Starting Fresh with KSP

[OUScooby]

This afternoon, I decided to start all over again with a new KSP career. After backing up my previous game just in case I ever wanted to go back, and saving a few of my creation I might want to use again in my new game, I deleted KSP, and and am now re-downloading it from Steam. The reason I am doing this is because I was getting too reliant on MechJeb and the game was becoming uninteresting. I installed MechJeb when I was having trouble getting the hang of docking. I was trying to build a large ship in orbit and since I kept failing trying to dock the pieces together I installed MechJeb to do it for me. After that I soon began using MechJeb to do my launching, thinking, "I've done this launch before sucessfully, I already know I can do so I'll let MechJeb do it this time." Pretty soon MechJeb was doing my flying, and playing the game was more like setting maneuvers for MechJeb to execute, walking away, and coming back later. It all began to make playing the game just boring. I also suspect the this version of MechJeb or a conflict with and older version of MechJeb was causing some bugs in the game, hence the fresh install, not just deleting MechJeb.

Anyway, starting anew, and it'll be nice to start fresh with a little more experience and not have the blood of hundreds of dead Kerbals on my hands. Plus I've got a good plan of progress so I'll have some goal to try and achieve. First get to the Moon and back again, first with rovers then with Manned missions. Then do Minmus again. Then build a space station, then a Mun Base, maybe followed by a Minmus base. But a space station around the Mun, and again maybe another on Minmus. Only after I've conquered all of Kerbin's system will I let myself get distracted by the other planets of the solar system. And I think I'm going to stay all stock, except for a mapping satellite mod, I want to find the Easter eggs on my own this time, not just look up where they are from someones YouTube video.

Here goes nothing... again.

[SuperWeegee4000]

Can't you make multiple save files in KSP?

EDIT: Ohhhhhhhh....

Edited June 22, 2013 by SuperWeegee4000

[Vanamonde]

Kids, let this be a lesson to you; mods lead to the dark side!

[leax256]

I can relate to the mechjeb. At one point I made mechjeb do almost everything for me.now I only use it for Smart A.S.S, The node Editor, and all the info stuff.

[-RanZ-]

another mocking mechjeb thread... if people want to use mechjeb who the F cares, let them do it. If you don't want to then don't.

[regex]

another mocking mechjeb thread... if people want to use mechjeb who the F cares, let them do it. If you don't want to then don't.

Easy there, chief, there's nothing in OP's post telling other people how to play.

[mr_yogurt]

This is why my sig is my sig. Mods do tend to take away the original feel of the game....

I'd use them more often otherwise.

[-RanZ-]

Easy there, chief, there's nothing in OP's post telling other people how to play.

OP is not at fault here, just everyone after is probably going to turn it into an anti-mechjeb thread

[Dizzle]

So... you're getting pissed about something that hasn't happened?

[Uberick]

Good luck on your new beginning; I hope it goes well for you!

I, myself, bounce between using mechjeb alot for some things and not at all for others. When I'm using probes, or anything with really long burn times, I automate pretty much everything. I usually do burns on my grand tour probes while I make my morning coffee and such, and it's nice to let them "do their thing" while I'm off doing something else.

I've never used the docking or redezvous autopilot because I tried it once and it burned so much fuel I got annoyed and turned it off. . . haven't used it since.

For my manned missions, I try to do everything manually; I find that I get sucked into the piloting and the game can get very immersive very quickly. I'm trying to cut back on quicksaving(which I think is just as bad as Mechjeb addiction as far as killing immersiveness), I do that too much.

[OUScooby]

another mocking mechjeb thread... if people want to use mechjeb who the F cares, let them do it. If you don't want to then don't.

I'm not mocking MechJeb at all. In fact, I think it's quite an impressive mod, it's just that I was becoming too dependent on it. I was using it to play the game for me rather than use it as a tool to aid in game play. I think perhaps I should have got more proficient in flying before I started using it. Already after just a few launches I already miss the orbital info, and I'm finding it difficult to make a near circular orbit launch, I'm having to relearn that all over.

[Fel]

OP is not at fault here, just everyone after is probably going to turn it into an anti-mechjeb thread

Congratulations, you just turned this into an anti-mechjeb thread by proactively protesting about this being turned into an anti-mechjeb thread.

Of course, "if you don't want to read about the lives MechJeb has ruined, don't read about it" also works ;p

I'm not mocking MechJeb at all. In fact, I think it's quite an impressive mod, it's just that I was becoming too dependent on it. I was using it to play the game for me rather than use it as a tool to aid in game play. I think perhaps I should have got more proficient in flying before I started using it. Already after just a few launches I already miss the orbital info, and I'm finding it difficult to make a near circular orbit launch, I'm having to relearn that all over.

Kerbal Engineer Redux has some decent informational stats; or you can look up VOID (http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/void-vessel-orbital-information-display-2/)

I would also advise against ISA MapSat... what it does is reads where the easter eggs are and pretty much just gives you the information... but there isn't a large demand for "Not Softcore" type of gaming mods.

[bsalis]

@OP

Good luck on your new persistent.sfs

Personally i'm planning on a wipe in .21 since it may be the only option.

[NeoMorph]

Kids, let this be a lesson to you; mods lead to the dark side!

Hell yeah... I'm a VERY heavy mod user and I had to do a LOT of research to figure out that a specific mix of mods caused editing in the VAB made my video card go into meltdown. Artifacts all over the screen, flashflashflash and then... blackness. Fans inside the PC case shut down then start up... and the screen appears again... More artifacts and a repeat... and repeat... and CRASH!

