Need something for rovers to do

[RocketBlam]

I think something the devs should think about in future releases is the answer to this question: "Why would I land a rover on another planet or moon?"

As the game stands now, there's really no point to it, other than the exercise of doing it. I like rovers, I just wish there was some point to building them other than the challenge. Maybe they could have some kind of science gear that requires you to go to more than one location on the surface.

Just a thought.

[Biff Space]

I quite like just driving about, picking a lake / crater / mountain / weird brown valley (depending on planet) and going off to it, but recently I've been playing rover missions from Fine Print, which give you a cluster of waypoints to drive through for science and funds. I recommend this if you use mods and want a purpose to driving rovers.

[KerbMav]

Land close to two or three different biomes and use the rover to get there for surface samples, EVA reports and whatever science equipment you want to add.

I think the Fine Print mod is what you are looking for, as of now the contracts in the core game are lacking diversity, something that might change like e.g. part diversity after the game mechanics are done and more content is added.

And in this regard the CustomBiomes mod too.

Edit: The obligatory "Ninjad!" comment.

Ninjad!

[Renegrade]

Land close to two or three different biomes and use the rover to get there for surface samples, EVA reports and whatever science equipment you want to add.

I thought of that use myself, but then I realized that the mass of the rover could be instead used for more fuel, and I could do a sub-orbital hop at like five times rovering speed... :C

I'd also really love to see stock add some sort of purpose to rovers aside from 'whee!'.

I believe that 0.25 will be focused on Contracts, though, and they may adopt the same strategy that FinePrint has.

[magnemoe]

First small probe rovers can be used for exploring, benefit is that you don't need to take them home.

I once landed rovers on the poles of all bodies except Jool, Bop, Pol and Gilly.

Larger rovers is nice for Mun biomes, one place has 7 biomes within 10 km and multiple with 3.

an rover with a claw is nice for refueling, rescuing kerbals is another use.

Lately, make an fast, light and robust rover and see how much airtime you get on Mun

[KerikBalm]

Currently, their only uses are for gathering science when one lands near the intersection of multiple biomes, and moving around on the surface if you want to land 2 craft, but didn't land precise enough.

I just did a duna mission with a science rover (anticipating multiple biomes) that lacked rocket engines of any sort- just parachuted down, and fixed the wheels (would have worked the same with struts) after impact. I then landed (I fly manual, no mechjeb) a probe controlled 2 person lander as close as I could, it was still off by over 2.5 km.

The rover certainly helped save RL time getting the kerbals and science data back to the mothership.

I do the same for Eve - my eve ascent vehicle thus doesn't need to be designed to carry science instruments (and ideally, jettison them before ascent), and can land at a high elevation - let the rover-lander carry the science and get the landed/splashed down science data - sure, you could just "take data" and walk your kerbals up a mountain, but using a rover saves time.

I also find them useful for getting science from hard to reach biomes - like canyons (although its not that hard to land in them) or the slopes of minmus (which pose a tipping over hazard, although the eva and surface samples are easy enough to get)

[TimePeriod]

I sometimes use rovers as a mobile launch ramp.

[Roskerbos]

I use them to visit anomalies. Anomaly hunting uses a lot of fuel, hovering around looking for them, so my lander's lower stage is pretty much burned out by the time I get near one. The rover gets me the rest of the way, while also carrying the BTDT scanner from technogeeky's Scan Sat Mod.

Fine Print certainly intrigues me, but I fear I may lack the RAM to cope with the addition of yet another mod.

[KingPhantom]

The Stock "Explore"-Missions don't require to plant a flag. so you can do all with probes and rovers.

I did the "Explore Eve"-Contract that way. Now i have a little friend on the surface of Eve. It's a lot of fun with a good rover design (Don't forget to disable Torche of the probe and add lights ).

I decline the Plant a Flag on Eve missions every time.

[StuntMax]

I only use rovers for Fine print plugin generated missions.

And for fun, of course.

[technicalfool]

Moved from General Discussion to Suggestions and Development Discussion.