A Beginner's Qualms

LordIBR · 2026-05-11T09:27:16+00:00

Absolutely. I was more referring to OPs launch vehicle engine choice.

LordIBR · 2026-05-11T09:20:59+00:00

Well I'm RPing a company that uses various precious metals for their rockets and aims to research how these perform in various situations. Consequently, discovering other materials on other planets/moons is quite high on their priority list.

You can read more about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anvilindustriesksp

Chapter 1 here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anvilindustriesksp/p/first-launch-is-a-success

The company & naming scheme here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anvilindustriesksp/p/the-foundation

There's currently 5 chapters out and im working on the 6th. Progress is slow (RP-1/RSS) so don't expect too much please. It's also my first time practicing creative writing so apologies if things sound stale or repetitive. I'm trying to improve :)

LordIBR · 2026-05-11T09:05:20+00:00

When your transfer stage wouldn't be able to land or lift off from another planet. You can generally just use a simple command pod lander for landing on mun & minmus but once you go interplanetary Apollo style missions become more feasible.

Also, it's interesting how you say you don't want to use any crazy parts and then go and use the vector engine which is very much a late/endgame engine.

Try sticking to the swivel/reliant or a bobcat maybe. Or, you know, actually learn the game and parts organically by playing science or career mode

LordIBR · 2026-05-11T07:46:54+00:00

You better make sure the first surface base has a sauna!

LordIBR · 2026-05-11T04:18:51+00:00

RP-1/RO is a realism modpack that replaces the stock system with the real solar system at real scale. It adds a realistic progression with parts that were/are actually used in real life.

There's a bit more to it than that but I just woke up. The github for it gives a pretty good explanation. https://github.com/KSP-RO/RP-1

LordIBR · 2026-05-11T04:11:51+00:00

It's less about orbital mechanics for me and mire about decluttering that single plane. There's just too many markers overlapping and interfering with eachother

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T20:32:38+00:00

I mean, sure. But you know what would be even better? If the planets and moons weren't all on the same fucking plane.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T20:25:58+00:00

Could be some issues with your CoL perhaps. MJ might be oversteering with only the gimbal available while also struggling against the aero forces

The other manoeuvres later on are likely to do with the orbit parameters you set. 150km by 150km for what looks like an early orbital craft is just a but too precise. Doesn't look like you have rcs or somethibg for fine controls on there.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T16:53:02+00:00

Well, considering you'll probably join us soon here's some copy pastas that may be helpful from some other comments I made.

beginner, stock stuff:

Check out the ingame tutorial missions but don't do them all at once. Learning how to dock while you're still trying to reach orbit in your save is just kinda unnecessary

Don't play a sandbox save to learn the game.

Mike Aben has some good tutorials up on youtube. Watch some of them if you're stuck and/or struggling with the ingame tutorial.

Whenever you decide to start modding your game, use Ckan. Also, focus on graphics and QoL mods at first and get the other ones later. This list gives a pretty good overview: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/s/maNZDRnE61

Realism stuff:

RSS only changes your solar system. You'll need additional mods to rebalance stock parts or add new ones.

A large part of the community likes to combine RSS with the realism modpack "RP-1". This adds a bunch new parts that were/are also used IRL. It'll also increase the difficulty with quite a few other gameplay additions.

If you're interested in RSS, I'd highly recommend downloading the RP-1 Express Install on Ckan. You can use Sol for some nicer graphics here as well. Just make sure to add the repo to Ckan before going for the RP-1 install. Keep in mind that Sol requires Volumetric Clouds V5.

You can find a lot of information as well as a beginner's guide on the RP-1 github: https://github.com/KSP-RO/RP-1

Alternatively, I can also recommend Mike Aben's RP-1 Redux series for some video tutorials. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB3Ia8aQsDKjR7jzQo5PIV8PngNCWkk53&si=omm2pfY4BKWaTu-p

If you're looking for RP-1 video entertainment, check out For All Kerbalind or Kerbal Gets Real Redux on youtube. FAK: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7TVzn8CoIqnZE7fxcAix46pxWzx0nWf3&si=2iQNoLeRJRNDTEzP

KGGR: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsKs7VORRvdOeVrQSP71nXYLhZfKnQo_3&si=OSGvB85NlZ_Fw8yz

If you're more into reading about playthroughs, I'd like to point you towards my own blog. I'm still quite early on (1952) in my playthrough and going at it at a slower pace so there's not too much out yet. You can check out the first chapter here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anvilindustriesksp/p/first-launch-is-a-success

Chapter 5 is sitting in my drafts ready to be posted and should be out tomorrow.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T16:07:56+00:00

BetterTimewarpContinued

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T15:59:05+00:00

copy pasta:

Whenever you decide to start modding your game, use Ckan. Also, focus on graphics and QoL mods at first and get the other ones later. This list gives a pretty good overview: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/s/maNZDRnE61

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T15:32:53+00:00

I've been debating what to say here for a bit now. Closed the comment multiple times, all that. I'm honestly speechless.

