Setting the throttle to zero at launch by default

[Voculus]

Is there a way to prevent the throttle from automatically being set to 50% at launch? Many a helicopter has landed on its roof in my eagerness to start the engine. Also, has anyone else noticed how KSP now cuts the throttle to zero automatically, if your ship is still on the pavement at the end of the runway? I only noticed that when doing a runway speed challenge yesterday, and would rather manage the throttle myself. Thanks!

[Streetwind]

The second thing is a known bug.

[Padishar]

The second thing is a known bug.

To clarify a little, it appears that your throttle and SAS state (and possible RCS state) randomly gets copied from other vessels that are nearby (and, according to some reports, not so nearby ones too). If you try the same thing in a save with no other vessels (even flags or debris) then it won't happen.

[Jananton]

While everybody seems to focus on the second part of the question and tell it's a known bug, how about a possibility to force the throttle to zero when moving a vehicle to the launch site or runway? I too would like to know if and how that can be done until that setting is fixed by an update. ;-)

Greets,

Jan

[Pecan]

It's not likely to be "fixed by an update" since Squad seem to think it's a good idea to have it at 50%. 0 or 100 I can understand but apparently this is the way it "used to be" so they've put it back that way. Makes no sense to me, but there you go.

[Cerberus738]

I would prefer it at 0.....

Not that i should be doing this anyway but i leave test platforms on the launchpad. Do my test and then recover some parts that "fell" off. Then when i go back all the activated engines start at 50% and destruction ensues. I could change my ways... but CHANGE IS HARD! Plus i've noticed if you pause the game and then unpause, the throttle goes back to 50% again... destruction ensues.

[Boomerang]

I'd like an answer to this as well. 50% seems very odd and occasionally problematic.

[Scarecrow88]

Seems a strange choice to me too. Don't think I have ever launched any of my rockets with a 50% throttle setting. As you have to change it anyway, why not leave the default as 0, as that solves other possible problems caused by the current default setting.

[Kethevin]

I'd like the option to have it set to zero at start as well. It's causing more annoyance than any problem it seems to solve.

[Joe32320]

Its a real problem if you're using the kOS mod, because a program sets the throttle to where it was before executing once it has finished. That means a launch program will terminate after a successful launch, and send the throttle to 50% unless you changed it prior to launch.

I don't mind it being a default option, it would just be nice to set it to 0, or 100% if you so wished, rather than a fixed value for all.

[Jean Deaux]

Not this discussion again...

[LostOblivion]

It's completely uncalled for, especially with all the problems this seems to make. Focus on the important things!

[Pecan]

Not this discussion again...

Must have been before my time on the forum.

When was it discussed before and what was the result?

[entaran]

There's a pretty cool button on your keyboard, it's near left shift called "x". Push it.

Or get floorit from the mods section (which works fine in 0.24)

[Jananton]

Not this discussion again...

Hmm, a link would have been nice. <g>

My feeling about this is, well eh, to quote that guy with the pointed ears; 'Illogical Jim, very illogical'. LOL

Greets,

Jan

[Voculus]

There's a pretty cool button on your keyboard, it's near left shift called "x". Push it.

Or get floorit from the mods section (which works fine in 0.24)

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

[Kerbart]

It's not likely to be "fixed by an update" since Squad seem to think it's a good idea to have it at 50%. 0 or 100 I can understand but apparently this is the way it "used to be" so they've put it back that way. Makes no sense to me, but there you go.

Players who are new usually just jump straight in, without bothering to read any documentation. Heck, experienced players don't read the documentation given all the "OMG I'm saving the Kerbal but he doesn't do anything once he gets close to my ship" posts.

So, what happens when you stage on the launch pad (pressing the spacebar is a fairly obvious thing to do)?

Nothing. At least when throttle is zero. At 50% "something" happens although it's usually not enough. Now the player is encouraged to figure out how to increase throttle. With 0% they're not even aware there's a throttle contorl.

Experienced players who want 0% throttle? They press X

A single keystroke is not that much work, and it makes the game easier for starting players. I don't see what the issue is.

[Pecan]

Oookay, if you say so. Sounds a bit too much like forcing failure as a learning tool, I suppose a 'throttle' tooltip/popup would just be too easy ^^.

