Changing thruster acceleration?

Kazinsal

Hi,

Is there a constant or feature to allow a high max_force on a thruster for maximum velocity but decrease the acceleration?

Cheers,
–Troy

CK256

I don’t think there is a constant but you could do it on a individual ship basis by editing the shiparch entry.

The two highlighted code lines will have an impact on acceleration and drag.
Acceleration is a function of F=MA so if M (mass) is doubled A (acceleration) is halved with F (force) remaining constant.

Linear drag determines how fast speed is lost under engine kill flight, the default figure of 1.000 means it drops very slowly.
If left at the default setting it will also have an impact on handling with higher mass ships (>2000), in that it causes the ship to “sideslip” when turning (makes for interesting handling!) Try 10% - 25% of the mass figure for the linear drag setting.

Another approach is to increase the number of thruster Hp’s on the ships this will increase the top speed but it will use up the engine thruster capacity twice as fast.

[Power]
nickname = ge_fighter_power01
ids_name = 263705
ids_info = 264705
volume = 0.000000
mass = 10
DA_archetype = equipment\models\hardware\li_fusion_reactor.3db
material_library = equipment\models\hardware.mat
capacity = 1000
charge_rate = 95
thrust_capacity = 1000
thrust_charge_rate = 100
lootable = false

[Ship]
ids_name = 237034
ids_info = 66570
ids_info1 = 66571
ids_info2 = 66608
ids_info3 = 66572
ship_class = 0
nickname = li_fighter
LODranges = 0, 40, 60, 140, 300, 1000
msg_id_prefix = gcs_refer_shiparch_Liblf
mission_property = can_use_berths
type = FIGHTER
mass = 100.000000
hold_size = 25
linear_drag = 1.000000
fuse = li_fighter_gas01, 0.000000, -1
fuse = li_fighter_smoke01, 0.000000, -1
fuse = intermed_damage_smallship02, 0.000000, 400
fuse = intermed_damage_smallship03, 0.000000, 200
max_bank_angle = 35
camera_offset = 6, 22
camera_angular_acceleration = 0.050000
camera_horizontal_turn_angle = 23
camera_vertical_turn_up_angle = 5
camera_vertical_turn_down_angle = 30
camera_turn_look_ahead_slerp_amount = 1.000000
nanobot_limit = 12
shield_battery_limit = 12
hit_pts = 1300
DA_archetype = SHIPS\LIBERTY\LI_FIGHTER\li_fighter.cmp
material_library = SHIPS\LIBERTY\li_playerships.mat
material_library = FX\envmapbasic.mat
envmap_material = envmapbasic
cockpit = COCKPITS\LIBERTY\l_fighter.ini
pilot_mesh = generic_pilot
explosion_arch = explosion_li_fighter
surface_hit_effects = 0, small_hull_hit_light01, small_hull_hit_light02, small_hull_hit_light03
surface_hit_effects = 150, small_hull_hit_medium01, small_hull_hit_medium02, small_hull_hit_medium03
surface_hit_effects = 300, small_hull_hit_heavy01, small_hull_hit_heavy02, small_hull_hit_heavy03
steering_torque = 24000.000000, 24000.000000, 58000.000000
angular_drag = 15000.000000, 15000.000000, 35000.000000
rotation_inertia = 2800.000000, 2800.000000, 1000.000000
nudge_force = 30000.000000
strafe_force = 20000
strafe_power_usage = 2
bay_door_anim = Sc_open baydoor
bay_doors_open_snd = cargo_doors_open
bay_doors_close_snd = cargo_doors_close
HP_bay_surface = HpBayDoor01
HP_bay_external = HpBayDoor02
num_exhaust_nozzles = 1
HP_tractor_source = HpTractor_Source
shield_link = l_fighter_shield01, HpMount, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_gun_special_3, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_2, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_1, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_3, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_2, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_1, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_thruster, HpThruster01
hp_type = hp_mine_dropper, HpMine01
hp_type = hp_countermeasure_dropper, HpCM01
hp_type = hp_torpedo_special_2, HpTorpedo01

Gisteron

You could use my tool found in the tools section to setup all the values you want for your ship.
To just give you the formulae (which are not made up but the way the work in FL):
thrust_force (of [Thruster]) or max_force (of [Engine]) is F;
mass (of [Ship]) is M;
linear_drag (sum of both [Ship] and its [Engine]) is k;
maximum velocity is v;
F = M * A;
v = F / k;

Also, you probably want to keep the ship’s linear_drag at 1.0 if you want to dogfight as used to.
The purpose of my tool is to release you from annoyingly numerous usages of the conventional calculator or excel table you would