Your opinion on current science

[spectrhz]

The science system is strange to me, when I first got ksp, I got it because of its huge sandbox, and found myself not wanting to use it and just going back, I'm not sure what is planned, and probably won't even use some of the new features in future updates. I think it's awesome squad is adding and tweaking all these features, but for me, i gotta keep my box of sand

[rcomber]

I have to disagree, for reasons that have already been stated elsewhere. In KSP, designing a successful aircraft is harder than designing a successful rocket. You'd basically be selling them a game of rocketry, but telling them that they have to go do something else before they can play with said rocketry. It's more realistic, yes, but realism doesn't equate out to good gameplay.

Then give basic planes at level 0 science. Upgrades for them later perhaps, but fixed wing flight should not be 3 levels into the science tree. The science system should make sense and that piece does not. You'll still get good gameplay and allow planes to do science on Kerban initially.

[Eric S]

You'll still get good gameplay and allow planes to do science on Kerban initially.

Not necessarily, you're at the very least throwing more parts at new players and avoiding that was a major consideration in how they set up the tech tree. I do think that plane parts could come earlier, but not level zero, and probably not level one.

[alacrity]

Taking a sampling for the posts I think we are in general wondering at the same thing.

Why planes take so long to get to is a little frustrating. I think dual branching model might work. Tech 0 unchanged but the two paths for tech 1-3. One with atmospheric the other ballistic Barometer and therm science in one, accelorometer and gravioli detector in the other. Then merge them back together as SSTO level engines and interplanetary engines get folded in.

AS far as actual science mechanics I kinda like the science lab (Tho autopopulating it before launch would be nice... don't judge me) but I would like to see a little cross talk on parts. Like Goo Data, and EVA readings going in together and producing different science. Or accerlerator and gravioli data working together to make small leaps.

Also as imagined in several posts, the idea that space station and off world ground bases should be ale to do science over time. Make it even more interesting with the idea the a certain group of Kerbals can only get so far then have to be replaced with others to move the research forward. Give us a reason to send replacement Kerbals to Duna bases and get the old ones home.

With Reputation and Money folded in getting these kerbonauts back could be rewarded by all three...15 points of science, 25k in kerboDollars, and some rep for the agency or the kerbonaut himself.

Giving reasons to try new mission profiles to old destinations, should be the goal for each improvement, but it should also be a goal to make each mission separately fun. Little things like a reason for return missions, Space station maintenance flights, rover delivery missions, all add to things. Even you plane pilots need to have reasons to fly about other than buzzing the tower...(I keep crashing into that damnable thing).

I think the science in .23 is a good second step and points to massive improvements.

Alacrity

[Tankbuster32]

Something like needing to visit certain places to get access to certain things, like having to orbit the Mün to get landing legs.

[MR4Y]

Something like needing to visit certain places to get access to certain things, like having to orbit the Mün to get landing legs.

That makes no sense logically. Plus, apparatus that worked the same way as landing legs existed before moon landings.

For me, science is hard to learn for newcomers and complicated to even learn how to use. Add the illogical skill tree and the lack of any tutorials on how to use science(And before you even think about the beta excuse, the game has tutorials that cover launching, orbiting and other game mechanics already. You're wrong.) makes me steer away from career mode. I'm not gonna play that mode to be frustrated. There's a limit of how much the game should not teach you how to use stuff. And, just because you're able to figure it out yourself how science works, doesn't mean everyone is able of doing so.