2024-03-27 Ringworld Seasons, Potted Plants, Atmosphere Density, Survey Info

[Haxus]

Ringworld Seasons
"It is always summer on ringworlds but the plants have their flowers. Think of it as early summer."

I could not be satisfied with this. After mulling over several possible ways to induce seasons on a ringworld, I settled for modulating the day length as follows.

Shadow panels now modulate the width of the sunlight gap, down to half the normal day length in winter. This is done continuously around the ringworld so all four seasons are present all the time, each in a different quadrant of the ringworld.

When a stargate is opened the shadow panels retract to their summer configuration, with maximum aperture. This means you can no longer look up to see when the shadow panels are in position to open a stargate. Instead the obelisks at the corners now show a light at the top when the shadow panels are in position to open a stargate.

The Control Center story chapter was updated to impart this information.

Ringworld Shadow Panel Connecting Cables
The shadow panels orbit independently of each other. They should be interconnected to give them a coherent structure.

Cables were added at the corners to connect adjacent shadow panels. These "cables" appear to be very thin; they are 90m in diameter. They look as thin as hairs on the statue at the control center if you actually see them.

Potted Plant Growth
Potted plants should grow.

Potted plants now start as a tiny seedling. The plant grows to full size in 5 minutes for ground cover, 10 minutes for shrubs, and 20 minutes for trees. They flower at that time. That is also the first time the plant can be harvested. A potted plant can be harvested every 10 minutes after that.

Tropical and Polar Latitudes
Tropical and polar latitude calculations should consider axial tilt. Current calculation is still a holdover from before worlds had axial tilt.

Done. This will affect existing worlds.

Atmosphere Density Description
Improve atmosphere description with some adjectives at key transitions.

Atmosphere density description now includes these terms. Comments about plants and breathability only apply to worlds in the inner, habitable, and outer orbit zones. Frigid and inferno atmospheres are never breathable or ok for plants.

• Vacuum = 0% density, not breathable, no plants
  
• Trace = 1% to 9%, not breathable, no plants
  
• Very Thin = 9% to 14%, not breathable, plants ok
  
• Thin = 15% to 39%, breathable but not good enough for a homeworld, plants ok
  
• No density term = 40% to 70%, breathable, plants ok
  
• Thick = 71% to 85%, breathable but not good enough for a homeworld, plants ok
  
• Oppressive = 86% to 100%, too much pressure to breath, plants ok
  

System Survey Information
Show world season, axis and period information on reports.

City reports now show the season in the header information.

Survey scan and XML export now contain the following information.

• Suns - Axial Tilt, Orbital Period for companions.
  
• Spherical Worlds - Axial Tilt if not a planetoid, Orbital Period, Rotation Period if not a planetoid
  
• Ringworlds - Orbital Period, Day Period
  
• Rings - Orbital Period
  

[Celarious]

Are the seam lines on the shadow panels intentional? They weren't there before

[Haxus]

It is the point of overlap between the two sections used to close the gap for the season. I'll see about eliminating it.

[Deantwo]

Ringworld Seasons
...
When a stargate is opened the shadow panels retract to their summer configuration, with maximum aperture. This means you can no longer look up to see when the shadow panels are in position to open a stargate. Instead the obelisks at the corners now show a light at the top when the shadow panels are in position to open a stargate.

They just show a boolean indication? It would be nice if it was more along the lines of showing how far into the time window it is and how long is left.

For example, could have the whole pillar light up, and then the lights slowly turn off from top to bottom (or vice versa) until the time window is closed and the pillar is all dark again intill the next time window. Or when out of the time window, it could be slowly lighting up in the opposite order. Kinda like a progress bar filling up, and then emptying out again.

[Haxus]

I eliminated the visible seam line. I also corrected a minor positioning error at the base of the interconnect cable. An update was posted.

[Deantwo]

System Survey Information
Show world season, axis and period information on reports.

City reports now show the season in the header information.

Survey scan and XML export now contain the following information.

• Suns - Axial Tilt, Orbital Period for companions.
  
• Spherical Worlds - Axial Tilt if not a planetoid, Orbital Period, Rotation Period if not a planetoid
  
• Ringworlds - Orbital Period, Day Period
  

Thanks!

I was fiddling with the idea of if it would be possible to create a simulation of a Hazeron solar system, and I think we will be able to do that with this added information.

[Haxus]

A simulation of a simulation?

[Deantwo]

A simulation of a simulation?

Why not. If someone really likes their Hazeron solar system, they can take it with them or even use the data to re-create it in other games. Just a random idea I had that sounded fun.

[Haxus]

Let me know if more information is needed.

[Celarious]

I eliminated the visible seam line. I also corrected a minor positioning error at the base of the interconnect cable. An update was posted.

Thanks! Looks good now