Taking a break from KSP actually makes you more experienced?

[Clockwork13]

So, I recently had a burnout and took a break from KSP. Before my burnout, I was able to get a very distance Eeloo orbit or a 800km Laythe orbit. Well, today I managed to land on Laythe-With a stage to spare! I bet I could leave Laythe again even if I had enough spare fuel.

Here is progress so far:

I did this completely stock except for Chatterer.

EDIT: I would even try to land on the surface if I didn't have to do a 5333 m/s burn.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Clockwork13

[theend3r]

I guess so. I took my first break after making a return trip from all the bodies. After that I found out how great SSTOs are and played with them until I got bored. Currently I'm on my 2nd break. Still, you burned out pretty fast.

[FenrirWolf]

You shouldn't need that large of a burn, just aerobrake into orbit. Or directly into the landing if your whole ship is a lander.

[Comrade Jenkens]

I'm on my 3rd burnout atm. Really hoping this one isn't permanent.

[Zeroignite]

I seem to play a few hundred hours, then take a three-version-break, then come back

That seems to be enough change (both in the game itself and the mod environment) to keep things fresh for me.

[xcorps]

Happens to me IRL all the time. I'll be trying to solve an issue at work and either unable to figure an immediate solution or have issues executing a solution. I'll stop and take a break or do something else, come back to it a few minutes (or hours) later, and presto...I'll see something or figure out something that let's me solve the problem. A change in perspective from taking a short break can be a lot more efficient than pounding away.

[The Destroyer]

I burn out every 3 or so versions, then get back the next version.

[Kasuha]

A break does not make you more experienced. But it may make you start thinking again about things that you used to consider elementary which may lead to doing them better.

[Epthelyn]

One of the problems I find after playing for more hours in less time (relatively minimal compared to some, given that I'm only at 140 hours on Steam) is that you slip into rocket-building habits which may or may not be good. I don't tend to add lifting stages and suchlike to the sub-assembly list so either I modify a previous rocket or rebuild it from scratch with a similar design. Any flaws in the design which make it inefficient are usually copied over.

However, if I leave the game for a few days and return planning a new mission I will need to rebuild the lifter but I won't remember how I built it. I'll build something new based on the principles I know work but it won't be exactly the same and therefore may be a little better.

The same applies to rocket stages and missions other than launching into orbit, but it's the most obvious example I have encountered.

[Highlad]

Honestly I would disagree with you there Kashua. Experience is just down to how much time you spend learning/thinking about or playing KSP so you could take a break from playing but still keep up with the forums and continue to watch youtube videos to learn new tricks.

[xrayfishx]

Honestly I would disagree with you there Kasuha. Experience is just down to how much time you spend learning/thinking about or playing KSP so you could take a break from playing but still keep up with the forums and continue to watch youtube videos to learn new tricks.

I'd say both are probably true.

[Xaelath]

Currently on a burn out now. Got distracted to L4D2 and Portal 2 after not opening Steam in months.

[madmat]

The problem with taking a break is the little green men are already ingrained in your head, it's only a matter of time until you return to the fold. Once you KSP, you can never leave.

[Liowen]

A break does not make you more experienced. But it may make you start thinking again about things that you used to consider elementary which may lead to doing them better.

Very well said.

Also stepping away sometimes helps with perspective, you could just be overwhelmed at the time. After a short brake I found myself able to do much more as I did not have my past failures fresh in my mind, and as such I had less for me to think about.

[fenderzilla]

I think the thing about KSP is it's so sandbox-ey that it's only interesting if you make it so. You need to come up with your own cool missions, or it's just boring.