Can't scoop metal fragments

Galileo · Post by **Galileo** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:35 am

Everytime I try to scoop a metal fragment it either crashes into my hull or is flinged away from me at several times the speed it was originally moving. I'm pretty sure it started happening when the new scooping process was introduced. Anyone else experiencing this?

TedJ · Post by **TedJ** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:57 am

I've noticed something similar, also with debris. While scooping it will "bounce" and not actually scoop until I slow down.

TGHC · Post by **TGHC** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:01 pm

Galileo wrote:
Everytime I try to scoop a metal fragment it either crashes into my hull or is flinged away from me at several times the speed it was originally moving. I'm pretty sure it started happening when the new scooping process was introduced. Anyone else experiencing this?

I mentioned this when the new release came out and I think Giles has mentioned tractor beam problems as well.

It certainly happens with metal fragments, and to a lesser extent with escape pods and cargo. If you flick the injectors on and off that sometimes does the trick. Hit the jump drive and it hurtles it out like a cannon ball.

Rxke · Post by **Rxke** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 3:26 pm

Yeah. Frustrating, isn't it?

I don't even bother to try and scoop metal fragments anymore, not worth the hassle.

I hate to bring this up, but for me the tractor beam, it isn't an improvement, I have the feeling it gets in my way, rather than help.
Before, I scooped everything, at the speeds I liked, and now, lots of times, stuff keeps 'oscillating' just out of scooprange, I dunno, but it get in my sight, and I have to change speed, to let the scoops 'take it inside'. Hate it when that happens, and it happens waaay too much.

Of course: it's only scoop V 1.0, I'm sure there'll be tweaks in forthcoming updates.

TedJ · Post by **TedJ** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:08 pm

It's not the scoop occasionally getting clogged that annoys me, it's when it tries to immediately re-scoop any cargo I've just jettisoned. Normal cargo pods slam into you and are destroyed, escape pods are immediately re-scooped.

I sometimes jettison valuable cargo in the heat of battle (key is too close to throttle and ecm controls) and would usually just turn around and rescoop it. Not being able to clear my holds of 8-12 tons of slaves (2-3 Cr/ton) to pick up a few "salvaged" cargo pods really gets you down too.

Flying_Circus · Post by **Flying_Circus** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:15 pm

As for jammed up scoops, try slamming your anchors on - that usually unclogs things. Metal needs to be approached at very low speed: I susppect because the thin metal fragments are classed as 'lighter' than pods (even though they're, strictly speaking, 1 tonne each).

On a slightly unrelated note, what's with the wonky vector jets on the escape pods? Is that just me, seeing those?

Evil Juice · Post by **Evil Juice** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:46 pm

In soviet systems metal frament scoops you...

JensAyton · Post by **JensAyton** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:18 pm

Definitely wonky here.

lex_talionis · Post by **lex_talionis** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:34 pm

yep, i'm seeing it too. it's been around for a few versions as well, i just didn't mention it.

aegidian · Post by **aegidian** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:23 pm

The problem occurs because the exhausts literally trail out of the exhaust positions back along where the the object has been. So if a small pod is blown sideways by (say) a nearby exploding ship, the exhaust trails flow out sideways until the thrust of the pod gets it moving forwards again..

I'll have a look at the exhaust code and see if there's anything that can be done.

lex_talionis · Post by **lex_talionis** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:25 pm

so what you're saying is that it is in fact simulating reality, it's our pre-conceived perceptions that are all messed up?

JensAyton · Post by **JensAyton** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:08 pm

Basically, the exhaust plumes are too bendy. think of it in terms of particles… for the plumes to bend the amount they do, each particle of fuel has to be moving pretty slowly relative to the generating ship (which isn’t consistent with what happens when you accelerate/decelerate).

Rxke · Post by **Rxke** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:30 pm

Flying_Circus wrote:
As for jammed up scoops, try slamming your anchors on - that usually unclogs things.

Sure, but as I said: it gets in the way rather than being helpful. Before the tractorbeam, none of this accellerating/decelerating dance was necc. to scoop stuff...

lex_talionis · Post by **lex_talionis** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:34 pm

hmm, i'm inclined to agree with Rxke. it's just kinda annoying, i fin.d especially when something get stuck in the cargo scoop and there's that "rising tones" thing going on like a cracked record.

Cmdr. Wombat · Post by **Cmdr. Wombat** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:52 pm

I haven't tried scooping metal fragments - the payoff doesn't seem worth the effort of chasing them down - but I have found that scooping cargo pods and Tharglets* at about quarter speed seems to get the job done without having to do the velocity dance.

* I've scooped untold numbers of Tharglets recently while playtesting the Thargoid Wars oxp. I'm getting tired of the bloody things...

Oolite Bulletins

Can't scoop metal fragments

Can't scoop metal fragments

Re: Can't scoop metal fragments

The escape pod jet problem.