Loader love

[kryojenik]

There are a few posts on various functionality modders (and players) would like to see added to loaders. Some of the features have been added in 2.0, and for that we thank you. However, there are some that leave the effort feeling a little incomplete. I'll try and consolidate them here.

Our friend the loader - Some would consider it cheaty or OP. While that is certainly a valid argument, and one I think we all respect when it comes to playing a base or space-age vanilla game, it doesn't apply as well to modded games. There are TONS of cheaty, OP things you can do with mods. It doesn't seem fair that the loader is so strongly targeted. Some times a loader can eliminate the complexity of a puzzle envisioned by Wube. But it can also facilitate a different puzzle envisioned by an overhaul mod developer.

There are some things in K2 or K2 SE that I wouldn't want to try without a loader. With that said, below I think are the outstanding features that moders and players would love to see the loader entity blessed with.

• Recognize "target full" of machines.
  • When a machine has been loaded by an inserter to a threshold the inserter stops and displays a status of "Target full". It would be nice to see loaders have this capability to "sleep" as well.

Thanks for the enhancements that loaders have already seen:

• Filters on input loaders (2.0.17)
  • Use case: Primarily used with "Set filters by control signal". Assuming your belt is homogeneous (at least homogeneous lanes), you can set control signals to apply a filter that works as an on/off switch. When the signal is saying it needs 1000 copper plate and counts down as it is satisfied, when it reaches 0 (or lower) the signal goes away, the filter is unset, and the copper plate stops flowing. This is especially useful when my belt is split with one lane of automation science packs and another lane of logistics science packs. The filter can enable one lane at a time.

• Whitelist / Blacklist Filters (2.0.14)
  • Use case: Multiple recipes that have common waste / by- product. You can use an insert with a blacklist filter to not put that product into your distribution line. This should also be possible for loaders.

• Circuit connectable (2.0 release)
  • Read transfers
  • Enable / disable
  • Set filters (output / whitelist only)

• Logistic network connectable (2.0 release)

• Parameterized (2.0.12)

• Interact with rolling stock (1.1.75)

• Loaders show their filters in alt-mode (1.1.72)

Thanks again for reading. Hopefully we'll be able to see some additional enhancements to the loader entity. Not for vanilla base or space-age use, but for the modding community to use and make some extraordinary content for a game that is already one of the best on its own!