I had a thought recently. Sails can be mounted in between other blocks, but propellers can only be mounted with one side unobstructed. Would be possible to have side mounted propellers, the same way sails seem to be? Or is there a specific reason why propellers have to have one side free?
Another thought I had, would it be possible to have propellers where the boiler is inside the module and then the engine is outside it above or below? I just think it could be a nice touch to have some variety?
Finally, What if you had propellers that helped to hold the ship aloft? That is, the blades faced straight up or straight down and provided lift the same way a helicopter does?
I like the visual idea of top-slung or bottom-slung propellers, but we have to come up with some game mechanical tradeoff for them as well. Hmm...
Side-mounted propellers: nope. I'm more interested in things that add interesting constraints rather than removing them. Which is why there's no side-mounted weapons, despite that being a frequent request. :)
Could you make the trade off of having FIXED side mounted weapons with no firing arc?
Meaning you can have your side mounted gun but it can shoot straight forward and only straight forward (so the firing constraint looks like a perfect line)?
Because you would be eliminating the space restraint, but you have to be a really good pilot to use it and if the enemy is slightly higher/lower than you too bad, its balanced (i think).
This could also be a way to encourage faster ships in the game since the only real use for them (in my opinion) is for boarding/ramming or a side effect of being a small cheap ship (because dodging requires a lot of micromanagement, a good engine and extra bridges).
If the guns are fixed you gotta be fast to make good use of them against other airships!
Well, there's an easy trade off for top and bottom slung propellers: they can't be armored as well, since the engines are outside the airship, with only the boilers inside.
Captain
I had a thought recently. Sails can be mounted in between other blocks, but propellers can only be mounted with one side unobstructed. Would be possible to have side mounted propellers, the same way sails seem to be? Or is there a specific reason why propellers have to have one side free?
Another thought I had, would it be possible to have propellers where the boiler is inside the module and then the engine is outside it above or below? I just think it could be a nice touch to have some variety?
Finally, What if you had propellers that helped to hold the ship aloft? That is, the blades faced straight up or straight down and provided lift the same way a helicopter does?
Commander
I like the helicopter blades idea but being able to put propellers anywhere would take out some of the uniformity in most designs I think.
Captain
Well, that's kind of the idea, actually. To make airships more varied.
Aerial Emperor
I like the visual idea of top-slung or bottom-slung propellers, but we have to come up with some game mechanical tradeoff for them as well. Hmm...
Side-mounted propellers: nope. I'm more interested in things that add interesting constraints rather than removing them. Which is why there's no side-mounted weapons, despite that being a frequent request. :)
Air Lord, Engineering Corps
Could you make the trade off of having FIXED side mounted weapons with no firing arc?
Meaning you can have your side mounted gun but it can shoot straight forward and only straight forward (so the firing constraint looks like a perfect line)?
Because you would be eliminating the space restraint, but you have to be a really good pilot to use it and if the enemy is slightly higher/lower than you too bad, its balanced (i think).
This could also be a way to encourage faster ships in the game since the only real use for them (in my opinion) is for boarding/ramming or a side effect of being a small cheap ship (because dodging requires a lot of micromanagement, a good engine and extra bridges). If the guns are fixed you gotta be fast to make good use of them against other airships!
Captain
Well, there's an easy trade off for top and bottom slung propellers: they can't be armored as well, since the engines are outside the airship, with only the boilers inside.
Commander
Guys,it's not ok to ask him to add smth that he JUST said that won't be there... xD
Air Lord, Engineering Corps
At least i tried once, never know if he'll go "That might actually work!" and then re-think it!