[Voculus]

Players who are new usually just jump straight in, without bothering to read any documentation. Heck, experienced players don't read the documentation given all the "OMG I'm saving the Kerbal but he doesn't do anything once he gets close to my ship" posts.

So, what happens when you stage on the launch pad (pressing the spacebar is a fairly obvious thing to do)?

Nothing. At least when throttle is zero. At 50% "something" happens although it's usually not enough. Now the player is encouraged to figure out how to increase throttle. With 0% they're not even aware there's a throttle contorl.

Experienced players who want 0% throttle? They press X

A single keystroke is not that much work, and it makes the game easier for starting players. I don't see what the issue is.

It's a wonder that any one of us ever got off the launch pad without the throttle automatically set at 50% for us, isn't it?

[xcorps]

It's a wonder that any one of us ever got off the launch pad without the throttle automatically set at 50% for us, isn't it?

You can leave the Launchpad?

WHAT WIZARDY IS THIS!

[Tortoise]

Why have the throttle start at 0%? It's quicker to throttle to full, for launch.

Engine's shouldn't start automatically unless you hit the stage button to turn them on or find another way.

If you do want it at 0% you can tap X as soon as you hit the launchpad or runway.

I'm not sure of any other way.

[Voculus]

Ok, it wasn't my intention to whine in this thread. I was simply asking if anyone knew of a way to stop the auto throttle, and there's not. So now it's time to whine. Having the OPTION to set the throttle to zero at launch would be of a great help to many a player. I was once a noob, and didn't know jack. Yet somehow, my pea brain overcame the hurdle of having to actually do something with the rocket to get it to lift off.

[FleetAdmiralJ]

While everybody seems to focus on the second part of the question and tell it's a known bug, how about a possibility to force the throttle to zero when moving a vehicle to the launch site or runway? I too would like to know if and how that can be done until that setting is fixed by an update. ;-)

Greets,

Jan

Press X to kill the throttle? The throttle setting to 50% is not a bug. it's an intentional change.

[Jananton]

Press X to kill the throttle? The throttle setting to 50% is not a bug. it's an intentional change.

Well, I thought my remark implied a script or something to fix this, I know about the 'X' key, but why should I be forced to press a key in any case, either shift or 'X'?

An added option to choose for a default percentage in the game settings dialog, what someone mentioned here before, would be a good idea to let the user decide what's preferred.

I suppose we're lucky our cars don't start at 50% throttle when we ignite it. LOL

Greets,

Jan

Edited July 23, 2014 by Jananton
additional thought

[monophonic]

Players who are new usually just jump straight in, without bothering to read any documentation. Heck, experienced players don't read the documentation given all the "OMG I'm saving the Kerbal but he doesn't do anything once he gets close to my ship" posts.

So, what happens when you stage on the launch pad (pressing the spacebar is a fairly obvious thing to do)?

Nothing. At least when throttle is zero. At 50% "something" happens although it's usually not enough. Now the player is encouraged to figure out how to increase throttle. With 0% they're not even aware there's a throttle contorl.

Experienced players who want 0% throttle? They press X

A single keystroke is not that much work, and it makes the game easier for starting players. I don't see what the issue is.

An understandable concern. But the attempt at fixing it...

I would prefer it at 0.....

Not that i should be doing this anyway but i leave test platforms on the launchpad. Do my test and then recover some parts that "fell" off. Then when i go back all the activated engines start at 50% and destruction ensues. I could change my ways... but CHANGE IS HARD! Plus i've noticed if you pause the game and then unpause, the throttle goes back to 50% again... destruction ensues.

...has been poorly executed. It is actually making life harder for all players, experienced and novice alike. My expectation was for throttle to be at the announced 50% when first loading the ship on the launch pad. I cannot accept throttle moving when returning to ship that was already on the pad when I decided to visit mission control or science or whatever as valid UI design, nor it moving when pausing and unpausing the game. Luckily in all likelihood that part is a valid bug, unless Squad has said otherwise. Anyway I'd much rather have it remember where the throttle was when I launched the previous rocket and restore it to that. First default before anything was launched in a new game could be 50% for all I care.