Hi, everyone!
I started playing the KSP demo in 2014 after reading about the game on xkcd and bought it February of 2015 because it was too much fun not to. I haven't bought or downloaded many games since, because this one, in my mind, is particularly enjoyable and I always come back to it after getting frustrated with something else. Amazing experience!
Years back I started reading these forums and watching YouTube videos by people who would SSTO to almost everywhere in one launch. I wanted to learn as much as I could from the community about building elegant, efficient, far-reaching vehicles.
I have found my own attempts to explore the Kerbol system (correct term?) profoundly educational (I mean, they get "Catastrophic Failure," but not for the same reason twice.) Apollo-style missions to Duna are the bane of my existence and sanity but extemely addictive all the same (never have I planted a flag there AND returned safely.)
I love playing career mode on the "hard" setting. Actually much of the gameplay that I do in sandbox is just testing new designs for wacky multiple-contract missions to be carried out in career mode. Right now working on a series of launch vehicles each limited by technology, part count and mass such that as a career game progresses more of these vehicles become feasible. The reasoning behind my having pre-designed launch vehicles is that this way I know not just how much fuel I need to reach orbit with a payload, but also how many parachutes it takes to splash down okay and how many parts I can put on the payload.
Also trying to figure out, in light of "Moar Boosters," what is more cost efficient (given a set of technology restrictions): a loose Space Shuttle replica, or an SSTO plane?
Anyway, the reason I decided to post here today is that after almost five years of Kerballing, I want to start sharing some of my in-game vehicle designs and maybe even some Kerbal fiction writing.
Oh, and I am EXTREMELY EXCITED for Kerbal Space Program 2. I think it is going to exceed chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in it's awesomeness.
So I thought I'd say hello and ramble about myself for a minute to jump in here. I should add that this seems like a very nice, welcoming community based on what I've read here, and I'm excited to talk to you.
