Factorio is a highly complex and captivating game that challenges players with various logistic and automation puzzles. One of the most engaging mods that expands the base game’s capabilities is the AAI Vehicles mod pack, which includes AAI Ships. This mod allows players to take their automation prowess onto the water, using ships to transport materials and resources across the oceans. Understanding how to efficiently place and manage these ships can dramatically improve your logistical network.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about “AAI ships Factorio how to place tips and tricks” — including how to place your ships, tips for optimizing your naval routes, and strategies that go beyond basic usage. This guide will help you master the AAI Ships mod, offering insights that will push you beyond what existing sources offer.
Contents
What are AAI Ships in Factorio?
AAI Ships are part of the larger AAI Vehicles mod pack, designed by Earendel to expand Factorio’s transport options. Ships introduce a new mode of transportation that can traverse water, making them essential for moving resources across oceans or large bodies of water. These vehicles are particularly useful when your factory is split between landmasses or when water bodies obstruct your production chains.
Why Use AAI Ships in Factorio?
- Efficient Resource Transport: AAI Ships enable players to move materials over water without needing to build extensive bridges or rely solely on trains.
- Scalability: They can carry large quantities of resources, making them ideal for long-distance logistics, especially when paired with loading and unloading automation systems.
- Combat and Defense: Ships can also be fitted with weapons, allowing players to defend their factories from enemies across water bodies.
How to Place AAI Ships in Factorio
Step 1: Preparing to Place Your Ship
Before placing your first AAI ship, make sure you have an understanding of the water layout in your world. Ships can only be placed on water, so scouting the location is key. You can use radars or explore manually to identify potential routes for your ships.
Pro Tip: Ensure your chosen water route connects critical parts of your factory. The efficiency of your ship routes depends on how strategically you place them.
Step 2: Crafting the Ship
AAI ships must be crafted using the following materials:
- Engine units
- Steel plates
- Iron gear wheels
- Electronic circuits
Once you have the required resources, navigate to your crafting menu and select the ship from the AAI Vehicles section. After crafting, you’re ready to place it in the world.
Step 3: Placing the Ship
To place a ship, follow these steps:
- Move to the Water: Approach the edge of any water body large enough for your ship.
- Select the Ship: Open your inventory and select the ship. Ensure you are standing near water.
- Click to Place: Hover your cursor over the water and click to place the ship. The ship will materialize on the water surface.
Common Mistakes in Ship Placement:
- Too Close to the Shore: Ships need a bit of distance from the shore to function properly. Placing them too close can lead to pathing issues.
- Obstructed Pathways: Ensure the water route is free of obstacles like small islands or fish, as these can impede ship movement.
Step 4: Automating Ship Routes
AAI ships excel when automated. To automate your ship’s movement, you’ll need to set up waypoints and docking stations:
- Create a Docking Station: Use a port to designate where ships will stop to load or unload materials. A port can be crafted and placed on the shore.
- Set Waypoints: Ships follow waypoint orders to travel between docks. Set up waypoints to guide your ship along the best path.
Pro Tip: Use automation combinators to control when the ship should load and unload based on your factory’s needs.
Tips and Tricks for Optimizing AAI Ship Logistics
Once you’ve placed your ships and set up basic automation, there are several strategies you can use to enhance the efficiency of your naval logistics network. The following tips will help you optimize your ship routes, manage resources, and improve overall gameplay.
1. Plan Your Water Routes Carefully
The most critical aspect of managing AAI ships is planning the water routes. Ships are slower than trains and conveyors, so the layout and length of their routes are crucial to maintaining efficient production.
- Short and Direct Routes: Always aim for the shortest possible route between docks to minimize travel time.
- Avoid Obstacles: Small landmasses or narrow waterways can severely slow down ships. Scout for large, open bodies of water for better movement.
Pro Tip: If you find yourself with many small islands obstructing your path, consider using landfill to create straight, navigable routes for your ships.
2. Set Up Multiple Ports for Faster Unloading
While ships can carry a significant amount of resources, unloading them at a single port can take time. To increase efficiency:
- Use Multiple Docks: Create multiple unloading points for the same ship route. This spreads the load across several ports and speeds up unloading.
