Wobbly Rockets with David 'Trigger' Tregoning - KSP2 Dev Chat

[Kimera Industries]

9 hours ago, Datau03 said:

19 hours ago, Kimera Industries said:

Those big interstellar ships seen in the trailers, probably assembled in orbit with docking ports, are gonna suck if you fire your engine and get a bowl of spaghetti. 

I agree with everything you said, just wanted to hopefully excite you by reminding you that we will be able to build craft directly in orbit via orbital colonies

7 hours ago, Pthigrivi said:

Which is very much welcome. The only place I ever encountered wobble in KSP1 was with really big orbitally assembled ships, so to be able to create continuous structures and properly strut any out-rigged modules will be a huge help. 

The capability to assemble in orbit without needing to launch will be really interesting. I wonder how the game will calculate this, like if there's a set cost per ton or something, or if you get to test a launching vehicle on your own, and however many tons it gets into orbit and the cost of the vehicle is used to calculate that.  Or, if the new science mode even uses money at all. It probably should, but not like KSP 1 did, at least. Perhaps when you have colonies assembling vehicles with their own baby VABs (I actually wanna see a tiny cute VAB now) you manage local resources, not money. As far as orbital colonies go, O'Neill cylinders, anyone?

I don't think farming/greenhouses will be crucial to gameplay, because KSP doesn't really do life support stuff. It's probable some centrifuge pieces are coming, and I think a good justification for a part not "necessary" to space travel would have a different benefit, science. Science in KSP 2 is probably gonna be focusing on long-term data more, as simply getting a temperature report is... well, boring, but also one of the more unrealistic aspects of KSP science. Having a centrifuge onboard a craft could give data like, "Gravity Ring Report #3, 2 Months of usage: "The artificial gravity makes life easier, and more fun. Don't tell Bob it was me who pushed him down the tunnel to the centrifuge." Or something like that. Greenhouses could also give data for plants in space worth science as well. Just as long as it's long-term data that accumulates.

Perhaps different categories of science should be called for- after all, in KSP 1, science is used to unlock new tech. Greenhouse and Centrifuge data would give you more "Life support" points, to get more related parts of that category. (Even if Kerbals aren't dependent on them for their lives) Thermometer data gives you heat shields and radiators, and crew reports get you more advanced cockpits. A preliminary planetary base, (Maybe a Martian style HAB) gets you better colony pieces. Then again, that might make things overwhelming and complex, but it would be fun, right?

Technically, in KSP, an interplanetary spacecraft only needs Kerbal "storage," (as simple as a bunch of EVA seats,) fuel, and an engine. And yet, time and time again, players add gravity rings, extravagant accommodations for their crew, and overly complex mechanisms. Why? For the same reason you might build a fancy bedroom or toilet in Minecraft: a touch of realism, accompanied by something maybe a little goofy, functional, and aesthetic, too, has a strong appeal to it. That's what KSP is all about- realistic, funny, (when it needs to be- wobbly rockets have no novelty to me), and cool-looking.

Spoiler

Especially the cool-looking part- those KSP 2 SSTOs look SO HOT 

Forgive me if I got a little long-winded, this spacecraft has a lot of wind in his solar sails... 

Edited October 12, 2023 by Kimera Industries
Shortened quote.

[Periple]

6 hours ago, Kimera Industries said:

The capability to assemble in orbit without needing to launch will be really interesting. I wonder how the game will calculate this, like if there's a set cost per ton or something, or if you get to test a launching vehicle on your own, and however many tons it gets into orbit and the cost of the vehicle is used to calculate that.  Or, if the new science mode even uses money at all.

They’ve repeatedly said that there will be no money.

I expect that once resources are implemented the cost will come from that and you’ll have to deliver what you need to your orbital VAB. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the interim solution is.

[Kimera Industries]

7 hours ago, Periple said:

They’ve repeatedly said that there will be no money.

I expect that once resources are implemented the cost will come from that and you’ll have to deliver what you need to your orbital VAB. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the interim solution is.

Oh, that's a relief. Funding. always getting in the way of all those cool missions. Building supply rockets is gonna be cool, I wonder how mining will turn out. I think some dedicated action groups for mining parts + a simpler UI for resource transfer would be a HUGE help.

[Jimbodiah]

No weak joints and 80% sale is the only way I will ever by this thing.

[Infinite Aerospace]

2 hours ago, Jimbodiah said:

No weak joints and 80% sale is the only way I will ever by this thing.

I dunno that's a bit harsh, of the joints are sorted out and there's a significant increase to game content, i.e. science and career it wouldn't be hard to recommend. But unless that changes I cannot in good conscience recommend to anyone to buy it.

[Infinite deaths]

It would be nice to be able to attach radial components at multiple points, ie. radial decoupler at top and bottom of a radial tank. Or maybe some visually different strut devices for a bit of variety.