[1.10.1] SimpleSurvival - A simple life support mod! (Nov. 23, 2020)

[Moonshot11]

UPDATE: This mod will likely not be updated for future versions of KSP.

Hello,

First of all, thank you to everyone who expressed so much interest over the past year!  It was my first mod release, and despite my nerves, the positive reception was very encouraging.

Unfortunately, after five years of on-and-off work on this mod that culminated in its first release, an official update for KSP was pushed just weeks later which broke some core aspects of the mod.  After some investigation, I concluded that I would need to not only rewrite the core code of the mod, but redesign some fundamental aspects of the mod's gameplay.

While looking into possible solutions, I was unfortunately hospitalized and had to deprioritize everything in my life not related to my health.  I apologize for the radio silence, but truth be told I thought I had provided this update upon returning from the hospital.  Clearly I did not, and I am sorry about that.

At this time I do not think I will resume work on this mod, but if perchance an epiphany strikes me and I devise a way to address the mod's issues, I will definitely update this again.  This mod was a multi-year labor of love and I'm so disappointed to let it go without so much as a single iteration post-release, but through a combination of bad timing and real-life priorities, something had to give.

Aspects of the mod might still work, but when the inventory system was added to the game, it threw a bunch of the EVA Lifesupport code out of whack, so you've been warned.

Thanks for the support, and all the best.
- Moonshot11

 

v0.1.2
Tested with KSP 1.10.1

Illustrated user guide: https://github.com/moonshot11/SimpleSurvival

SimpleSurvival is a Kerbal Space Program mod which adds a simple life support mechanic, with the goal of encouraging a role-playing experience in the following ways:

• Give purpose to different command modules. (A Mk1 capsule can get to orbit, but can it go to the Mun?)
• Require the Hitchhiker's module for long journeys. No trips to Eeloo in a Mk1 capsule!
• Make Engineers more useful. Only they can operate the Converter!
• Create persistent resources for the Kerbals' EVA suits.

An additional tech tree node, Interplanetary Habitation, is also added for Science and Career modes.



Download latest release

Github: Download here
Spacedock: Download here

Source code (Github): https://github.com/moonshot11/SimpleSurvival

Installation

From the downloaded zip file, extract the "GameData" folder into your "Kerbal Space Program\GameData" folder.  If you have a version of ModuleManager that exceeds what is packaged with this mod, make sure to retain the latest version and delete the older one!
 

Compatibility

SimpleSurvival adds life support resources to all relevant stock parts, including the expansions. It also modifies the Advanced Exploration node in the tech tree. Therefore, compatibility with other mods that modify the tech tree should not be assumed.

Command modules that have been modded into the game will not have functional life support, although a means of dynamically adding life support to addon parts will be investigated in the future.
 

Author's note

This is an initial beta release. Please let me know what you think! I am particularly concerned with feedback about:

- Balance, especially for interplanetary travel.
- Accessibility. Is the user interface intuitive, is the "Consumables" name appropriate, etc.

Please note: Screenshots in the user guide may feature other mods. SimpleSurvival is not affiliated with any other mod, nor does its author endorse the use of any other mods on display.
 

Credit

ModuleManager created by Ialdaboth (https://github.com/Ialdabaoth)

Enjoy!
- moonshot11

Edited April 15, 2022 by Moonshot11
Letter on extended silence

[iamn00b]

Hey there! Great mod, but I want to ask something before I install this. Exactly what will happen if the LifeSupport completely drains out? Will the Kerbal, ahem... die? Or what? Thanks in advance!

[Superfluous J]

Yeah, when Life Support runs out they consume EVA support. What about when EVA support runs out?

I like the simple approach to life support and will keep an eye on this

[Moonshot11]

Oh my gosh, what a simple question that I didn't answer!

Yes, when a Kerbal runs out of all available life support, s/he will "die."  Depending on your save file's settings, the Kerbal will either respawn eventually or be perma-dead, just like when they're in a crash.

Update: user guide has been updated.

Edited November 24, 2020 by Moonshot11
Provide update on clarification in docs

[cyberKerb]

Nice work on the mod. I look forward to trying this.

I also had a question: Do unloaded ships / kerbals consume life support?

Of note, you have a minor spelling mistake on page 1/2 in the user guide about the resource

Also:

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by cyberKerb

[Stone Blue]

Nice mod

A few questions, tho:

1) About EVA Propellent being persistent, and available for free... can you give moar details? ... ie whats different about how stock KSP handles this? ... and I wonder if this feature may  seem a bit out of scope as the mod currently is? vOv   I mean, I realize how important suit prop *is*, to kerbal survival... but wondering if it should really be part of a simple LS mod, or moar for a feature of a *fuel/EVA mechanic* handling mod? vOv

2) Have you *hardcoded* this for stoc parts?, or, is/are required modules added/editable by config? Cuz, that, leaving as much as possible to editable config keys/modules, seems it would be the best/easiest way to add support for users to add this to modded parts... thats the way tons of other mods, do it, anyway... vOv

