Bring Back The Magic Boulder for Real (and other problems with easter eggs in 1.1.3.)

[Whirligig Girl]

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the changes to easter eggs in 1.1.3.

• Magic Boulders spawn everywhere, randomly. They should spawn only around Ike, after a spaceship is in orbit around Ike to observe them.
• Magic Boulders (and any other types of asteroids) all have generic science reports.
• All of the easter eggs are far too large now. The monolith is visible from KSC, for Kraken's sake. Why not just make them always on the surface ground? It might require a rather chunky re-write of PQScity, but at least it would allow for reasonably sized monoliths
• Still no colliders for Monoliths.
• Tapered shape, Squad Logo, giant size on the Munoliths. I know the first two issues are an old thing, sure. I still don't like it. They ought to just be a black rectangular prism with side lengths 1:4:9, scaled so that a Kerbal height in comparison to a Munolith is the same as a Human height is compared to a Monolith.
• This isn't new, but the KSC2 should be made up of Tier 2 and Tier 1 Space Center parts. Get rid of those excruciatingly ugly models and unnecessarily huge textures, and use what you already have. A major part of why the current KSC was made to be so clean and low on texture size was specifically because of the problems with texture size and model inefficiencies which the original KSC2 had. KSC2 should have the following:
  • T2 VAB, Launchpad, and Mission Control building
  • T1 Tracking Station
  • None of the other space center buildings.
  • A plaque with a picture of the old KSC2 to commemorate its existence.
  • An R-7 Semyorka-type rocket on the launchpad. Maybe done so that if you try to get in the pod, the rocket will lift off and boost into orbit under autopilot.
• Please, if you do anything on this list, make the magic boulders appear around Ike only!
• Ike-only magic boulders!
• #BringBackTheMagicBoulderAroundIke.
• Ike is the only object that should have magic boulders.
• To be fair, I do like the procedural generation of magic boulders, and the extra colors. It is quite nice, I have to say. I just don't think they should spawn just anywhere. The generation of Magic Boulderoids does make the asteroids more interesting, I just think they should do it better.
• I also like the larger size for the Tylo Cave. You could even put a base into it, it looks like.
• All in all, I do think it's nice that the easter eggs are above ground. Perhaps I came across as a bit grumpy throughout this post, but I do think Squad is making progress.

Edited June 23, 2016 by GregroxMun

[HoloYolo]

I just want the regular Magic Boulder back at Ike.

[Majorjim!]

Agreed that Magic boulder is not back in any shape or form. What we have now are randomly generated small glowing asteroids. I think  Squad is trying to move away from the awesome ideas NovaSilisko had for KSP easter eggs. Kod only knows why because it was not only very imaginative and exciting it gave you something to search for. Something KSP is severely lacking in.

 Bring back the real magic boulder.

[HoloYolo]

25 minutes ago, Majorjim said:

Agreed that Magic boulder is not back in any shape or form. What we have now are randomly generated small glowing asteroids. I think  Squad is trying to move away from the awesome ideas NovaSilisko had for KSP easter eggs. Kod only knows why because it was not only very imaginative and exciting it gave you something to search for. Something KSP is severely lacking in.

 Bring back the real magic boulder.

Agreed 100%

[Just Jim]

1 hour ago, GregroxMun said:

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the changes to easter eggs in 1.1.3.

• Magic Boulders spawn everywhere, randomly. They should spawn only around Ike, after a spaceship is in orbit around Ike to observe them.
• Magic Boulders (and any other types of asteroids) all have generic science reports.
• All of the easter eggs are far too large now. The monolith is visible from KSC, for Kraken's sake. Why not just make them always on the surface ground? It might require a rather chunky re-write of PQScity, but at least it would allow for reasonably sized monoliths
• Still no colliders for Monoliths.
• Tapered shape, Squad Logo, giant size on the Munoliths. I know the first two issues are an old thing, sure. I still don't like it. They ought to just be a black rectangular prism with side lengths 1:4:9, scaled so that a Kerbal height in comparison to a Munolith is the same as a Human height is compared to a Monolith.
• This isn't new, but the KSC2 should be made up of Tier 2 and Tier 1 Space Center parts. Get rid of those excruciatingly ugly models and unnecessarily huge textures, and use what you already have. A major part of why the current KSC was made to be so clean and low on texture size was specifically because of the problems with texture size and model inefficiencies which the original KSC2 had. KSC2 should have the following:
  • T2 VAB, Launchpad, and Mission Control building
  • T1 Tracking Station
  • None of the other space center buildings.
  • A plaque with a picture of the old KSC2 to commemorate its existence.
  • An R-7 Semyorka-type rocket on the launchpad. Maybe done so that if you try to get in the pod, the rocket will lift off and boost into orbit under autopilot.
• Please, if you do anything on this list, make the magic boulders appear around Ike only!
• Ike-only magic boulders!
• #BringBackTheMagicBoulderAroundIke.
• Ike is the only object that should have magic boulders.
• To be fair, I do like the procedural generation of magic boulders, and the extra colors. It is quite nice, I have to say. I just don't think they should spawn just anywhere.
• I also like the larger size for the Tylo Cave. You could even put a base into it, it looks like.

