FTL/Warp/Star-Gates

[Aelixander]

I apologize if something like this is out there. If there is, please let me know.

But I had an idea for a mod.

A "gate" of some variety (FTL, Warp, Star, etc.)

Here is my thoughts on the how, details, and the like.

The mod has two piece in it:

The mod would add only 2 pieces to the game:

1) The "Gate Gantry" (or perhaps Gate Arm)

2) The "Gate Controller"

Here is the idea I am having.

he "Gate Controller" would be a very small piece, with very low mass and use a small burst of energy, like an antenna. I see it nearly the size of the air-break when its flush This piece is used to activate the assembled gates. (How that works is more directly explained below.)

The "Gantry" is a somewhat large, heavy piece. By its self, it does nothing. However, when you assemble 4 (and/or 8) of them together, they will form a ring. This ring will pull ships to it, that have a Gate Controller. (and/or, ships with the Gate Controller move to them.)

The Gantry uses a lot of power to pull something trough to it. The amount of energy is based on the mass of the ship. (so smaller ships take less power, larger ships need more.) I am thinking there may also be a size restriction (they have to fit "through" the gate. This is why I say we can make them 4 pieces round or build them 8 pieces round.)

The Gantry generates power via built-in solar cells, which means the further the gate is from the star, the longer it takes to charge. Perhaps there is an energy discount (say, 1/2) if you jump from one gate to the next? Or perhaps ships without a controller can travel between gates? Not sure...

Each fully constructed ring (of 4 or 8) can only pull a ship from a limited range, but this is why you build larger gates stacked up together. (so 1 ring can pull from 1 long distance, 2 gates goes to 3 long distance, and 3 gates does 7 long distance, etc.)

Now, how this isn't 'broken'

a) You have to move the big arm pieces out to where you want them to be. (I am thinking that we make up a techno-babble reason why gates cannot themselves pull gantry pieces through them.)

The rings need time to charge up, so they can't be used too often. And since the arms are not able to be built upon, the recharge rate is set. (but a config file can be included to allow for changes.)

c) The gantry pieces will need to be gently nudged into position to form the rings, so its not simple.

Hopes:

Perhaps there is an animation of it unfolding from a flatter, 'powered down' state, to a full ring when powered up. And perhaps some neat particle and wave effects when its actively pulling a ship to it.

This idea is still very young.

If anyone is willing to help me make this, I'd love to hear it!

I've had a little programming experience, and I am currently using photo shop every day for my Art Degree I'm working on. So I'll help where and how I can.

Thanks!

- A.

Edited September 4, 2015 by Aelixander

[Axelord FTW]

ESLD Jump Beacons already pretty much all of that.

What you've come up with so far is mostly balance (and not functionality) and aesthetics. Not saying that's bad but not really enough at this point to warrant a full mod branch when alternatives are already up and running and this is not distinctively different from them.

[hab136]

SLS's somewhat handy list of Alcubierre Drive/Hypothetical/Advanced Propulsion mods

[Aelixander]

SLS's somewhat handy list of Alcubierre Drive/Hypothetical/Advanced Propulsion mods

Thanks!

[kerbalcommander563]

blueshift has jump gates, AND a warp drive. (you can have the jump gates spawn manually, and/or build them yourself

[Axelord FTW]

Considering the first reply, by me, is almost seven years old, it's fair to say this thread was very deeply buried.