My Mod Engine Has No Effect?!?

[robot_rover]

Hi, I've been working on this modded engine for a while now, and I finally got it into the game and finished the .cfg file. It loaded in the game and it works fine. It consumes fuel and electricity like it is supposed to, and it says its making 60kn of thrust, but the problem is it doesn't actually do anything (change the speed). It really annoyed me because I finally got this thing to work (my first mod) and KSP says its working but ITS NOT. If someone could help me find my error or even just tell me what could be causing this I would appreciate it.

Screenshot:

Spoiler

Config File:

PART
{
	name = PlasmaEngine
	module = Part
	author = robot_rover
	mesh = model.mu
	scale = 0.1
	node_stack_top = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1
	node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -1, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1
	sound_vent_medium = engage
	sound_rocket_hard = running
	sound_vent_soft = disengage
	sound_explosion_low = flameout
	TechRequired = ionPropulsion
	entryCost = 50000
	cost = 20000
	category = Engine
	subcategory = 0
	title = RR-7426 "Dusk" Plasmatic Propulsion Engine
	manufacturer = RR Industries Corp.
	description = Mod Testing, meaningful description to come.
	attachRules = 1,0,1,0,0
	mass = 0.5
	dragModelType = default
	maximum_drag = 0.2
	minimum_drag = 0.2
	angularDrag = 2
	crashTolerance = 7
	maxTemp = 2000 // = 3600
	bulkheadProfiles = size1
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleEngines
		//thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform
		exhaustDamage = True
		ignitionThreshold = 0.1
		minThrust = 0
		maxThrust = 60
		heatProduction = 0
		fxOffset = 0, 0, 0.21
		EngineType = Electric
		PROPELLANT
		{
			name = ElectricCharge
			ratio = 1.5
			DrawGauge = True
		}
		PROPELLANT
		{
			name = LiquidFuel
			ratio = 0.1
		}
		atmosphereCurve
		{
			key = 0 2000
			key = 1 100
			key = 3 0.1
		}
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleGimbal
		gimbalTransformName = thrustTransform
		gimbalRange = 5
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleTestSubject
		environments = 15
		useStaging = True
		useEvent = False
	}
}

 

[Mecripp]

Well lol you just have sounds ? don't see any FX's in your cfg  not sure if it will work or how stock is using it but might try

PART
{
	name = PlasmaEngine
	module = Part
	author = robot_rover
	mesh = model.mu
	scale = 0.1
	node_stack_top = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1
	node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -1, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1
	sound_vent_medium = engage
	sound_rocket_hard = running
	sound_vent_soft = disengage
	sound_explosion_low = flameout
	TechRequired = ionPropulsion
	entryCost = 50000
	cost = 20000
	category = Engine
	subcategory = 0
	title = RR-7426 "Dusk" Plasmatic Propulsion Engine
	manufacturer = RR Industries Corp.
	description = Mod Testing, meaningful description to come.
	attachRules = 1,0,1,0,0
	mass = 0.5
	dragModelType = default
	maximum_drag = 0.2
	minimum_drag = 0.2
	angularDrag = 2
	crashTolerance = 7
	maxTemp = 2000 // = 3600
	bulkheadProfiles = size1
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleEngines
		thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform
		exhaustDamage = True
		ignitionThreshold = 0.1
		minThrust = 0
		maxThrust = 60
		heatProduction = 0
		fxOffset = 0, 0, 0.21
		EngineType = Electric
		PROPELLANT
		{
			name = ElectricCharge
			ratio = 1.5
			DrawGauge = True
		}
		PROPELLANT
		{
			name = LiquidFuel
			ratio = 0.1
		}
		atmosphereCurve
		{
			key = 0 2000
			key = 1 100
			key = 3 0.1
		}
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = FXModuleAnimateThrottle
		animationName = colorAnimation
		dependOnEngineState = True
		responseSpeed = 0.5
		engineName = Ion
		dependOnThrottle = True
	}
	EFFECTS
	{		
		IonPlume
		{
			AUDIO
			{
				channel = Ship
				clip = sound_IonEngine
				volume = 0.0 0.0
				volume = 0.05 0.20
				volume = 1.0 0.25
				pitch = 0.0 0.2
				pitch = 1.0 0.8
				loop = true
			}
			MODEL_MULTI_PARTICLE
			{
				modelName = Squad/FX/IonPlume
				transformName = thrustTransform
				emission = 0.0 0.0
				emission = 0.25 0.5			
				emission = 1.0 1.0
				//speed = 0.0 0.0
				//speed = 1.0 1.0
			}
		}
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleGimbal
		gimbalTransformName = thrustTransform
		gimbalRange = 5
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleTestSubject
		environments = 15
		useStaging = True
		useEvent = False
	}
}

