So, what's the deal with the Settler's Delight? Is it a ramscoop, "regular" engine (whatever that means) or some completely unique technology?

It kind of behaves like a RS (high free warp) but looks like conventional engines (no scoop, looks more like QJ5).

I don't think there are any in-game hints as to the nature of it (like, NRSE does not take it away), so I'm actually expecting some pseudo-scientific theories.

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Hi!
Ever heard of the duck test?

'If it floats and says "quack", it's a duck.'

Let's check the Settlers' Delight:
- it goes for free at more than W-1 and
- "collects" fuel.

I leave conclusion to the audience.

BR, Iztok

[Updated on: Wed, 17 February 2010 01:52]

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iztok wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 07:51

Hi! Ever heard of the duck test? 'If it floats and says "quack", it's a duck.' Let's check the Settlers' Delight: - it goes for free at more than W-1 and - "collects" fuel.

- mine hits?

Edit: well, since the engine on fits on a mini col hull mine hit damage probably doesn't matter but it could have an influence on the mine damage dodge ... ?

mch

[Updated on: Wed, 17 February 2010 05:18]

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Misza wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 07:26

It kind of behaves like a RS (high free warp) but looks like conventional engines (no scoop, looks more like QJ5).

The completely unique technology of the Settler's Delight is tightly coupled with the mini-colonizer hull, which, on top of providing essential structural support for such a flimsy engine, acts as its "scoop", instead of using a more conventional scoop structure.

The much increased scoop area makes up for the inherent inefficiencies, allowing this inexpensive engine to compete with larger ones, but only when coupled with its target hull.

Alas, only HE races find a use, or indeed dare fly such a composite contraption.

[Updated on: Wed, 17 February 2010 11:42]

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m.a@stars wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 17:40

The much increased scoop area makes up for the inherent inefficiencies, allowing this inexpensive engine to compete with larger ones, but only when coupled with its target hull.

In that case it should take even higher damage than a normal ramscoop, though that makes no difference with the Mini-Colonizer hull, as has already been pointed out.

Does anyone know whether the presence of one ramscoop in the fleet makes the entire fleet take mine damage as for ramscoops, or whether the additional damage from using a ramscoop is calculated per ship ?

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iztok wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 07:51

Ever heard of the duck test? 'If it floats and says "quack", it's a duck.'

By my definition of the duck test, it must also look like one.
Hence the question.

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Misza wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 20:54

iztok wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 07:51 Ever heard of the duck test? 'If it floats and says "quack", it's a duck.' By my definition of the duck test, it must also look like one. Hence the question.

I feel a Monty Python reference is in it's right place here!

Along with some mildly excessive smily use and at the start of the scene this one:



mch

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craebild wrote on Wed, 17 February 2010 20:48

In that case it should take even higher damage than a normal ramscoop

"inefficiencies" mean, among other things, a weaker drag across the entire working surface, so no increased risk on that account.

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[quote title=Misza wrote on Tue, 27 April 2010 00:12]

Marduk wrote on Mon, 26 April 2010 23:07

To be exact, the top free speed of the FM is 4. This explains why NRSE doesn't take it away. Why doesn't it ban the Settler's Delight or the Enigma Pulsar remains a mystery.

It's because the Settler's Delight is a race-specific item. The HE PRT gives it and no LRT can take it away. Same goes for the race-specific penscans for JoaT, SS and AR when they take NAS.

The Enigma Pulsar is an MT item. MTs follow no LRT rules, same as with the Alien Miner being given to OBRM races.

So, to recap, Does anyone know whether the presence of one Settler's Delight in the fleet makes the entire fleet take mine damage as for ramscoops?

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Marduk wrote on Mon, 26 April 2010 23:07

The No Ram Scoop Engines LRT claims by name to not allow ram scoops, but doesn't say that in its description. Instead it says it blocks any engine that travels for free at warp five or greater. But neither one is true, be cause the fuel mizer is a ram scoop and is allowed

IFE trumps NRSE.

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m.a@stars wrote on Tue, 27 April 2010 05:21

Marduk wrote on Mon, 26 April 2010 23:07 The No Ram Scoop Engines LRT claims by name to not allow ram scoops, but doesn't say that in its description. Instead it says it blocks any engine that travels for free at warp five or greater. But neither one is true, be cause the fuel mizer is a ram scoop and is allowed IFE trumps NRSE.

No, NRSE trumps IFE. Otherwise NRSE races would be able to get the galaxy scoop if they took IFE.

finnw wrote on Tue, 27 April 2010 11:03

Marduk wrote on Mon, 26 April 2010 17:07 ... the fuel mizer is a ram scoop and is allowed ... This is explained in the race wizard: Quote: No Ram Scoop Engines: No engines which travel at Warp 5 or greater burning no fuel will be available. However, the Interspace-10 engine will be available. This drive travels at Warp 10 without taking damage. This would not apply to the Fuel Mizer, because it only travels up to warp 4 for free. However this does not explain why the Settler's Delight and Enigma Pulsar are allowed.

Read again, the title of the LRT is No Ram Scoop Engines. The fuel mizer is a ram scoop and by the title should not be allowed. The description of the LRT, however, says nothing about ram scoop engines. But neither the title nor the description is accurate. Both scoops and engines that travel at warp five or higher without using fuel are allowed.

What NRSE actually does is block the use of engines that come after the Trans-Star 10 in the tech browser, anything with an ID# of eleven or greater. Nothing at all to do with whether an engine is a scoop or not, or how fast it can travel without using fuel.

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Marduk wrote on Tue, 27 April 2010 19:51

No, NRSE trumps IFE. Otherwise NRSE races would be able to get the galaxy scoop if they took IFE.

Ahhh. You're right. I had forgotten the subtlety of "NRSE" applied to Warp5+.

Quote:

What NRSE actually does is block the use of engines that come after the Trans-Star 10 in the tech browser, anything with an ID# of eleven or greater. Nothing at all to do with whether an engine is a scoop or not, or how fast it can travel without using fuel.

Perhaps the LRT should be renamed "No Advanced Engines", but I guess NRSE sounded better at the time.

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m.a@stars wrote on Tue, 27 April 2010 21:43

Quote: What NRSE actually does is block the use of engines that come after the Trans-Star 10 in the tech browser, anything with an ID# of eleven or greater. Nothing at all to do with whether an engine is a scoop or not, or how fast it can travel without using fuel. Perhaps the LRT should be renamed "No Advanced Engines", but I guess NRSE sounded better at the time.

From my own game design experience, I would guess that originally it did in fact prohibit ram scoops. Then as the game was updated, things got altered in isolation with little or no thought given to potential consequences to other parts of the game. At least it still gets the point across even if the little details aren't quite right... that's better than plenty of things I've seen in other games.

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The fun bit comes when you play HE with NRSE and use hundreds of minicolonisers to ramscoop for your ships.

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