Save Tim Kerman! - A challenge focusing on implementation

[TelluriumCrystal]

The Story:

The situation at the KSC is dire. Tim Kerman has flown what was perhaps the most important mission in the history of the KSP, but he is now in mortal danger. Following his successful landing near the edge of the Kerbin Desert, Tim discovered that the release mechanism on his space suit had been melted shut. Due to design oversights and budget cuts, there is no way for him to depressurize the suit otherwise. A team of engineers wielding blowtorches, chainsaws, and a forklift are waiting back at the KSC to pry him out, but he is short on time. Only three hours of breathable oxygen remain, and an entire ocean stands between him and the KSC. You have been put in charge of launching an emergency rescue mission to retrieve him. Do you have what it takes? Can you get him back in time? Will his uncle find his socks? There's only one way to find out!

Good luck!

The Challenge:

Well, obviously for most people this will be a cake walk. The rules are pretty straight-forward:

1. Only one craft may be launched

2. You must have Tim physically touching the VAB door next to the "Timer" vehicle within the 3 hour limit (time is measured by the MET of the "Timer" vehicle)

3. Any and all mods are allowed (within reason – no infinate fuel tanks, über powerful engines, hyperedit, etc.)

4. You may not damage, poke, experiment with, drive, or otherwise disturb the meditation of the "Timer" vehicle

However, as a wise man once said, "Life is a journey, not a destination," and as such this challenge awards points not on completion, but rather on how outlandish of a way you manage to accomplish it. You could build a boat that is launched into orbit, parachutes down, rescues Tim, and sails back triumphantly. You could build a rocket that lands near Tim carrying another rocket to fly him home. You could even pick him up in a hypersonic spaceplane and circumnavigate Kerbin before landing at the KSC. After all, you have an entire 3 hours! Make the most of it!

Scoring will be based off of the number of achievements acquired. No points are awarded for completion, but you must complete the challenge for your entry to qualify. You must include the following:

- An image of your craft in the VAB/SPH

- Any images of "achievement get" evidence

- An image showing Tim in physical contact with the VAB from the perspective of the "Timer" vehicle

Videos would be awesome! If you can, please make one (it'd be easier too)! Also, note that achievements MUST CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY to the mission. You cannot just slap rover wheels on the roof of your spaceplane to get the achievement for having them!

The Achievements:

Suggestions welcome!

Land:

10 - I Got Wheels! – Utilize rover wheels (spaceplane wheels do not count)

10 - This Ain't no Seaplane! – Utilize spaceplane wheels

20 - Race Car – Achieve an over-land speed of over 100 m/s

20 - The Journey – Have Tim travel >1km on foot

20 - Take Me for a Ride! – Tim grips a ladder (or sits in a seat from a mod) on a vehicle that travels for >2km without leaving the ground

100 - The Behemoth – Your vehicle, weighing at least 100 tons, travels >2 km without leaving the ground

100 - Low Roller – Your vehicle spends 1 hour touching the ground (may jump up to 10m)

500 - Rocket Car – Achieve an over-land speed of 500m/s

500 - I AM The Wheel! – Your vehicle moves by rolling itself forward like a wheel

500 - Afraid of Heights – Complete the challenge without your vehicle ever going more than 10 m above the ground

100,000 - HOW?!?! – Have Tim walk the entire way back

Air:

10 - Up There – Reach an altitude of 1km

20 - Getting Higher – Reach an altitude of 10km

50 - The Border – Reach an altitude of 69km

50 - Supersonic – Achieve a speed greater than 800m/s without leaving Kerbin's atmosphere (reentry does not count)

100 - Hypersonic – Achieve a speed greater than 1500m/s without leaving Kerbin's atmosphere (reentry does not count)

100 - Landing Like a Pro – Land horizontally like a plane

100 - Hardcore Pilot – In a winged vehicle capable of level flight, never leave the atmosphere

200 - VTOL FTW – In a winged vessel capable of level flight, land vertically under power

500 - The Dive – Have Tim free-fall >1km (he must land safely somehow – "bounce" bug landings do not count)

500 - Around and Around We Go – Circumnavigate Kerbin without leaving the atmosphere

Sea:

20 - Speedboat – Achieve an over-water speed of 100m/s

100 - This Launch Pad is Wobbly – Launch a rocket with Tim onboard from a launchpad floating in the ocean

100 - Aircraft Carrier – Have Tim onboard a spaceplane launched from a naval vessel in the ocean

200 - I'M ON A BOAT – Move through the water, under power, for >5km

1,000 - Hardcore Mariner – Complete the entire challenge without your craft leaving the water (not including getting it in the water, of course)