not sure where there animationName = colorAnimation is pointing to in there model, I missed the    name = ModuleEnginesFX

Edited January 7, 2016 by Mecripp2

[Randazzo]

@robot_rover You have two problems here.

• No effects

You didn't define any. You need lines like these (lifted from the LVT45):

    fx_exhaustFlame_blue = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running
    fx_exhaustLight_blue = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, running
    fx_smokeTrail_light = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running
    fx_exhaustSparks_flameout = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, flameout

Alternatively you can use the EFFECTS module, but it's a touch more complicated and requires ModuleEnginesFX

Spoiler

    EFFECTS
    {
        running_closed
        {
            AUDIO
            {
                channel = Ship
                clip = sound_rocket_hard
                volume = 0.0 0.0
                volume = 1.0 1.5
                pitch = 0.0 0.2
                pitch = 1.0 0.9
                loop = true
            }
            PREFAB_PARTICLE
            {
                prefabName = fx_smokeTrail_veryLarge
                transformName = smokepoint
                emission = 0.0 0.0
                emission = 0.05 0.0
                emission = 0.075 0.25
                emission = 1.0 1.25
                speed = 0.0 0.25
                speed = 1.0 1.0
                localPosition = 0, 0, 5
                
            }
            MODEL_MULTI_PARTICLE
            {
                modelName = Squad/FX/ks25_Exhaust
                transformName = thrustTransform
                emission = 0.0 0.0
                emission = 0.05 0.0
                emission = 0.075 0.25
                emission = 1.0 1.0
                speed = 0.0 0.5
                speed = 1.0 1.2
                localPosition = 0, 0, 0.3
            }
        }
        engage
        {
            AUDIO
            {
                channel = Ship
                clip = sound_vent_soft
                volume = 1.0
                pitch = 2.0
                loop = false
            }
        }
        flameout
        {
            PREFAB_PARTICLE
            {
                prefabName = fx_exhaustSparks_flameout_2
                transformName = thrustTransform
                oneShot = true
            }
            AUDIO
            {
                channel = Ship
                clip = sound_explosion_low
                volume = 1.0
                pitch = 2.0
                loop = false
            }
        }
    }

• No thrust produced

You set up the config to skip the thrustTransform definition which is necessary for the engine to provide any directional thrust. Without it, the game has no idea which way it's supposed to push. You need to change this:

//thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform

To this:

thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform

The // in the config tells the game to ignore that line.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Randazzo

[Ven]

That sounds like something to do with your thrustTransform being misnamed/absent, and its '//' out in the config.

 

Edit: too slow :c

Edited January 7, 2016 by Ven

[robot_rover]

Haven't gotten around to that yet... is that why it doesn't work?

[Randazzo]

6 minutes ago, robot_rover said:

Haven't gotten around to that yet... is that why it doesn't work?

The effects are not necessary, but the thrustTransform is, yes.

[robot_rover]

thanks guys, I quoted that line while I was troubleshooting, trying to figure out what bit of cfg was crashing ksp and I forgot to undo it. Thanks to all.

