Support for Static Non-Orthogonal Building Grids

Support for Static Non-Orthogonal Building Grids

I would like to suggest a construction feature rather than a new block.

Current limitation

At the moment, every buildable grid is constrained to a single orthogonal coordinate system.

Mechanical blocks such as rotors and hinges allow arbitrary orientations, but once a subgrid is rotated, it remains a separate mechanical grid. This makes it extremely difficult to build structures based on non-orthogonal geometry (for example, 120° triangular structures) without relying on permanent mechanical joints.

As a result, many designs are either impossible to build or require compromises caused by the building system rather than by gameplay.

Suggested solution

Would it be possible to introduce a way to create a subgrid, orient it freely (similar to a rotor or hinge), and then permanently lock it as a static construction grid while preserving its orientation?

The goal is not to introduce a new mechanical block.

Instead, this would act as a local building reference, allowing players to continue building on that surface exactly as they would on a normal grid, while keeping the chosen orientation.

Possible limitations

To keep the system simple, I would not expect it to support every existing feature.

For example:

No conveyor connections through the reference.

No mechanical movement after locking.

Intended purely as a construction tool.

Once locked, the orientation becomes permanent.

This is only one possible implementation. The main objective is to enable static construction on non-orthogonal planes while preserving the grid-based building system.Benefits

This feature would greatly expand architectural freedom without requiring hundreds of additional slope blocks.

It would make it possible to build structures based on non-orthogonal geometry while preserving Space Engineers' grid-based building philosophy.

Examples include:

Triangular ship hulls.

Advanced aerospace designs.

Complex space stations.

Architectural structures.

Any construction that currently relies on permanent mechanical subgrids purely for aesthetic reasons.

This would extend the building system while fully preserving the core gameplay and building philosophy of Space Engineers.