Gas Giant Concept-With pictures

[Crimson-Artist]

I know that Gas giants were confirmed in the latest Q&A but no specifics were laid out. It got me thinking on how it could be implemented, at least at first. I decided to add some pictures that I made to illustrate what they would look like in game.

In order to convey how big they are they would take up more than one sector. In terms of overall size they would be comparable to the "real" size of stars. Stars as we all know look small on the map but get too close and you start to burn up. The sectors around stars that cause damage technically count toward the size of the star and I believe that gas giants could be done in a similar way just with a simple massive texture.

Gas giants by their very nature have extremely high gravity and flying too close them (being within one of its sectors) would cause you to be drawn into it in a similar manner to wormholes and get crushed by it. For now damage could be dealt in the same manner as flying too close to a star would. Flying into it will change the background to storm clouds as your ship takes damage.

As to where they spawn they spawn similarly to planets but occasionally they would spawn very close to a planet. Giving the illusion that the planet is its moon.

Now the planet and the gas giant would be in separate sectors but if done right some amazing vistas could be created.

 

[MeepMoop]

I like the pictures. I want to see this in game. +1

 

[Mariux]

That is amazing. I don't think gas giants need to neccesarily be more than one sector across, because as it is, planets usually take up way less than one sector of space, so if a gas giant took up one ENTIRE sector, it would be enough to make it look distinctively bigger.

 

[Master1398]

Sounds like fake gas giants... I'd prefer 'physical' gas giants.
I think the easiest wayof implementing 'physical' gas giants is to create a few 'gas blocks'.c

• Transparent in appearance. The transparence could range from 20%(light gas) to 70%(heavy gas)
• And also not physical. That would allow a ship to fly through the gas.

These blocks could be used in the generation of a planet which size is the configurated planet size multiplied with a certain percentage. Example:
PLANET_SIZE_MEAN = 200.0
GAS_GIANT_MULTIPLIER = 1.45

==> The mean size of a gas giant would then be 290

If i'm not mistaken the planet generated with gas blocks could be done already. I don't now how it currently works but i thing the multiplier for gas giants can be added easily.
We'd still have the core of a planet but i do not mind that, and you? Anyway i quess schema could think of a good solution for that. For example: changing it's texture for gas giants or make it smaller

 

[Crimson-Artist]

That is amazing. I don't think gas giants need to neccesarily be more than one sector across, because as it is, planets usually take up way less than one sector of space, so if a gas giant took up one ENTIRE sector, it would be enough to make it look distinctively bigger.

thats also a possibilty, the main reason I said that it should take up more than one sector was just its would be easier to port over the coding for stars.
[DOUBLEPOST=1427312500,1427312121][/DOUBLEPOST]

Sounds like fake gas giants... I'd prefer 'physical' gas giants.
I think the easiest wayof implementing 'physical' gas giants is to create a few 'gas blocks'.c

• Transparent in appearance. The transparence could range from 20%(light gas) to 70%(heavy gas)
• And also not physical. That would allow a ship to fly through the gas.

These blocks could be used in the generation of a planet which size is the configurated planet size multiplied with a certain percentage. Example:
PLANET_SIZE_MEAN = 200.0
GAS_GIANT_MULTIPLIER = 1.45

==> The mean size of a gas giant would then be 290

If i'm not mistaken the planet generated with gas blocks could be done already. I don't now how it currently works but i thing the multiplier for gas giants can be added easily.
We'd still have the core of a planet but i do not mind that, and you? Anyway i quess schema could think of a good solution for that. For example: changing it's texture for gas giants or make it smaller

wouldn't this cause a lot of lag as the game would have to render many times more blocks than a planet?

 

[whooplaah]

I disagree with Master1398 , if a structure that size were in game as blocks it world freeze up the game. Think about how much FPS drops on a normal sized planet, let alone one 10 to 100 times bigger. Remember that a 10x larger radius is 1,000x bigger in volume and RAM usage.

Having the planet as a texture seems like it would be a decent solution. It doesn't have to be 'massive' since a ship starts to be destroyed if it is closer than a neighboring sector, and once you get too close the screen gets overlaid with storm/cloud/debris which blocks out the planet texture - no worry about pixelation.

