It is possible to attach color coded wires to poles to extend the networks which is good. But… What if I want to build several parallel logic networks over long distances? I can use the electric poles to relay the signals but what if I want to build two parallel networks?
A parallel logic network will make it easier to track the logic conditions but then again, using poles as relays is presenting the player with a new problem, namely that it becomes very hard to visually track the logic network. Why? Because the poles are used to transfer electricity. So each pole necessarily comes with a power cord (I do not discard the possibility that there is a function to drop an electric pole without the power cord but it is too obscure for me). That way we don't just make a parallel logic system but also a parallel power grid… Which is not really all that bad but...
Suddenly a really complex spider web of power cord appears. The power cords may distract the player who is probably already having a very hard time tracking the color coded wires.
Other downside: the electric poles also function as servers for the logic system. So if the player accidentally removes a pole, there goes the server, and he / she may have to rebuild the very complex logic system which took him / her many minutes to set up.
Also, the factories are constantly evolving, and after Electric Energy Distribution 1 is researched, a massive upgrade of the power distribution grid follows. In many cases that can include the poles which also function as servers.
And since the poles are used to provide electricity, another hassle appears when trying to remove logic networks: in order to remove a colored wire, the player has to remove the very pole to which it is attached, which can leave between several facilities and half of the player's factory without power for a while.
That's mostly the reasoning why I am going to suggest a new device! (Please don't discard the suggestion just now!)
A device meant to function both as a logic system server and as a relay. Namely - the Logic Relay!
The Logic Relay is a device to which the player can attach the color coded green / red wires, and then directly plug the wires to the smart chests / inserters in range. As a server it functions the same way as an electric pole. With that difference from the electric pole that the Logic Relay does not provide power. Therefore it does not have a power cord that could connect to the power grid and create hassle when trying to trace the logic system wires.
The relay, as its name suggests can also be used to relay signals from color coded wires over long distances (see "Connection Ranges" below). So logic systems spanning across hundreds of tiles can be created with just several Logic Relays without the player having to go through the hassle of hanging the wires on at least a dozen of electric poles.
The Logic Relay also occupies a single tile of space, as much as a small or a medium electric pole. And even the player can squeeze between two Logic Relays next to each other and they will never stand in the way!
The relay also comes with LED lights that glow whenever the logic condition is met so the player will have easier time to debug the logic system.
However, even though the logic relay is not generating any pollution, it is generating a fairly strong magnetic field and some low-frequency noises which tend to attract biters and other creatures with sensitive hearings.
(It's-a-Me, Logic Relay! Come have a snack with… Me!)
The following is a mere sketch, not a concept art, but I believe it will be enough to give you an idea of how I imagined the device. I consider this more of a frontal view of the device's silhouette. It is very obvious it's going to need an art pass because of the possibility of players having vomits after seeing it.
(I cannot draw a concept art image. Darn, if I could, I'd be making my own games!)
(Turn your head away, it is bad to vomit on your keyboard.)
(And yes, I know that this looks like a keyhole with ears, but that's MY keyhole with ears!)
In size the "Logic Relay" is (almost) half the height of a small electric pole, but taller than the player. The following is a breakdown of the components:
1. Foundation: Made of iron / steel; It’s shape is a truncated cone, slightly rounded.
2. Circuitry Core: This is where the incoming signals from the green / red wires (through the clamps) are processed. Also, the core lights up the green / red light emitting diodes whenever a (green / red) wire condition is met. The core is made of iron / steel and some circuits, at least 3, one for the core itself and two more for each LED. (Optionally the core may have a diode of its own, that would signal whether the logic relay itself is connected to a logic network; and eventually to signal if the logic relay is connected to the power grid and has electricity to operate (depending on whether the logic relay will need power to operate, or not).)
The shape of the circuitry core is a sphere, optionally slightly flattened to look more sophisticated.
3. Top Pole: Made of iron / steel and optionally circuits (at least 4 ciruits --> 2 for each wire --> one for incoming signals and one for outgoing signals). The wires are attached to the clamps on the sides of the pole.
The pole is a cross made of two iron / steel bars, parallelepiped, optionally with rounded edges for a more sophisticated look.
4. Green / red signal LEDs: These light emitting diodes gradually start to glow whenever the green / red wire condition is met (true). They glow in either green or red light depending on the LED color (the green LED glows with a green light, the red LED glows with a red light). They have a dark green / red color whenever not glowing.
