Implement Friction Between Undocked Entities

[Trekkerjoe]

It's been a while, been waiting for the new update to come out, so please pardon my absence. Anyway, down to the point: I have seen some of the crazy things you can do with the new system, and quite literally woke up today with the idea that I would build mech walkers. Please correct me if I'm wrong(I have yet to test it myself), but may not actually be possible.

Here is a link to a thread that shows the problem: http://starmadedock.net/threads/moonwalking-mech-on-a-moon.6882/

As much as I am impressed with the new system, this problem would have to be addressed to make mechs and mobile robots possible. Implementing friction with the entities that are not docked to each other in any way( or implementing a rubber block) would go a long way to making this possible.

 

[zigyzigy]

There is a slightly more fundamental issue in that
1. there is no reason to make a walker because 99.99% of the game takes part in space where there is nothing to walk on and
2. the worlds that do exist are too small to warrant a walker mech
3. If a player is going to be in the mech anyway then just give it a tiny amount of thrust and fly close to the ground in 3rd person.
4. If it is going to be unmanned then sitck the whole mech onto a hidden rail and have it walk seemlesly touching the floor along a Route that can change dynamically with logic.

 

[Trekkerjoe]

There is a slightly more fundamental issue in that
1. there is no reason to make a walker because 99.99% of the game takes part in space where there is nothing to walk on and
2. the worlds that do exist are too small to warrant a walker mech
3. If a player is going to be in the mech anyway then just give it a tiny amount of thrust and fly close to the ground in 3rd person.
4. If it is going to be unmanned then sitck the whole mech onto a hidden rail and have it walk seemlesly touching the floor along a Route that can change dynamically with logic.

In response to your points:
1. Not everyone spends all his time in space, and if MechWarriors actually work, I can imagine competitions.
2. Some are, yes, but it is possible to find large enough planets, even in the default settings.
3. I guess that could work, but it has many flaws. The main one is when you turn too much, you will start tilting. This is compounded in combat.
4. You bring up a valid point, I just want it possible for a self contained system to move.

I will bring up a few points of my own:
1. If you do in fact spend most of your time in space, then any changes that are implemented will not negate your experience.
2. MechWarriors and land vehicles would be a logical application for the new rotary block.
3. Like I said earlier, MechWarrior fights could be a thing.
4. The friction could stand to detriment planet landing and sledding, but if it comes in the form of a rubber block, then there would be no drawbacks.