CleverRaven / Cataclysm-DDA

Cataclysm - Dark Days Ahead. A turn-based survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world.
http://cataclysmdda.org
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Ferromagnetic projectiles are too heavy. #30750

Closed eilaattwood closed 5 years ago

eilaattwood commented 5 years ago

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
One steel rail has a weight of 0.52 kg and volume of 0.03l, both numbers are too high. Even if we keep the volume value of 0.03 l, the weight then should be 7800*0.00003=0.234 kg (where 7800 kg/m3 is the density value of steel). But 0.03l volume is still too high, that projectiles should be 0.01l or even less (if it is possible to set that value in game). Maybe 0.005l, I think. Same with rebar rails.

Describe the solution you'd like
Adjust steel and rebad rails volume and weight so thay don't violate laws of physics. Also adjust crafting quantyty to meet law of preservation of mass.

Describe alternatives you've considered
None. Physics law violation is punished by death.

Additional context
This 50 ml syringe can be good visual reference to a possible ferromagnetic projectile size. 50 ml syringe

eilaattwood commented 5 years ago

Also I can't see a reason not to add ferromagnetic projectiles to rifle bandoliers accepted ammo list. They have corresponding shape and are used in the actual rifle - ferromagnetic rail rifle.

Also, why that projectiles are called rails in the game? Rails performs a function of a barrel in the rifle. Projectiles are just cylinder pigs, not rails.

TechyBen commented 5 years ago

Perhaps they were thinking of "rod" and put rail instead? "Rod" for the projectiles makes sense. As to size, it depends on what type of weapon and it's strength/stats. But I can agree the weight/etc could be adjusted to make it fairer (more realistic!).

If the weight/size is a balance concern after the change, the damage could be reduced or alternatively the power requirement from the UPS increased, per shot (as speed vs weight scales rather well for a projectile).

eilaattwood commented 5 years ago

Looks like "count" and "stack_size" values from ammo definition are ignored for ferromagnetic projectiles for some reason. Ammo definition says that 0.52 kg is the weight of 10 rods, but game ignores that and sets a single rod weight to 0.52 kg.

[
  {
    "id": "rebar_rail",
    "type": "AMMO",
    "name": "rebar rail",
    "description": "A short piece of ferromagnetic rebar which has been straightened and sharpened on one end.  Could be used as a projectile by a sufficiently powerful electromagnetic weapon.",
    "weight": 712,
    "volume": 1,
    "price": 1000,
    "to_hit": -1,
    "bashing": 5,
    "cutting": 1,
    "material": [ "iron" ],
    "symbol": "=",
    "color": "dark_gray",
    "count": 10,
    "ammo_type": "metal_rail",
    "range": 40,
    "damage": 70,
    "pierce": 25,
    "dispersion": 150,
    "effects": [ "RECYCLED" ]
  },
  {
    "id": "steel_rail",
    "copy-from": "rebar_rail",
    "type": "AMMO",
    "name": "steel rail",
    "description": "A short piece of steel which has been forged true and sharpened on one end.  Could be used as a projectile by a sufficiently powerful electromagnetic weapon.",
    "weight": 520,
    "price": 1500,
    "bashing": 4,
    "cutting": 2,
    "material": [ "steel" ],
    "color": "light_gray",
    "dispersion": 0,
    "effects": [ "NEVER_MISFIRES" ],
    "relative": { "range": 10, "damage": -5, "pierce": 15 }
  }
]
anothersimulacrum commented 5 years ago

Ammo definition says that 0.52 kg is the weight of 10 rods, but game ignores that and sets a single rod weight to 0.52 kg.

The weight defined in JSON for something with charges is for one charge. It's possible that the person who created these believed that it was for the whole stack, not just one charge.

Greevv commented 5 years ago

Seems like an easy fix, I'm on it.

RarkGrames commented 5 years ago

Also, why that projectiles are called rails in the game? Rails performs a function of a barrel in the rifle. Projectiles are just cylinder pigs, not rails.

Yes, the projectile runs on the rails, like a train. The projectile having this name is confusing. The word "rail" implies that the long piece of metal is resting on something and an other thing runs on top of it, like railroad rail or handrail. I couldn't even find a definition in any better dictionary that suggests that it is a long piece of metal by itself, without attached to anything.

eilaattwood commented 5 years ago

Yes, the projectile runs on the rails, like a train. The projectile having this name is confusing. The word "rail" implies that the long piece of metal is resting on something and an other thing runs on top of it, like railroad rail or handrail. I couldn't even find a definition in any better dictionary that suggests that it is a long piece of metal by itself, without attached to anything.

It should be called 'slug' or 'rod', I think.

RarkGrames commented 5 years ago

To be honest I'm not sure. I'm not a native english speaker, but for me both slug and rod implies that they are blunt at the end, and the description says it has been sharpened. With the current description I would call them simply projectiles.

After doing a little bit of research it seems that anything made of ferrous metal can be used with these (they even tried to shoot mortar shells from these in experiments), so if you straighten up a piece of rebar and load it in, I would call that a slug or a rod.

TechyBen commented 5 years ago

For the game, yes it is sharpened. But in general, it could fire anything metal. :) Seems reference to them in Wikipedia is just "projectile" as you say.

eilaattwood commented 5 years ago

For the game, yes it is sharpened. But in general, it could fire anything metal. :) Seems reference to them in Wikipedia is just "projectile" as you say.

And sometimes even non-metal (so-called plasma slug, when the projectile itself is non-conductive, but has thin conductive layer sprayed on the bottom. When railgun fires, that layer evaporates and forms plasma coating behind the non-conductive projectile. And plasma is actually decent conductor, so it's still affected by the Lorentz force, pushing the projectile forward.) ;)