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redshift9
Joined: 28 May 2005
Posts: 21
Location: Carrboro, NC, USA
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 Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject: Ship classes: atmosphere capable, or not |
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It might be interesting to have two broad categories of ships: those that are capable of atmospheric flight, and can land on a planet, and those that are space-only, and limited to space stations and small moons.
The obvious disadvantage to non-atmo ships is that they can't do business (or refuel!) in every system, because many systems don't have a station or inhabited moon. The advantages, though, are that they have a lower mass, because the frame doesn't have to be strong enough to support the ship's weight or handle the extreme stresses of takeoff and landing. A lower mass means you get better acceleration and maneuverability. Additionally, design possibilities are virtually unlimited, because aerodynamics can be completely ignored.
Maybe non-atmo ships would give you more bang for your buck in terms of weapons capacity and maneuverability - a good choice for a pirate or warship.
Perhaps the biggest non-atmo ships would have capacity to add a "drop ship" to ferry cargo, allowing them to do business with planets. Of course, this would be an expensive add-on to save up for (use of the drop ship could be completely transparent. Just like buying the Inertial Compensator decreases your ship's mass, buying the drop ship gives you the ability to trade with planets. The player would just "land" on a planet like usual. It would be neat if the landing animation showed a little ship flying away from the player's main ship, though).
Last edited by redshift9 on Thu Jun 02, 2005 6:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:01 am Post subject: |
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Of course, that means that space-only space ships should be designed for maximum cargo capabilities.
"It's a Borg Cube!!! Aaaaah!!!"
-Mogul
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Cap'n Hector
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 85
Location: CA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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I like that idea…it would work better if the planet/ship size ratio was a bit more realistic…but that might make the game less fun.
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Cap'n Hector |
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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No it wouldn't. Could you imagine having this huge planet fill your cock-pit view and just be struck with awe... at least until you hit the atmosphere and explode  .
Remember, keep it sot that we travel relativisitic speeds because that would make the game no fun. It may not be realistic, but it's fun.
-Mogul
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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 447
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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The problem with huge planets is huge textures.
As for speeds, that's completely true. I tried a game called VegaStrike once, which was focusing on realism. They had to include a function to "speed" time up to make the game playable  I don't want to do that.
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redshift9
Joined: 28 May 2005
Posts: 21
Location: Carrboro, NC, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| I've given a bit more thought to this one. If a planet doesn't have the resources to build and maintain a full-fledged space station or moon base, they might be able to build a structure that's simply an orbital refueling depot. Traders flying non-atmo ships would have more opportunities to refuel, and planets that are too poor to build a standard space station (and therefore have limited opportunities for trading) can at least get a little revenue from fuel sales. |
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HedgehogTree
Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 35
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds interesting. One question though, you would have to buy these ships at space stations and small moons, wouldn't you? because otherwise they'd get crushed. And also, where would they put them so that you can't see them from space?
-HHT |
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appleide
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Sydney, Canada. (oops I spelt australia wrong...)
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| In sci-fi novels I read, giant capital ships never land on planets... Like the ships in Halo novels, eg. The ships were built in space and stay there. |
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:13 am Post subject: |
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yup
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appleide
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Sydney, Canada. (oops I spelt australia wrong...)
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| You think we can make a plugin based entirely on the halo universe? Like if we ask bungie would they let us? |
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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You woldn't be able to ask bunjie, you'd have to ask Microsoft... do you think that they'd let you do that?  Besides, they also wouldn't do that because they're still making money off it. If there's a free alternative, do you think that they'd just stand by and calm their lawyers?
-Mogul
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appleide
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Sydney, Canada. (oops I spelt australia wrong...)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| If there's a free alternative, I'll play them all! (I have halo1+2, plus all the novels, actually, my brother bought them...) |
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:34 am Post subject: |
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Nononono, what I was saying was that they would sue us if WE tried to duplicate HALO.
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appleide
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Sydney, Canada. (oops I spelt australia wrong...)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:35 am Post subject: |
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nah... We'd make it so well their lawyers won't budge... from their computer playing Event Horizon...
just j/k though. |
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:37 am Post subject: |
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LOL 
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