3) As to the "alarm" time limits... idk, but 10 mins remaining (yellow), and 1 min remaining (red), seem a little low...vOv

4) As to having Engineers required, I get that. ... but then might that not completely eliminate the usefulness of this mod, in either early career, or at least with only one or two kerbal craft, where a 1) Pilot, and 2) Scientist, may be mission critical? Note, I *never* really play career, (only sandbox/science modes), so mebbe thats already covered in the tech tree placement? vOv
As to the 1 & 2 kerbal pods tho... vOv Granted, I may just have to *try* the mod, to see if there really *is* a niche, for only 1 or 2 kerbal craft, without the requirement of the hab/converter, and a 3rd seat Engineer... vOv

But otherwise, I'm liking where this mod is going... :thumbs_up:

Will also be interesting to compare it to Snacks!

Edited November 28, 2020 by Stone Blue

[sp1989]

Please tell me you have plans for different forms of containment ie Radial and different size cylinders. 

Edited November 28, 2020 by sp1989

[Moonshot11]

@cyberKerb Unloaded ships do not consume life support.  They store it indefinitely.  Kerbals have a separate EVA life support resource in their suit, which they consume when on EVA (or when within a ship, if the ship's EVA runs out).  And thanks for catching that typo!

 

@Stone Blue Thanks for the feedback!  To answer your questions:

1. I agree, EVA propellant is on the edge of this mod's scope.  However, it still makes sense to me from a gameplay standpoint to provide a cohesive "survival" experience via limited resources, and from a code perspective, the system that manages it also manages the EVA life support.

2. The part stats are defined via a ModuleManager patch (https://github.com/moonshot11/SimpleSurvival/blob/master/GameData/SimpleSurvival/Parts/lifesupport.cfg).  I honestly wasn't sure whether it would be my job to add support for popular mods, or leave that to someone else in the community.  For now, I only support stock parts.  An alternative that I want to investigate is adding a preset amount of life support to eligible parts which don't have the values manually defined.

3. That's fair.  Do you have any suggestions?  30 minutes for yellow and 5 minutes for red?

4. An Engineer is required once you are going on long journeys using the Hitchhiker's module.  By then, you'll almost certainly have the space for an Engineer on your vessel.  The mod is calibrated so that within the Kerbin system, you won't need the Hitchhiker's module at all, so you can forego bringing an Engineer if you don't have the space.

 

@sp1989 There are already a few radial and inline parts that contain Consumables.  Balancing these amounts for interplanetary travel is something that I'd like feedback on.  Based on that feedback, I could certainly add additional parts.

Edited December 1, 2020 by Moonshot11

[Stone Blue]

1) Fair eunuff

2) Support patches for other mods is entirely up to you... some mod devs supply the support themselves (usually mods the mod dev uses themselves, or fit extremely well with their mod), and/or, some devs let the community supply patches, which they'll pacage up in their mod, and/or some rely on said mod devs (other mods), to package support/patches in those other mods... so basically, its all up to YOU, on what support you want to include in YOUR mod for other mods.
The main thing, is to *allow* for support of other mods, meaning just taking into consideration how to code any plugins/modlue nodes or config keys, so the opportunity for other devs/community to come up with support, for whatever, and however... vOv

3) idk... vOv the 5 min EVA limit sounds good... should give enough time to get bac abord a craft... as to craft limit, idk,,, just mae it reasonable, so either moar supplies can be converted in time, or to get another craft there with supplies, or ... vOv ??

4) Gotcha

[cyberKerb]

I've given this ago on 1.11 and I keep getting NRE spam in the log file whenever I take a kerbal on EVA. Verification testing was done on a new Sandbox game

KSP.Log file dropbox link

[Rig_Borin]

Hello! It would be nice to add a window to view all available ships. And it is desirable that there was a warp shutdown and a warning when a ship runs out of resources.

[vardicd]

Suggestion, the adding the consumables to lifesupport converter to the Mk1 crew cabin, and make it run less efficient, so you have a lifesupport supply in the 1.25 form factor. I play with a tech tree where the crew cabin is way down the tree, and have ended up having to have long duration missions, including to Duna before ever unlocking the crew cabin. Just an Idea.

[Willeos]

hello, I installed the mod in 1.11.0, the kitchen is present in the VAB but the consumables do not appear in the utility section. Do you have a solution?

[Dr Pe]

Hi

I will give it a try and maybe comment more about it, this mod seems great. I like the fact that not constantly showing the state of all crewed ships makes this mod very lightweight. Snacks was making my potato-gaming-computer suffer.

A priori I think I'd like more parts. Besides, maybe the name "consumables" is not pretty catchy.

Edited March 13, 2021 by Dr Pe

[Dr Pe]

Okey, I wanna know if it is possible to change the way the mods counts days, in order to use Earth-like days. Thx in advance.