New versions of constructor & builder.
Artorius
Indiana USA Join Date: 2016-09-02 Member: 221998Members
Indiana USA Join Date: 2016-09-02 Member: 221998Members
The constructor is so very small for how big the vehicles are that it builds.
I wonder if maybe the constructor could be an L shaped device that can be positioned and anchored. It will consist of a small square platform with two dock platforms forming the L shape. The docks can be walked on and form a dock structure. On these two docks are robotic arms. 2 on the long dock and 1 on the short dock. They sit on rails and can travel back and forth building the machines. One of the two robot arms on the long dock is longer to work on the far side while the second arm is shorter and works on the closer side. Like a giant 3 headed 3D printer.
The long side of the L is about 12 meters long and the short side is 4 meters long. The control platform is 1 meter square and the control screen is 45 degrees to the platform diagonally facing the item being built.
...
For the Building tool. The little robot fliers that the Constructor uses now, would be launched from a pair of large gauntlets. They wold swim under water or fly in the air.
Other than that, it would work the same way.
I wonder if maybe the constructor could be an L shaped device that can be positioned and anchored. It will consist of a small square platform with two dock platforms forming the L shape. The docks can be walked on and form a dock structure. On these two docks are robotic arms. 2 on the long dock and 1 on the short dock. They sit on rails and can travel back and forth building the machines. One of the two robot arms on the long dock is longer to work on the far side while the second arm is shorter and works on the closer side. Like a giant 3 headed 3D printer.
The long side of the L is about 12 meters long and the short side is 4 meters long. The control platform is 1 meter square and the control screen is 45 degrees to the platform diagonally facing the item being built.
...
For the Building tool. The little robot fliers that the Constructor uses now, would be launched from a pair of large gauntlets. They wold swim under water or fly in the air.
Other than that, it would work the same way.
Comments
On the other hand, the habitat builder is way too small for what it does. I think it should be in the realm of the size as the propulsion cannon or seaglide. I like the idea of using 2 builder bots similar to the MVB but maybe smaller so it is more portable. The tool might also need two batteries instead of one or maybe a power cell. Perhaps the current small version could still be a tool, but only for interior or exterior upgrades like windows, reinforcement panels, planting beds and the like. I suppose the animations would need a heavy overhaul to manage a bigger building tool though so it isn't likely to happen, at least not any time soon.
I just filed it under suspension of disbelief. It's got to be easier than modelling up a proper shipyard big enough to build a Cyclops. But perhaps the Moonpool should be able to construct minisubs? Move the arms into position for the vehicle and have a glowy thing borrow the drone effect...
I personally think that the builder tool is too powerful for making things like multipurpose rooms and more complex structures: I think that there should be two modes for building a structure, and they should depend on what is being built:
I think the building tool should be like the mobile vehicle bay, and take time to build structures. It should have a large locker for materials.
In a blueprint mode, you lay out on a hologram exactly what you want to build, like when the builder is at 0 percent. You have a bill of materials, and estimated time of completion. Then when you tell it to start, it takes that amount of time to build it. When you have a multipurpose room, you can create a module that uses the builder as the crafting recipe. This would allow a larger locker for materials and for the drones to use the base's power. When building adons, the bas should flood before building begins, making bulkheads more valuable.
The blueprint layout setup seams like a good option. Maybe the handheld hab builder is the blue printer and then the MVB size builder is what actually does the work.
Non-instant and non-manual base construction sounds pretty neat. It would give weight to base building, making it seem more serious than current. Which kind of feels like grabbing materials and using a silly string sprayer to build a huge room. So the player would need a Seamoth to construct the bigger rooms, and have to live in corridors for a while.
Or instead: have the base tool place a glowing blueprint, and place a container on the place it touches the existing base. The player then places the items into the container, and it auto-builds, using base power. (Moonpools are frequently out over water, so it can't necessarily be placed below.)
I don't think the base needs to flood though. The addition would be built and drained, then the connecting wall opened up and excess material recycled.
I like the way you guys are thinking.
http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/145836/habitat-builder-revamp
It would be a lot of work for no real gameplay, however. EVERY SINGLE MODEL would need to be divided into pieces, for the system to function. And the payoff would be construction taking longer, but looking a little cooler. Like many other ideas, no real gameplay payoff for a significant devtime investment.
That sounds AWESOME, especially for use in hazardous areas like the Lava Zone. Maybe it could be meshed with the idea of a habitat builder arm for the PRAWN, so that the devs don't have to implement an entirely new vehicle?
Speaking of wrecks, am I the only one bugged that the starfish are only found on the abandoned bases? Were they brought by the degasi, is that why they're only on the wrecks? Why do they only live on seabases? If they only live on metal, then why not any other metal deposits? Are they endangered? The whole concept makes my eye do the twitchy thing...
Would be nice to see those used elsewhere too.
Also... This is a solid reminder of why I detest the comments section on most wikis. :P
It's shocking how many people go and comment there seemingly under the impression that it's run by the developers, but I guess it's better than (most of) those ideas/suggestions flooding the actual forums yes?