Difference between revisions of "Rail Mass Enhancer"

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(Updating further, also added section which states formulas for easy reference.)
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{{infobox block/Rail_Mass_Enhancer}}
 
{{infobox block/Rail_Mass_Enhancer}}
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'''Rail Mass Enhancers''' are enhancer class modules that are required to allow larger docked entities to move at top speed either along or on top of any and all rails. Each mass enhancer also requires energy to operate.
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'''Rail Mass Enhancers''' are modules which increase the maximum mass any rail can move without slowing down. They are not necessary to allow large entities to dock to rails and are only relevant when rails on an entity must move a docked entity.
 
==Item Description==
 
==Item Description==
 
"This block is used to combat slow down on rails. There is a certain mass free to place on each rail, but in case that is reached, the rail movement will slow down immensly. Each 'Rail Mass Enhancer' adds more possible mass to all the rails on your structure."
 
"This block is used to combat slow down on rails. There is a certain mass free to place on each rail, but in case that is reached, the rail movement will slow down immensly. Each 'Rail Mass Enhancer' adds more possible mass to all the rails on your structure."
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{{production/Rail_Mass_Enhancer}}
 
{{production/Rail_Mass_Enhancer}}
 
==Usage==
 
==Usage==
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As players attach heavier docked entities to a ship via rails they will move/rotate slower than usual. This is due to the fact that the rail system factors in the mass of the docked entity and will assign said entity a top speed accordingly. While not always required placing Rail Mass Enhancers down on the mother ship will increase the the mass threshold that its rails can move docked entities at top speed.
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As players dock larger and larger entities to their rails, they will find that these entities move more slowly than usual. This is because the speed at which any rail on an entity can move a docked entity is dependent on mass. In particular, there is a set value at which an entity is too large, and increasing its mass further will significantly decrease the speed which rails can move that entity at. Rail Mass Enhancers serve to increase this "cap" value on the mass an entity less than to move at top speed. Note that, if a structure simply uses rails as a static docking system, and does not try to move any docked entities, adding Rail Mass Enhancers is not necessary.
  
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Every ship has a default maximum mass threshold of 50. This means that any docked ship below 50 mass units will be able to move unabated along rails. Anything above however will begin to experience slow down. Each placed mass enhancer will increase the mother ships mass threshold 5 mass units. This translates to roughly 50 system blocks or 20 advanced armor blocks per mass enhancer. Mass enhancers also do not require any connections to enable their effects. Simply placing them down will automatically begin enhancing the mass threshold for every rail on the parent entity. As the amount of mass enhancers increase so does their power costs, players should plan accordingly
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Every ship has a default maximum mass threshold of 50. This means that any docked entity below 50 mass units will be able to move unabated along rails. However, anything with a mass greater than 50 will move at less than maximum speed, with entities significantly larger than the cap moving at a very slim fraction of the maximum. Each placed Rail Mass Enhancer increases an entities "mass threshold" by 5 mass units, allowing slightly larger docked entities to move at maximum speed along its rails. Each mass enhancer, therefore, adds support for an additional 50 system blocks (0.1 mass apiece) or 20 Advanced Armor blocks (0.25 mass apiece). Mass enhancers do not rely upon a controller or computer block, and will perform their function as soon as they are placed. Mass enhancers consume 50 power per second per module (e/sec/block), and only work if the entity they are on has power to support them.
  
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Chain docked entities will also require mass enhancers to move their respective docked entities. While this rule partially affects standard rail systems ([[Rail Basic]],[[Rail Rotator Clock Wise]], [[Rail Rotator Counter Clock Wise]], Pickup Rail]]) this practice is required when it comes to turrets. Mass enhancers need to be added to the base of a turret sufficient to account for the mass of the barrel section of the turret (Check the mass of the turret barrel, subtract 50 for the free mass, divide the remainder by 5 and round up to find how many mass enhancers to add). The barrel fortunately does not require any mass enhancers, freeing up vital space for weapons and other essential systems. As a rule of thumb players only ever need to add mass enhancers sufficient for the largest turret. All other turrets will now benefit from the same mass enhancers.
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It is worth noting that the mass threshold works as a "ceiling", it is not a pool from which units are drawn, to be depleted by scenarios such as a great number of small docked entities. It simply defines the maximum mass, of an individual docked entity (or chain of docked entities), which that entity can move along its rails at maximum speed.
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Chain docked entities will also require mass enhancers to move their respective docked entities. While this rule can have an effect on all rail systems, it is of most frequent significance when working with turrets. Turrets, being composed of two entities in order to have a full range of motion, will often need mass enhancers on the first section, the "base", to support the motion of the turret's "barrel" section. The entity which the turret is docked to must have enhancers enough to support the total mass of the largest turret on it.
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===Formulas===
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This section summarizes the formulas mentioned in the text above, which govern the mass threshold provided by, and the power consumption of, a group of Rail Mass Enhancers.
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The mass threshold of an entity is defined as follows:<br/>
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<big>'''MassThreshold''' = '''NumberOfEnhancers''' * '''5''' + '''50'''</big>
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Therefore, the formula for the number of mass enhancers required to reach a certain mass threshold is given by the following formula, with the result rounded up:<br/>
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<big>'''RequiredEnhancerCount''' = ( '''DockedMass''' - '''50''' ) / '''5'''</big><br/>
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''Note:'' "DockedMass" ''is the total mass of the heaviest docking chain which the entity must be able to support.''
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The power consumption, in energy per second (abbreviated e/sec), for a given number of Rail Mass Enhancers on an entity, is simply:<br/>
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<big>'''PowerConsumption''' = '''NumberOfEnhancers''' * '''50'''</big>
  
