[0.10.1] The Bay

[Meorwow]

(click for larger resolution)
A common complaint I hear from my factorio-playing friends is that the game is simply too easy - you just sit in your base, fending off the occasional biter attack, and once you have built some advanced weaponry you move out and bulldoze all enemies in your way. I have attempted to rectify this problem by making a map in which you are forced to constantly battle challenging, if not overwhelming, enemies. A map in which, with the exception of some starting stone and iron, every resource field is guarded by the enemy. Most importantly though, a map in which you are on the offensive from the very first minutes. I have already made one such map, called The Oasis, which received positive feedback. As such, I decided to make another one. Like it's predecessor, The Bay is still a "hardcore" map, but it is significantly easier than the Oasis. For a brief comparison of the two maps look in the tab below.

Spoiler

1. Water is present in larger quantities, providing the player with more places to build their base in.
2. Forests are more plentiful, helping to absorb pollution.
3. Coal is obtained earlier, allowing for faster automation of production lines.
4. The resources are closer to the starting area, meaning that everything other than oil can be transported by belts.
5. Starting copper is more plentiful.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dh3uitioxqbphhx/bay.zip
It's a save file, not a scenario, so put it into your Factorio\saves folder.
The result of a 13 hour play-through are seen in the tab below. I've used no mods in it.

SPOILERS

[kasper747]

Now I dont like Factorio it is too hard!

Nice map. A real challenge

[kasper747]

Played now for about 10 hours.
The map is playebale. But you need realy to think what to do.

Very good concept from you. I like also that the map looks natural and not artifitial.

[Vitduo]

Very interesting. Hard challenge.
P. S. "(and don't un-zip it!)" Why?

[KitKat]

I wonder how do you kill big bitters. I mean since what tech?

[Meorwow]

I wonder how do you kill big bitters. I mean since what tech?

Heh, I personally consider this to be the most interesting part of the scenario.

Dealing with the three big biters on the copper field

You need to use grenades (about 40). Most importantly, you must use ONLY grenades, as shooting your weapon slows your character down, while throwing grenades doesn't.

[Meorwow]

P. S. "(and don't un-zip it!)" Why?

Because save-files in factorio are stored as .zip files and I used to be under the impression that un-zipping them will mess things up. As it turns out, that's not the case.

[KitKat]

And what kind of armor? I can't deal enough damage without dieing.

EDIT: Made it with 30 grenades! After that, i think there is no more challenge.

[Tristitan]

hey ive tired this map and i have just one question?, how do you get the copper required for the power so you can research?, i have managed to kill the biters around the first coal seem but the pistal is really bad at killing the nests. i know the shotgun is good but that also requires research and a source of copper

all i require is a small hint, not a big push

[Meorwow]

hey ive tired this map and i have just one question?, how do you get the copper required for the power so you can research?, i have managed to kill the biters around the first coal seem but the pistal is really bad at killing the nests. i know the shotgun is good but that also requires research and a source of copper

all i require is a small hint, not a big push

Obtaining starting copper, hint 1

If you look at the map, there are 2 visible copper fields.

Obtaining starting copper, hint 2

You can obtain the starting copper without firing a single bullet.

Obtaining starting copper, hint 3

Go to the south-western copper field and mine it manually, while staying undetected by the biters.

[Tristitan]

thank you for that

[kasper747]

True, that after you got cuppper it is easy. I think here it is more about time. Because you need to whatch your pollution. I for example meed to spread my industry in the erea. Would be interesting to see the solution of you, how you managed it.