Secondary Power Plant

[coca_fr]

Secondary Power Plant on Optional Internal.

From Ian Doncaster idea on my Rebalance Shield Tank : Secondary Power Plant needed idea thread.

Explorers might like it, though - take a spare small plant so that they can use an AFMU to repair the primary plant.

Indeed this is a nice idea as it would allow Explorers to repair their main Power Plant.

This could even be used in combat, even if really an exceptional strategy. If your power plant is taking down a secondary one could start to load just after that, allowing you to get away.

We could have all available Power Plant class available so that explorers can just take the smallest lightest one just to give supply energy to minimum requiered on the ship and AFMU to repair main Power Plant.

What do you think about it guys ?

 

[Assimilator1]

Rather than a proper (small power plant), maybe just an emergency back up battery?, would take up less space & weight then (presumably).

As far as combat goes, surely we could just use the reboot/repair facility? (which could be used in exploring too, but it would be better to repair it before it failed).

Anyway, not a bad idea , but I think it would be very rare to need a 2nd PP, or back up battery (although life saving redundancy in a space craft makes sense).

 

[Teh Smoo]

Rather than a proper (small power plant), maybe just an emergency back up battery?, would take up less space & weight then (presumably).

As far as combat goes, surely we could just use the reboot/repair facility? (which could be used in exploring too, but it would be better to repair it before it failed).

Anyway, not a bad idea , but I think it would be very rare to need a 2nd PP, or back up battery (although life saving redundancy in a space craft makes sense).

Well, anything that damages all modules hits the PP. Everything else can be repaired, twin AFMU repair each other, repair limpets for the hull.

The only thing left that can't be replaced is PP durability. It's rare enough that people usually don't NEED to repair it, yes. But it makes sense that an explorer would plan on loadouts that would let everything be repaired, and not hinge explorations on a single module.

I said before, put solar panel arrays in hardpoints. Fold them out, use the juice to run life support and AFMU, or even just a small backup AFMU, and synth life support as needed.

 

[coca_fr]

Rather than a proper (small power plant), maybe just an emergency back up battery?, would take up less space & weight then (presumably).

Yea why not an emergency battery that would last as long as Life Support can last, so explorer can repair their Power Plant and people can escape combat.

Nice idea. +rep

 

[Assimilator1]

Thanks , yea it wouldn't even need to last that long as I don't think repairing even a PP at 1% would take 5 mins, would it?
But anyway yea it would make sense to tie it in with life support time, infact, maybe it could be built into the life support module?, so that as well as the std Life support modules that you can buy, you could buy LS modules with built in emergency backup power/battery pack/battery cell/UPS/bio cell etc. The penalty being it would cost more, use a little more power (to keep the battery charged up, bio cell excluded) & a be a little bit heavier, you wouldn't want it to be much heavier otherwise it'd put off explorers from using it.

This way of supplying additional power wouldn't need any new external graphics or an extra module slot (nor change an existing slot), so less work for FD to do, 'all' it would need is a change to the module description in the Modules panel (as well as outfitting) & of course the desired functions.

As for combat, although you could use it, I don't think it would be needed or feasible, as long as your PP is functional & you can still boost, SC or jump out then you could make it to a station for repairs, or even with back up power & AMFU you would still need to escape combat 1st to be able to repair your PP.
Naturally it's a different scenario here, we're talking about your PP going from full or high health down to very low in a short space of time, & we're not going to be too far from a station for repairs, where as with exploration it would usually be a gradual degradation of the PP which we would want to fully repair ourselves as we could be 1000s of LYs from the nearest station, & travelling 1000s of LYs with a PP at a few % would not only end your trip but make it a nightmare to get back (even if possible).

If in combat your PP gets disabled (0%), even if you don't instantly explode your going to be shot to pieces by your enemy anyway , long before you could repair or reboot/repair your PP.
Oh & I was thinking the battery would only be powerful enough to run the AMFU, nothing else, so no escaping combat on a backup battery

Teh Smoo
Nice idea on the solar arrays, but that would be much more work for FD to implement, & for something that's going to be rarely needed I really doubt they'd go for that.
Theirs 1 other problem with solar panels, if you happen to be by a brown dwarf with little or no light, then your screwed anyway!

 

[Teh Smoo]

Teh Smoo
Nice idea on the solar arrays, but that would be much more work for FD to implement, & for something that's going to be rarely needed I really doubt they'd go for that.
Theirs 1 other problem with solar panels, if you happen to be by a brown dwarf with little or no light, then your screwed anyway!

I think it would be doable. The hardpoint opens, and a launcher extends. You hit fire, and it pops out a device attached to a tether, a ways in front of the ship.

Then the device floating in front of your ship unfolds into a sail and starts providing power. Then you can use an AFMU to repair the PP.

At the rate at which FD comes up with QOL improvements, this entire thing should only take them a couple decades to make happen...

