The KSP Caveman Challenge - The Next Generation

[Scarecrow71]

I am honored and humbled to bring to you, all of our fellow Kerbonauts, the 6th iteration of the Kerbal Space Program Caveman challenge.  I would love to have gotten the blessing of either @JAFO or @Mr. Peabody, but neither has been on the forum in quite a long time.  So in order to keep this challenge going and active - which is one of my personal favorites, btw - I have decided to just take over administrative duties.  I hope this is ok, and if it is not, then may the kraken strike down any craft I attempt to fly.

NOTE:  If anyone has completed the Caveman challenge under any of the previous threads but has not received recognition, please post herein with a link to your mission report or post(s) from the other threads proving you have finished this.  I will go through and validate any and all who request it!

 

KSP Caveman Challenge

Facility upgrades are forbidden.

Terrible runway and launchpad.

Part count of thirty and vehicle mass limit of 18.0 tons.

No fancy patched conics, no maneuver nodes and no Deep Space Network.

Abhorrent fear of technology as primitive as can be.

Acquire 1188 Science Points to unlock twenty nodes of the technology tree.

 

Challenge Rules:

Stock career mode (DLC expansions are allowed)

EVA construction is allowed and even encouraged

Use of Green Monoliths to unlock tech nodes is allowed

No mods that alter game play (mods used for graphics, radio chatter, ect. are fine)

Use of the KER and/or MechJeb mods, or other mods that provide more information than the stock game does, is not permitted

 The Making History option "Allow other Launchsites" is not permitted (it makes Caveman life too easy)

No use of Mods or Cheat Menu in separate games

No cheat menus or any other shenanigans

No kraken/ladder drives or similar contraptions

Use of spreadsheets and/or external launch window calculators such as the Alex Moon Launch Window Planner, are permitted

 

The minimum amount of proof needed for a challenge entry is screen shots of:

Your difficulty settings. (Including advanced/custom settings if needed.)

Your Science Archives, showing where the bulk of your science came from.

The KSC to show no buildings were upgraded.

Your tech tree to show that you completed Tier 5.

 

However, we strongly encourage you to also post interesting screenshots in occasional updates to this thread. It's always fun (and interesting!) to see the different approaches people take to the challenge.

 

 

Help Resources:

Previous challenge threads are the best compilations of previous attempts and useful information, but there are some other places you should check out as well. For your convenience, they are all listed below.

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• The Original KSP Caveman Challenge - Thirteen pages full of design ideas & previous attempts
• The KSP Caveman Challenge 1.1 - Seven pages of comments and previous attempts
• The KSP Caveman Challenge 1.2 - More attempts and information
• @MinimalMinmus's Resonant Orbit Table - Extremely useful tool for interplanetary missions
• @olex's Transfer Window Calculator - Great for planning transfer windows and ejection angles
• The 1.7.3 Community Caveman Jool-5 Mission - A Jool-5 mission with caveman technology
• The KSP Caveman Challenge - 1.3 - 1.10  - Thirty pages of design ideas and previous attempts
• Jacke's KSP Science Checklists - A fantastic product, custom-made to help Cavemen find (and keep track of) those precious science points, no matter where they're hiding
• Blaarkies' Commnet Planner - A wonderful tool that helps Cavemen (and others) design communication networks.
• The KSP Caveman Challenge 1.11 - 1.12 - 24 pages of Caveman attempts and ideas

There are 7 levels of challenge to aspire to, and one Special Award:

 TALC: Complete Challenge in Easy Career Mode

You should be able to make quick work of this soft-rock career

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Scarecrow71

 Apatite: Complete Challenge in Normal Career Mode

The minimum amount of flare.

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DennisB
Scarecrow71

 Vanadium: Complete Challenge in Moderate Career Mode

A tool's hard edge can make all the difference.

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DennisB

 Topaz: Complete Challenge in Hard Career Mode

Happy, shiny caveman.

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Scarecrow71

 Corundum: Custom Difficulty

This career would not wear down a tough caveman...

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 Diamond: Custom Difficulty

For brilliant cavemen, possessed of fire.

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  Nano-crystalline Diamond: Custom Difficulty

Hard caveman. Good luck, you'll need it!

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 The Trilobitic Order

Legendary cavemen & cavewomen

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dvader	Visited Duna, Ike, and Jool.  Landed on Bop.  Completed Nano-Diamond.
Minimal Minmus	Visited Duna and Ike.  Completed Diamond.
Muetdhiver	Landed on Duna & Gilly.  Visited Eve and the Joolian system.  Completed Diamond.
Incongruous Goat	Completed Nano-Diamond.
joshudson	Visited Jool and Laythe.
zanie420	Landed on Gilly.  Visited Eve.  Completed Nano-Diamond.
paul_c	Visited Duna.  Landed on Ike.  Completed Nano-Diamond.
Sirad	Landed on Duna.  Visited Joolian system.  Landed on Tylo.
WarSprite	Visited Duna.
king of nowhere	Visited Joolian system.  Landed on Bop.  Completed Nano-Diamond.  Completed Nano-Diamond with Kerbalism and landed on Duna.
Fred Flintstone	Invented the yabba-dabba-doo.

