[MOD 0.12.12+] Pocket Bots Start v1.0.4

[vampiricdust]

Type: Mod
Name: Pocket Bots Start
Description: Gives more items to start & enables use of the Pocket Bots
License: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
Version: 1.0.0
Release: 2015-07-21
Tested-With-Factorio-Version: 0.12.0
Category: Convenience
Tags: Start of Game
Download-Url: http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=4716
Website: http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=13863

License

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License
You may copy, distribute and modify the software as long as you track changes/dates in source files. Any modifications to or software including (via compiler) GPL-licensed code must also be made available under the GPL along with build & install instructions.

Long description

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Long description

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=13862
I made this mod for a new series I started & I really wanted to see how having pocket bots at the start would affect game play. I've changed it to give a choice of two starts, normal & fast.

For the normal start, the following are added to your inventory at the start of freeplay game:

iron plates - 8
pistol - 1
basic-bullet-magazine - 10
stone-furnace - 1
burner-mining-drill - 1
deconstruction-planner - 1
blueprint - 1
basic-modular-armor - 1
construction-robot - 10
personal-roboport-equipment - 1
solar-panel-equipment - 11
battery-equipment - 5

If you edit the config.lua and set fastStart = true, than you will get the following items on the start of the game:

basic-transport-belt - 100
basic-transport-belt-to-ground - 4
basic-splitter - 4
basic-inserter - 20
pipe - 20
pipe-to-ground - 10
submachine-gun - 1
basic-bullet-magazine - 10
basic-mining-drill - 3
stone-furnace - 4
assembling-machine-1 - 2
boiler - 14
small-electric-pole - 32
steam-engine - 10
offshore-pump - 1
deconstruction-planner - 1
blueprint - 1
basic-modular-armor - 1
construction-robot - 10
personal-roboport-equipment - 1
solar-panel-equipment - 11
battery-equipment - 5

The following techs are researched if fastStart = true:

military
automation
logistics

Pictures

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Pictures

Version history

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Version history
1.0.4 (2015-10-29): Updated for the 0.12.11 Changes, tested on 0.12.15
1.0.3 (2015-7-29): Removed automated-construction from tech research on fastStart & added a new technology to be researched by default.
1.0.2 (2015-7-28): Added 8 iron plates to basic start
1.0.1 (2015-7-26): Changed it to include a basic start
1.0.0 (2015-7-21): Initial Release

[vampiricdust]

After thinking about it, I figured some may prefer a basic start & have the pocket bots, so I've added an option to enable more stuff & tech research. You'll have to modify the control.lua, line 2 where it sets fastStart = false to fastStart = true if you want them.

It makes the start of game so much more friendly for quickly setting up a new factory.

[madac83]

Nice, I have been wondering when you were going to put this up. Thank you and keep up the good work sir.

[rinaf]

i just started testing it and im a bit annoyed to be forced to mine 4 iron without a pickaxe :/

[vampiricdust]

i just started testing it and im a bit annoyed to be forced to mine 4 iron without a pickaxe :/

I'm sorry about, I didn't think about. I'll make sure to add the standard starting iron and get it uploaded when I get home.

[vampiricdust]

i just started testing it and im a bit annoyed to be forced to mine 4 iron without a pickaxe :/

I'm sorry, I didn't think about that. I'll make sure to add the standard starting iron and get it uploaded when I get home.

[vampiricdust]

Alrighty, got it updated. Should give 8 plates to make a pick.

[Lonewolf]

Awesome, really like this idea
Thank you

[lordfwahfnah]

hey, awesome mod
i just seem to be unable to use the blue-blueprint. i can copy buildings into the blueprint, but i cant paste it on the ground so my bots build it up.
not sure if its a problem with THIS mod (got other mods installed) but i have no other mods interfering with the blueprints so...

[vampiricdust]

Oh, I know. I removed the research tech for the default which makes blueprints unusable in the normal start..... hmmm. I'll need to modify it to enable ghost usage either way then I don't need to research blueprint tech automatically. Let me get on it.

Alrighty, 1.0.3 uploaded & this problem has been fixed by adding a new tech called Pocket Bot Planning that is researched at the start. If you place a lab or have one placed, the research can be done for free, only takes a second of time to do.

[Lonewolf]

Hi. Tried to start a new game today with your mod and Dytech CORE, something seem to clash between them. I got an error message that had something to do with the bot research, i set it to false in your control.lua line 59 i think it was.
Sorry I'm just a complete noob at this, don't even know where to find the logs. But setting that value from true to false made it work.

[vampiricdust]

Hi. Tried to start a new game today with your mod and Dytech CORE, something seem to clash between them. I got an error message that had something to do with the bot research, i set it to false in your control.lua line 59 i think it was.
Sorry I'm just a complete noob at this, don't even know where to find the logs. But setting that value from true to false made it work.

Yeah, the problem is Dytech is logging when research is completed, but since I'm making the research completed before the game technically starts, the game time is nil and breaking Dytech. Technically this is a problem with Dytech as any mod that enables technology at the start of the game will cause that.

On the bright side, disabling the tech does fix the problem & all you have to do is put a lab down & start research on it. It will finish in 1 second & you can use the blueprint.

[Lonewolf]

Indeed, it is all working flaweless now Thank you again for this mod, it makes the early game more enjoyable!

[Talguy]

Yeah, the problem is Dytech is logging when research is completed, but since I'm making the research completed before the game technically starts, the game time is nil and breaking Dytech. Technically this is a problem with Dytech as any mod that enables technology at the start of the game will cause that.

On the bright side, disabling the tech does fix the problem & all you have to do is put a lab down & start research on it. It will finish in 1 second & you can use the blueprint.

Wouldn't it be possible to add an optional dependency ("? DYTech-Core" or whatever the filename is)? I'm assuming DYTech-Core registers an event handler for this.

[hoho]

Wouldn't it be possible to add an optional dependency ("? DYTech-Core" or whatever the filename is)? I'm assuming DYTech-Core registers an event handler for this.

I'm fairly certain it's not possible as the dependency deals with loading order but the problem appears when a game starts, long after mods get loaded.

[vampiricdust]

Indeed, it is all working flaweless now Thank you again for this mod, it makes the early game more enjoyable!

I'm glad you enjoy it. It takes out the tree cutting labor & speeds up constructing. I also like how it extends your reach so you don't have to move around so much to place stuff. I've had more fun in early game with this kind of start. Only thing that would be nice is if the bots could mine for you.

[antichaos]

Is there a way I can activate this on an existing game I'm already an hour into?

[vampiricdust]

No, this only changes how you spawn. You could use the lua commands to give you the stuff though.

/c game.player.insert{name="iron-plate",count=100}

Replace iron-plate with the item's LUA name and change how many you want.

[vampiricdust]

Updated for 0.12.12 and tested on 0.12.15

[space_jockey]

I'm on 12.26 and when I gen a world I get this error:

__Pocket-Bots-Start__/control.lua:8: attempt to index global 'game' (a nil value)

Was there an API change from then to now that breaks your mod? I'm using the archive provided from your last post.