Some random questions.

[hesthefastest]

Hey,

Can anyone answer some of these finer points of inquiry?

-Is it ever worth it to attach nosecones with decouplers in order to separate them after launch?

-Do decouplers still carry mass after they are decoupled?

-How do you have kerbals attach winches/fuel lines? Is that in vanilla game?

Thanks a bunch, I'll probably be back with more.

[EvilotionCR2]

-Do not even mount nosecones if you want to be efficient

-If you mean that separated stage's mass is not subtracted,then no.

-Yes,fuel lines are in Propulsion category,and struts in structural,there are mods homewer that add struts that automaticly create a connection between two docked objects (quantum struts mod).

[42undead2]

To number 3, there is a winch mod called Kerbal Attachment System (KAS). It's got winches and other stuff.

[Geschosskopf]

-Is it ever worth it to attach nosecones with decouplers in order to separate them after launch?

At the present time, and in the vanilla game, no. This is because in vanilla, you don't need nosecones at all because the game pays only cursory attention to aerodynamics. Thus, nosecones do nothing but add useless weight, although they do improve the looks of your rocket. Note, however, that one of the things on Squad's to-do list is putting in realistic aerodynamics so expect this to change eventually.

Now, if you want to do mods, there's one called Ferram Aerospace Research (FAR) that puts in a more realistic aerodynamic model. If you use this mod, then you really have to pay attention to streamlining and nosecones become practically a requirement. And then you often have to get rid of them once out of the atmosphere because they cover up the front end of the ship, where you often want to have a docking port.

There are several other mods (KW Rocketry, Nova Punch, and Procedural Fairings) that contain parts to build big, complex nose cones. These are for like surrounding an entire lumpy space probe or something, like in real life. These are great things if you use FAR but aren't necessary otherwise. But anyway, these fairings naturally have built-in separators to peel them off whatever they were covering.

-How do you have kerbals attach winches/fuel lines? Is that in vanilla game?

It's not vanilla, it's the Kerbal Attachment System (KAS) mod.

[BostLabs]

As to your first question... That would be up to you. It you have a need or just a desire to do it then it would be worth it.

nose cone, small fuel tank, side rockets, decoupler = very simple weapon.

[Saaur]

If you want aerodynamics AND a docking port, I suggest building an escape tower with a cone on top.