tweak the ladder stats (mass)

[vger]

I just noticed that the Telus LV Bay, the Telus, and the Pegasus 1 mobility enhancers all have the exact same mass, drag, max crash tol, and max temperature.

This is somewhat problematic because even in situations where using a non-retractable ladder piece is more logical (and I don't just mean RP-wise) you're wasting extra mass by using it. It takes about six Pegasus pieces to get the range of a single Telus LV Bay, which means you'd spend 6x the mass to get the same amount of ladder length.

[jwenting]

so? Just consider them more sturdy, of thicker and heavier material. Kinda sensible seeing as you get them earlier, they're more primitive.

Steel vs. titanium anyone?

[Kasuha]

Despite the VAB saying otherwise, they don't have any mass and therefore no drag as well.

[Justin Kerbice]

I didn't ever notice this, but we have to remember KSP is still a beta and many features have been added in a raw/rough/draft state yet (as career mode) I guess. Ladders may be a part of this.

Of course, materials can be taken into accounts, but retractable ladders needs more stuffes (motors, batteries <= they didn't use energy right now AFAIK) and they should be weaker as if its like a piston, the two side bars are hollow.

[Kasuha]

I believe ladders have no mass because if they had it, it would be hard to make ships with them balanced.

For ladders it makes sense, IMO. In real life ladders are usually built into parts so they stay balanced, there are not pieces of useless hardware mounted to the other side to balance them.

The only improvement I'd like to see is the VAB/SPH to acknowledge their zero weight so the part description says zero, and placing it on the ship does not move the CoM.