Solving Factorio Quality with Matrix Math
Simon Sapin, a Factorio player, uses matrix math to model the game's quality mechanics. He explains the probabilities of quality upgrades, the role of recyclers in upcycling loops, and how to plan factories using linear algebra. He also shares a new online calculator tool to help players optimize their production chains.
I play Factorio the normal way: by writing matrix math code to plan the factory.
- unglaublich
“Space casino” is gone from Factorio 2.1 as asteroid reprocessors don't take quality items anymore. Motivated by devs that it was 'just too easy' to get legendary items this way.
- DanielHB
If anyone is interested I made a build that can make most items at the highest quality possible using a single assembler by switching the active recipe on the assembler. You just throw in the basic resources for the base items in the recipe and it just builds the whole thing at legendary quality.
https://www.reddit.com/r/FactorioBlueprints/comments/1gl5v50...
It takes a bit of setup for each item you want to make though and doesn't work if the process takes more than one fluid. The default in the blueprint is to make blue circuits.
Unfortunately factorio has this mechanic where if you switch the item an assembler is making it loses progress for productivity bonuses, so this setup is not really practical for many items. Plus it takes a lot of space. But it is fascinating to see it work.
- fabian2k
The difference between Washing and Upcycling is enormous. That does fit my observations, it's nice to see it quantified.
Another aspect that is nice to see quantified is how big the effect of better quality modules is. You likely underestimate that initially since it's not linear.
The Space Casino mentioned in the post is not possible anymore in Factorio 2.1. Which is experimental at the moment, but I'd assume will be released soon. And experimental Factorio tends to be as stable or more as the stable versions of other games.
- hangrybear666
The systematic and scientific approach is absolutely warranted if you want to produce legendary quality at scale. I brute forced my way to legendary mech armor with manually steered recycler loops and wasting millions of iron and copper in the process. Since playing on a Linux developer laptop with 0GB VRam and an onboard GPU (at 60FPS!) I couldn't have scaled it much larger anyways but the entire game, it's a fever dream of optimization and I love it.
- jordiburgos
I would elect the people that does this kind of analysis and management for President.