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Author Topic: Creative uses for Fuel  (Read 6485 times)

naufrago

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Creative uses for Fuel
« on: August 15, 2012, 03:51:00 PM »

I was just thinking, it would be nice if there were a way to eject some canisters of fuel in battle to use as a crude, inefficient explosive or makeshift minefield. It would also give Drams and Phaetons some interesting uses aside from being loot piñatas. I'm thinking of it mostly being a desperation move, since you risk being stranded (once, you know, there's more than one system) or having to buy more fuel.
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BillyRueben

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2012, 04:10:37 PM »

It would also give Drams and Phaetons some interesting uses aside from being loot piñatas.
Are you kidding? That's the best part about raiding: loot piñatas.

I'm going to say "nay" to this idea. I rather like the extra amount of credits I get from murdering a civilian vessel, and I like the extra twist to escaping that involves me escorting my civilian ships.
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naufrago

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2012, 04:21:00 PM »

It would also give Drams and Phaetons some interesting uses aside from being loot piñatas.
Are you kidding? That's the best part about raiding: loot piñatas.

I'm going to say "nay" to this idea. I rather like the extra amount of credits I get from murdering a civilian vessel, and I like the extra twist to escaping that involves me escorting my civilian ships.

Would it help if I rephrased that as "...interesting uses aside from being JUST loot piñatas"? I'm saying it would be nice to use Drams and the like as inefficient suicide bombers. There's no reason this suggestion has to change the loot significantly. It's not like every ship that's escaping or near death (including the Dram and Phaeton) would dump their fuel.

EDIT: What I'm saying is, having the option to dump fuel wouldn't suddenly change the Dram's status as a loot piñata. It would just give it additional tactical considerations.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2012, 04:34:21 PM by naufrago »
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Faiter119

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2012, 04:45:40 PM »

And when fuel actually gets a purpose in the campaign, this will be pretty dumb. Like launching your supplies at enemies,, not smart.
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BillyRueben

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2012, 05:16:06 PM »

EDIT: What I'm saying is, having the option to dump fuel wouldn't suddenly change the Dram's status as a loot piñata. It would just give it additional tactical considerations.
And what I'm saying is that a civilian vessel left unguarded shouldn't have any tactical options other than fleeing.
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naufrago

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2012, 05:18:36 PM »

Debby downers, the lot of you.

I'm not saying it would be an optimal strategy.

And when fuel actually gets a purpose in the campaign, this will be pretty dumb. Like launching your supplies at enemies,, not smart.

Supplies probably wouldn't explode. Fuel, on the other hand...
« Last Edit: August 15, 2012, 05:27:31 PM by naufrago »
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PCCL

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2012, 05:24:27 PM »

sorry.... it just doesn't sound like a very good idea....
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naufrago

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2012, 05:31:25 PM »

sorry.... it just doesn't sound like a very good idea....

I would agree with you if I were given a good reason to do so.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2012, 05:33:58 PM by naufrago »
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Faiter119

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2012, 05:34:17 PM »

Could kinda be nice as the game is now, but later on the fuel will actually useful for powering your ship, and that would make it really dumb to start lighting it on fire. As you will probably need to manage that quite a bit.
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K-64

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2012, 05:34:51 PM »

Not a fan of the idea, myself. It doesn't make much sense with fuel exploding in space, considering there's no air to oxidise it. Ship explosions I always figured as the air inside the ship being explosively decompressed while igniting catastrophically. I don't imagine fuel tanks would have the same air supply inside them. Indeed, such a thing would be a VERY bad idea for exactly this reason
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PCCL

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2012, 05:41:56 PM »

I would agree with you if I were given a good reason to do so.

really a subjective thing I suppose....

I see it as something that would rarely be used, could break the AI (pressure tanker in deep space until it jettisons all its fuel), gives extra work to the devs (less time for other things) and can make the game even more complicated...

It's just me though... I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree...
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naufrago

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2012, 05:44:38 PM »

...later on the fuel will actually useful for powering your ship... you will probably need to manage that quite a bit.

Pretty sure that's the definition of an 'interesting decision.' It would mostly be a desperation move because it's a useful resource.


Not a fan of the idea, myself. It doesn't make much sense with fuel exploding in space, considering there's no air to oxidise it. Ship explosions I always figured as the air inside the ship being explosively decompressed while igniting catastrophically. I don't imagine fuel tanks would have the same air supply inside them. Indeed, such a thing would be a VERY bad idea for exactly this reason

I hadn't actually considered that. My main inspiration came from things like Star Trek, where venting reactor core plasma and igniting it was always a valid tactic... and the fact that the fuel canisters in Starfarer are big, red, and conveniently bomb-shaped.


I see it as something that would rarely be used, could break the AI (pressure tanker in deep space until it jettisons all its fuel), gives extra work to the devs (less time for other things) and can make the game even more complicated...

And that's perfectly valid criticism. I agree that it would be rarely used (in desperation, by crazy suicide-bomber types, or using special tactics). I just disagree about how game-breaking the AI changes would be and how much work would be required to implement it. I also agree that, since we have no way of knowing the answer to those questions, it would be silly to argue those points.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2012, 05:56:09 PM by naufrago »
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FlashFrozen

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2012, 05:59:00 PM »

But this fuel is infernium... the starfarer equivalent of uranium/plutonium

For all we know it's a fission/fusion reaction not a process of combustion ( no need for air :D )

Seeing as a reaper torpedo can explode just fine without a need for air ( also contains infernium goodiness )

I can see fuel bombs definitely being interesting, if somewhat lore questionable, as rigging fuel into a weapons grade device isn't terribly easy considering that this is probably meant for civilian use with little other options.

I personally would like these in just for the fact mining an area with seems fun xD

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DelicateTask

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2012, 06:21:42 PM »

Not a fan of the idea, myself. It doesn't make much sense with fuel exploding in space, considering there's no air to oxidise it. Ship explosions I always figured as the air inside the ship being explosively decompressed while igniting catastrophically. I don't imagine fuel tanks would have the same air supply inside them. Indeed, such a thing would be a VERY bad idea for exactly this reason
Not to start a technical debate, but with no air to oxidize the fuel, how does it burn in the first place? It must either already contain all of the necessary components for combustion, or else be mixed before ignition. Obviously, whatever it is seems to burn in space just fine. ;)
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armoredcookie

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Re: Creative uses for Fuel
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2012, 06:49:38 PM »

But ships have their oxygen supplies, which would be where all the oxygen for an infernium-fueled explosion to come from, whether it be used to propel a ship or destroy one. Might be a cool idea though, but it would make attacking tankers and ships much more painstaking. Personally I would never use it, yet I have a feeling the AI would use it a lot.
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