Community Event / Creation Buckyball Racing Club presents: The Aquarian Job (06.05.3303 - 14.05.3303)

AkenBosch

AkenBosch
Bruski said:
Happy to report that race prep is going well:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU58aaYHwKQ

http://i.imgur.com/VJ1BDVL.png

Guess what happens next!

http://i.imgur.com/ctVQVIa.png

Don't look at the clock...
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"Latest update from the racetrack: racers are warming up!" :D

I didn't take a look at the clock, but I did take it at that "Hostile" flag down there: Powerplay stuff? I'm afraid I didn't take this into account :( Hope it won't cause you troubles.

Re: the race length estimate, in my last "simulation" I completed the run in a little under 34 minutes. I took a fairly relaxed approach during flight, and even in the SRV I took my sweet time to stop and notice I hadn't assigned the scanner to a fire group smell the roses...I think the most advantage came from knowing already were to land and where to go for the recall.
I've not yet tried a proper run at the best of my abilities, but I expect it can be done in around 30 minutes even not counting bonuses.

Plan the way in, plan the way out. ;)
 
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Darkfyre99

Darkfyre99
Meanwhile, at Cooper Arena's security office (a little cubical in the corner with bedsheets hanging from the ceiling for privacy), the third shift security officer was arriving for the start of her shift.

"Evening, Ralph."

"Evening, Sam."

"Anything new to report?"

"Just some more of those Stupidly Reckless Vehicles."

Sam rolled her eyes. The last couple of days had seen an upsurge of SRVs visiting the little outpost, many of them arriving in an extremely reckless manner. Apparently, some members of the Pilot's Federation didn't realize they were supposed to be surface vehicles, and seemed bound and determined to prove they could fly.

"How many so far?"

"Seven. I'm tempted to call in the Feds, but all they're doing is wrecking their suspension, and accessing the public data point. Mostly harmless stupidity, IMO, though I think the maintenance crew is getting sick and tired of... incoming!"

"That's number eight!"

"Technically, it's the first today. Yesterday ended 24 minutes ago... oh, this is rich. I think they're trying to land inside the compound this time."

The pair watched as the SRV soared through the airless sky, nose towards the ground, it's vertical thrusters accelerating it forward. About a half a kilometer away, it rotated back into a horizontal position, it's thrusters blazing as it attempted to negate its downward momentum. The SRV landed heavily on its wheels, just short of the outpost.

"I can't believe they landed safely! That was what, a 700 meter fall?"

On the security terminal's holofac, the SRV in question hit a rock, causing most of the left side's wheels to pop off and go bouncing across the moon's surface. As the cab of the SRV plowed into the regolith, the two security officers could see the SRV's commander cursing up a storm.

Ralph got up and patted his partner on her shoulder. "It's your turn to tell maintenance they got another pickup to do. At least they don't have to go far this time. Have fun!"

--------------------------------------------------

Mental note: make sure I pick up some iron before making my next run. It was all going so well, up to the point when I realized I didn't have any materials for repair. :(
 

Bruski

Bruski
AkenBosch said:
"Latest update from the racetrack: racers are warming up!" :D

I didn't take a look at the clock, but I did take it at that "Hostile" flag down there: Powerplay stuff? I'm afraid I didn't take this into account :( Hope it won't cause you troubles.

Re: the race length estimate, in my last "simulation" I completed the run in a little under 34 minutes. I took a fairly relaxed approach during flight, and even in the SRV I took my sweet time to stop and notice I hadn't assigned the scanner to a fire group smell the roses...I think the most advantage came from knowing already were to land and where to go for the recall.
I've not yet tried a proper run at the best of my abilities, but I expect it can be done in around 30 minutes even not counting bonuses.

Plan the way in, plan the way out. ;)
Click to expand...

The second screenshot was from a different run as the first, the first was (very) unsurvivable, at over 500% heat.

I hope to be able to get rid of the powerplay flag soon, I'd had it for a month to be able to purchase some prismatic shields for my Iridium Wing escort ships.

Also happy to see pre-race RP! Such fun reading. :D
 

Alec Turner

Alec Turner
Bruski said:
Also the 30m estimate might need to be revised upwards, my first run was close to 40 as well. Hoping to beat 30 by the end of the race maybe? There's several eclipsing issues atm. :(
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Well it's definitly possible in under 35m*1 ... DEFINITELY! ;)

As is this ...

LX1D7qt.png
[B]*1[/B] even with eclipsing and a costly KGBFOAM diversion
 
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AkenBosch

AkenBosch
racer1 said:
Intent to race :)

- CMDR Markzx59
- Class: Adder Fodder
- Ship name: Door Off
- Ship type: Adder
- SRV name: Aston
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Just remember what you're *only* supposed to do with that. Stick to the plan. :p

First look at the staging area, didn't expect such an initial love surge for the Adder Fodder class. I should add a subtitle to the banner, "AKA Revenge of the ever too underrated Adder".
But honestly, what's not to love about that nimble machine and the bizzarre noises it makes. [heart]

Oh, and it's driven from the wrong side too! :D :p
 

Alec Turner

Alec Turner
AkenBosch said:
Oh, and it's driven from the wrong side too! :D :p
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Have to say, not so much this I suppose but the terrible upwards visibility (which really is like trying to fly a Mini Cooper in space), is an absolute p.i.t.a. when you're trying see if the star you're jumping to is still eclipsed (and otherwise just generally see where the hell you're actually going). I'm wondering if it's possible to just cut the roof off this thing and fly the entire course in Remlok. Curse this 1D life support - now if I had a 1A and could complete the course in 25 minutes then maybe ... just maybe ...

