On-site Refining Pipe Routing: Best Practices & Common Mistakes

Combat Summary

• Prioritize direct routes between extraction points and the Refiner to minimize pipe length, exposure, and build time. Complexity slows you down.
• Utilize natural terrain and Driller Tunnels for cover. Tunnels offer superior protection from swarms compared to exposed pipe sections.
• Clear pipe paths before building. Remove obstacles, create level ground, or use Engineer Tactics for platforms to avoid costly detours and unexpected breaks during construction.

On-site Refining missions often tempt Miners into creating elaborate, ‘spaghetti’ pipe networks. This is a common mistake that wastes valuable time, exposes your team to unnecessary risks, and drains your Nitra reserves on repairs. The goal is efficiency and safety, not artistic expression. A smart On-site Refining layout keeps the Morkite flowing and your team alive.

Best Use Case

Good pipe routing shines when you need to quickly establish reliable Morkite flow under pressure. Efficient, direct pipes mean fewer points for Glyphids to attack, faster travel for resupply and repairs, and quicker completion of the primary objective. This is crucial on higher Hazards or when facing aggressive swarm modifiers.

Common Mistakes

• Overly Complex Routes: While visually appealing to some, highly convoluted pipe networks like the one in the source image are inefficient. They increase travel distance, take longer to build, and create more potential break points.
• Ignoring Terrain: Building pipes through open air or over jagged terrain without proper support or flattening creates exposed sections vulnerable to enemy fire and requires more repairs.
• Building Before Planning: Laying down pipes haphazardly without first scouting all extraction points and mentally mapping the most direct path leads to wasted pipe segments and backtracking.
• Lack of Teamwork: One Dwarf building pipes without coordination can lead to inefficient routes or pipes that conflict with other team members’ strategies.

Mission Tactics

Before laying a single pipe, have your Scout locate all Morkite geysers. Once marked, the team can plan the most direct routes to the Refiner.

• Drillers lead the way: A skilled Driller is invaluable here, creating straight, protected tunnels through rock. This not only shortens pipe length but also provides enclosed defensive positions.
• Engineers create stability: Engineer Tactics are essential for bridging small gaps, creating flat surfaces for pipe segments, and providing defensive platforms/turrets along the route, especially for exposed sections.
• Gunners defend, Scouts assist: Gunners should focus on clearing swarms attacking the pipe builders and newly laid pipes. Scouts can quickly gather secondary objectives or provide light, while remaining ready to assist with construction or defense.

When To Avoid It

There’s almost no scenario where an overly complex pipe route is beneficial for On-site Refining. Simplicity and directness are always superior. The only exception might be an intentional, temporary detour to access a large Nitra vein or a strategically important cave system, but even then, the goal should be to rejoin a direct path as soon as possible.