 

[Assimilator1]

Lol,

Yeah it's doable, but as I said it would take a lot more work, & for something that's going to be rarely used & not used by a majority of players (oh & using a hard point), it's not going to happen.
And anyway, it's still got the fatal flaw of it won't work by a brown dwarf, or a black hole.

 

[Drakkath]

Hi

Normally I prefer to travel in space instead of in forums. ^^ But for this topic, I have now registered here. I like all the ideas here, but from a developer's point of view, I would clearly favor the suggestion for extending the life support system.

Being able to buy an extended life support system with backup battery would be great!

+1

 

[coca_fr]

Hi

Normally I prefer to travel in space instead of in forums. ^^ But for this topic, I have now registered here. I like all the ideas here, but from a developer's point of view, I would clearly favor the suggestion for extending the life support system.

Being able to buy an extended life support system with backup battery would be great!

+1

Interesting idea. It could help with repairing the Power Plant when in exploration.

An advanced Life Support with battery short duration as Power Play module maybe ?

 

[Drakkath]

Sorry for my bad english, it isn't my mother langauge.

Interesting idea. It could help with repairing the Power Plant when in exploration.

That was not my idea, it was from Assimilator1. My own idea is a backup battery for a module slot. But i like Assimilator1's suggestion much better than my own.

An advanced Life Support with battery short duration as Power Play module maybe ?

I think we should clarify something. Regarding "life support" we have 2 independent systems. 1. The "Life Support" Module, part of the ship. 2. The "remlok" system, part of you. ^^

The remlok is the suit we all wear. But that's not what i mean. I mean the Life Support module with their different levels (E-A). And i think Assimilator1 mean also the LS module?


And, another idea i had this morning after some coffee's. ^^ We already have such an "backup battery", the Power Distributor. For that we need 2 things:

1. In the right pane (Modules) an option for the Power Distributor module to reverse the power direction.
2. In the right pane (Modules) an option for the Power Plant to shut down.

Now we can repair the Power Plant. After that we can reactivate the Power Plant and then we set the power direction for the Power Distributor back to normal operation.

Btw, what is meant here with "Power Play"?

 

[Variform]

But what happens to the risk of space exploration? You all just wanna cover your...your...buttocks.

 

[Drakkath]

I made a few pics to illustrate my idea a bit more.

1. Normaly the Power Plant can't be repaired, so we need an additional power source.


2. For that we set the Power Distributor into Reverse-mode. Now the display of the Power Distributor acts as battery level indicator.


3. Now the Power Plant can be shut down, ready for repair then. And here the display of the Power Distributor have another color to indicate, that it is in Reverse-mode.


4. After repair we reactivate the Power Plant and set back the Power Distributor into normal mode.

It have the same advantages like Assimilator1's sugesstion (no new graphics, no new module), and an additionally battery level indicator.

 

[Assimilator1]

And no it should have nothing to do with power play , why restrict an essential emergency system only to those who do power play??

Sorry for my bad english, it isn't my mother language.

That was not my idea, it was from Assimilator1. My own idea is a backup battery for a module slot. But i like Assimilator1's suggestion much better than my own.

I think we should clarify something. Regarding "life support" we have 2 independent systems. 1. The "Life Support" Module, part of the ship. 2. The "remlok" system, part of you. ^^
The remlok is the suit we all wear. But that's not what i mean. I mean the Life Support module with their different levels (E-A). And i think Assimilator1 mean also the LS module?

And, another idea i had this morning after some coffee's. ^^ We already have such an "backup battery", the Power Distributor. For that we need 2 things:

1. In the right pane (Modules) an option for the Power Distributor module to reverse the power direction.
2. In the right pane (Modules) an option for the Power Plant to shut down.

Now we can repair the Power Plant. After that we can reactivate the Power Plant and then we set the power direction for the Power Distributor back to normal operation.

Btw, what is meant here with "Power Play"?

Yep your right, I meant the life support module, not the emergency oxygen supply.
Good idea about having the distributor as a back up power supply though! Possibly even easier for the devs to implement? .
And nice pics , what did you use to change them?

Despite playing ED for over 3yrs I have never played power play, lol, (never grabbed my interest), anyway, I believe it's where you put your support behind a particular political figure.

But what happens to the risk of space exploration? You all just wanna cover your...your...buttocks.

Lol, problems with the swearing filter?
Re your question, have you ever been in a position where months of exploration data has been (or nearly been) trashed? (from any reason). I know I wouldn't want that to happen!
Also, it would be unrealistic not to have some kind of back up power anytime you leave an atmosphere! (yea I know FTL & shields aren't realistic atm).

A back up power supply wouldn't stop all risks anyway.

 

[Drakkath]

Good idea about having the distributor as a back up power supply though! Possibly even easier for the devs to implement? .

