Horizons Please sort out the random damage from small rocks

[Ozric]

OK so the extra detail on the planets is fantastic, the extra layering on small stones and rocks are also great, but there are dangers lurking within.
There are 3 types of stones and small rocks:

• Those that do nothing as you drive over them
• Those that do a tiny amount of damage
• Those that do as much damage as hitting a Skimmer or a huge boulder

The biggest problem is that you have no way whatsoever of telling what going to happen, because it is at best inconsistent and at worst completely random. Something has happened since 2.1 that really needs to be addressed because it makes driving on the surface frustrating, and racing almost impossible. I have no problem of some rocks causing damage to your SRV but there needs to be some consistency to it, you shouldn't be able to drive over some rocks with no issues and then lose 25% of your hull by one side of your SRV clipping a smaller one.

This video could have been hours long, lord know I have enough footage, but it demonstrates some of the inconsistencies and frustrations.
[video=youtube_share;DIdg9GnU6MM]https://youtu.be/DIdg9GnU6MM[/video]

Any comment from FD on this would be most welcome, and if you want to agree/disagree or add your own footage then feel free.

 

[Pville_Piper]

Meh... Easy to fix.

 

[Ozric]

Wow what amazing input, thanks for that.

 

[Some1else]

Very good video showing the issue.

While I have encountered this same problem, I have learned that most of the time it happens when your suspension is under compression, and you hit the rock at the point between the wheel, and chaise. This would be right where the suspension parts are, and they are more susceptible to damage.

Personally, while I find those rocks annoying, I think the damage model is not to far off. And besides, I also think FD has bigger fish to fry right now.

LLaP

S1E

 

[Alec Turner]

Apologies if I missed it in your compilation (and alas I don't think I have my own video evidence) but, in addition to the random damage incidents you describe, the ones that really got me were when you'd hit a rock the size of a small cat doing around 35m/s and the SRV would come to an instantaneous stop as if you'd crashed into an immovable brick wall.

Edit: and no jokes about "why would a small cat be travelling at 35m/s?"

 

[777Driver]

Hey Ozric, those are not small rocks, they are actually quite big when viewed in 1:1 scale in VR, same deal with the SRV, those tires are big, I think most assume it's like a beach buggy or regular off road vehicle.

It's hard to describe, you get a sense of scale and weight in VR, hitting those rocks at 30 m/s (108 km/h) should be severely damaging the SRV, I think the devs kinda made it a little forgiving for gameplay purposes.

You really need a direct hit on the suspension to cause heavy damage in ED, if you skim over them you will get minor or no damage.

 

[Ozric]

Apologies if I missed it in your compilation (and alas I don't think I have my own video evidence) but, in addition to the random damage incidents you describe, the ones that really got me were when you'd hit a rock the size of a small cat doing around 35m/s and the SRV would come to an instantaneous stop as if you'd crashed into an immovable brick wall.

Edit: and no jokes about "why would a small cat be travelling at 35m/s?"

Why would... oh nevermind.

I think there are 2 maybe 3 instances in the video where I come to a dead stop or am flung backwards. 2:35 the ones that strip my hull do it.

Hey Ozric, those are not small rocks, they are actually quite big when viewed in 1:1 scale in VR, same deal with the SRV, those tires are big, I think most assume it's like a beach buggy or regular off road vehicle.

It's hard to describe, you get a sense of scale and weight in VR, hitting those rocks at 30 m/s (108 km/h) should be severely damaging the SRV, I think the devs kinda made it a little forgiving for gameplay purposes.

You really need a direct hit on the suspension to cause heavy damage in ED, if you skim over them you will get minor or no damage.

I say small rocks to highlight them in comparison to the ones you would expect to do that much damage to your SRV. To be honest I'm not sure if you read the post or watched the video, but the point is the inconsistency without any way of telling which ones will hurt you, and in the video it shows collisions for virtually every way of hitting them all having varying results.

It's worth saying as well that I have created a bug report, to find out a bit more detail.

 

[Roybe]

Why would... oh nevermind.

I think there are 2 maybe 3 instances in the video where I come to a dead stop or am flung backwards. 2:35 the ones that strip my hull do it.



I say small rocks to highlight them in comparison to the ones you would expect to do that much damage to your SRV. To be honest I'm not sure if you read the post or watched the video, but the point is the inconsistency without any way of telling which ones will hurt you, and in the video it shows collisions for virtually every way of hitting them all having varying results.

It's worth saying as well that I have created a bug report, to find out a bit more detail.

It was kind of hard to see because of your speed..but it looked like the rocks that did damage were all the same rock. In other words, when you are driving you should watch out for certain rocks/shapes.

