Transmitting destroys experiment... why?

[PakledHostage]

Especially with the ability to view the pictures/data afterwards, in the science center.

I agree. It would be like some sort of list of achievements. Right now, the science archives are a bit underwhelming. I find I am motivated to do science to unlock more parts, but being able to go through and look at a catalog of photos or data about places my Kerbals have been would be an extra incentive. Photos could even be used to increase public support (and therefore support increased funding from public sources) for our space programs once money is introduced.

[allmhuran]

Yeah, it seems necessary from a gameplay perspective that, with the rest of the design such as it is, you can run an experiment to see if it's useful, and discard it if it's not. But having the thing become inoperable on transmission just doesn't make sense. In other words, there's something more fundamental wrong with the design.

As a solution, all I can do is reiterate my previous suggestion: Make "measurement" experiments (temperature readings, gravity readings, etc) return their entire science value on transmission and eliminate repetition and diminishing returns *entirely*, and have "substance" based experiments single use (yes, render them inoperable as soon as they are used), give them a one-shot low (25-50%) transmission value, moderate (50-75%) transmissions value after processing in a lab module, 100% recovery value (again, no repetition and no diminishing returns!) and the player reset and reuse them for a different experiment (ie, in a different biome) if and only if they have the lab module aboard. Originally I suggested that for surface samples, make them return only, again, 100% value, no need to ever repeat. This is a lot more logical and intuitive, and IMO just works better, eliminating grindiness.

(Actually my original suggestion was no transmission possible for sample experiments unless you have the science lab, since it makes sense that you'd need to analyze a sample to get data from it, so either lab analysis or return).

Edited December 19, 2013 by allmhuran

[dr_jt]

Oh, maybe a camera science part?

There is a Spy Camera in Spaceport that gives you science. I was playing around with it last night but I'm not sure if it is working correctly with the update. You are supposed to be able to take ten rolls of film but it seems to stop at the first one. It doesn't show you any pictures and works much like the other experiments. I plan to play around with it again tonight.

I would like camera that can save pictures and can be mounted on a rover, probe or tripod. I guess we kind of have it already by just taking screen shots so maybe it's a dumb idea.

[dr_jt]

Make "measurement" experiments (temperature readings, gravity readings, etc) return their entire science value on transmission and eliminate repetition and diminishing returns *entirely*,

I don't agree with that. Those type of sensors should be able to continuously be used. Maybe a better approach is to not limit them buy make the return science value very small.

and have "substance" based experiments single use (yes, render them inoperable as soon as they are used), give them a one-shot low (25-50%) transmission value, moderate (50-75%) transmissions value after processing in a lab module, 100% recovery value (again, no repetition and no diminishing returns!) and the player reset and reuse them for a different experiment (ie, in a different biome) if and only if they have the lab module aboard. Originally I suggested that for surface samples, make them return only, again, 100% value, no need to ever repeat. This is a lot more logical and intuitive, and IMO just works better, eliminating grindiness.

I agree that substance based experiments should be one shot or at least have to be reset, (i.e. cleaned), before use again. Depending on the experiment you should not be limited to a reduced transmit value. Much data is electronic anyway. If it is a sample I agree with a reduced transmit level and an full one if returned to Kerbin.

I work in a lab so maybe I'm biased but few of our experiments require the physical samples to ever be used again but all return basically electronic data which we send around the would without any data loss.

[allmhuran]

I don't agree with that. Those type of sensors should be able to continuously be used

Not sure what you mean. I am saying that you can reuse a thermometer as often as you want, but once you have used it in any given biome there's no need to use it there again.

For example, you go to Duna's surface and take a temperature reading. It says -15 degrees. You can transmit this data back. You aren't penalized for transmitting - because that doesn't make any sense - and there's no need to take another temperature reading in the same place (you can if you want, it just won't get you any additional points).