Ship Engines/Size

[sapperland]

The mass of an engine is 10k for all ship sizes. I think that this should be adjusted.
Make larger ships require more engines for the same speed or make engines have more mass when installed on larger ships.
Anyone know of a way to adjust this? Anyone agree that this makes sense?

[Talenn]

There is a setting in the ship files for 'engines per move' as in SE3. I havent tried it myself, but others have said that it wasnt a functioning parameter though (at least in the initial release Version).

I'm not sure why it was removed, but if you do something to alter it, keep in mind that you will either have to increase the size of the larger ship's hulls or else notice a reduction in their capabilities.

But yeah, I agree that the same 6 Engines that power an Escort shouldnt be able to propel a Dreadnought at the same speeds. Also, the larger ships dont have more resiliant engines either. In combat one hit still knocks them out as easily on the small ones.

Its a minor point, and I dont see it as hurting much other than 'flavor'. Given the option, I'd prefer the more engines on the bigger ships though.

Talenn

[Taqwus]

If

a) 'engines per move' functioned, and
b) there were 'engine mounts', that affected thrust, supply max, structure, supply consumption, and size,

then it could be done nicely (i.e. w/o making DN designers having to include, oh, 20-odd engines...).

It would also open the door to mods like 'hardened' engines, boosting the structure significantly, more fuel-efficient Versions, and so forth.


------------------
-- The thing that goes bump in the night

[Talenn]

Taqwus:

Hehe...yes, I already have more fuel efficient engines etc in my tech set. As it was, I just didnt see too much gain to going down the 'Propulsion' tech tree. It was handy once you got the speed bonus engines, but not that big of a deal IMO.

My tech set has the engines gradually becoming more efficient in supplies/use and in supplies carried. I also made the earlier engines more expensive so that the encouragement to improve the engines to save maintenance costs is there.

I hadnt thought of 'hardened engines' but that is a good thought. I might squeeze that in there somewhere too. Thanx!

Talenn

[Repo Man]

I tried playing with the engines too, with some interesting results.

My first attempt was to increase the size of low tech engines. This causes the AI to bug out and the game hangs.

My next attempt was to decrease the supply carried for low tech engines. I made the first engines carry 50, second 200 and third generation 300. The result was that no AI could leave the home system until well into the game. The minimum supply for engines seems to be 300 if you want to encounter anything.