I would suggest slowing down to the point that damage occurs..then stop and look at the rock that damaged you. Only certain rocks do this...and they are all the same...within the damage range.

(I won't even hazard a guess at the algorithm for the damage number though!)

Good luck on your search for answers!

 

[Alec Turner]

I think there are 2 maybe 3 instances in the video where I come to a dead stop or am flung backwards. 2:35 the ones that strip my hull do it.

OK yup, that first one at 2:35 is exactly what I was talking about. It just feels wrong.

 

[Codger]

Maybe they can paint a scary face on the ones that will damage you. That would work

I found this interesting, though, just watching how fast you drive. I've never attempted to go that fast, I couldn't control it.

Anyway, what I really want is a skimmer to ride in along the surface. Wheels are so 2016, y'know?

 

[Alec Turner]

It was kind of hard to see because of your speed..but it looked like the rocks that did damage were all the same rock.

This rock!

 

[777Driver]

At 2:35 you hit a rock dead on with your left wheel whilst traveling at 152 km/h, the bounce is arcade like, in reality you would have ripped the vehicle apart.

 

[Ozric]

Maybe they can paint a scary face on the ones that will damage you. That would work

I found this interesting, though, just watching how fast you drive. I've never attempted to go that fast, I couldn't control it.

Anyway, what I really want is a skimmer to ride in along the surface. Wheels are so 2016, y'know?

Believe me when I say that is not driving fast True the fastest way is technically flying but for example the last race we did over 90Km I did in 43 minutes, the winning time was 25!

At 2:35 you hit a rock dead on with your left wheel whilst traveling at 152 km/h, the bounce is arcade like, in reality you would have ripped the vehicle apart.

Yes indeed and in a way seeing the front left suspension arm being ripped off would be awesome but the point is at 22 seconds I hit one the same size with my right wheel (same speed) and nothing happens, 50 seconds (5m/s slower) with my left wheel and nothing happens. 1:52 (1m/s slower) same size, right hand wheel 8% damage. Consistency is the key

 

[777Driver]

Hmm, at 50 seconds you are skimming over it, at 1:52 you are coming in from above. 2:35 is the only dead center hit I see whilst the suspension is compressed. Anyway, am sure the devs will look into it for you.

Would probably be better to send them a video that isn't edited so much. Just drive in straight line on a 1g world and record how the SRV soaks up the damage

 

[GG7]

Hey Ozric, those are not small rocks, they are actually quite big when viewed in 1:1 scale in VR, same deal with the SRV, those tires are big, I think most assume it's like a beach buggy or regular off road vehicle.

It's hard to describe, you get a sense of scale and weight in VR, hitting those rocks at 30 m/s (108 km/h) should be severely damaging the SRV, I think the devs kinda made it a little forgiving for gameplay purposes.

You really need a direct hit on the suspension to cause heavy damage in ED, if you skim over them you will get minor or no damage.

I was going to question the size of those rocks too. I think too many players think they can just blaze down the planet in a straight line and run over everything in their path. You need to "AVOID" hitting these things if you can, and try not driving at full speed.

I rarely go faster than ½ throttle in the SRV and I never have this issue.

 

[Alec Turner]

You need to "AVOID" hitting these things if you can, and try not driving at full speed.

I rarely go faster than ½ throttle in the SRV and I never have this issue.

In ozric's defence here (although ultimately it may be damming to his case) I should point out that these video clips came from a race where driving at ½ throttle is not an option!

 

[Ozric]

Just drive in straight line on a 1g world and record how the SRV soaks up the damage

Hehe.

I was going to question the size of those rocks too. I think too many players think they can just blaze down the planet in a straight line and run over everything in their path. You need to "AVOID" hitting these things if you can, and try not driving at full speed.

I rarely go faster than ½ throttle in the SRV and I never have this issue.

Again you have missed the point, but also 1/2 throttle when racing isn't an option

Hehe ninja'd

 

[Seneh]

I think the other point being missed is that this is an undocumented change between 2.0 and 2.1 that has made driving / racing SRVs be not fun.

edit: or maybe it was documented with this patch note:

- Added suspension travel prediction to SRV physics

And the randomness that we're experiencing is a polling rate issue.

 

[777Driver]

I think the other point being missed is that this is an undocumented change between 2.0 and 2.1 that has made driving / racing SRVs be not fun.

edit: or maybe it was documented with this patch note:



And the randomness that we're experiencing is a polling rate issue.

I've just finished blasting across a rocky moon near Pleiades for the past 45 mins, working fine here and having fun. Only time I get severe damage is if I hit a rock dead on, my ingenious method is to not hit a rock dead on.

 

[Henri]

NERF. SMALL. ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!