Space:

50 - Spaaaaace! – Exit Kerbin's atmosphere

100 - Orbit Achieved – Achieve a stable orbit over 75km

100 - We Got Time – Orbit Kerbin 6 times

100 - Side Quest – Deploy a satellite with a probe core and power generation capabilities into an orbit of 150km

200 - I'm on Fire! – Have Tim reenter the atmosphere fast enough to cause reentry effects to appear

500 - There and Back Again – Your vehicle enters space to retrieve Tim, then returns to space while returning to the KSC

500 - Difficult Side Quest – Send a probe on an intercept trajectory with the Mun or Minmus

1,000 - Jebediah's Side Quest – Send a probe on an escape trajectory out of the Kerbin System (Sun escape trajectory)

Misc:

50 - Scratched the Paint – Return with an obviously damaged vehicle

100 - Fill 'er Up! – Refuel your vehicle after picking up Tim

100 - Yo Dawg – Have a vehicle inside/on your vehicle that returns Tim to the KSC independent of the original vehicle

100 - Cutting it Close – Complete the challenge with less than 10 seconds to spare

100 - Made it Back in One Piece – Do not loose a single part from your vehicle (or make sure all pieces make it back to the KSC undamaged)

100 - Batman – Finish the challenge with Tim on the roof of the VAB

300 - Speed Run – Complete the challenge in under an hour

500 - Sightseer – Visit 3 anomalies (not including the one near the KSC) with Tim

500 - No Pod Left Behind – Return the Basic Orbiter pod to the KSC

500 - Slim – Have fewer than 20 parts on your vehicle

500 - The Big One – Have over 300 parts on your vehicle

1,000 - Your Poor CPU – Have over 800 parts on your vehicle

50,000 - What Wizardry is This?!? – Have over 10,000 parts on your vehicle

∞ - |¬µ∂á∫À - Achievement parameters unknown

Note: I have final say over whether or not a submission meets a certain achievement criteria. If it's uncertain, then it probably won't count.

The Leaderboards:

Note: I will only check existing scores for qualification under new achievements if requested to by the submitter.

1. 1096bimu - 2480 points

2. Darren9 - 1340 points

3. Tobmaster - 1190 points

4. TurkeyXXIII - 990 points

5. localSol - 680 points

6. FlandersNed - 430 points (Note: This was an early submission that followed a slightly different set of rules)

7. Kromey - 420 points

8.

9.

10.

Tim's Pick Award: <Once more people submit, the most clever/interesting/awesome/unexpected design will go here>

Take this, you'll need it: Persistence File (0.19.1)

Edited May 25, 2013 by Thrfoot

[firerider521]

I'M ON A BOAT

Sorry, just had to do that. I might cook something special up later, but I'm a bit of a newb, so it's unlikely. My goal? The Tim walking all the way back achievement. Muahaha...

[FlandersNed]

I am in the process of finishing this challenge. As such, I am reserving this post until it is done (I have to go somewhere.)

EDIT: Look like I changed my mind. Woops.

Challenge post is down below.

Edited May 17, 2013 by FlandersNed

[FlandersNed]

I finished the challenge, all stock. Imgur album here:

http://imgur.com/a/ltTen#0

Here is the video of Tim running, albeit at a shorter distance from when he began:

http://youtu.be/eWnMCM2u6v8

Let's tally up the points:

10 - I Got Wheels + 10 - This Ain't no Seaplane + 20 - The Journey + 20 - Getting Higher + 100 - Landing Like a Pro (I think; you can clarify whether I am within bounds to do it.)

Therefore my final points = 160.

This was a fun challenge. I was going for the faster time approach and less show offy but I think I managed to create a spectacle anyway.

Edited May 17, 2013 by FlandersNed

[TelluriumCrystal]

I finished the challenge, all stock. Imgur album here:

http://imgur.com/a/ltTen#0

Here is the video of Tim running, albeit at a shorter distance from when he began:

http://youtu.be/eWnMCM2u6v8

Let's tally up the points:

10 - I Got Wheels + 10 - This Ain't no Seaplane + 20 - The Journey + 20 - Getting Higher + 100 - Landing Like a Pro (I think; you can clarify whether I am within bounds to do it.)

Therefore my final points = 160.

This was a fun challenge. I was going for the faster time approach and less show offy but I think I managed to create a spectacle anyway.

Interesting, and nicely done. Glad you liked it!