 
[[Category:Docking]] [[Category:General]]
 
[[Category:Docking]] [[Category:General]]

Revision as of 03:18, 20 October 2016

Rail Mass Enhancer
Rail Mass Enhancer.png
Hit Points25
Reactor Hit Points0
Mass0.05
Luminositynone
Data Value (ID)671

Rail Mass Enhancers are modules which increase the maximum mass any rail can move without slowing down. They are not necessary to allow large entities to dock to rails and are only relevant when rails on an entity must move a docked entity.

Item Description

"This block is used to combat slow down on rails. There is a certain mass free to place on each rail, but in case that is reached, the rail movement will slow down immensly. Each 'Rail Mass Enhancer' adds more possible mass to all the rails on your structure."

Production

Production Info
Produced in a Standard Factory Standard Factory.png
RequiresTo create
Sintyr Capsule
x10
 Sintyr Capsule.png Rail Mass Enhancer
x1
 Rail Mass Enhancer.png
Crystal Composite
x10
 Crystal Composite.png

Usage

As players dock larger and larger entities to their rails, they will find that these entities move more slowly than usual. This is because the speed at which any rail on an entity can move a docked entity is dependent on mass. In particular, there is a set value at which an entity is too large, and increasing its mass further will significantly decrease the speed which rails can move that entity at. Rail Mass Enhancers serve to increase this "cap" value on the mass an entity less than to move at top speed. Note that, if a structure simply uses rails as a static docking system, and does not try to move any docked entities, adding Rail Mass Enhancers is not necessary.

Every ship has a default maximum mass threshold of 50. This means that any docked entity below 50 mass units will be able to move unabated along rails. However, anything with a mass greater than 50 will move at less than maximum speed, with entities significantly larger than the cap moving at a very slim fraction of the maximum. Each placed Rail Mass Enhancer increases an entities "mass threshold" by 5 mass units, allowing slightly larger docked entities to move at maximum speed along its rails. Each mass enhancer, therefore, adds support for an additional 50 system blocks (0.1 mass apiece) or 20 Advanced Armor blocks (0.25 mass apiece). Mass enhancers do not rely upon a controller or computer block, and will perform their function as soon as they are placed. Mass enhancers consume 50 power per second per module (e/sec/block), and only work if the entity they are on has power to support them.

It is worth noting that the mass threshold works as a "ceiling", it is not a pool from which units are drawn, to be depleted by scenarios such as a great number of small docked entities. It simply defines the maximum mass, of an individual docked entity (or chain of docked entities), which that entity can move along its rails at maximum speed.

Chain docked entities will also require mass enhancers to move their respective docked entities. While this rule can have an effect on all rail systems, it is of most frequent significance when working with turrets. Turrets, being composed of two entities in order to have a full range of motion, will often need mass enhancers on the first section, the "base", to support the motion of the turret's "barrel" section. The entity which the turret is docked to must have enhancers enough to support the total mass of the largest turret on it.

Formulas

This section summarizes the formulas mentioned in the text above, which govern the mass threshold provided by, and the power consumption of, a group of Rail Mass Enhancers.

The mass threshold of an entity is defined as follows:
MassThreshold = NumberOfEnhancers * 5 + 50

Therefore, the formula for the number of mass enhancers required to reach a certain mass threshold is given by the following formula, with the result rounded up:
RequiredEnhancerCount = ( DockedMass - 50 ) / 5
Note: "DockedMass" is the total mass of the heaviest docking chain which the entity must be able to support.

The power consumption, in energy per second (abbreviated e/sec), for a given number of Rail Mass Enhancers on an entity, is simply:
PowerConsumption = NumberOfEnhancers * 50

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