I would like for space to be less empty and boring than it is right now. I would like to see more features and formations and structures. This one would be interesting.

 

[EtherEel]

Really looking forward to Gas Giants. Would be cool have some that reach (or exceed) the sector boundary (in theory). And I would like to be able to fly though low-density GGs. Would also be cool for some to have natural satellites. And RINGS (all four of our solar-system's GGs have rings)!!!

Which brings me to this:

Gas giants by their very nature have extremely high gravity and flying too close them (being within one of its sectors) would cause you to be drawn into it in a similar manner to wormholes and get crushed by it.

It's just not true, sorry -- don't mean to rain or yer parade. Uranus and Neptune are easy examples of low-density, low-gravity gas giants (relatively speaking.) It all depends on the planet's elements/compounds and whether those compounds become more tightly packed toward the core. The "surface" densities of U and N are extremely low. Yes, those GGs have more satellites than the Rockefellers have bank accounts, but that's mainly due to lack of competition way out there.

But those are lovely pix -- great inspiration/aspiration for the game. "Thumbs-up."

 

[Lecic]

I'd like them to be able to scale in size from anywhere from a few times larger than a normal planet (I know Neptune is only 8 times the size of Earth) to reaching about halfway into the sectors surrounding its core.

Also, if gas giant atmospheres were randomly generated like the nebula backgrounds, that would be awesome.

Moons should be smaller than planets for the most part (with the occasional larger one). I'd say on default settings that they'd range from the smallest possible to around the mean. Also, occasional moons around rocky planets as well would be sweet.

Rings of varying density and width around gas giants would also be lovely. They'd essentially be a modified asteroid field, but spread out in a ring around the gas giant instead of clustering together at the center of the sector. This might need to be accomplished by making all of the belt a single entity connected to the gas giant's core.

If we ever get fuel, gas giants should definitely be a source of it, in my opinion.

 

[aRottenKomquat]

If we ever get fuel, gas giants should definitely be a source of it, in my opinion.

This sounds intriguing. Assuming we're using some kind of hydrogen-fueled fusion reactors, gas giants would be an obvious source of fuel. And that would finally make room for the solar panel suggestions.

 

[Lecic]

This sounds intriguing. Assuming we're using some kind of hydrogen-fueled fusion reactors, gas giants would be an obvious source of fuel. And that would finally make room for the solar panel suggestions.

Yeah, I've got a suggestion in the works that ties together gas giants, solar panels, fuel, and core miners, that uses hydrogen as the fuel.

 

[Snk]

I like the concept, but I think they should have a little more impact on gameplay and a little more purpose. Something like a special material you can only get from the giants.

 

[Bench]

When gas giants are added there will be associated gameplay elements that warrant exploration to them, beyond them being purely decorative.

 

[Dragleones]

I full heartly agree with op's concept except for this part:

Gas giants by their very nature have extremely high gravity and flying too close them (being within one of its sectors) would cause you to be drawn into it in a similar manner to wormholes and get crushed by it. For now damage could be dealt in the same manner as flying too close to a star would. Flying into it will change the background to storm clouds as your ship takes damage.

I dislike like the idea of just another kind of dead space in space (no pun intended).

Planet structure:
Why not make them in some ways "habitable":
Give them a clear thick outer atmosphere (similar to the current planet atmospheres), where you have little gravity.
Aesthetically speaking: just some plain space for player who want to build big structures/stations with the planet-like bright lighting.
(I got biodome as a space station in the works, since its to big for a planetsurface, but normal lighting is just not sufficient to make it feel lively. I would literally kill for some way to have bright lighting on these kind of structures.)
Or to be more precise:

Spoiler: press for some serious Inspiration

[/B]

The "planetsurface" would be where the more dense layers start. When the player flys into them he would experience increasing gravity and limited sight.
In the even deeper layers the player could finally experience damage.
And why not also give them one of the current planets (->just a chunk of stone/ores) as a core like gas planets tend to have irl?

Speaking of that: Why not somekind of effect that allows the player to advance in these kind of hostile envoirenments (like into suns, or in this case near the gas-planet core for some lucrative mining). ->not realistic at all but would provide some additional purpose for gasplanets.

