Using stock Parts only...for or against?

[Callisto]

Hey everyone,

I'm making a series on YT and was wondering whether to explore the mods that are available on the spaceport... but I'm in two minds about it! I want to improve the series, but I know a lot of YT-ers use mods and it seems a bit 'same-old' now...

A part of me thinks that they expand the game and offer a wider gaming experience, the other thinks that it's not quite what the developers intended and can almost become cheating...

I mean, i love the challenge of creating huge ships/space planes/cargo planes and weaponised crafts and the pride of knowing you built it... but then I want to have moving parts and things...

What do you all do?

p.s. Here's my latest video if you want to give it a watch.

Refueling Stranded Kerbals, Space Stations, Space Planes & Space Weapons - STOCK ONLY!!

[SkyHook]

Well don't worry about little ol' me, but my personal rule is that I will not watch a series without mods. There are many people who would disagree with me though. Like, a lot of people.

EDIT: It's funny because you mention mods being "same old," but that's how I feel about stock parts. With mods, everyone can have a different combination of mods and new ways in which to use them. Besides, many stock creations are the ugliest things I've ever seen.

Edited February 5, 2014 by SkyHook

[lammatt]

first law of sandbox game.

- play it how you like it.

======================================

well... other than that...

i think it depends on what you think about the stock things

if you think using stock only is a fun challenge and you enjoy it, play it stock

if you think the stock parts are very limited when it comes to planes (B9/firesplitters...) and structurals (B9/Bobcats/KAS...) and functionality (remote tech/interstellar/KAS/Kethane/TAC life/HOME...), get those....

but if you think playing stock is the way and think people who play with mods are just bad at the game... think otherwise. (i dont see how the mods are making the game easier, unless you are talking about those super OP ones...i dont see intersteller or remote tech or TAC life or those kind that make the game easier)

Edited February 5, 2014 by lammatt

[Callisto]

So different combinations of mods are good to see? Interesting...

I know what you mean about the ugliness, but I've definitely seen some interesting stock contraptions... Macey Dean, for instance...

[Callisto]

I know the planes are a little under represented in the stock part area, especially with the engines/propellant... so I've given the firespitter mod a go in the past and loved it... but they're going to be difficult to apply to a space plane!... although, that would be an interesting challenge!

[running]

Everybody should do what they want.

Personally, I avoid mods because:

- If bugs appear the cause is not any mods I installed.

- If I need a part it should come with the game. (So I'd be more tempted to suggest improvements or find a work around.)

- Some mods offer something that is missing, but in doing so they eliminate the need for the elaborate work arounds I come up with.

So the message here is that less parts can force you to be more creative. (Like writing blue with a red crayon.)

[Luckless]

Personally I dislike parts mods due to their tendency to massively increase load times, and therefore I avoid them at all costs. Stock parts are enough to have fun with, so if I'm modding the game I'm doing it to add features and controls, not just 'more parts'.

[Boris_T_Roach]

I use 2 mods only

Remotech and MechJeb

Mechjeb because I want the orbital readouts and quick and easy way of docking or adjusting flight path

Remotech for the cool looking antennii..

Everything else from my little SRB munshot challenge to the Whackjovian Duna rover I built have been out of standard parts

[Dirty Bob]

I've run stock since .23 for the most part. I wanted to see what the balance of career was like with stock parts only. I had enough invested in it to keep going after everything was unlocked. It has helped me become more creative which is something I struggle with mightily.

I always played with mods before so I definitely like them as well. I'd say just do what you want and don't worry about what people will want to watch.

[Flowz0r]

I have a philosophical problem with modding a game that is still in development.

So purely vanilla it is for me.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Flowz0r

[Kasuha]

I don't use mods but I don't think mods are bad. They give you more options but also allow you reaching for higher stakes. Use whatever will make you happy with the result.

[Guest]

I build a wide variety of vessels, most of which I can't kludge together from stock parts alone. Therefore I use a wide variety of mods parts, but I toss out the stuff I find I never use.

This game was designed with modding in mind. Play it how you wish.

[SRV Ron]

I keep two copies of the game for basic play, stock, and one with NovaPunch plus KW rocketry. I have a third just to play with the Alternate Kerbal universe just for show using the Dr Who Tardis mod.

Slowdown in loading and the risk for crashing will occur if one has too many mods added to their game.

