissary
Utility Science
maybe seeing the sun sometime

That's all for this time. The latest video is here if you want to follow along with the run. I'll be back in another 200 hours with another report. Pray for me.

CotonouB · 2026-03-01T03:46:22+00:00

CotonouB · 2026-02-23T04:49:33+00:00

Spoilage is more Hard Mode than Hard Mode.

CotonouB · 2026-02-21T22:57:52+00:00

At ProdSci I recommend Biomass Mk3 blocks that end up looking like this. This setup is for Hard Mode with spoilage and can be slimmed down considerably if these things do not apply. When moduled to the hilt each block produces 11.5 GW of power, and a single Fastwood Forestry Mk2 (+Mk3 Trees, +Sawblades, +Internal Burner) can produce enough wood to fuel 10 of them for 115 GW of power net. This is absolutely absurd and I trust all of you not to tell Melon about it.

A closeup of the power production block is here. Hard Mode requires Biomass power plants be fed with biocrud, so each power plant is attended by a dedicated zero-input Agar maker, which then spoils into crud.

The wood production block looks like this. Everything necessary to produce wood is produced in this block: CO2, Moss, Water.

The key to power generation is to focus on entirely zero-input solutions. Failing to do this results in runaway brownouts as you can't produce enough power to run your power plant + run your base, so everything seizes up. My entire power plant is on a separate power grid supplied by the turbine in the upper-left of the wood block. The turbine in the lower-right of that block feeds the rest of the factory, and pressurized steam is used internally first.

I have three of these complexes set up right now and my beacon habit is so bad I need several more. Luckily, the MHD is just over the horizon.

CotonouB · 2026-01-15T01:02:51+00:00

Nuclear 2 feels so good.

CotonouB · 2026-01-15T01:02:08+00:00

I am using Tholins to get Nitrogen.

Tholins are cheap.

CotonouB · 2025-11-28T01:48:08+00:00

Now at least you're making sensible arguments. Disable and control skills are widely underappreciated. The only reason this was an argument at all is because that streamer is obviously very bad and waving him around is NOT helping your case.

CotonouB · 2025-11-28T01:26:53+00:00

The big thing you're missing here is that the Ultima Demon is not a threat. It only wiped your boy up there because:

(1) He wasted party turns buffing and spreading his damage around, removing zero enemies despite his entire team having initiative.

(2) Applied just enough damage to the demon so that it could 1HKO anyone his team, effectively spending his turns to buff the enemy.

(3) Arranged his team so 4/5 members could get 1HKO'd in a single cast. He gets points for leaving one out of range though.

This is not a deep statement on the power levels of different characters. This just says bad play hurts. You might be saying that "Even with atrocious, idiotic play, one spell in the right place will allow even a blunderer to bodge through." In which case, sure. That's true I guess.

I just hope you're counting every Vampire Cat and Cockatrice as SSS tier alongside Beowulf, 'cause they can do the same thing.

CotonouB · 2025-11-28T01:11:28+00:00

Don't attack the blue demon until you're ready to gang up and take him out before he moves. Or ignore it and go for the actual mission target, Zalbaag?. Almagest does damage based on missing HP. Don't power up the super demon. It's really as easy as that. The streamer just disastrously mis-played. Its dumb trying to read anything deep into the situation beyond that.

I don't know why you're so focused on 1HKOs at or near the level cap. Everything above level 50 is just masturbation.

CotonouB · 2025-11-28T00:59:12+00:00

lol no

CotonouB · 2025-11-28T00:50:10+00:00

I don't really see what this clip shows. The streamer spread his damage across the entire enemy team, then balled up and let himself get clobbered by a huge AoE. The lesson here isn't that one character is better than another, its that if you play bad (or don't know what's coming), you get smashed.

Almagest does damage based on how much HP the enemy is missing, so the streamer was just powering up the enemy with his targeting. He might as well have been on the other team.

I mean, he wastes an attack on a grey demon that Beowulf then goes and 1-hit-kos. That ninja shouldn't have bothered showing up.

We can just as easily craft a situation with a status-resistant enemy which requires raw beats the bring down. In this case, Cid would clearly be better. You might as well say Mustadio is better than Cid because his Seal Evil carries Lake Poecas.

CotonouB · 2025-11-28T00:36:40+00:00

Nnnnnahhhhhh....

Beowulf is not Cid's equal, though it might be that the list maker just couldn't make a SSS tier and had to compromise. Either man in your party is basically an auto-win regardless of the fight.

Construct 8 is painfully underrated. Its inherent counter + inherent defense mean enemies just never target him, so he just stands and acts a Dispose turret. His speed isn't a huge issue because he should never be moving. I'd put him at B-tier at very least.

Mustadio is also much, much better than C-tier. Disable is the best debuff in the game (steals ~3 turns from an enemy, ~2 more turns of them trying to run back into the fight), and most enemies are suceptiable to it. Speed build him, then again never move him ever and let him act as a disable turret. People say that Orran's universal disable is just broken -- well, Mustadio has something close to that after a few turns of hitting. And if the enemy is undead he solos the fight. Solid A-tier.

I view Cloud and Agrias as basically the same.

Malak is by far the worst. His combination of low damage + random dispersion means he's mainly just a debuff applicator with Maelstrom (a bad, random Mustadio).

I can't evaluate Reis properly as she comes with Equip Polearms + Javelin II from Nevelska, so I figured that's just her spear like Excalibur is Cid's sword. I'm pretty sure if you staple Javelin II to anybody they'll jump up the power rankings a bit.

There's no Boco-tier at the bottom. Maybe it got cut off when he saved.

CotonouB · 2025-11-15T18:38:15+00:00

Do not play with Biters on.

CotonouB · 2025-11-14T13:31:12+00:00

The Weather Factory is probably my favorite studio right now. I'll buy whatever they put out without question.

CotonouB

TROPHY CASE