- Divide Resource Types: If transporting multiple resources, set up dedicated ports for each type. This prevents bottlenecks and ensures smoother logistics.
3. Leverage Combinators for Smart Routing
Factorio’s circuit network can be used to set up smart routing systems for AAI ships. Combinators can control ship behavior based on conditions such as inventory levels or factory needs. This ensures that ships only move when necessary, conserving fuel and reducing idle time.
- Green and Red Wires: Use green or red wires to connect the docks with combinators. Set conditions like “only move if iron plate stock is below 1,000.”
- Advanced Automation: Create sophisticated logic systems to balance resource transport between land (trains) and water (ships) dynamically.
4. Use Ship Fleets for Large-Scale Operations
If your base is spread across multiple islands or has large ocean crossings, consider building a fleet of ships instead of relying on a single vessel. Managing multiple ships allows you to move higher quantities of materials in parallel, improving throughput.
- Assign Ships to Different Routes: Have different ships dedicated to various routes (e.g., iron, copper, coal) to reduce congestion and ensure smooth operations.
Pro Tip: Ships can also serve as mobile defense platforms. Equip them with turrets to protect oceanic borders.
5. Integrate Ships with Other Transportation Networks
AAI ships should be part of a broader transportation network that includes trains, belts, and logistics robots. The real power of the AAI Ships mod lies in its integration with other systems:
- Ship to Train Hubs: Set up transfer points where ships dock, unload their cargo, and feed it directly into train networks.
- Buffer Chests: Use buffer chests at docks to store resources temporarily before shipping them off to other parts of your factory.
Advanced Strategies for AAI Ships in Factorio
Beyond the basic tips and tricks, mastering AAI ships requires more advanced strategies that take advantage of the game’s complex systems. These techniques will help you push your automation to the next level.
1. Dynamic Resource Allocation with Circuit Networks
You can automate resource allocation dynamically by using circuit networks and smart inserters. This ensures that your ships only transport what’s needed, reducing waste and optimizing logistics.
- Resource Priority: Set up conditions where ships only transport high-priority resources when stocks are running low.
- Balanced Distribution: Use arithmetic combinators to balance resource flows across multiple islands, ensuring that each part of your factory gets what it needs.
2. Combat Ships for Defense
The AAI Ships mod allows you to outfit ships with weapons. This can be particularly useful in maps with hostile waters or enemy bases near the ocean. Combat ships can patrol the seas, providing defense for your offshore facilities.
- Turret Equipped Ships: Add turrets to your ships and automate patrol routes to fend off biters and other enemies.
- Mobile Attack Platforms: Use ships to launch attacks on enemy bases from the water, allowing you to approach from a less defended direction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can AAI ships be automated for resource collection and delivery?
Yes, AAI ships can be automated using waypoints and ports. By setting up docking stations and connecting them with circuit networks, you can fully automate resource collection and delivery.
2. What materials are needed to craft AAI ships in Factorio?
To craft an AAI ship, you will need engine units, steel plates, iron gear wheels, and electronic circuits.
3. Can ships transport different types of resources at the same time?
Yes, ships can carry multiple resource types. However, it is often more efficient to dedicate specific ships to particular resources, especially in high-traffic areas.
4. How do you optimize ship speed and routes?
The best way to optimize ship speed is by planning direct routes across wide water bodies, avoiding obstacles like islands or narrow straits. Using landfill to create straight paths can also help.
5. Can AAI ships be used for combat?
Yes, AAI ships can be outfitted with weapons like turrets and used to patrol water routes or attack enemy bases near the coast.
Conclusion
Mastering the AAI Ships in Factorio can significantly improve your factory’s efficiency, particularly when transporting materials across large bodies of water. By following this guide on “AAI ships Factorio how to place tips and tricks,” you’ll not only optimize your ship placement but also learn advanced strategies to integrate naval logistics with your broader transportation network.
With careful planning, smart automation, and strategic resource management, AAI ships can become a vital part of your Factorio experience. Whether you’re a beginner looking to automate your first ship or an advanced player seeking to push your logistics to the next level, these tips and tricks will help you navigate the seas of Factorio like a pro.