The parts mods give greater flexibility in designing efficient and big launchers for heavy payloads. Some examples;

Fuel can stock;

Fuel can mod

Big Launcher;

With the usual predictable instability from such huge designs

[Guest]

I use mods extensively. TBH, stock parts seem rather boring to me. Also, you'd be hard-pressed to make anything that looks like a real rocket with stock parts (besides small designs), and I have an intense dislike for "asparagus monsters" and clipping exploits people usually use. Oh, and all but the simplest stock spaceplanes are dog-ugly and full of clipped parts. I have successfully launched enormous designs using 5m NovaPunch parts, and that's without clustering tens of boosters you'd need to lift this kind of loads in stock game. Oh, and you have no payload fairings in stock game, besides structural plate-based abominations that will slow most systems down to a crawl.

[KerbMav]

I shy away from mod-engines, but mod parts are quite often just cosmetic, different cockpits, tanks, wings, lights, new textures (for planets, clouds), FX, sounds ... etc.

The biggest chunk are plugins adding readouts and easier handling to the game (like engineer, alarm clock, targetron's ship list, editor extensions), followed by new "concepts" (e.g. robotics, attachment system, remote control), some "world changers" (aerodynamics, deadly reentry) - which for me are the only real modifications, the rest being additions rather -, accompanied by mods that are only really viable with other mods (procedural fairings to make use of the new aerodynamics for example).

So, I am all for using what makes any one player happy.

When it comes to youtube I would probably drop out if the player was using mods that stopped the game being a game and become something like a software for interior design in space, putting bases and stations into orbit with a mouse click or something like that.

And I play this game for what it is, a space program simulation about building and exploring - so I do not like weapons in my game or in KSP videos.

[rhoark]

Being early access, the state of the game is not what the developers intended, only what they have had time to do. Many mods echo things on Squad's roadmap, including Ferram, Deadly Reentry, Kethane, Joint Reinforcement, new planets, Multiplayer, and B9. Modded KSP is what the developers intended.

[Callisto]

Personally I dislike parts mods due to their tendency to massively increase load times, and therefore I avoid them at all costs. Stock parts are enough to have fun with, so if I'm modding the game I'm doing it to add features and controls, not just 'more parts'.

I like this. Thinking about it, some of the mods seem to be shortcuts to getting places... But then again, the firespitter mod which adds propellers is a nice addition.

[Callisto]

Hmmm, well it seems that the majority use STOCK, or little mods... thanks for all the feedback!

[Redrobin]

Stock, for more of a challenge, but I sometimes use mods because of better engines.

[morph113]

I would consider myself a KSP newbie with only having played 150 hours so far. But up until a few days ago, I was playing exclusively without any mods (except chatterer for athmosphere). Not that I got bored, but I somewhat never really liked how insane and unrealistic big rocket designs with big payloads look with stock parts. I am using now KW Rocketry and Procedual Fairings and suddenly the game is even much more fun than before, with decent looking rockets. I may try out a few more, but will go back to stock when the next update hits, at least for a while

[Jart]

Newbie here...

I have 2 versions of KSP one modded and one not. I play the unmodded version now and will at least finish out career mod without mods, Okay, confession I have one mod, the MK2 cockpit internals. I like to use that as a one man pod a lot. Cheers

[Motokid600]

Well if your not atleast playing with Rbray's clouds your doing yourself a great injustice that much I will say.

Now don't hurt me... Buuut I kinda delete ALL stock parts. Only keeping a few spaces.

[metl]

Well don't worry about little ol' me, but my personal rule is that I will not watch a series without mods. There are many people who would disagree with me though. Like, a lot of people.

EDIT: It's funny because you mention mods being "same old," but that's how I feel about stock parts. With mods, everyone can have a different combination of mods and new ways in which to use them. Besides, many stock creations are the ugliest things I've ever seen.

I'm sort of the opposite. If I am wanting to learn more about the game, I want to watch a stock video. Some of the mods out there drastically change the way the game is played and can be really confusing.

[Pontiac]

You're going to find three camps. Right now, I'm watching a series on YT for a guy who, up until recently, was using just stock stuff. Then he got into mods based on suggestions, and basically stated "[verbatim]I don't want to abandon the stock series, but [/verbatim][literal]I've just been so obsessed with the Mods series[/literal]".

For me, I use mods to mostly help me get stuff done and add an avenue to do something productive. Parts wise, so far I've got Kethane as "something to do" and a few additional tools to help me maintain my ships and stations. For managment of my fuel reserves, I use TAC Fuel balancer and most recently installed Goodspeed Auto-Fuel Balancer. This helps me stir the fuel around.

YMMV, but, its ultimately up to you. Do what makes you happy.

[regex]

A part of me thinks that they expand the game and offer a wider gaming experience, the other thinks that it's not quite what the developers intended and can almost become cheating...

I completely agree. Anyone who uses mods, especially in their Youtube episodes, is a dirty, stinking cheater. Avoid mods if at all possible.