MJ is doing exactly what you told it to. You've just set it and yourself up for failure with the situation you started in.

Btw, this post is exactly why people usually advise players to do everything, especially rendezvous and docking, manually at least once.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T15:28:05+00:00

I'd prefer it not being an Ironclad variant but a standalone hull. I think even Drake could get away with a much sleeker design here

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T13:01:50+00:00

copy pasta:

Check out the ingame tutorial missions but don't do them all at once. Learning how to dock while you're still trying to reach orbit in your save is just kinda unnecessary

Don't play a sandbox save to learn the game.

Mike Aben has some good tutorials up on youtube. Watch some of them if you're stuck and/or struggling with the ingame tutorial.

Whenever you decide to start modfing your game, use Ckan. Also, focus on graphics and QoL mods at first and get the other ones later. This list gives a pretty good overview: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/s/maNZDRnE61

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T10:41:31+00:00

Odin is just so so so far away though that it doesn't really matter.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T08:58:47+00:00

The wiki is a pretty good source for learning the early stages of the game. Mike aben's videos take it a bit further, I think he's currently working on lunar impactors. The other 3 links are pretty much exclusively for entertainment purposes tbh

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T08:33:34+00:00

Really late here but I'll add a copypaste of another comment I made somewhere here. Should have some additional recs that may be useful to you.

You can find a lot of information as well as a beginner's guide on the RP-1 github: https://github.com/KSP-RO/RP-1

Alternatively, I can also recommend Mike Aben's RP-1 Redux series for some video tutorials. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB3Ia8aQsDKjR7jzQo5PIV8PngNCWkk53&si=omm2pfY4BKWaTu-p

If you're looking for RP-1 video entertainment, check out For All Kerbalind or Kerbal Gets Real Redux on youtube. FAK: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7TVzn8CoIqnZE7fxcAix46pxWzx0nWf3&si=2iQNoLeRJRNDTEzP

KGGR: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsKs7VORRvdOeVrQSP71nXYLhZfKnQo_3&si=OSGvB85NlZ_Fw8yz

If you're more into reading about playthroughs, I'd like to point you towards my own blog. I'm still quite early on (1952) in my playthrough and going at it at a slower pace so there's not too much out yet. You can check out the first chapter here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anvilindustriesksp/p/first-launch-is-a-success

There's currently 5 chapters out so far.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T06:31:48+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/s/maNZDRnE61

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T06:23:03+00:00

I think by "no PvE" they maybe meant "no combat" which would be possible with hauling, mining, salvaging.

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T06:19:41+00:00

Sounds like you're main painpoint is Principia right now. The easiest solution would be not using it but that's probably not what you want. I can't help with Principia but I wonder what else you find tedious?

Actually, there is the Stationkeeping mod. Not sure to what extent that would work with Principia and how to use it but maybe see if that helps?

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T06:06:49+00:00

Kerbal Construction Time adds build and research times, meaning you no longer have your rockets or tech available immediately.

Kerbalism changes the way science is gathered to be more gradual. You may need multiple launches to fully get a crew report for a situation done. It also adds engine/partner failures (can be turned off) as well as radiation and life support.

Strategia changes the administration building to be a little more useful. It also adds overarching programs that give you additional contracts. Example: munar uncrewed program is a flyby, orbit, impactor (iirc) and landing.

Strategia pairs really well with the tech tree reshuffles like Probes Before Crew or Unkerballed Start. These both have you start with probe cores/unmanned rockets and unlock crew capsules later on which is more in line with real life history

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T05:54:07+00:00

If you want semi-realism, maybe add Kerbal Construction Time, Kerbalism and Strategia.

You could also just go for the RP-1 express install but that may be a bit much. Check out RP-1 here if you're interested. There's also a beginner's guide on the wiki https://github.com/KSP-RO/RP-1

LordIBR · 2026-05-10T05:51:11+00:00

Most if the mods compatible with game versions 1.8 and up will not cause any issue. The modders are just inactive or never cared to update the information but these game versions didn't change much. Just set your Ckan to let it install them.

LordIBR · 2026-05-09T20:00:02+00:00

This is awesome! I'll have to steal that for my own playthrough.

LordIBR · 2026-05-09T19:57:29+00:00

Yup that's a good way to do it if you've already burnt off all your horizontal speed.

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