Factorio Forums

At my 4th space age playthrough, now completely vanilla to get the achievements, I had the idea to use labs on space.

The problem is: although labs can be placed anywhere, this not true for the biolabs.

Is there any reason for this? Does it make the game more fun?
I enjoy restrictions when it makes the game more fun, like the entire space platform game loop, but only allowing biolabs on Nauvis kinda removes tons of potential cool set ups.

I know there's mods for this, but I believe the vanilla space age would be improved with this suggestion.

vinimagia wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:57 pm Is there any reason for this? Does it make the game more fun?

Yes. Like all gameplay decisions it was intentional. It forces you to import everything to Nauvis if you chose to use Biolabs. If that gameplay restriction is too much, then you don't get to benefit from the 50% extra science. It's a gameplay decision you as a player get to make.

Rseding91 wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 5:29 pm

vinimagia wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:57 pm Is there any reason for this? Does it make the game more fun?

Yes. Like all gameplay decisions it was intentional. It forces you to import everything to Nauvis if you chose to use Biolabs. If that gameplay restriction is too much, then you don't get to benefit from the 50% extra science. It's a gameplay decision you as a player get to make.

Thank you for your reply!

I think Biolabs are just too strong to pass up, specially since the condition is one that is pretty much trivial by the time you get them - since from my experience playing and watching, everyone makes Nauvis as their science base on the get go.

The idea here is just to add another "what if" scenario, like the "What if I create quantum processors on a Space platform instead of Aquilo?". Don't think this would ruin the balance.

But that's my opnion, guess I will use a mod for this. Thanks again for your reply, love your game.

The other side of not-using-them is you can setup science on Gleba and essentially skip the shipping of science packs from Gleba anywhere - not having to deal with their spoilage times.

Rseding91 wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 5:51 pm The other side of not-using-them is you can setup science on Gleba and essentially skip the shipping of science packs from Gleba anywhere - not having to deal with their spoilage times.

Never thought about that, I think making Gleba spoilage less painful would break the Gleba experience.

If that gameplay restriction is too much, then you don't get to benefit from the 50% extra science.

Isn't it 100% extra science? 50% drain means each one can be used twice as long.