diff --git a/config.lua b/config.lua
index 75482fb4..4bcfe46d 100644
--- a/config.lua
+++ b/config.lua
@@ -348,14 +348,14 @@ global.config = {
             enabled = true,
             -- frequency of automatic attacks (in seconds)
             attack_frequency = 40 * 60, -- 40 minutes
-            -- difficulty of automatic attacks (easy, normal, hard, brutal)
-            attack_difficulty = 'normal'
+            -- difficulty of automatic attacks (1-easy, 3-normal, 10-hard, 40-brutal)
+            attack_difficulty = 3
         },
         -- whether or not to send attacks on rocket launches
         launch_attacks = {
             enabled = true,
             -- whether to only attack on the first launch
-            first_launch_only = false
+            first_launch_only = true
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/map_gen/shared/biter_attacks.lua b/map_gen/shared/biter_attacks.lua
index d62d7b7f..0dbbd257 100644
--- a/map_gen/shared/biter_attacks.lua
+++ b/map_gen/shared/biter_attacks.lua
@@ -28,12 +28,6 @@ local insert = table.insert
 local ceil = math.ceil
 
 -- Constants
-local difficulty_settings = {
-    easy = 1,
-    normal = 3,
-    hard = 10,
-    brutal = 40
-}
 local defaults = {
     total_scan_radius = 5000,
     individual_scan_radius = 500 -- a 500 radius scan is < 0.5ms on avg
@@ -85,8 +79,7 @@ end
 --- Calculates the number of biters to send for timed attacks according to the difficulty selected
 -- @return <number>
 local function calculate_biters()
-    local difficulty = global.config.biter_attacks.timed_attacks.attack_difficulty
-    local multiplier = difficulty_settings[difficulty]
+    local multiplier = global.config.biter_attacks.timed_attacks.attack_difficulty
     return ceil((game.forces.enemy.evolution_factor * 100 * multiplier))
 end