2cd0c136d1120ccf3f67b4c08b37497c.jpg
 

AkenBosch

AkenBosch
Jokes aside, yes I agree that upward visibility and the distance from the windscreen in general are the major problems in the Adder, and yet are those very thing that give it the most "car in space" feeling (cup holders aside of course). It's the most Mini thing there's in ED without a doubt.
 

Darkfyre99

Darkfyre99
Just submitted my first entry. The complete run was below 35 minutes, plus I managed to not take any hull damage. :) Biggest jump was 405 meters in the air, 2020 meters in length, AND I survived the landing. (that's important) Would've been higher and longer, but I forgot about the foothills in the way, which also cost me at least a minute getting the rest of the way to Cooper Arena. My gravity braking still needs work and my planetary approaches could be much better.
 

Alec Turner

Alec Turner
Darkfyre99 said:
Just submitted my first entry. The complete run was below 35 minutes, plus I managed to not take any hull damage. :) Biggest jump was 405 meters in the air, 2020 meters in length, AND I survived the landing. (that's important) Would've been higher and longer, but I forgot about the foothills in the way, which also cost me at least a minute getting the rest of the way to Cooper Arena. My gravity braking still needs work and my planetary approaches could be much better.
Click to expand...

What the ....! Is it tomorrow already? :p
 
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superflyguy

superflyguy
blimey, what's going on? it's not even day one and there are multiple vidoes of test runs! ;)

i haven't even thought up suitably obtuse ship & srv names yet!

anyhoo, i'll be around over the weekend before work comes crashing in. in fact more likely, crashing around before work!

<-lightspeed->
"I do think you might make an effort to keep up with the others"
 
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Birdnose

Birdnose
AkenBosch said:
Jokes aside, yes I agree that upward visibility and the distance from the windscreen in general are the major problems in the Adder, and yet are those very thing that give it the most "car in space" feeling (cup holders aside of course). It's the most Mini thing there's in ED without a doubt.
Click to expand...

I also fly an Anaconda, and I can tell you the extra 146 million credits don't buy you any more upward visibility. It's actually a little worse because it lacks the Adder's "eyebrow" windows. If you want a ship with good all-around sight lines you pretty much have to buy something by Lakon Spaceways.

You know how people used to add upper bunks to camper buses by welding on the top of a VW Beetle? Maybe you could weld on the top of a Sidewinder. It's got a nice sunroof...

On a more serious note -- it's space, up and down are arbitrary. Rotate the ship to put the thing you need to see where you have windows. Banking 90 degrees and looking out the side helps a lot with the eclipsed marker thing. Still doesn't help much with getting run over by larger ships when undocking, though. Thing has a blind spot big enough to hide a Type-9.

- - - Updated - - -

Darkfyre99 said:
My gravity braking still needs work and my planetary approaches could be much better.
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I have to say that in the whole game, planetary approaches are both the fiddliest thing I do on a regular basis, and the most interesting to hone. It's so satisfying when you get it just right and come out of glide 5 km from your target.
 

Birdnose

Birdnose
superflyguy said:
i much prefer dropping out on the landing pad ;)
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Yeah, but you have to be SO accurate. They get testy if you suddenly appear inside the hangar. ;>

(I did once, thanks to an ill-timed interdiction attempt, end up about 50 km *below* the surface of a planet.)
 

Alec Turner

Alec Turner
Birdnose said:
On a more serious note -- it's space, up and down are arbitrary. Rotate the ship to put the thing you need to see where you have windows. Banking 90 degrees and looking out the side helps a lot with the eclipsed marker thing.
Click to expand...
Indeed ... good tip. As someone who normally pilots a Python I'm well aware of the benefits of the side window for watching an obscured target creep slowly towards the horizon. Alas the side view from the Adder is ... errr ... not great. [where is it]

I have to say that in the whole game, planetary approaches are both the fiddliest thing I do on a regular basis, and the most interesting to hone. It's so satisfying when you get it just right and come out of glide 5 km from your target.
Click to expand...
With you there, alongside the perfect fast gravity brake (where you skim past a planet with an ETA of 3s only to have the planet pull you back to 6s just before you rocket straight past the station) planetary landing is the only other occasion where constant subtle throttle adjustments can make or break the manoeuvre. I must say the approach down to "241 G. Aquarii 3 D" seems particularly sensitive - really easy to suddenly see that ETA drop to 5s and hear the sound of acceleration that signals an imminent "Too Fast For Orbital Cruise".
 

Birdnose

Birdnose
Alec Turner said:
I must say the approach down to "241 G. Aquarii 3 D" seems particularly sensitive - really easy to suddenly see that ETA drop to 5s and hear the sound of acceleration that signals an imminent "Too Fast For Orbital Cruise".
Click to expand...

I haven't gotten to shoot that approach yet, but I appreciate the warning. It's tough when your choices are between an emergency drop and an overshoot.
 

AkenBosch

AkenBosch
Darkfyre99 said:
It seems I got my days confused. I was thinking it was Saturday. Crap. :eek:
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Look at the bright side of it: your efforts have not been vain, at least now I'm 100% sure the submission form works a charm, thank you :D

And keep at it, that was already a very good time!

Now excuse me, but I'm gonna help the guys to finish setting up banners and festoons at the start/finish line, they're a bit behind schedule...some over-enthusiastic pilot apparently decided it was already time for a hot run and made a mess of their work :p...
 
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