Conic Patch settings

[jbdenney]

What is the significance of the Conic Patch Draw Mode (currently set to Dynamic) and Conic Patch Limit (currently set to 3).

What do the various modes mean and what are the pluses and minuses of increasing the Limit?

 

Thanks in advance

Bruce

[Cavscout74]

I'm not sure on the first one, but the conic patch limit controls how many changes in orbit will be displayed.  For example, if you want to go to Duna and plan a maneuver to get you there, the map view will show your (planned) path through Kerbin's Sphere of Influence (SoI), then your path through interplanetary space, then your path upon entering Duna's SoI.  But if your orbit intercepts Ike, the default limit of three stops there. If you raise it, it will show further SoI changes (4 would show your path past Ike, etc).   Once you actually leave Kerbin's SoI (finishing your current conic patch), it would start showing your fly-by of Ike. 

I typically leave it at 3 unless I'm trying to plot something complex involving multiple fly-bys, then turn it back down when I'm done.  I don't know that it makes a huge difference, but it does reduce the amount of calculations the game has to do on your current craft.

Edited May 18, 2020 by Cavscout74

[AHHans]

The "Conic Patch Draw Mode" determines how the conic patches that are not around the CB you are currently focused on are drawn. There is a pretty good explanation here: Different Conic drawing modes
As you can see that post is a bit old, but the modes are still in the same order: Local to Body = 0, Local at SOI Entry = 1, Local at SOI Exit = 2, Relative = 3, Dynamic = 4
And the new default is mode 3 aka Relative.