[robot_rover]

yeah i added the effects and un// the thrust transform but it still doesn't work

PART
{
	name = PlasmaEngine
	module = Part
	author = robot_rover
	mesh = model.mu
	scale = 0.1
	node_stack_top = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1
	node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -1, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1
	fx_exhaustFlame_blue = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running
    	fx_exhaustLight_blue = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, running
    	fx_smokeTrail_light = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running
    	fx_exhaustSparks_flameout = 0.0, -5.74338, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, flameout
	sound_vent_medium = engage
	sound_rocket_hard = running
	sound_vent_soft = disengage
	sound_explosion_low = flameout
	TechRequired = ionPropulsion
	entryCost = 50000
	cost = 20000
	category = Engine
	subcategory = 0
	title = RR-7426 "Dusk" Plasmatic Propulsion Engine
	manufacturer = RR Industries Corp.
	description = Mod Testing, meaningful description to come.
	attachRules = 1,0,1,0,0
	mass = 0.5
	dragModelType = default
	maximum_drag = 0.2
	minimum_drag = 0.2
	angularDrag = 2
	crashTolerance = 7
	maxTemp = 2000 // = 3600
	bulkheadProfiles = size1
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleEngines
		thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform
		exhaustDamage = True
		ignitionThreshold = 0.1
		minThrust = 0
		maxThrust = 60
		heatProduction = 0
		fxOffset = 0, 0, 0.21
		EngineType = Electric
		PROPELLANT
		{
			name = ElectricCharge
			ratio = 1.5
			DrawGauge = True
		}
		PROPELLANT
		{
			name = LiquidFuel
			ratio = 0.1
		}
		atmosphereCurve
		{
			key = 0 2000
			key = 1 100
			key = 3 0.1
		}
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleGimbal
		gimbalTransformName = thrustTransform
		gimbalRange = 5
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleTestSubject
		environments = 15
		useStaging = True
		useEvent = False
	}
}

 

[Randazzo]

Just now, robot_rover said:

yeah i added the effects and un// the thrust transform but it still doesn't work

Does the model actually have a named thrustTransform object in it?

[robot_rover]

ahh. do i put an empty game-object called thrustTransform at the center of thrust

[Randazzo]

Yes. In blender you want the LOCAL Z+ axis (blue arrow) facing down.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Randazzo

[wasml]

@robot_rover Have you looked through these links Mod Development Links Compilation It's stickied at the start of this thread. Has a number of tutorials including for engines.

[robot_rover]

u can just make an empty game object in unity too right cuz that would be easier right now. Just point the empty object down and put it in the center.

Edited January 7, 2016 by robot_rover

[Randazzo]

4 minutes ago, robot_rover said:

u can just make an empty game object in unity too right cuz that would be easier right now. Just point the empty object down and put it in the center.

I try not to fiddle with the model inside unity, but it should work in theory.

[robot_rover]

@Randazzo thx for the steady support I had almost given up

@wasml Thank you so much I have been looking for the modding tutorials for months now I always thought they would be in a wiki or something I never thought to look in the forums.

[Randazzo]

7 minutes ago, robot_rover said:

@Randazzo thx for the steady support I had almost given up

@wasml Thank you so much I have been looking for the modding tutorials for months now I always thought they would be in a wiki or something I never thought to look in the forums.

 

Quite welcome. Is it working now?

[robot_rover]

Kinda:

Spoiler

I can figure it out from here...

also I found help with balancing it to...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nbUSmw0NpyEzEMRKvCoML1t3SVWDxAi6SH1utMiI-Yw/edit?usp=sharing

[Kerbas_ad_astra]

Bear in mind that that spreadsheet is out-of-date (it's from 0.24) -- there are new parts, and some of the old parts have been rebalanced.  The wiki's page on Reaction engines has the updated breakdown of engine and fuel tank stats.

[robot_rover]

Wow I can't do anything right. Thank you