Many games have taken to the simulation of various industries and have been widely successful, thanks to the very niche market the genre has created for itself. Although the genre is old by its own standards, games adopt new gameplay ideas and techniques that can bring a new level of excitement and intense play hours for those who buy into it.
Factorio is one such game that has stood out from its counterparts for its simple design yet brain-warming gameplay. In a game that requires the players to look out for consistency and efficiency in running a factory, there are bound to be templates and blueprints that work for the better, and the smelting layout is one such place that requires much attention.
Best Smelting Layout
Before getting into the significant process of the setups, it is of utmost importance to understand the building site's location first and its logistic possibilities.
Logistics, Directions, Layout
Prioritizing efficiency is the first step or foundation vital for current development and future expansions and upgrades. Having the main bus point (or the starting point) at the start of the layout would be pivotal to adjusting for upgrades and expansions in the longer run. This also adds the possibility of having a less complex run route when compared to having and would have a more easy direct approach to the logistics.
The Smelting furnaces require ore and coal for them to have their full functionality. In other words, free-flowing these two resources is absolutely necessary for efficient output. It is wise to keep this in mind while laying out the plan for the smelting furnaces. Managing the supply of resources flowing through like uncontrolled water would yield better output numbers. Placing the input arrays close by would prove to be fruitful
The stone furnace is basic beginner's smelting machinery that has a minimal output of 0.3125/sec (Iron, Copper, and Stone Brick) and 0.0625/sec (for steel plates).
The steel furnace is the first upgrade to the stone furnace and is a little quicker, with its productions providing 0.0625/sec (Iron, Copper, and Stone Brick) and 0.125/sec (for steel plates).
The electric furnace is the most advanced furnace available in the game. Although the output levels are as same as the steel furnace - 0.0625/sec (Iron, Copper, and Stone Brick) and 0.125/sec (for steel plates), its power and input consumption are far lesser.
Starting the game with a stone furnace is the best route, but the game provides an option to create the layout with the steel furnace. Although it sounds like an obvious choice to go in with the steel furnace, understanding the ratios provided on the game's official website is probably a good idea. In hindsight, the input materials have a direct effect, and planning for the sources is an excellent way to begin proceedings.
Also, it is essential to remember that the electrical furnaces take up a 3x3 tile space compared to the 2x2 from the other two furnaces. Therefore, it is better to plan the belt and columns, keeping the math for upgrades in the future.
City Building Strategy
Any city-building game like Pharoah or Ceasar that uses the road delivery mechanic has a successful template. - build a column of houses and surround them with roads for access. The way to go is to establish two furnace columns facing each other's back (stone or steel) with a tile gap for expansion for every furnace. Later in the game, the gap would be helpful for an electric furnace upgrade (3x3 tile).
The feeding belts go around the two furnace columns like a wrap-up box covering every furnace in the two columns, just like a patch of road covering a block of residential buildings, in the same direction as the output belts.
With the array in place, two splitters with one gap between them would help with the efficiency and later upgrades. One spitter is the ore supply, while the other provides coal/fuel for the furnace functions. This layout would ensure a proper flow of ore and fuel into the furnace and a consistent output flow without any hurdles or mishaps.
Factorio is available to download for the Nintendo Switch, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac operating systems