Let it be known that there are no formal requirements for earning this badge.  You must go above and beyond.  Reach with all your might.  Strike out on a path that no other Caveman has gone on.  Only through the most difficult trials can one hope to achieve this legendary status.

Badges:

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Talc awarded for completing talc	Apatite awarded for completing apatite	Vanadium awarded for completing vanadium	Topaz  awarded for completing topaz
Corundum awarded for completing corundum	Diamond awarded for completing diamond	Nano-Diamond awarded for completing nano-diamond	Badge of Honour awarded for completing everything!
Order of the Trilobite awarded for exceptional merit & dedication

 

Edited October 13, 2024 by Scarecrow71

[DennisB]

  On 10/9/2024 at 9:59 PM, Scarecrow71 said:

NOTE:  If anyone has completed the Caveman challenge under any of the previous threads but has not received recognition, please post herein with a link to your mission report or post(s) from the other threads proving you have finished this.  I will go through and validate any and all who request it!

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You should check the final page of the old thread. There are some entries. I've completed the challenge on the first three levels, but only the first one was noted on the wall of fame. I've started on the next level (hard) too, but didn't complete it, because I started my Eve mission.

[Scarecrow71]

@DennisB

I've gone through the last page, and I am happy to award you the badge for Vanadium (Moderate)!  Ooga Booga!  You can go ahead and claim the badge with the appropriate mineral-shaped object in it!

Unfortunately, you don't have any screenshots for your settings, research, or the KSC from your Apatite (Normal) run, so I cannot give you credit for that one at this time.  If you provide the shots, or if you re-do the challenge, we can discuss getting you that Apatite badge!

 

@king of nowhere

Were you not already a member of the Order of the Trilobite, you would have received this honor for your Nano-Diamond/Kerbalism run with a landing on Duna.  Well done!

For those who wish to read about this achievement, you can do so here:

 

@Sirad

I am thoroughly blown away from your mission to land a Kerbal on Tylo and return them home in Caveman.  The ship you constructed, both on the ground and in orbit, is nothing short of remarkable.  Were you not already a member of the Order of the Trilobyte, you would have earned that here.

For anyone that wants to read/see the mission, you can do so here:

 

Edited October 10, 2024 by Scarecrow71

[DennisB]

  On 10/10/2024 at 7:31 PM, Scarecrow71 said:

Unfortunately, you don't have any screenshots for your settings, research, or the KSC from your Apatite (Normal) run, so I cannot give you credit for that one at this time.  If you provide the shots, or if you re-do the challenge, we can discuss getting you that Apatite badge!

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It's in the post above the other one.

  On 3/15/2023 at 9:07 PM, DennisB said:

Apatite level completed.
 

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In this round I didn't use an airplane, but I will need one on the next level. On Kerbin I got science only at KSC and where I landed after the missions. This time I took instead of the science for money the science for reputation strategy, but it's not as good, as the other one.

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Edited October 10, 2024 by DennisB

[king of nowhere]

thank you for taking over the challenge!

[Scarecrow71]

  On 10/10/2024 at 8:36 PM, DennisB said:

It's in the post above the other one.

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I missed that!  Ooga Booga!  Go grab that Apatite badge!

[Ultimate Steve]

Here is my attempt at Caveman Nanodiamond!

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Difficulty settings page 1

Difficulty settings page 2

Immediately upon accepting the 2 contracts I always do, there is a problem: Even with no jetpack, chute, and monopropellant, I cannot afford to launch a single command pod.

The other pod is even 2 funds worse.

And I can't even cancel the contracts to accept the ones I should have accepted, which would have actually given me enough money to launch stuff.

Thus, I have managed to lose Caveman Nanodiamond with a final score of 0.0 science, 0 tech nodes unlocked, 0 launches, and 336 funds.

Jokes aside, the rules state no Kerbal Engineer and no MechJeb. I'd rather not make a whole new KSP install just for this challenge or deal with shuffling mods in and out, but is it alright if I have them installed, but not actually use them? Would be honor system. If that's not ok, that's fine, I just thought I'd ask first just in case.

[Scarecrow71]

@Ultimate Steve

Unfortunately, you can't even have them installed.  I verified that for my Normal run years ago.  So you will in fact need a clean install for this.

[RoninFrog]

  On 10/12/2024 at 3:02 PM, Ultimate Steve said:

Here is my attempt at Caveman Nanodiamond!

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Difficulty settings page 1

Difficulty settings page 2

Immediately upon accepting the 2 contracts I always do, there is a problem: Even with no jetpack, chute, and monopropellant, I cannot afford to launch a single command pod.

The other pod is even 2 funds worse.

And I can't even cancel the contracts to accept the ones I should have accepted, which would have actually given me enough money to launch stuff.

Thus, I have managed to lose Caveman Nanodiamond with a final score of 0.0 science, 0 tech nodes unlocked, 0 launches, and 336 funds.