Influence on gameplay/possiple uses:

• Many players suggested heatshields to fly near suns unharmed. But adding a effectmodul/heatshieldblock just for this sole purpose is not enough to make it attractive. By combining this with more uses such as the ability to reach ressources in other hostile envoirenments (->such as the gasplanet cores proposed above) players could be encouraged to create more specialised (e.g. mining-) ships.
  The heatshields would be more like "envoirenment"-shields, but would have actual uses.
  
  -> this could also result in more variety among normal planets, as planets with highly corrosive-whatever-atmospheres (I'm not good in lore stuff :<) could be added. Only accessable with the right ships (with more astronaut-stuff added maybe also requiring somekind of specialised equipment).
  
  

  Assuming we're using some kind of hydrogen-fueled fusion reactors, gas giants would be an obvious source of fuel.

• Do we even need fuel consuming reactors in order to add fuel/somekind of gas a ressource?
  Another ressource can fullfil many purposes. It can just be a trade good or another crafting compound.
  If fuel is ever going to be added it can still be used for that purpose.
  Anyways. I guess we can all agree that a gas as a ressource, together with gas harvest modules and possibly refinerys are an interesting addition to the game.
  
  -> I read somewhere at some point, that nebulas/gas clouds are also planned. Another possible source for the new gas ressource
  
• Another use as illustrated above under the point planetstructure is providing buildspace with bright lighting (and maybe gravity).
  As there is no surface out of blocks (just a texture), there shouldn't be the same problems that we faced in the endless discussion about planet shape and gravity...
  But even then if gravity pulling to a point (the center of the gasplanet) isn't a feasible concept (because of weird facing when building a space station, etc.) it wouldn't be a problem if there would be no gravity at all.

 

[aRottenKomquat]

Okay, you showed that picture of Cloud City and I'm in. :D Write it and ship it!

 

[Proxy_PlayerHD]

i really like the idea! +1 for you. but it Would be cooler if you could get something from the Gas Giants.

Flying into it will change the background to storm clouds as your ship takes damage.

an animated background? you know with lightnings and sounds? in my head: lightnings = energy! can we have an Energy-Receiver (shield), to collect the "Potential Energy" on a Gas Giant? but you would need something to survive in the atmosphere...

 

[davood]

This sounds intriguing. Assuming we're using some kind of hydrogen-fueled fusion reactors, gas giants would be an obvious source of fuel. And that would finally make room for the solar panel suggestions.

oh my science

different types of fuel could be interesting. maybe some rare minerals and h3 and some others , including solar as backup that needs a topic

 

[Winterhome]

1: We'd need different kinds of gases, with certain ones being usable in fuel production.

2: Gaseous outer layer, liquid inner layer, and with exceptionally large planets, solid metallic core. If you fly too far into a gas planet, the pressure starts destroying your ship - and at a much faster rate than stars currently do. The farther you go in, the more hundreds of blocks are destroyed per second.

 

[nightrune]

We should definitely be able to mine it, and I've stated on other threads I love the idea of a station on the edge getting passive resources for being near the gas giant. I'm definitely agaisnt fuel though. We just started two new players to the game last night. It was pretty overwhelming for them. I don't want it to be any more complicated.

 

[Lecic]

I think any fuel that gets added should be a late game resource to power large ships rather than a constant drain that only bothers newbies.

 

[Crimson-Artist]

I think any fuel that gets added should be a late game resource to power large ships rather than a constant drain that only bothers newbies.

i've always thought that fuel, if added should be tied to thrust amount. After a certain thrust threshold then fuel will be required. Not at a high rate to warrant players refueling constantly but not so little that it could take days (IRL) of flying before you need to fill up again. if players run out of fuel then all systems on that ship shut down. no shields or regen, power, and weapons. it will go into low power mode and you will only be able to fly at 5% of the server max speed.

to make it this quirk more combat exploitable "fuel leak" will be a new HP damage penalty. the more damage you take on then theres a chance that you'll begin to leak fuel and risk a system shut down. defensive push will also need to be changed/nerfed in order to prevent it from becoming a more effective alternative.