[WIP] Mass Relay - Warping all over the place

[Molybdene]

Hi,

Answering to this topic, I started working on my first plugin, with the help of Frizzank for the desining of parts

The concept is having some way to warp vessels from one orbit to another, using parts that you send on the location previously

Here is how it will work as for version 1:

A bit like the mass relay from Mass Effect, in fact, ence the name.

- If you have a tracking device (new part) on your ship,

- If you are "close enough" of a Mass Relay (new part),

- If there is at least one other Mass Relay somewhere on space,

Then you will have a "Warp" button available for you to click on, and it will get you to your new destination. Several buttons if more than one "other" warp engine available.

Of course, the first version will be only a "proof of concept" mod, next version will make it less overpowered. Here is the list of things I'd like to include at some time:

- Power requirement - at least 1 000 000 power consumed for a warp, more the far you want to go. Maybe getting yourself in trouble if you warp with not enough power.

- Parts Improvements using Science - more science spended means better parts, meaning lest power, and the "close enough" distance increased.

- Multi-part station: instead of a mass relay, creating something like a warp ring using several "mass relay" parts in circle. harder, but can be cool

- Some limitation: do not try to warp Mass Relay, impossible to warp during acceleration/high speed vs the target, those kind of things

I gladly accept any suggestion.

EDIT:

Plugin is almost done for the first release.

Here is a short video showing the awesome design work of Frizzank, followed by the answer to the question: what happened if you try to warp a mass relay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYs5o0dKV3c

Edited November 12, 2013 by Molybdene
video

[Sapphire]

Since you don't have a download link yet, I'm going to move this into the Add-on Development forum.

[rosenkranz]

IRRC, the mass-relay itself provides the power.

I'm not sure I'd consider this OP. I suppose it'd really depend on how arduous it was to put up the mass-relays and maintain them.

For example if the relay consisted of parts that had to be brought up and assembled in orbit, that could be a considerable challenge all by itself. Especially since its twin would have to be man-handled out to the destination.

If you want to stick to the relay logic, they were all pairs. So for each destination relay, you'd have to have an origin relay.

[Molybdene]

For now it's just a single light weight part, but I did want to make a multi-part warping engine, and having people going trough circles looking like that: http://imgur.com/a/SdWat#0

And for the destination part, what I currently made (and it's working after three days of developpement, including the "how do I plugin" first day) is displaying a list of available Mass Relay all over the galaxy (giving the planet & orbit distance) for you to select. No pairs because for now I can't find any way to simply giving a pattern/id to ships (maybe with the ship names...), but you still need a Mass Relay at destination.

[Pigbear]

Perhaps you can find a way to figure out where the Relay itself is pointed so you can do an unguided launch (which is not safe when you are aiming at a planet and using full power) with varying amounts of power (slider maybe?) to determine how far it fires.

[Molybdene]

It kinda goes against the "two mass relay in sync" part of the module... but why not for early build.

You can already do that with engines and small vessels/Kerbin, as featured by Danny2462 (

for example)

But I may consider it for early builds in carrier mod

Edited November 1, 2013 by Molybdene

[Sapphire]

Here's a thought: Have two types of relays, and one transponder part.

One is an exit relay, and is basically a giant hollow circle. This relay is unresponsive and does nothing by itself.

The other part is a launch relay, and is basically shaped like the classic mass relay. It has to be targeted at an exit relay, using a function similar to Mechjeb's targeting SmartASS function.

The last part is a relay transponder. Having this turned on and flying close to a launch relay will sling you through and spawn you at the targeted exit relay.

[Molybdene]

hmm, why not. the "targeted at an exit relay" sound easy enough, but that will require moving the launch relay and switching back to the transponder. that sounds like a "feature here just to be more realistic".

What I thought for "later" versions will be having the relay turning itself automatically before sending your ship after you clicked the warp button. Kinda the same thing as you suggested, but without the need to do it yourself. after all, the launch relay and the exit relay are supposed to be linked/sync

[Pigbear]

It kinda goes against the "two mass relay in sync" part of the module... but why not for early build.

You can already do that with engines and small vessels/Kerbin, as featured by Danny2462 (

for example)

But I may consider it for early builds in carrier mod

Well you don't have any idea where you will exit however unless you know the EXACT power for it to be where you want. A few hundred off can mean a lot.