Some of this stuff you're proposing to the KSC2 would make it impossible to continue my fan-fiction story. Adjusting and writing in a part to explain the monoliths getting larger is bad enough, but explaining a complete rebuild of the KSC2?  I'd have to do some seriously re-writing to make that work.... if I could at all.

I vote to keep it the way it is!

Edited June 23, 2016 by Just Jim

[Whirligig Girl]

1 minute ago, Just Jim said:

Some of this stuff you're proposing to the KSC2 would make it impossible to continue my fan-fiction story. Adjusting and writing in a part to explain the monoliths getting larger is bad enough, but explaining a complete rebuild of the KSC2?  I'd have to do some seriously re-writing to make that work.... if I could at all.

Could just be a retcon.

[Ultimate Steve]

Okay. I do think the old magic boulder should be back, but this is better than nothing by a long way. So, I appreciate that the devs did the new boulders, but the old w=one would also be appreciated. Also, there is nothing stopping anyone from modding in the boulder, or moving a new one to Ike.

[Just Jim]

1 minute ago, GregroxMun said:

Could just be a retcon.

perhaps, except I have plans for it down the road.

No biggie... I'm sure you know as well as I the chances of it actually being changed are about 0.01%

 

[Mister Dilsby]

7 minutes ago, Just Jim said:

Some of this stuff you're proposing to the KSC2 would make it impossible to continue my fan-fiction story. Adjusting and writing in a part to explain the monoliths getting larger is bad enough, but explaining a complete rebuild of the KSC2?  I'd have to do some seriously re-writing to make that work.... if I could at all.

Ehhh. I'll manage. My Bill has dealt with much worse.  

[Just Jim]

5 minutes ago, Kuzzter said:

Ehhh. I'll manage. My Bill has dealt with much worse.  

yeah, I could probably think of something.... Truth is, I'm just stubborn, and don't want to if I don't have to... 

[322997am]

I want it back.. But I still think that pol is the magic boulder

[Whirligig Girl]

1 hour ago, 322997am said:

I want it back.. But I still think that pol is the magic boulder

The magic boulder was still around in 0.18 when Pol was added.

[322997am]

4 minutes ago, GregroxMun said:

The magic boulder was still around in 0.18 when Pol was added.

Yes... But pol is the magic Boulder because it has krakeny aktivity "floating ground" and other anomalies. Pol is probably the most unstable planet that is why it is the real thing.

[Vanamonde]

Why is the reaction "they failed to restore the magic boulder" instead of "they made random asteroids more interesting"? 

[Just Jim]

3 minutes ago, Vanamonde said:

Why is the reaction "they failed to restore the magic boulder" instead of "they made random asteroids more interesting"? 

Agreed!  So maybe it's not the original magic boulder... it's still pretty cool, and I really want to find one... preferably blue or green... lol... for my Emiko story!

Edited June 23, 2016 by Just Jim

[HoloYolo]

8 minutes ago, Vanamonde said:

Why is the reaction "they failed to restore the magic boulder" instead of "they made random asteroids more interesting"? 

Cause we overestimated what they really meant but "New Easter Egg".

[Whirligig Girl]

5 minutes ago, Vanamonde said:

Why is the reaction "they failed to restore the magic boulder" instead of "they made random asteroids more interesting"? 

I wish they had made more types of realistic asteroids with different types of colors and science reports. Having randomly spawned magic boulders just anywhere feels out of place and unrealistic. Having realistically textured brown and grey and orange and other interesting colors and compositions and densities, that would be making the asteroids more interesting.

And you know, what? I see your point. I think we may have all forgotten that the asteroids are quite a bit more interesting now. I think we all need to take a step back and understand that everything has an upside and a downside. And as I said, there were a few things I did really like about these new magic boulderoids.

[cubinator]

On 6/23/2016 at 10:27 AM, Just Jim said:

Some of this stuff you're proposing to the KSC2 would make it impossible to continue my fan-fiction story. Adjusting and writing in a part to explain the monoliths getting larger is bad enough, but explaining a complete rebuild of the KSC2?  I'd have to do some seriously re-writing to make that work.... if I could at all.

I vote to keep it the way it is!

You could just...pretend it was always like that. You know, use doublethink.

