100x Marathon mode
Decided I wanted a run that forced me to scale up instead of just "winging it" because hey after a few research steps I will be able to make it better anyway.
Thought to play "marathon mode", which is vanilla except research cost is multiplied by 4, but ended up going for a multiplier of 100 instead.
To give an example of what this means: Researching solar panels costs 25000 red and green science.
I found this to be an interesting challenge! I not only have to build large and optimized builds with low-tier tech. I also need to be extremely careful with managing biter evolution and pollution. Just red ammo is locked behind several thousand science packs, and I have expanded to 8 ore patches and my perimeter is just tightly packed turrets, because I have not let myself afford researching walls yet.
Other challenge options:
https://mods.factorio.com/mod/space-exploration
https://mods.factorio.com/mod/AngelBob/downloads
One day I will finish my Space Exploration + Krastorio 2 save. I kinda felt after the 300 hour mark that those were indeed more balanced for multiplayer.
ha... there is nothing balanced about them! They are challenges! They are for people who never want to stop growing the factory!
And then Seablock for people who never want to get anywhere.
This kind of mode sounds interesting if some of the very low level automation didn't have the same multiplier, assemblers for example handcrafting 1000 science?
They actually took that into account :) Basic tech is not affected.