Non Drive Train Engines

Coolthulhu · 2017-06-21T09:05:06.000Z

The problem is that you don’t have “engine” part, it’s “V12 engine”, “V8 engine” and so on.
Moving engine data to items would break mods (not exactly the biggest deal but still) and would make it hard to identify which kind of engine was used (this one is a problem that would require UI rewrite).

So I’d much rather go with a new drivetrain item instead.
It would probably be simpler code-wise too.

tarburst98 · 2017-06-21T09:49:00.000Z

and you have 10 inch wheels, 38 inch wheels, etc, and those can all be made steerable and not. and maybe reverse it, engines are all the same but you can now install a “v12(non drive)”, the only current vehicle that would be changed by it is the portable generator that spawns in garages. which would have it’s engine be non drive and attached to the generator. anything else would have the engine report the exact same information as normal.

Miloch · 2017-06-21T13:51:44.000Z

Tarburst is talking what I was thinking.

kaluce · 2017-06-21T14:17:19.000Z

I like this idea, because I could make something that can run independently on my doombus that doesn’t consume my diesel, or making a long running hybrid car viable. IRL example: I think it’s the Nissan Leaf that has a tiny backup engine for power generation that is used to specifically charge the batteries. The motor has no effect on the driveline. It’s specifically used to increase the range of the EV engines.

deoxy · 2017-06-21T18:15:57.000Z

Coolthulhu:

The problem is that you don’t have “engine” part, it’s “V12 engine”, “V8 engine” and so on.

Unless it’s a horrendous hack under the covers that you want to avoid duplicating, yeah, as tarburst pointed out, wheels and steerable wheels already to EXACTLY what you are complaining about implementing for engines…

Coolthulhu · 2017-06-21T19:21:24.000Z

Vehicle part UI is already terrible, doubling the number of engines is a good way to make it worse.

Maddremor · 2017-06-22T12:13:53.000Z

Would it be possible to implement the the lack or presence of a drive train on the code side, but leave the current engines as having a built in drive train by default? To to test the system a “viritual part” could be installed like an altenator, having no item req., named “detached drivetrain” as a placeholder until a plan for a painless migration is agreed upon. Heck, use a mod to actually make a player facing change to the in game vehicles.

Coolthulhu · 2017-06-22T13:14:13.000Z

As I said above, it would be most likely migration code that would attach actual drivetrains to engines, for free.

Miloch · 2017-06-22T14:36:47.000Z

I think doubling the number of non-electric engines would be far from the worst thing that ever happens. You already have to scroll through a lot of parts.

nick0010 · 2017-06-22T18:10:19.000Z

Miloch:

I think doubling the number of non-electric engines would be far from the worst thing that ever happens. You already have to scroll through a lot of parts.

(X) is already on fire so we can just pile some more wood on it no problem

John_Candlebury · 2017-06-22T18:25:06.000Z

How do you imagine the drive train would work Coolthuhu?

An actual multi-tile piece traveling across vehicles or just an abstract “drivetrain connection” installed on each engine.

Coolthulhu · 2017-06-22T18:39:04.000Z

Abstract, one tile “this engine is connected to drivetrain” part.
Multi-tile would be a giant pain to manage with current vehicle construction system. It would require an overlay or some other big UI rework.

Miloch · 2017-06-22T19:07:31.000Z

I was thinking the simplest would be to add additional parts that be made with the same engines that don’t add to the vehicles propulsion. I’m not a coder, I have no idea how hard this would to implement.

tarburst98 · 2017-06-22T20:59:35.000Z

what about a REVERSE mending situation? as in, you can remove the drivetrain from an engine or attach it by mending it?

Miloch · 2017-06-23T14:12:51.000Z

Not 100% on what exactly you mean, but if it starts off as a drive train engine then it’ll require a higher skill to install as multiple engines running in sync on the drive train requires more knowledge and skill to do.

tarburst98 · 2017-06-23T15:24:29.000Z

just install your false engine, un train it, then install your real engines.

Coolthulhu · 2017-06-23T15:26:23.000Z

That’s rather complex and adds an unorthodox UI step.
It would be much simpler and more obvious with a separate drivetrain part. Also, separate drivetrain would allow more customization, at the cost of more clutter.

tarburst98 · 2017-06-23T16:08:05.000Z

pretty sure clutter is inevitable.

Miloch · 2017-06-23T16:34:10.000Z

Agree about clutter. Cars are extremely complex vehicles.

TooDAMNMuch · 2017-06-24T19:46:06.000Z

there’s a lot of cool ideas that spring to mind thinking of stationary drive trains, rotational energy could be a nice way to kill zombies and other stuff someday.
or conveyor belts and the like even, a cooking area with conveyor belts moving food around.