The glow of the nodes is not strong enough to light the area next to the logic relay.
Alternatively, the glow of the LEDs is very weak and can light only the immediate vicinity (up to say, several meters) around the node, however with both LEDs lit, the relay is still not glowing stronger than a stone furnace.
*** IMPORTANT ***
(Part of the concept!)
There will be situations where the logical condition is met for a very short amount of time, which will make the LEDs flash very rapidly. To avoid that, it is part of the concept that the LEDs start and stop to glow gradually. That way instead of rapidly flashing diodes, the LED will glow with a dim light whenever the logic system rapidly alternates between met / unmet condition (true / false).
(If we have rapidly flashing lights, this may cause eye strain, possibly a feeling of discomfort, to the player considering that he / she may be spending some time to observe the logic relay in order to debug or un-glitch the logic system.)
5. Color coded clamps (to which the wires are attached). They function the same way as the electric poles' clamps (or whatever those are called in English).
Additional details:
Size and Passability:
The Logic Relay occupies one tile of space.
The player can move between two logic relays placed next to each other.
Material requirements:
The list of materials required to craft the logic relay I am leaving to you but I suggest that the relay is crafted either of iron plates or steel bars, and necessarily from circuits.
Steel bars would steer the device more towards the later stages of the early game and the early stages of mid-game. Advanced circuits, instead of basic circuits will steer the relay to the mid-game. Processing units, though, are excessive.
Electricity requirements:
I'm leaving that part to you. Originally I didn't think about the relay to have any power consumption but the more I gave it thought, and the more I wanted it to be more than just a stick in the ground, so you won't discard it as redundant, the more I thought that it is a computational device and would require power to operate.
However, let the power requirements be symbolic, please. It's the circuits that are going to consume the most power, not the diodes. Or at least make stronger glowing diodes, the higher the power requirements you set.
Time to craft:
I never really got into the timing system of the game. I'm leaving that entirely to you.
Connection ranges:
It would be best if the maximum length of the wire that can be placed between two logic relays is 30 tiles (or as many as the power cord length between two large electric poles). That way the player will be able to create long-range logic systems by connecting two logic relays, or better yet, a logic relay with a large pole to increase the distance. However the thirty tiles length only applies to wire connected to two logic relays. The player won't be able to connect a logic relay to a chest and a smart inserter both at 30 tiles away from it in either direction.
So if I have a chest that's 30 tiles away from the smart inserter I'll have to drop two logic relays, or connect a relay to Large Electric Pole which will relay the signal to the inserter.
Logic Relay to chest / inserter: Same as between a Small Electric Pole and the chest / inserter.
Logic Relay to Small Electric Pole: Same as between two Small Electric Poles
Logic Relay to Medium Electric Pole: Same as between two Medium Electric Poles.
Logic Relay to Large Electric Pole: Same as between two Large Electric Poles
Logic Relay to Logic Relay: Thirty tiles (or same as between two Large Electric Poles)
Research to unlock:
Advanced Electronics 2 or later.
Well, it's the technology that unlocks the color coded wires. It doesn't make any sense to unlock it earlier.
Pollution generation:
None. (It's a computer, after all!)
Priority of enemy attacks:
High. Nuff said.
Pros and cons:
Pros:
1. It will not make electric poles obsolete or undesirable. They will still be a simple (and cheap) alternative to build simple logic systems.
2. The player will be able to build multiple long-range logic systems which will be easy to be kept track of.
3. The player will be able to see if each logic condition is met and it will be easier for him / her to debug or un-glitch the logic systems.
Cons:
1. Requires an art pass before it could be used as a temporary asset.
2. Requires to be redesigned before use in the final game.
3. Requires to be coded with code that's beyond me. ("Hello world!" Programmers will know.)
4. Might make Electric poles undesirable for building logic systems.
5. I paid the $13 license.
6. The devs will never reach this line, either because of the "War And Peace" above, or because they read the previous line. ("Pays pennies and expects to be taken seriously?!!! My pants are all wet now!")
7. Others will find more cons.
At any rate, if anyone has read this, your patience and attenrion span are commendable!
If any of the devs are interested in implementing this into the game, please let me know if I missed something important and would like me to elaborate.
