Standardize conveyor access on tool and weapon blocks
One thing I've noticed that's being carried over from Space Engineers 1 is that conveyor access is not the same for each face. Here are two screenshots to show what I mean:
I'm ashamed to admit that I have over 6,600 hours logged in the first Space Engineers (no, that's not a typo), and I've also talked to a lot of players over the years about SE. I can honestly say that in all that time I have not encountered a single player that was a fan of this design choice. This makes it very hard to connect blocks in the desired way, and usually results in cumbersome configurations that force design compromises. Now, overcoming design compromises is part of the challenge and the fun of engineering games like this, but not when those compromises are arbitrary. Engineers capable of designing the things that are already in the game could absolutely design a universal conveyor system that allows items brought in from any angle to be used by tool and weapon systems.
So my feedback here is that all tool and weapon blocks should have conveyor access that makes it easy to attach them to each other regardless of orientation. I'm aware that this won't look as aesthetically pleasing as the current blocks, but it will still be a huge improvement over Space Engineer 1's awkward block tetris, which was frustrating and unenjoyable.
I like this feedback
That's great feedback man. I also find that stuff difficult, and getting in the way of certain designs I want to do... but I also don't have a problem with it. I look at it as a feature. So. Not voting up, but also... I see where you're coming from.... and understand the motivation.
That's great feedback man. I also find that stuff difficult, and getting in the way of certain designs I want to do... but I also don't have a problem with it. I look at it as a feature. So. Not voting up, but also... I see where you're coming from.... and understand the motivation.
One of the big reasons they mix and match the conveyor ports like that is because not all items can move through the smaller conveyor type ports. There are also times where one needs/wants to go from a larger port to a smaller one or vice versa. If all items could move through all conveyor sizes without problem, it's just a cosmetic choice at that point. However since not all items can move through all conveyor sizes, you need some blocks with a bit of both. I'm not opposed to having some blocks that are all 2.5m in size, and some that are all 0.5m and so forth, but that shouldn't always be the norm that you only ever get just one size and that's it. I don't agree with making everything one size all of the time, however I do think there should be more variants of different blocks. Take the welder ship tool as an example that has a large 2.5m port and 2 of the 0.5m ports. Instead of making them all the same, give us a variant that's all 2.5m ports, one for 0.5m ports, and one that's the mix like we have now. Let folks pick and choose what's best for them.
Basically what I'm saying is that not all things that bind are nails, and not all of them are screws either. Sometimes you need the ability to mix and match.
One of the big reasons they mix and match the conveyor ports like that is because not all items can move through the smaller conveyor type ports. There are also times where one needs/wants to go from a larger port to a smaller one or vice versa. If all items could move through all conveyor sizes without problem, it's just a cosmetic choice at that point. However since not all items can move through all conveyor sizes, you need some blocks with a bit of both. I'm not opposed to having some blocks that are all 2.5m in size, and some that are all 0.5m and so forth, but that shouldn't always be the norm that you only ever get just one size and that's it. I don't agree with making everything one size all of the time, however I do think there should be more variants of different blocks. Take the welder ship tool as an example that has a large 2.5m port and 2 of the 0.5m ports. Instead of making them all the same, give us a variant that's all 2.5m ports, one for 0.5m ports, and one that's the mix like we have now. Let folks pick and choose what's best for them.
Basically what I'm saying is that not all things that bind are nails, and not all of them are screws either. Sometimes you need the ability to mix and match.
More options and convenience in conveyors will go a long way to help make the game accessible to normies without 1000 hours to burn figuring it out.
More options and convenience in conveyors will go a long way to help make the game accessible to normies without 1000 hours to burn figuring it out.
I'm in two minds about this.
On one hand I like a little engineering complexity, and to need a bit of planning that comes with the different layouts, in general it's a good thing. But a lot of things in the game seem to be complex for the sake of it, and it seems like most objects are still designed based on the SE1 small and large grid. I find the new large conveyors particularly bad at this, why does it take 2.5m to turn a 1.5m conveyor 90 degrees?
What might be a nice middle ground is if they got rid of the full blocks on the back of the tools and weapons, or atleast reduced them to a sensible depth, if it would make sense for them to have a fixing point. And then had a single conveyor of the appropriate size for what needs to be transferred through them.
It would make the engineering challenge more about plumbing up the conveyors to mount the equipment flush and make it look good, rather than playing block tetris for everything.
I'm in two minds about this.
On one hand I like a little engineering complexity, and to need a bit of planning that comes with the different layouts, in general it's a good thing. But a lot of things in the game seem to be complex for the sake of it, and it seems like most objects are still designed based on the SE1 small and large grid. I find the new large conveyors particularly bad at this, why does it take 2.5m to turn a 1.5m conveyor 90 degrees?
What might be a nice middle ground is if they got rid of the full blocks on the back of the tools and weapons, or atleast reduced them to a sensible depth, if it would make sense for them to have a fixing point. And then had a single conveyor of the appropriate size for what needs to be transferred through them.
It would make the engineering challenge more about plumbing up the conveyors to mount the equipment flush and make it look good, rather than playing block tetris for everything.
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