I'll be adding the rest of the achievements later today, and I still need to find out how to best measure the elapsed mission time. Perhaps I could create a small craft named "Timer" that just sits on next to the VAB. Either way I still have to figure out how to edit the MET in the persistence file, as simply changing the value to 0 doesn't seem to effect it in-game.

Edit: Your score just went up 150 points for completing the new achievements "Supersonic" and "Made it Back in One Piece"

Edited May 17, 2013 by Thrfoot

[SmallChange]

An excellent challenge! I now know what part of my weekend will be spend doing!

[Kromey]

I've never done a challenge before, but this one looks like a lot of fun, and I think I could pull it off very easily -- but where's the fun in that? I've got all sorts of ideas for very Kerbal-esque designs to rescue Tim!

Quick question: Would a two-part craft (i.e. one that qualifies under "Yo Dawg") also qualify for "Made it Back in One Piece" (assuming of course that no parts detach other than the second vehicle from the first, of course)? I mean, no part is technically "lost", but then again I'm coming back to the KSC in two pieces...

[TelluriumCrystal]

Quick question: Would a two-part craft (i.e. one that qualifies under "Yo Dawg") also qualify for "Made it Back in One Piece" (assuming of course that no parts detach other than the second vehicle from the first, of course)? I mean, no part is technically "lost", but then again I'm coming back to the KSC in two pieces...

If both pieces make it back to the KSC unscathed then I'd say it qualifies. Example: You have a spaceplane that drops off a rover to pick up Tim, and both the spaceplane and the rover return to the KSC within the time limit.

[Darren9]

Do I get the points from a lesser challenge as well when completing a higher one? For example completing "The Boarder" includes "Up there" and "Getting Higher", can I claim points from all three?

[TelluriumCrystal]

Do I get the points from a lesser challenge as well when completing a higher one? For example completing "The Boarder" includes "Up there" and "Getting Higher", can I claim points from all three?

Yep! 101010101101010101

[Kromey]

Well, shoot!

Was doing good, Tim was as good as rescued, when suddenly a rover wheel spontaneously detached, causing the cockpit Tim was in to pop off while the rest of the vehicle went sliding off into the drink!

Darn you, Jeb!

Was probably actually a recoverable failure if I hadn't panicked and forgotten time warp was still on, I probably could have stopped it, swapped Jeb out and left him behind while Tim flew the newly-lightened remains back home. Oh well, it was a good effort, I just need to not get cocky and remember to control my speed!

Anyway, what's this about a "Timer" vehicle now? Do I need to grab the persistence file again for something new?

[TelluriumCrystal]

Anyway, what's this about a "Timer" vehicle now? Do I need to grab the persistence file again for something new?

Good first effort.

Yes, the timer is a tiny rover I placed next to the VAB. It's MET is the total elapsed time, and thus you must get Tim back before it's MET reaches 3:00:00. I figured this'd simplify things significantly. Otherwise the objectives are the same.

[Darren9]

I had a go, if I achieve hypersonic inside the atmosphere and then leave it does that count? I'm supposing it does. Can 100m/s on water be an achievement?

First my 138 ton rover wheeled contraption trundles 2Km over the ground towards Tim. [i Got Wheels!] [The Behemoth]

It then takes off and achieves hypersonic speed inside the atmosphere and goes on to pass 69Km height and into space. [up There] [Getting Higher] [The Boarder] [supersonic] [Hypersonic] [spaaaaace!]

It drops back into normal atmospheric winged flight after jettisoning the ascent stage, flies the rest of the way to Tim under nuclear electric propeller and lands normally as a forward propelled aircraft, Tim then mounts the "suicide seat". [Landing Like a Pro] [Yo Dawg!]

It drives down to the water and travels as a powered boat at 100m/s for around 20Km and takes off from the water. [i'M ON A BOAT]

After flying back to KSC it lands over 2Km short of the VAB as a VTOL and reaches 100m/s over land. [Race Car] [VTOL FTW] [Take Me for a Ride!]

It finally lands Tim on top of the VAB. [batman]

It could be around 1430 depending how it's judged. Maybe more if 100m/s on water is an equal achievement to doing it on land. The whole mission took one and a quarter hours.

Edited May 18, 2013 by Darren9

[TelluriumCrystal]

I had a go, if I achieve hypersonic inside the atmosphere and then leave it does that count? I'm supposing it does.

Yes, it does.

Can 100m/s on water be an achievement?

Sure! I was looking for some more naval achievements anyway.

It could be around 1430 depending how it's judged. Maybe more if 100m/s on water is an equal achievement to doing it on land. The whole mission took one and a quarter hours.

