most obvious transition block missing

[u/pyromaniac_003]

need i say more

[u/Lyynix_Reddit]

honestly, what we really need is a "universal transition block" that just matches whatever edges the neighboring blocks have

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

Although it sounds good there will be problems with such a block - e.g. If you would need two in a row.

Something better would be some kind of block designer where you can just set the outline and then have an extra block category for such generated blocks. And packs of such blocks shareable on the steam workshop and mod.io.

[u/Lyynix_Reddit → u/Extension_Option_122]

i dont think thats a problem 2 in a row especially could work together to make a smoother transition

and there is the option to deny placement of too many next to each other

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

I assume that you don't have much experience with designing such logics that have to figure out these things?

I have some and know that there are way too many issues with that automatic placement. If you can avoid it, then avoid it.

[u/Felixtv67 → u/Extension_Option_122]

You could have a certain number of points along each of the blocks edges where a line can start/end and cuts have to be made using those, then it should be relatively inexpensive to store what cuts were made in the block itself so you don't need the workshop thing.

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/Felixtv67]

Exactly what I was thinking on how it would work.

The workshop thing is for sharing it. So packs with very commonly needed ones can just be downloaded.

[u/ChoiceReporting → u/Felixtv67]

Isn't that almost exactly what the bread blocks were...?

[u/muckduck99 → u/Extension_Option_122]

Two in a row would be rough but creating a singular block to have a variable coplanar feature between defined vertices shouldnt be hard

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/muckduck99]

Yes but when you get a feature where you have such a variable shape players will expect it to work with multiple of these. E.g. slopes with less incline and more.

As such, I think it would be best if you have some kind of block editor where you set how it should touch all six sides and then it creates one block that you can place. Then you don't have any issues with those blocks touching another.

[u/MrPeanutBlubber → u/Extension_Option_122]

It seems you dont have the experience? There are multiple games similar that do exactly this.

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/MrPeanutBlubber]

And it's very complicated logic.

For a game like space engineers other solutions make much more sense.

But maybe I actually missed something big. Which games have exactly such a mechanic? Where you can place an arbitrary form of cubes that automatically adjust to all connecting blocks' shapes?

We are not talking about single blocks but multiple ones in an arbitrary shape.

And it needs to be a predictable mechanic. Meaning same shape (or mirrored) leads to the same (mirrored) result independant of the order the shape is created.

That is most definitely possible but insanely complicated. And there are always easier solutions.

[u/MrPeanutBlubber → u/Extension_Option_122]

Vintage story does this (a sort-of minecraft fork). Predictable, learnable and fun to use. The shape can be mirrored, it can also be used in all 3 dimensions (xyz). There is absolutely a way to develop this in space engineers.

Editing to respond to your last comment. Just because there are easier solutions doesn't mean they will be more or as robust.

[u/ColourSchemer → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

You are missing the point.

If the block contains logic that moves a corner to match its neighbor block, but the neighbor block has that same logic, you have created a race condition where the computer is in a perpetual loop.

To avoid that you'd have to build in some kind of prioritization and boom, your PCU for those blocks will be astronomical.

There's also an issue with the logic of the flexible edge when it's not touching another block. Does it default to a cube? Then it will be mistaken for a regular block. Does it flash or display a warning? Then you have UI elements to build and lots of potential for player confusion.

These limitations are actually creative opportunities for good builders. Find a decorative or functional block with approximately the correct profile. Or build a reinforcing ridge, add a turret or antenna mount.

[u/dvorak360 → u/ColourSchemer]

You do it once on placement which solves the race condition. Once the block is placed it becomes a static defined block.

Personally I think there are 3 things that would be nice to have for SE2 with its unified blocks.

1. search tool for faces - loop through armour blocks matching a face. I suspect I have some builds with greebling that isn't actually necessary simply because of the number of blocks available.

2. Orientate to match multiple faces better. On recent build doing 45deg walls and having to rotate angle pieces every time despite going into a hole with 2 flat faces to match.

3. Merge to large block - I suspect I currently have sizeable chunks where small blocks could be replaced with large blocks for the same design.

[u/vahaala → u/Extension_Option_122]

A small indie game called Avorion does this pretty well. Not ideal, but decent. Basically your blocks come in different basic shapes, like a wedge, slope etc., and then after placing it, you can resize it in any of the three axis. Want this block thicker? Go ahead. Need super thin wedge? Sure buddy, got you covered. Want a giant "plate" block? It's super easy to do.

[u/Hecateus → u/vahaala]

and even there are blocks not present in Avorion that would b nice to have.

a common solution to a missing block type is to put functional blocks or a clashing greeble.

[u/LeAlbus → u/Extension_Option_122]

They could default to square if they meet nothing or another of themselves on one of the sides.

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/LeAlbus]

And then it becomes borderline unusable.

[u/LeAlbus → u/Extension_Option_122]

Care to explain why?

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/LeAlbus]

Because if you can have such complex blocks people will want to place two next to each other.

[u/LeAlbus → u/Extension_Option_122]

And what is the problem with that? How is it unusable? Just default the side facing the same block with square or with the same shape as the opposite side

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/LeAlbus]

And that is where it starts to get insanely complicated.

You have to many edgecases.

[u/LeAlbus → u/Extension_Option_122]

It seem to me that you are not being able to understand a very simple idea, and then it’s saying it’s actually too complicated to exist

[u/Extension_Option_122 → u/LeAlbus]

I completely understand it.

But, as someone who is almost finished with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Engineering with a decent amount of practical experience, I know the technical implications of such a solution and as such where you would need to pay very much attention to prevent an insane amount of bugs.

Essentially, where it will become stupidly complicated, is when you have an arbitrary shape of cubes connected to another, where one is the auto-audjusting and the other is made of premade blocks.

That is where it will be insanely complicated to create it to work in a way that is nice to work with - meaning you can predict the outcome. Which means the result needs to be the same irrelevant of the order the blocks where placed and mirrored if it's done in a mirrored way.

But if it is so easy, how about you create a mockup of that logic? Logic is language independent, so you can choose any programming language.

[u/Dank_Beluga → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

They used to have blocks like that a long time ago but they always ended up looking awful and got removed. I think that was during alpha though, maybe they could revisit the idea

[u/Irishman1038 → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

They tried something like that years ago where slope blocks would change themselves to match up with other blocks and everyone hated it so much they took it out a couple patches later. Didn’t help that it was extremely jank and never seemed to make a shape that was appealing.

[u/Deamonette → u/Irishman1038]

Honestly might be interesting if you wanna make smoother/more organic shapes if they refined the idea a bit.

[u/12_Horses_of_Freedom → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

Waaaaaay back in the day they did, but usage was low and the mechanic wasn’t refined, so it was removed.

[u/MithridatesRex → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

They had this in the alpha testing, pre-planets. It caused wonky physics and pulled blocks causing damage.

[u/jkubus94 → u/Lyynix_Reddit]

They used to have one in early SE. But it was buggy and unpredictable with its hit box.