[Daeridanii]

The original magic boulder should still orbit Ike, but I like the idea of having some glowing green radioactive asteroids too. Add some flair to your space junk!

[Brownhair2]

On 6/23/2016 at 10:52 AM, HoloYolo said:

Cause we overestimated what they really meant but "New Easter Egg".

They never mentioned Easter Eggs, they just said they hid something

On 6/23/2016 at 7:26 AM, GregroxMun said:

Still no colliders for Monoliths.

Actually, the Munoliths have colliders. I can't add a picture right now, but later

EDIT:

 

Edited June 30, 2016 by Brownhair2
pic

[AlamoVampire]

On June 23, 2016 at 9:26 AM, GregroxMun said:

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the changes to easter eggs in 1.1.3.

• Magic Boulders spawn everywhere, randomly. They should spawn only around Ike, after a spaceship is in orbit around Ike to observe them.
• Magic Boulders (and any other types of asteroids) all have generic science reports.
• All of the easter eggs are far too large now. The monolith is visible from KSC, for Kraken's sake. Why not just make them always on the surface ground? It might require a rather chunky re-write of PQScity, but at least it would allow for reasonably sized monoliths
• Still no colliders for Monoliths.
• Tapered shape, Squad Logo, giant size on the Munoliths. I know the first two issues are an old thing, sure. I still don't like it. They ought to just be a black rectangular prism with side lengths 1:4:9, scaled so that a Kerbal height in comparison to a Munolith is the same as a Human height is compared to a Monolith.
• This isn't new, but the KSC2 should be made up of Tier 2 and Tier 1 Space Center parts. Get rid of those excruciatingly ugly models and unnecessarily huge textures, and use what you already have. A major part of why the current KSC was made to be so clean and low on texture size was specifically because of the problems with texture size and model inefficiencies which the original KSC2 had. KSC2 should have the following:
  • T2 VAB, Launchpad, and Mission Control building
  • T1 Tracking Station
  • None of the other space center buildings.
  • A plaque with a picture of the old KSC2 to commemorate its existence.
  • An R-7 Semyorka-type rocket on the launchpad. Maybe done so that if you try to get in the pod, the rocket will lift off and boost into orbit under autopilot.
• Please, if you do anything on this list, make the magic boulders appear around Ike only!
• Ike-only magic boulders!
• #BringBackTheMagicBoulderAroundIke.
• Ike is the only object that should have magic boulders.
• To be fair, I do like the procedural generation of magic boulders, and the extra colors. It is quite nice, I have to say. I just don't think they should spawn just anywhere. The generation of Magic Boulderoids does make the asteroids more interesting, I just think they should do it better.
• I also like the larger size for the Tylo Cave. You could even put a base into it, it looks like.
• All in all, I do think it's nice that the easter eggs are above ground. Perhaps I came across as a bit grumpy throughout this post, but I do think Squad is making progress.

This. All of this.

[DaMachinator]

The asteroid magic boulders are fine by me - but they need the messed-up collision and other "fun" stuff like the original. Also making the colored veins fewer and bigger on the texture would be nice. 

[Dafni]

Last night I dreamed I intercepted an asteroid in KSP and as I got closer it turned out to be a dirty lump of ice, and it had a faint trail of fragments too... too much KSP, too much Asteroid Day

[Scientia1423]

On 6/23/2016 at 4:27 PM, Just Jim said:

Some of this stuff you're proposing to the KSC2 would make it impossible to continue my fan-fiction story. Adjusting and writing in a part to explain the monoliths getting larger is bad enough, but explaining a complete rebuild of the KSC2?  I'd have to do some seriously re-writing to make that work.... if I could at all.

I vote to keep it the way it is!

I'd vote to bring back old SPH and redo all the colliders.

 

Besides, I'd doubt we would actually get our magic boulder back again (I don't think Squad ever wants to see the real thing again). It's colliders are so messy that the colliders are halfway inside and the game would need to render it as an invisible part class which would release the Kraken. I'm not against it though.

[Iamsodarncool]

I'm of the opinion, like others in this thread it seems, that the new way magic boulders work is awesome. It'll add surprise and excitement when visiting asteroids, especially for players that aren't involved in the community and therefore don't know magic boulders exist. However, I do understand the desire for a return of the original, and I think I have a good compromise.

I'm not sure of this, but I expect the procedural asteroid system can generate asteroids far bigger than the Class E ones we see in the game. So what if, in a polar, 100km orbit of Ike, there was a 1,000m Magic Boulder? It wouldn't be visible in the tracking station. Perhaps DOE could be made stock so that hunting for it by visuals would be possible. I'd say it should have 0% ore. Maybe it could also generate a lot of heat, so that approaching it would be dangerous in an improperly shielded ship.