Impressive! It'll be 1150 including the new water achievement "Speedboat". I hope you had fun!

There are, however, some issues with your presentation. As per the rules you were required to provide an image of your craft in the VAB/SPH, as well as a final image from the timer vehicle's perspective. Since your documentation was very thorough I'll let it slide.

But from here on out to qualify everyone must have all required evidence. No exceptions, for fairness's sake.

Edit: I have determined that "I'M ON A BOAT" is a bit over-powered. It has been reduced to 200 points, and the distance requirement has been reduced by 5km. Your score above has been updated accordingly.

Edited May 18, 2013 by Thrfoot

[Darren9]

~snip~

There are, however, some issues with your presentation. As per the rules you were required to provide an image of your craft in the VAB/SPH, as well as a final image from the timer vehicle's perspective. Since your documentation was very thorough I'll let it slide.

But from here on out to qualify everyone must have all required evidence. No exceptions, for fairness's sake.

Thanks, I have a screenie from the VAB, but there was no timer vehicle near the VAB when I got the persistence file and started my assault on your challenge. Many hours of my life are gone. And it's 5am here. It certainly was fun though I might do it again and add some more points in - I've got nearly 2 hours to use up.

[TelluriumCrystal]

Thanks, I have a screenie from the VAB, but there was no timer vehicle near the VAB when I got the persistence file and started my assault on your challenge. Many hours of my life are gone. And it's 5am here. It certainly was fun though I might do it again and add some more points in - I've got nearly 2 hours to use up.

Yeah... I'm beginning to consider reducing the time limit to 2 hours. Seems a bit too easy right now...

I'm going to wait a bit to see how it balances out first though. I guess this is how game developers feel when balancing stats.

Glad you had fun! I'll keep adding achievements as I come up with them, so theoretically you can only earn more points from here on out!

Edited May 18, 2013 by Thrfoot

[Monkthespy]

Couldn't he just smash his visor so he can breath? Lol. Going to be doing my version of the challenge soon; just need to make my hypersonic VTOL a bit more rugged and stable.

Going to be using F.A.R, this is going to be a challenge.

[TheGripenSaidWhat?]

@Monkthespy: Your talking about the same helmet that can survive a fall from ORBIT, Tim aint busting his way out of this one. xD

I'll give this a try a bit later after work.

[Tobmaster]

I have updated my submission, but same vehicle:

Got to 1500m/s 40s slower than previous attempt

Winched Tim's pod onto the plane.

Dropping Tim off at the center

This Time I landed without damage

Points: changes in Italics

10+20 = altitude over 10k

50+100 = hypersonic

100 = landing like a pro

100 = hardcore Pilot

100 = made it back in one piece

300 = Speed Run (under 1hr)

500 = no pod left behind

Total = 1280

I believe this will be all for me

Thanks for the fun challenge

Edited May 19, 2013 by Tobmaster

[TelluriumCrystal]

Well, I have one suggestion, the timer vehicle wont load properly. I think it uses a modded part?

That's strange. I'll go take another look at it...

I forgot the pre takeoff pic, but it only took me 53 min to complete.

Points:

10+20 = altitude over 10k

50+100 = hypersonic

100 = landing like a pro

100 = hardcore Pilot

500 = no pod left behind

Total = 880

Once I have a timer vehicle, I will try again and hopefully get "Back in one piece" and I may petition for "Yo Dawg" since he did ride home in his own pod separate from the original plane...

Thanks for the fun challenge

Everything seems to be in order and all the required images are there (excluding the "Timer" shot – I'll try to get that fixed). As far as "Yo Dawg" goes, the craft must be separate, and the second one must come from the original. Since the pod was carried by the craft, and was not an original part of it, this disqualifies it. Very nice work though!

Glad you enjoyed it.

Edit: I just checked it, and from what I can see it uses all stock parts (though I have a lot of mods so if one of these isn't stock, please do me a favor and point it out )

Edit 2: Further investigation has determined that the hex probe core is not stock. I will be re-uploading a fully stockified persistence file shortly.

Edited May 18, 2013 by Thrfoot

[The mun]

i dont reconize that square below the core

[TelluriumCrystal]

i dont reconize that square below the core

It's a Probodobodyne RoveMate, which is a stock part.

[The mun]

i dont see lines on the wiki picture

[TelluriumCrystal]

i dont see lines on the wiki picture

Not sure what you mean by that...?

Anyways I've updated the persistence file to what should be stock-compatable. Give it a try now!

[1096bimu]

How are the space challenges possible within the time limit? You can't go to Mun within 3 hours....