Factorio Forums

Hello,

I would like to suggest a small but (in my opinion) logical addition to the atomic bomb mechanics. Currently, when the atomic bomb explodes, it destroys enemies and terrain objects, but ore patches remain untouched.

It feels a bit inconsistent that such a powerful weapon does not affect the ground resources at all. From both realism and gameplay perspectives, it could make sense if the explosion also removed ore patches within the blast radius, effectively "scorching" the land.

This would not only add an interesting trade-off (risking permanent loss of resources if used near valuable deposits), but it could also serve as a form of terraforming. Sometimes ore patches appear in inconvenient places and interfere with base design. Being able to "clear" them with a bomb would solve that problem — as one Reddit user put it: "Under no circumstances shall I suffer the detestable image of ore besprinkled across my sacred concrete."

What do you think?

Personaly I use a-bombs so infrequently allready (artillery + PLDs in relevant quantity solves most of my biter problems), no need to make me hesitate the few times it happens.

I think it's not a good idea.

A lot of the point of clearing an area is to get to the resources there. If at the end there won't be any resources, why bother?

It'll just mean that atomic bombs never get used.

Kyralessa wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 12:13 pm I think it's not a good idea.

A lot of the point of clearing an area is to get to the resources there. If at the end there won't be any resources, why bother?

It'll just mean that atomic bombs never get used.

I only suggest extending the existing mechanics (Vulcanus/Aquilo) to Nauvis (for example, a crater with water)

ufaweb wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 5:17 pm

Kyralessa wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 12:13 pm I think it's not a good idea.

A lot of the point of clearing an area is to get to the resources there. If at the end there won't be any resources, why bother?

It'll just mean that atomic bombs never get used.

I only suggest extending the existing mechanics (Vulcanus/Aquilo) to Nauvis (for example, a crater with water)

screenshort from wiki

Destroying ore isn't necessarily unsound but it sounds like something for a mod. With some thought you can have a dedicated nuclear support next to a spidertron wolf pack. Nukes actually already eliminate the possibility of making trees in an area, this is just taking that idea a step further. It doesn't mean you'll never do it, it just means you run normal rockets in a forested area if you want trees.

As for extending the idea in the way you suggest? If you gave me water fill, like the stuff from say Dectorio. You would give me the option of breaking off sections of the land so I never needed to install turrets in that area. I just need to put a moat the biters can't hop across (2-4 meters or several nukes using your idea).

I was also considering using True Nukes ability to add water craters to see if I couldn't sneak water into places I normally wouldn't have it in Space Exploration. You know, like the Genesis Project from Star Trek.