[trekkie_]

this has been done already with another mod that has been around for quite a while. it consists of a few parts: an endpoint part you put somewhere else, and an engine part that allows your vessel to travel between the start and endpoint, allowing you to choose between various endpoints. I used to use it to make seed vessels that seeded end point in orbit all over.

Edited November 2, 2013 by trekkie_

[Molybdene]

HyperDrive is not supported since February I think. So I decided to made my own.

And it is kinda different. Instead of having the warping device on you (so that you can warp from about anywhere) you have to be next to the warping device (mass Relay) in order to be able to warp to another mass relay.

And I plan on having the mass relay to be a multi-part ship that you have to assemble in space

[Pigbear]

HyperDrive while it (kind of) works it laggy as hell to go anywhere besides orbit of kerbin from Kerbin

[Molybdene]

I'm trying to make something very light and not overpowered, HyperDrive was (is?) a nice plugin, but provided you have enough energy, you can go anywhere from anywhere, and even land.

[frizzank]

So this is just a concept and textures are just temporary. The rings rotate mass effect style gyroscope thingy.

The idea is you put this mass relay part on your station, give it a lot of power and it teleports you to another mass relay. Its small enough to fit inside a 2.5m fairing, and is surface attachable, but it would be extremely heavy. Probably necessitating construction in space with multiple launches.

[Molybdene]

thanks Frizzank for this awesome part, I'll use it well ^^

[frizzank]

Another update, Gave the Mass Relay a texture.

It will probably use a lot more power than this but its just an example.

[Molybdene]

\o/ You add cables, like I asked. Love you, Frizz ^^

And for the news-hungry people: I have a working mod as of today, still working on some details for the first release.

[Pigbear]

Another update, Gave the Mass Relay a texture.

It will probably use a lot more power than this but its just an example.

Sucks that that probably collides, I want to fly a tiny probe through it.

[Molybdene]

Haha, let's play Space Quidditch ^^

[frizzank]

Sucks that that probably collides, I want to fly a tiny probe through it.

So let it be written, so let it be done!!!

[Molybdene]

gaaah.

Trying it now.

[Molybdene]

it fits \o/

But someone stupid added some RCS thrusters on the side when I wasn't looking *kof*

Edited November 5, 2013 by Molybdene

[kaldak]

Awesome! I've been quietly wishing for a mod like this since I started playing.

Some thoughts on how I would balance it:

• Mass relays are heavy, and probably need to be launched in parts
  
• Mass relays require massive power to warp a ship, but only briefly. So massive battery banks (or capacitor banks from Near Future Propulsion) and a few large solar panels might work well. Basically, you'd need to build a small space station just to operate the relay. Maybe the power requirements would scale based on the mass of the object you're sending through?
  
• The targeting computer mounted on board the ship would take significant power just before a warp, but nowhere near the relay itself.
  
• You can't send relay parts through a mass relay, so getting the relays to other planetary orbits remains a challenge.
  
• Mass relays work both ways. I don't really see the need for separate start and end versions.
  
• Attempting to use a relay within atmosphere or while landed goes very badly...
  

Essentially it gives you a nice shortcut for returning to places you've already been, but doesn't make exploring the solar system trivial.

Anyway, yay, thanks for tackling this!

[Molybdene]

Here is my answers to your thoughts:

- Mass relays will weight more than 60tons. For now only a single part is available on my dev plugin, Will add stargate relays after first release.

- Mass relays will require massive power to warp (probably over 9000!!!), and it will cost more to send farther. Random orbit around the sun if power requirement not met.

- I did not plan on having the targeting computer consuming lots of power before a warp. It's just a computer that allows you to clic on "WAAARP LOLZ".

- You can try to send mass relay parts using mass relay. But that will be like dividing by zero and both ships will be destroyed.

- Can't use a relay when landed, I had no issues with atmo-relays as it will not result in a stable orbit, but now you mentionned it, I can find some ways to exploit that, so no atmo it is

In conclusion, your vision of this plugin is exactly what I have in mind. I added things today, like having to be on close encounter with the mass relay to be able to warp (less than 100m, less than 0.5m/s with the mass relay)

Edited November 5, 2013 by Molybdene

[Pigbear]

realisticly a mass relay would rip your ship apart in atmos.