Originally Posted by vicky_molokh (Post 1557078)

Been there, done that. One of the annoying examples from the recent playtest discussion/explanation:

Originally Posted by Anthony (Post 1557142)

Heh. I've always wanted to figure out how to do an orbital mechanics sim that would show current and future position of all objects (some sort of curve or line of dots), so you get an intercept course by arranging for your ship's dot in some future turn to correspond to the right target dot, but not sure how you make something like that into a readable display.

Originally Posted by Anthony (Post 1557142)

Heh. I've always wanted to figure out how to do an orbital mechanics sim that would show current and future position of all objects (some sort of curve or line of dots), so you get an intercept course by arranging for your ship's dot in some future turn to correspond to the right target dot, but not sure how you make something like that into a readable display.

Originally Posted by Langy (Post 1557150)

Check out Kerbal Space Program (a video game about a space program, from rocket design to launch to orbital intercepts and docking/creation of space stations and more). It's got a pretty decent method for showing current and future positions of all objects - exactly a curve, including position indicators for when objects will be close to each other/etc.

Originally Posted by Anthony (Post 1557142)

Heh. I've always wanted to figure out how to do an orbital mechanics sim that would show current and future position of all objects (some sort of curve or line of dots), so you get an intercept course by arranging for your ship's dot in some future turn to correspond to the right target dot, but not sure how you make something like that into a readable display.

Originally Posted by Tomsdad (Post 1557496)

I think the problem UT has (if it has an overall problem) is that the scope and scale of the subject matter is far larger than HT & LT. So yes maybe it fails to achieve its goals as successfully as the other two, but then it's goals were a lot harder.

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson (Post 1557437)

Everything has a little arrow sprouting from it, pointing to its ballistic position in +n time units. n can be adjustable with a thumbwheel perhaps, and you can dress up the arrows by graduating them in color, so you can make sure that you don't intercept some object while touching your arrow tip to the subject's. This works for projectile weapons as well, per its use in John Varley's story, "Equinoctial".

Originally Posted by DemiBenson (Post 1557138)

(Thread necromancy, of a sort)


I am quite keen on the idea of a series of Ultra-Tech Companion books. I think I've mentioned that elsewhere.

I started writing what was to be a Pyramid article for the Future Exploration article many moons ago, but it was headed for "too long for a magazine article" territory. It included setting design switches like "If contragrav exists, here's how that affects societies and tech. If it only works for big vehicles, then X; if it only works for small vehicles, then Y." And the same for reactionless thrusters and FTL. Plus notes for gritty hard science and space opera (and everything in between) and how the Tech Paths affects settings.

I'm also quite interested in writing the UTC Cyberware book, and considering the positive feedback on the Pyramid 51 Tech and Toys 3, I should talk to whomever to see about actually making that happen.