Finally I understand!

[wossname]

I have fought tooth and nail with KSP 1.0.2's new features. I persevered with what I felt initially to be a losing battle and now I think that the technological curve is finally leveling out and delivering HUGE science rewards. My first simple lander to the Mun and back (recovering as much science as possible) yielded more than 450 science from a single landing site!

With these points I was able to buy the procedural fairings part. This is revolutionary! With a fairing it is hugely easier to get into orbit. Make it a priority if you are struggling!

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

Congratulation to your successfull Mun-Mission, Wossname

[BDelacroix]

Yes, so far the grindy part is getting to the mun.

[SelectHalfling0]

The increase in drag has greatly increased the use of fairings. I was originally against 1.0.2, but now i'm starting to like it.

[AbacusWizard]

I skipped Mun entirely and went to Minmus (only slightly more difficult to reach; significantly easier to land and re-orbit), but yeah, getting there was still a bit of a grind.

On that note, the new ability of single scientists to reset Materials Bay and Goo Container is revolutionary. My lander can now hit several biomes in one trip without having to return to the orbital lab to clean out the experiments.

[eviator]

On that note, the new ability of single scientists to reset Materials Bay and Goo Container is revolutionary. My lander can now hit several biomes in one trip without having to return to the orbital lab to clean out the experiments.

I didn't know they could do that. That's huge!

[magnemoe]

My first Mun and Minmus missions was done with an 4+1 asparagus launcher using T30, lander used an 909 with 90 liter core tank, four 90 liter side tanks, with landing legs on and 4x90 liter drop tanks below the four side tanks for circulation, getting to target and start of landing.

Mun was landing+ small jump to second biome, Minmus was all biomes except poles.

[dryer_lint]

Yeah, Surface Samples also give a TON of science. 150 in my case! However, I managed to get Jeb stranded on the Mun. Badly. He's nowhere near the equator... I tried to fly him closer with the remaining fuel in the ship, but couldn't slow down in time so he had to bail out. I flew the rest of the distance with his EVA pack, but now I've got a stranded Jeb at the bottom of a giant pit with no EVA fuel.

He's screwed. One rescue mission already failed and cost me 50k funds

[Rickenbacker]

I struggled, though I still had fun, until I got to Minmus. Once I got a few orbits in, got the science to research landing parts, and landed, the science points started pouring in. I did forget to put parachutes on the first lander, but that only led to a fun rescue mission where I sent up an unmanned capsule with a probe core to rendezvous with the lander and transfer the science - and Val of course!

The tech tree could probably use some tuning, but the game is more fun now that it's ever been!