I don't know the ED source code but yes, i think your and my ideas can be realized much easier than the other sugesstions. I am solution oriented and i am used to trying to sell new features as well as possible. ^^

And nice pics , what did you use to change them?

GIMP and it was only quick & dirty. With more time i can make it much better, but i think to illustrate the idea it was understandable.

And btw, the feature name "Reverse" i used in the picture isn't the best and also wrong, sorry for that. Maybe "Backup power"?

Despite playing ED for over 3yrs I have never played power play, lol, (never grabbed my interest), anyway, I believe it's where you put your support behind a particular political figure.

Oh okay, thanks for explanation.

Also, it would be unrealistic not to have some kind of back up power anytime you leave an atmosphere!

Especially if we are several thousands LJ from the next station, yes.

 

[Assimilator1]

No, reverse power is fine , though you could use 'feedback' instead.

 

[Variform]

...snip

Lol, problems with the swearing filter?
Re your question, have you ever been in a position where months of exploration data has been (or nearly been) trashed? (from any reason). I know I wouldn't want that to happen!
Also, it would be unrealistic not to have some kind of back up power anytime you leave an atmosphere! (yea I know FTL & shields aren't realistic atm).

A back up power supply wouldn't stop all risks anyway.

No, I am my own filter. I tried to be... be nice about it

I see the problem here and agree. The game doesn't have save points until you dock I suppose. When you cannot, maybe there should be a save option. Although I like the concept of using the charged capacitors as an emergency spark to enable critical system repairs.

It never seizes to amaze me how many awesome ideas people come up with and never seizes to amaze me why FD does not.

 

[Drakkath]

No, reverse power is fine , though you could use 'feedback' instead.

The Distributor works in "backup" mode exactly like in "normal" mode. It gives energy to specific systems. In backup mode the energy would only be redirected, that is what i mean. So i would now favor "Redirect", because it would be more correct than "Reverse". Or i am wrong?

But ok, i think if FD would realize this feature i would also accept "Hublabubla" as name, the most important would be that the feature exist. ^^

It never seizes to amaze me how many awesome ideas people come up with and never seizes to amaze me why FD does not.

Yeah well, from a developers point of view: every project (regardless it's a application for work or a game) have a particular concept. If the user (or player in this case) have a suggestion which will fit into this concept and will not have potential side effects, then the idea will have good chances to become reality. Sometimes this will have success, sometimes not. If this feature is really not used by many players, than i think the chances are not good.

And yes, the players creativity is amazing and this is a good indicator that the players really play the game and love it (or hate some points ^^). Constructive criticism is the best way for the players to suggest new ideas. As developer i don't like sentences like "this is ****!", but i very like sentences like "if there are changes here and there the feature would work much better and now i explain how i mean this.".

The other side is, ED is a extremely complex piece of software. And it's simply not possible for FD to accept all players suggestions. But yeah, i hope they will accept one suggestion from this topic, of course. [big grin]

edit: typos corrected

 

[Assimilator1]

Of course

Yea I understand what you mean about your idea on the distrib feeding power back into systems, hence my thought of calling it feedback, but like you I'm not so bothered about the name .
Oh, yea I guess redirect is more grammatically & technically correct than reverse power, afterall the power isn't being reverse fed to the PP but re-directed to (a few) systems.

 

[MBaldelli]

Indeed this is a nice idea as it would allow Explorers to repair their main Power Plant.

In a word: No.

It's a bad idea given that Engineering the Power Plant with Qwent (even to level 1 overcharging) takes care of this problem. Even with the modest amount of heat increase, I have a build with that power plant tinkering that allows me to run everything I have in my ship without overheating issues. And yes, I've run with my shields because at the time, I didn't know what to expect of this Thargoid nonsense. Seems even in my current over-caution, they're not much of a threat in the Deep Black as of late...

Further, it makes no sense as I just made a run 5,000 LY out (in order to unlock Palin) and I can assure you that I have not once run the AFMU to repair anything during that month run... Which raises the very question someone asked me, "what the hell are you doing out there that requires the need for repairs?" If you're flying tired/exhausted, are you sure you're actually playing the game for the enjoyment?

Finally, it's not as though you're going to be running into gankers/griefers that far out. After 3,000 LY it is my not even remotest humble opinion you had to seriously anger someone off to follow you to make your life hell in the Deep Black.

 

[Chrystoph]

But what happens to the risk of space exploration? You all just wanna cover your...your...buttocks.

In a word, yes.

As a RL Navy man, the idea is to mitigate risk whenever possible. This suggestion is in line with that.

To answer one aspect of this particular discussion, though, this would be a choice to be made, and, given that most ships, excepting the fairy tale that is the Anaconda, do not have as many Compartments as they would like, I think it makes for a viable alternative as long as Frontier refuses to make a volume based design philosophy or to allow equipment usage in hardpoints and utility slots.