Any recommendations for non OP spaceplane parts?

[Derponaught]

Hi all,

 I love building spaceplanes, I've been watching youtube reviews of some really fantastic mods - OPT spaceplanes & MkIV spaceplane parts caught my eye but I don't want spoil myself (& my game experience) by making it too easy.  Some of the flights I saw were quite badly flown but they still made it to orbit easily (I don't know what game version or mod version they were using though).

 

Basically I'm wondering what other peoples opinions are on it?  Also is there a less op alternative around or are they not as op as I they appear?  Any ideas? (I know you're probably thinking just try them out but if they are as cool as they appear, I might be tempted to say screw it!  I'm having op spaceplanes lol which will ruin the challenge).

 

Cheers

[fourfa]

I have the same problem.  Actually I tend to agree with those that find the stock RAPIER engine too OP, too easy, and a interesting fun challenge to build without it.

But imagine for a second that you're using a ton of mods - say the whole USI colonization and construction suite to build offworld bases, life support, greenhouses, mining colonies, etc.  As far as stock KSP is concerned, that's all just unnecessary dead payload.  Moving that kind of mass around the stock solar system with stock parts can get pretty tedious.  I think the generally-OP sci-fi rocket and spaceplane parts mods are tuned with that in mind.

Secondly if you play career, you know that as time goes on you get access to new and better technologies.  The initial Swivel engines don't have a ton of uses once you gain aerospikes and Vector engines, for instance.  Does that make the aerospike OP?  It can seem that way if you just drop into sandbox mode.  Same with parts packs - I generally see them pitched as future tech, a level beyond where the stock tech tree ends (and various extended tech tree mods for career do the same).  Getting 10,000 science points to research the BROADSWORD engine might make its discovery feel like an achievement, rather than simply game-breaking.

I'd say take the question back to basics - what problem are you trying to solve?  If one isn't able to solve the hardest problems in stock KSP (land and return on Moho, Eve, Tylo etc) with stock parts - the problem isn't the game, it's the player.  Practice, study, ask questions here, watch good stock streamers, learn and improve, set goals and achieve them.

If the objective is making sci-fi replicas, realism mods, tackling challenges well beyond stock KSP - there probably is an appropriate application for most of the parts that seem OP in stock gameplay.

[Derponaught]

Well when you put it like that....I have installed USI constellation pack but my space program is in its infancy & haven't attempted colonies temporary or otherwise!  So perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to judge without the benefit of experience.  There really wasn't a problem!  I just like spaceplanes & the cockpits & fuselages/cargo bays looked awesome