Just how fast can I go? - Experiments in Engine Performance

TheUnknown · Post by **TheUnknown** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:30 pm

Hmmm... 15K when the highest the game can register is >10K? We are questioning this one Human. Makes us doubtful you've ever really even been at >10K...

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:12 am

I don't see the graphs. Where are they?

-splosives- · Post by **-splosives-** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:37 am

The only way I could calculate my speed was by using math!
Ever heard of pythagoras?

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:36 pm

Would that be with a capital "P" ...?

Post by **DaveK** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:00 pm

From post: 145191, Topic: tid=8677, author=-splosives- wrote:Looks like this thread needs some editing, as we recently found out engine class and frame class does matter for acceleration. The faster you go, the more it matters.

Also, I know a method of going way beyond 10k speed. The fastest speed I went I believe was 15k.

Please U2U me with the technique

I'm ploughing through the experiments looking at engine class and frames wrt acceleration but haven't found a way to get to more than 7800 before I run out of fuel (though of course when we jump the speedo registers">10K")

Post by **DaveK** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:46 pm

From post: 145231, Topic: tid=8677, author=Nigel_Strange wrote:I don't see the graphs. Where are they?

Sorry - my ISP changed the rules on me - so they got taken down and I haven't had time to put them up again.

However, the graphs and discussion is in the The_Authorised_Evochron_Mercenaries_Technical_Manual from SeeJay's Site (pages 15-20)

sapperhedge · Post by **sapperhedge** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:07 pm

I was wondering, all of these top speeds are from a dead stop. Would you be able to hit higher speeds with a no fuel acceleration?

Using my X52, I can accelerate to top speeds with out any fuel consumption as long as the acceleration is slow and smooth enough. (it would take a long time to get to top speed though)

Post by **DaveK** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:58 pm

From post: 145242, Topic: tid=8677, author=sapperhedge wrote:I was wondering, all of these top speeds are from a dead stop. Would you be able to hit higher speeds with a no fuel acceleration?

Using my X52, I can accelerate to top speeds with out any fuel consumption as long as the acceleration is slow and smooth enough. (it would take a long time to get to top speed though)

Can you describe exactly how you do that? How long does it take to reach 5000?, 6000?, 7000?

The graph approaches the maximum speed asymtotically (ie gets closer and closer at a slower and slower rate but never actually gets there) so perhaps you could actually reach the theoretical top speed if you had an infinite amount of time

sapperhedge · Post by **sapperhedge** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:48 pm

From post: 145245, Topic: tid=8677, author=DaveK wrote:
From post: 145242, Topic: tid=8677, author=sapperhedge wrote:I was wondering, all of these top speeds are from a dead stop. Would you be able to hit higher speeds with a no fuel acceleration?

Using my X52, I can accelerate to top speeds with out any fuel consumption as long as the acceleration is slow and smooth enough. (it would take a long time to get to top speed though)

Can you describe exactly how you do that? How long does it take to reach 5000?, 6000?, 7000?

The graph approaches the maximum speed asymtotically (ie gets closer and closer at a slower and slower rate but never actually gets there) so perhaps you could actually reach the theoretical top speed if you had an infinite amount of time

I have not actually had the patience to go much beyond 2000 in the fuel free acceleration.

Using IDS at X5 you can slowly increase your set velocity to accelerate at +25 every little push which wont use fuel if you do it slow enough. I turn the tension on my throttle up pretty high and just use one finger to push forward.

You know when you accelerate and the screen has a visual effect to mimic you being pushed into the seat? I keep my acceleration below the point where that animation is triggered.

A while ago I read a thread here about some one explaining their "inertial loop" for fuel free acceleration they kept pressing the point of slow, smooth, and steady, turns out that's all you needed.

Sorry if I didn't make much sense, if I need to explain clearer I can try.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:27 pm

This method only works for getting up to your maximum rated engine speed using IDS(On)!

sapperhedge · Post by **sapperhedge** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:38 pm

From post: 145252, Topic: tid=8677, author=Maarschalk wrote:This method only works for getting up to your maximum rated engine speed using IDS(On)!

You are correct Maars, the idea was a big engine on a small ship is decent head start on speed before using fuel for the afterburner in inertial.

Some one already posted about using the fuel converter in a nebula which for the test is a much better method. It wont take you 20+min to accelerate on only IDS

Post by **DaveK** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:55 am

splosives U2Ued me with his method of exceeding 10K

It's clever and technically corect if a bit impractical: Here's splosives U2U and a response:

For the best results, pick a frame with good afterburners and good turning speed.
Evoch-E is probably your best bet.

Step 1: Start from speed 0, pull back your joystick so you start turning upward.

Step 2: While holding your joystick back, move it to the left, so you start turning in a diagonal direction.

Step 3: Press your left roll button, so you'll start rolling while turning.

Step 4: While doing these 3 things simultaneously, press your afterburner.

Result: You will see your speed go up in 3 different directions relatively fast. For some reason, the acceleration doesn't slow down as much as when you go frontally. After a certain period of afterburning, your frontal speed will show over 10K and your horizontal and vertical speed will show over 9k. But beware! once you stop afterburning, inertial turning will make you slow down drastically. So if you cant to calculate your speed, you should try to avoid turning around too much.

There was a whole thread discussion about vector calculations of speed (technically velocity) a few years go when people were questioning how Vice calculated it in game.

http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtop ... 5#pid83474

part way down

Simple explanation:

Imagine a square with sides =1; the diagonal =1.4. In this case 1=full speed so if you go full speed forwards and full speed sideways at the same time (ie 7800, then your vector speed across the diagonal will be 1.4x7.8=11, so effectively you appear to be drifting on the diagonal at 11000.

Expand this argument to a cube and the diagonal across the cube is 1.4x1.4=2. Adjust your speed (by spiralling for example as you do) to full forwards, sideways and upwards and your vector drift speed will be just over 15000

It's a bit like getting forward speed to 2000, inertial in and turn 180 degrees - your velocity is now -2000 suggesting you have changed speed by 4000 but you are still going 2000 in the direction you started in

cool - though not very practical for getting places with any precision. If you use strafe burners instead of turning to do the same thing with inertial on you shouldn't slow down because you don't have the inertial turning drag you describe.

I'll add this to the forum - it should start a good discussion!

Dave

-splosives- · Post by **-splosives-** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:27 am

When you turn around like this, you will always see a center point around which you're turning. That is the direction you will be headed to. This way you can aim where you're going.
But as you said, it is a very impractical to aim anywhere accurately.
The technique is actually kinda useless, but it's just fun to know how you can go to extreme velocities!

Post by **Marvin** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:40 pm

From post: 145271, Topic: tid=8677, author=DaveK wrote:If you use strafe burners instead of turning to do the same thing with inertial on you shouldn't slow down because you don't have the inertial turning drag you describe.

Which is the method I use when looking for lost objects or delivering cargo to a waiting capital ship. Launch under inertial and then use "strafe burners" to keep my drift meter centered directly on the lost pod or green box.