Machines conduct digilines above

[S-S-X]

Discussion on issue #194 was kinda left hanging unresolved.

There's some machines that should allow digiline connection from above, at least if connected with digiline cables. At least supply converter.

Options I see here is to

• allow digiline connection above all machines.
• add custom rule for machines that are supposed to allow cable connection from above.
• find a way to allow different connection based on used cable, power cables have separate rules. Most common rule is {"bottom", "back", "left", "right"} Not sure if this is possible at all.

Also I want to remind people who were part of that discussion that

• Personally I am not against having this feature for all machines.
• I am against invalid reasoning like telling that it should be done because other things are broken.
• Question I had: "How likely it is that it causes problems with existing networks?"

  That said when I added custom digiline rules only reason why I did not want to add connection directly above was to avoid problems with excessive messages sent to digiline network where you do not expect those but other than that I'm not against adding connection from above. Just think how many problems it might cause with current networks in world, how many will contraptions would cause higher digiline usage (and added penalty if connection would be added)? Would it be low enough for it to be acceptable?

[OgelGames]

IMO we should allow digilines to connect above for all machines, and also fix the cables so they visually connect above machines, like the textures already indicate.

[S-S-X]

and also fix the cables so they visually connect above machines, like the textures already indicate.

Reason why I would keep visual connections and actually fix cable machine connections (like described in #124) is to keep some restrictions around how machines are built. That's because having some restrictions is usually good for game as it requires thinking a bit and that in turn contributes in keeping game more interesting. Usually games that simply allow everything just because it is possible are ones that also get boring very soon simply because there's less challenges or challenges are concentrated into very specific small sections of game play.

[OgelGames]

fix cable machine connections

There's one major problem with that: it would break a lot of builds.

I agree that restrictions can be good, but it's very hard to add new restrictions to something that has existed for so long.

[S-S-X]

fix cable machine connections

There's one major problem with that: it would break a lot of builds.

I agree that restrictions can be good, but it's very hard to add new restrictions to something that has existed for so long.

I've actually looked around in a world a bit for this and it seems like it will not break a lot of builds, just very few. And about few of those few they asked if it is supposed to work and know that it is not supposed to work.

I guess important clue here was that cables did not connect visually and most players have assumed that connection like that would not work.

[eshattow]

Does supply converter also need to pass digiline (for digiline infused power supply cable) like RGB glass? Logically on its functionality as transmitting power it may make sense, and that would infer it to be a special rule. That is the other thought, should the node transmit digiline then yes it makes sense it would conduct digiline above. For example then two digiline infused power supply cables one over top of the other, supply converter. In the case of something like RGB glass then yes it conduct digilines above but not power. For lua controller it would not conduct digiline above because lua controller does not conduct digiline. What am I missing?

[S-S-X]

Does supply converter also need to pass digiline

Probably bad idea (also wont work well with official digilines mod). edit. actually this probably would not be affected. Could maybe agree with that if digiline connection could be toggled but is it worth it? With patched digiliness mod this is possible.

Logically on its functionality as transmitting power it may make sense

Usually these things are isolating transformers when looking at real life counterparts. I don't think this is relevant in any way when we're talking about data connection.

In the case of something like RGB glass then yes it conduct digilines above but not power.

RGB glass works like digiline power cable (or digimese).

For lua controller it would not conduct digiline above

Lua controller has its own rules (like any other mod), that's irrelevant and cables wont affect it in any way.