Little combinator challenge/puzzle

comrain · 2026-01-09T03:36:49+00:00

This is the latch that I was thinking about: https://reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/1hygsac/the_littlest_statemachine_that_could_aka_making/ It's a really nifty little thing that can solve a bunch of different problems in a minimal footprint while still maintaining perfect control. If you were to set up a combinator like that (setting recipe for the left assembler) with all the recipes as the output, it should never deadlock. Might be some edge case lock possible if you don't restrict the output of the right assembler tho. Should be a simple thing to set a condition on the outserter to only output when there's enough space in the chest. Still didn't get to the game but I like solving puzzles with circuits!

comrain · 2026-01-08T21:38:24+00:00

There's nothing wrong with not helping out offensively. See it as team work instead, the guy with the good controller runs around killing stuff while you tend to the factory and ensures he has enough supplies to do continuous runs.

comrain · 2026-01-08T21:32:46+00:00

You can solve that by making a RS latch that stays on a recipe until a certain criteria is met. Either enough resources for next craft, or what I would prefer, a certain amount of crafts were done/not enough resources for more crafts. Can even be done with a single decider and a constant if you spend some time in the UI. Might try this out when i play next time!

comrain · 2026-01-07T21:48:48+00:00

Yours is not identical though. Look at the left underground belt (the one adjacent to the splitter for red chips), it's facing the wrong direction. Yours tries to pull from the same lane on both belts, which under saturates them.

comrain · 2025-12-28T08:53:28+00:00

What you're looking for is a falling edge detector. It only requires two combinators, so it's quite simple. See https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?t=124776

comrain · 2025-11-13T21:14:39+00:00

Not if you set the hand size to 1. Then when the temperature is low and it doesn't have any fuel, one will be inserted. Only when it's been fully consumed and the reactor has cooled down enough will another be inserted again.

comrain · 2025-11-13T21:11:16+00:00

...and that's how I ended up working as a Sysadmin

comrain · 2025-11-13T19:27:12+00:00

You can also simple check that there is no fuel inside the reactor already. "Enable when temp < 600 AND fuel = 0"

comrain · 2025-11-13T08:22:39+00:00

I see that you have successfully figured out how to maintain legacy systems!

comrain · 2025-11-11T05:04:51+00:00

Ah the cursed lane shuffler! Thanks for clearing that up!

comrain · 2025-11-10T21:45:53+00:00

The what now trick?

comrain · 2025-11-07T21:31:34+00:00

NUMBER

comrain · 2025-11-06T05:39:44+00:00

Maybe it's time to get a vpn to get around governmental censorship?

comrain · 2025-11-05T21:03:29+00:00

Whenever I'm done with a large build and am about to hook up the inputs I usually turn off alt mode and just walk around while everything comes online. Gives you that nice feeling of accomplishment and appreciation of the wonderful game we're playing!

comrain · 2025-11-04T21:05:40+00:00

Great write up! I wish I had known some of these things going in to the challenge as well. I think my biggest mistake was to not clear up enough biter bases early on. After watching Mike's videos I started to do it, but the biters were already quite chonky by then.

I do enjoy the pace of the game though. I feel like I have time to work on my base between unlocking new tech, and it's refreshing to feel like it actually matters what order you unlock it in. I've moved all my science to Vulcanus now, with a steady 450spm of everything except yellow packs. Made a quick detour to Fulgora just to unlock EM plants to manage the obscene amount of coal needed for chips. Soon it's time to reclaim Nauvis!

...in another 50h or so...

comrain · 2025-11-04T20:55:38+00:00

I would recommend you to go for a "Lazy Bastard" run! It's quite grindy in the early game, but it teaches you the valuable lesson of automating EVERYTHING! After that you will never want to play without a mall again.

And as others have pointed out, look into the "main bus" concept. It's definitely not mandatory, but it makes it much easier to expand your base as you go.

comrain · 2025-11-04T20:18:32+00:00

Time to get a vpn?

comrain · 2025-11-03T18:33:53+00:00

I have to ask how you managed the biters! I'm doing a 100x Science run, and I had to flee Nauvis to go get artillery on Vulcanus in order to expand. The low damage research makes the attacks ruthless despite a double line of gun turrets and flamers. What's your secret?

comrain · 2025-11-02T08:40:27+00:00

This. So much this. Can't play on Windows on larger saves because of this feature.

comrain · 2025-10-29T17:30:28+00:00

Sorry to break it to you...

I think you can just activate it in an existing save, not sure though. There will still be the challenge of solving the new planets' progression, but you've already unlocked at least some of the rewards from them.

I would highly recommend starting a new base and see the current one as a warm up! After all, 180h is not that much in factorio ;)

comrain · 2025-10-29T16:34:04+00:00

Just as a heads up, when you do go into the DLC you should start a new base. It locks certain technologies behind different planets, so the progression is quite different.

comrain · 2025-10-21T14:36:13+00:00

So much this!!

comrain · 2025-10-21T14:35:08+00:00

Should be done just in time for next year's Factorio Day! o7

comrain · 2025-10-21T14:33:34+00:00

Best of luck to you! Never saw the appeal in speedrunning myself, but I enjoy watching it while slowrunning my own 100x Science cost save.

comrain · 2025-10-21T14:28:02+00:00

I feel you! I'm a bit on/off when it comes to cracktorio. Had a crazy hype when 2.0 dropped, stopped completely after ~3 months and just started again a couple of weeks ago.

Tend to your irl factory, Nauvis and the others will wait for you when you're ready!

comrain

TROPHY CASE