Gate

The gate is a defensive building that works like a section of wall that can open and close automatically. It lets the player and their vehicles pass through when they approach, while still blocking enemies unless they destroy it or manage to force it open by getting the player close enough to trigger it. Gates have the same defensive strength as a wall, so they can be used to seal bases without permanently blocking movement.

A normal gate opens whenever a player is within a few tiles and is on foot or in a non-train vehicle. The opening distance is not fixed in practice: it depends on the speed of the approaching player or vehicle, so the gate can begin opening earlier for faster movement to ensure it is open in time. A walking player without speed boosts will usually trigger a gate from about 4–5 tiles away, while a train moving at full speed can trigger a gate several tiles away. Once opened, a gate will stay open if a player or vehicle remains about 2–3 tiles from it.

Train gates extend this behavior to rail traffic. They open whenever a normal gate would open for a player on foot or in a vehicle, when a player is manually driving a train on the same track as the gate and within the required distance, and when an automatic train’s planned route passes through the gate and it gets close enough. Because of this, train gates are useful for keeping rail lines secured without stopping train movement.

A gate can be connected to the circuit network by wiring a wall adjacent to the gate with either red or green wire. When connected, the wall shows a small yellow electronic box, and the gate’s settings can be viewed or changed through the wall. Circuit connection lets the gate be controlled by the network and also allows it to send a signal when a player or vehicle attempts to open it.

• Circuit-controlled gates are useful for safe rail crossings.
• They can also be used as player detectors, since attempted opening can produce a signal.
• Defenders should be careful around open gates, since enemy forces can slip through while the gate is down.
• Players using speed boosts such as exoskeletons should not rely on standing too close to a closed gate, because they may reach it before it opens.