I really thought my video card had died. But it worked fine outside of the VAB so it had to be a mod. Yeah, Bobcat's Orion mixed with several other mods caused one awful bug for sure. I need to nail the problem down but for now I went back to a clean install and just added a few mods and everything is fine. Scared the doodoo out of me as I can't afford a new card (saving for my XBone - yeah, deal with it lol).

[ASnogarD]

I use MechJeb2 for 2 reasons, the info on delta v and ships...and to kill rotation occasionally.

My last lifter has a weird spin just after releasing the first stage in the middle of my gravity turn... I would run out of fuel, separate the first stage and let it drift away a bit, start my 2nd stage and complete insertion but for some reason the release of the first stage causes spinning (ship is symmetrical and compact, no logical reason it should suddenly start trying to break the spinning top records)... and as I dont want to end up in a polar or counter orbit, I let MechJeb2 kill the rotation.

Hardcore pilots and their full joystick and throttle with pedal controls can take off MechJeb2 if they want to wrestle with the craft... I just want to get the loving designed spacecraft to orbit so it can fly (the craft itself flies beautifully in space, the lifter is the spinning sod of doom).

The only mods I would consider 'cheating' (though single player cheats dont really count) is the ones that modify engines to skew the power to weight ratio... a extreme example would be allowing a ant engine to boost 300 ton craft to orbit

Most of the mods I have seen seem to just add aesthetics, functionality or more things to do (NavSat , Kethane <3 )... so its all good.

[regex]

Hardcore pilots and their full joystick and throttle with pedal controls can take off MechJeb2 if they want to wrestle with the craft...

You don't need a bunch of gear to properly control a craft; keyboard and smart design work just fine.

I will never use MechJeb because I enjoy the piloting aspect of the game. Getting a particularly unwieldy craft into a circular LKO and doing manual transfers, and landings is satisfying. I use a few helper mods for sure; alt-tabbing to spreadsheets is bad gameplay (and I installed Kerbal Alarm Clock but actually have yet to use it...). I actually wanted to use the Docking Cam standalone mod but it prevented me from ending a mission and, at the end of the day, it was more confusing than the horizon ball.

Anyway, good on OP for not giving up on the game and identifying his source of apathy.

[ASnogarD]

My comment was a bit on the exaggerated side... basically I meant if you are player that enjoys piloting then wrestling a craft is your bag, but some of us just enjoy making spaceships.

Now I dont mean its all fine to make some nasty mess that only MechJeb2 could possibly fly, hence I only use the kill rotation function... I could in theory, especially my current lifter which only has a slight rotation when I start my gravity turn but as I want to see how much fuel the sucker needs on a reasonably efficient 45% turn at approx. 10k km in the air at a 90% heading, I rather not need to Hold F - Pulse D and mess with Q and E while hitting Shift (toggling SAS via T is even more problematical for me).

You would probably consider the lifter a milk run compared to some of the heavy lifters some players use...mine is currently only lifting 45 tons.

I guess its all down to individual tastes but I would rather not have MechJeb considered the same as some wallhack or aimbotter type tool.

[AHO]

I'm actually the opposite, I Like setting the maneuver nodes and trying to set the most efficient course for mechjeb to execute. I'm a terrible pilot personally so it's not very enjoyable for me . I actually got bored when I deleted mechjeb! I like the realism aspect of the game so I use mechjeb for practically everything as basically all rockets are completely or near completely automated.

[NeoMorph]

You like setting the nodes yourself eh? How about when you just move into a planet or moon's SOI and it is almost impossible to click on the line and add a node. It's one instance that drives me nuts with this game. In the end I say "BLEEEP IT" and then use MechJeb to do it for me lol.

Seriously, the node system needs fixing. Have you ever clicked on your path and the "Add New Node" dialog appear and then start bouncing around the orbit? It gets to be a game in itself... click on the bouncing node. Then there is when you have a node open... you are dragging the handles and POP... it shrinks to the default icon... you click on it and POP! it vanishes totally. You manage to get a new one open and it isn't where you want it so you move it along the flight path and POP! it vanishes.

Yup... the node system is a good idea but it really needs some work to get it stable.

[jordanjay29]

OP, have you tried ORDA or HydroJeb? Those might be a suitable, lightweight solution for docking assistance if that's all you need.

[Tankbuster32]

I've tried using mechjeb, but it was too boring and removed that element of trial and error that we all know and love!

[OUScooby]

I've forgotten what a joy it is to fly rockets in this game. I'm really enjoying myself and happy I started over. I've started a mission log for my new United Kerbin Space Agency, for those who are to follow along...

United Kerbin Space Agency Mission Reports

[Kerbol Prime]

When I was just a beginner at KSP, I used MechJeb. WAAAAAY too much. And plus I had like a million mods installed. So when a new version came out (.18 I think) I decided to play pure stock from then on.

[AntonioAJC]

This is why I don't support mods like mechjeb, they take the fun and experience away from the game. This mod literally plays the game for you.

I am playing this game without any mods and without custom parts. Everything I do is stock. And guess what, it's still freaking fun!

Edited June 26, 2013 by AntonioAJC

[elkar]

This is why I don't support mods like mechjeb, they take the fun and experience away from the game. This mod literally plays the game for you.

I am playing this game without any mods and without custom parts. Everything I do is stock. And guess what, it's still freaking fun!

Not for me. If I imagine I would have to focus so much on each of dozens lounchs and play without docking camera or KSPX parts, I just wouldnt be playing at all. Its just a personal preference, stock game partwise and utilitywise is still kinda shallow for me.