Linking hand scanning to lua scripts.

[Scalorn]

After looking over the pre alpha gameplay video for scanning and mining I've been thinking about how will this work longer term in game.

 

Some assumptions

 

• There will only ever be hand scanning
• There will only ever be hand mining
• There will never be ore scanning or ore mining elements on dynamic cores.
• There are apparently 5 tiers of materials.  I derived this from the post about 15 new materials (3 types in 5 tiers).
• There are 5 tiers of materials then they will be most likely at successive depths.  I derived this from the scanning/mining video that says most low level ores can be detected with the default scanning depth of 400m.

 

Exploration:

 

• Initial exploration will be done with random surface scanning and then hunting it down through manual triangulation.
• Deeper exploration will have to be done via exploratory grid tunneling.  For tier 2 a 800m hole down to scan might make sense.  But longer term layers of grid tunnels make more sense.
• The ideal layering of tunnels would appear to be a square grid of 800m tunnels.
• First layer at 400m down, second layer at 800m down offeset by 400m from the first grid.
• From above the tunnels would appear to be a 400m grid because of the offsets.
• This makes sure that all material is within 400m of a walkable place and can be scanned. 
• This can be repeated all the way down to maximum dig depth.

 

Tools to help with exploration:

• Ideally in lua script all scan results would be available - i.e. a scanResult hook that would include scan datetime, scan Type, position coordinate, facing vector, scan result vector of (ore type and distance).
• This information could be processed to be turned into a map of probable ore locations.  The more scans involved in a concentrated area, the more accurate it becomes.
• It is up to the user and scripts/devices they use how the data is processed and stored.
  • A data card of scan data becomes the survey result item people have asked for.  Able to be traded, sold, etc.
  • A centralized warehouse of scan results for an organization can help leadership plan mining operations, etc.
• Being able to scan while standing on a dynamic construct means you would be able to have say a mining mule that you could have controls that would say go x meters in direction y.
  • This allows for consistent scanning of an area which leads to higher quality survey results.
  • Imagine the mining mule is remote controlled rather than sitting in a pilot seat.  Your standing on a platform spot on the mule with clear access to the front/sides/above.
• Being able to mine from the same dynamic construct means the mining mule works for scanning/mining and probably some cargo space for what you mine.

 

None of this go against the basic idea of no scanning/mining automation IMO.

You still have to scan manually.  Your just being helped on precise positioning and recording of the data.

You still have to mine manually.  But you can do it from a machine that can get you into a close position with some storage.

In both cases there will be a tug of war between bigger machines holding more vs smaller machines getting into tighter spots.

 

You can't have it all so make your trade offs and build appropriately.

It also opens up a category of things for players to develop and sell to improve the scanning/mining experience.

They might be sold on the market.. Or they might be tightly held competitive advantages that people will do anything to protect.

 

Definitely looking forward to getting access to the Alpha this month