Vector lock

[DonKarnage]

Could we have it so that the primary engine setting acts as a variable forward thrust when in vector lock mode?
So this way, when the engines are off you'll be in the normal vector lock state, but if you crank up your main engines, it will let you fly your ship in a way that preserves speed, without having to constantly need to hold the forward thrust button.

I think that this might improve the usefulness and flexibility of vector lock.
Currently I rarely ever use it because it ties up my fingers on having to hold thrust keys down just to move forward.

Just a way to toggle specific thrusters on/off, instead of having to constantly hold them down.
That's it.

[TurkeyXIII]

...I don't think you know how vector lock works...

[Imago]

I think I know what he's getting at.....

It would allow you to VL in the direction of you main engines w/o limitation from that ships thrust values in IGC/GA

Edit: i dont see this ever being touched. no ticket

[DonKarnage]

QUOTE (TurkeyXIII @ Aug 14 2011, 01:50 PM) ...I don't think you know how vector lock works...

I know exactly how it works, the thrusters adjust to maintain your direction and velocity, regardless of the direction you're facing.

All I'm asking for is the main adjustable engines to act as a forward thrust in this mode, so you don't have to hold down a forward thrust key if you wanted to continue speeding up or change direction slightly.

[juckto]

QUOTE I know exactly how it works, the thrusters adjust to maintain your direction and velocity, regardless of the direction you're facing.

All I'm asking for is the main adjustable engines to act as a forward thrust in this mode, so you don't have to hold down a forward thrust key if you wanted to continue speeding up or change direction slightly.[/quote]
... what?


Okay, say I am flying along my merry way at 100% thrust, and then use Vector Lock and spin around to shoot at something behind me.

If I then hold on forward thrust, I'm pretty sure it does either: nothing; or it overrides vector lock and makes me slow down (because "forwards" is behind my vector).

You want to change this to do ... what?

[DonKarnage]

Ok, if you go into vector lock, the ship will only respond to manual thruster input.
If you turn around and hit forward thrust or boost, you will slow down.
Vector lock sets thrusters to make you keep going the same direction UNLESS you press a manual thrust key.

What I ask for is for the main engines to act as a forward thrust in this mode to broaden its usefulness, and to prevent from having to keep holding down the forward thrust button to allow it to double as a speed preservation mode.
Turning slows you down.
If you hold down the forward thrust, turning is slower, but you do not lose speed.

[MrChaos]

errm no... I think.. ... cause it has been awhile since I used the feature but the way I remember is NOTHING like how you describe... and you seem so sure and all

I am very confuzzled now

Vector lock, if we go by just the name alone says you maintain direction AND velocity as in that is the actual definition; a vector has direction and a magnitude. It also implies you can SPIN on your axis at will since the spin about the CG wouldn't change the direction OR magnitude. If one wanted to slow down or TURN then well you aren't on the same vector anymore, now are you.

My snot filled brain remembers the above being the case except Allegiance's space drag slowing you over time... and therefore not really vector lock in the true sense of the word. However it is entirely possible I'm simply full of @#(! given time and this viscous load of snot in my nasal passages atm.

Anyone want to give a clear, crisp, correct description of vector lock in its current form?

Thanks in advance
MrChaos says, "No Don's were meant to be harmed in the making of this post. MrChaos is simply and truly confuzzled atm"

[DonKarnage]

You are right, that is what vector lock does, it makes you keep your vector. The little direction thingy wont move if you turn and look around.
The only reason turning will slow you down is because often times the side and rear thrusters are weak. This means that the weaker thrusters cannot maintain your current speed against the friction at that velocity.

However, manually thrusting will override vector lock.

This post simply asks that primary engines can override vectorlock too, but turning engines down will make vector lock actually do as it says on the label.

If anything, this could be an optional preference

[Malicious Wraith]

I will translate:

Using Vector Lock causes your ship to head in a single direction.

When changing the direction your ship is facing, your ship will opt to use its very weak side/rear thrusters to move in the direction of the locked vector, in lieu of the "main thruster".... UNLESS you are holding down the W button, which forces the main thruster to fire, which in turn causes the "turn agility" of the ship to compensate in order to maintain the locked vector.

Its the exact same thing that happens when you try to turn your ships direction while thrusting forward with the W key held down, as opposed to when simply pressing the side thrust keys. Maintaining forward thrust keeps your speed up, but it costs you "agility"... whereas if you sacrifice speed, you gain greater directional control.

Essentially, Don Karnage is asking for the "slow forward" functionality to be removed from Vector Lock, and instead have the "low agility" variant be written hardcoded into it. This will have the effect of removing the ability of a player to run their side/rear thrusters to maintain vector, because he can't be assed to hold down his friggin manual thrust key.

Not only will this remove certain functionality from the system (thrust level would be set as the determining factor for the main engine only, because it would have to be disassociated from the rear and side thrusters as the source of primary thrust), but it would probably be very hard to do.

ASCII Diagram:


Example #1-
If facing locked vector
Agility non-factor as traveling in locked direction

...........Speed....Direction
BOOM>--------------- Int ----> This Vector


Example #2-
If facing away from locked vector without holding down forward thrust
High agility

...................I
Sputter>--- n ----> This Vector
...................t

Example #3:-
If facing away from locked vector while holding down forward thrust
Low agility

......................I
Rumble>------ n ----> This Vector
......................t


These 3 examples indicate the current operation of Vector Lock, as described by DonKarnage. His request would default all turning operation to example #3, while removing the turning operation of #2.

Note, this is simply as he has described it. He could be mechanically incorrect about the functionality of Vector Lock, as I never friggin use it, so I have no damn clue. But it sounds right, from what I know about how thrust works in this game. I disagree with its necessity, but I am just one guy.

My suggestion to you, Don, is this: Programming time and effort is available at a huge premium right now, so you would have better luck finding a better layout for your thrust binds, if you are so insistent on using this feature.

[DonKarnage]

Alright, code-wise I have no $#@!ing clue how it works, if it's too hard to do, and if it $#@!s something else over in the process, just forget it

Yeah, it is just down to not being assed to hold down a stupid button.
It's nothing.