Jokes aside, the rules state no Kerbal Engineer and no MechJeb. I'd rather not make a whole new KSP install just for this challenge or deal with shuffling mods in and out, but is it alright if I have them installed, but not actually use them? Would be honor system. If that's not ok, that's fine, I just thought I'd ask first just in case.

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IIRC you'll also need to uninstall the DLC's.  My run got marked as DLC even though I didn't use any parts or mechanics from them.

Edit: Actually, other people completed the challenge with DLC installed and didn't get marekd.  IDK why mine got the little green star lol

Edited October 12, 2024 by RoninFrog

[Scarecrow71]

  On 10/12/2024 at 10:04 PM, RoninFrog said:

IIRC you'll also need to uninstall the DLC's.  My run got marked as DLC even though I didn't use any parts or mechanics from them.

Edit: Actually, other people completed the challenge with DLC installed and didn't get marekd.  IDK why mine got the little green star lol

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The DLC's are quite ok and have been for some time.  I'm not sure why yours was marked differently.

[Sirad]

@Scarecrow71

Thanks for your comments on my Tylo Mission.

That was so hard, even while not played on Hard :-), i had to take somewhat Time off from KSP.

I am Thinking of something even more hard (Landing on Several Planets in one Mission) ? grb. that would be somewhat i may need Eons for to complete and maybe a Year to Plan in advance) or need Multiple launches with Ground Construction to get a Bunch of FLT-800's into Space.  Hmm....
So why do we climb those Hills? ...because they exist.

I Like that Challenge. Quite a good Example of HOW astonishing this Game is that you can get Fun, out of nowhere but someone saying 'Try that'

PS: i havent been aware on that mission that 'dlc' is not allowed' but, while not using them anyhow, anywhere along the route, i feel no shame at all.

Edited October 30, 2024 by Sirad

[Scarecrow71]

  On 10/30/2024 at 1:18 PM, Sirad said:

PS: i havent been aware on that mission that 'dlc' is not allowed' but, while not using them anyhow, anywhere along the route, i feel no shame at all.

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DLC is allowed; not sure where you got that from.

[Sirad]

I Started to Play a Nanodiamond one....

Noticed that accidentally declining a Mission kills the game :-)
Wrong. Not accidentally declined it. If you apply to the same mission again (like testing a swivel again, after testing a swivel), it automatically fails. Erm.

Edited November 4, 2024 by Sirad

[RoninFrog]

  On 10/13/2024 at 3:25 AM, Scarecrow71 said:

The DLC's are quite ok and have been for some time.  I'm not sure why yours was marked differently.

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Could be because I used green monoliths to unlock nuclear engines and then I sent Jeb to Eeloo and Dres.  but that's a stock feature

I dunno

[Scarecrow71]

  On 11/5/2024 at 3:13 PM, RoninFrog said:

Could be because I used green monoliths to unlock nuclear engines and then I sent Jeb to Eeloo and Dres.  but that's a stock feature

I dunno

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Yeah, I'm not sure that's it either.  The use of Green Monoliths is also allowed; it's like 5 or 6 lines down in the opening post of the challenge.

[fourfa]

Anyone recall any tips for finding a “landed on water” biome spot on Kerbin? It’s my last Kerbin biome and my white whale

standard searching results in a lot of “build a submarine” and “build a colossal raft” answers that so far, I’ve been unable to accomplish in Caveman. I’ve been scouting by airplane for biome map errors where a corner of Water biome crosses land on thin peninsulas and the like. I remember finding such spots years ago, but I think there was a biome map cleanup in later versions that cleaned it up

[Scarecrow71]

  On 12/20/2024 at 5:26 PM, fourfa said:

Anyone recall any tips for finding a “landed on water” biome spot on Kerbin? It’s my last Kerbin biome and my white whale

standard searching results in a lot of “build a submarine” and “build a colossal raft” answers that so far, I’ve been unable to accomplish in Caveman. I’ve been scouting by airplane for biome map errors where a corner of Water biome crosses land on thin peninsulas and the like. I remember finding such spots years ago, but I think there was a biome map cleanup in later versions that cleaned it up

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I believe you'll need to find one of the lakes in the Grasslands biome.  There are contracts that come up all the time for "splashed down in the Grasslands", and I could swear I saw a post YEARS ago that talked about being able to get landed in water as well in relation to that.  So try that, perhaps?

Beyond that, you may need to sink to the bottom of the ocean.

[fourfa]

Maybe I can try a rover made of girder clippium, it might be just enough to sink a Science Jr and Mk1 pod

[fourfa]

Actually, yes it is possible to sink a buoyant Mk1 pod with a bunch of girders clipped inside service bays.  So far I have not found an accessible section of Water biome ocean bottom that's less than crush depth, as I need all 30 parts just to make a heavier-than-water rover that can drive from a spawn point.  Work continues...

A few hours later...

OK, service bays stuffed full of 1.25m heatshields with full ablator can sink anything.  So far, there are no Water biome bottoms that you can drive to from a spawn point, that are above crush depth.  Might have to revert back to looking for biome errors at sea level.

Edited December 22, 2024 by fourfa