[spartan_0214]

I was perusing around tvtropes.org and came across the Space Friction trope on the FreeSpace page (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Freespace). I was wondering if the Space Friction trope was averted because the engines in FreeSpace allowed you to go in reverse. It's been a long while since I've played FS2, having started college and bought a few new games. So, my question is do FreeSpace engines allow you to go backwards?

[Galemp]

Nope, space friction is alive and well. Without engines any object that starts moving (such as from a collision, or weapons fire) will eventually come to a stop.

[KewlToyZ]

$Damp:
$RotDamp:
$Forward decel:
$Slide decel:

Are a few factors managing it.
I'm not sure how MOI affects them yet.

I was a bit dissappointed that there doesn't seem to be any retro affects for thrusters or controls though.

[lostllama]

It's interesting that the key for slowing down is called 'reverse thrust' in the key settings menu though.

[Turey]

It's interesting that the key for slowing down is called 'reverse thrust' in the key settings menu though.

Ships can go in reverse using that key. It's a setting in the tables.

[NGTM-1R]

In theory.

In practice, no canonical FS ship has ever demonstrated such an ability. From a storyline standpoint, they've all got their drives on the rear end, and they're reaction drives, so they shouldn't be able to.

[spartan_0214]

Okay, so the trope holds, for now.

[Excalibur]

You can make them go backwards if you make a model for it...in fact, you could almost make a FPS like UT (except in space) if you used the right values. Collision would be a small problem I think, unless there are values for that as well.

[ssmit132]

I once tried to get the Colossus to go backwards, first by only setting a backwards speed, which didn't work, and then by turning the model around. That didn't work either, since I didn't do it properly (since I didn't really know how to do it properly ).

*imagines the Collie moving backwards with the constant BEEP BEEP BEEP sounds as heard from cargo vehicles*

Only the sound worked properly. Gah!

[Mobius]

FSO 3.6.11?

[Androgeos Exeunt]

I always thought that, in space, an object will maintain the same velocity forever.

And then I played Freelancer and killed the engines.

[Turnsky]

it might be a useful feature to have around for mods that may require it.

[JGZinv]

Pretty sure Backslash already did this for us at FringeSpace and BTRL.
He modified the reverse key to go in reverse as stated I do believe.

[KewlToyZ]

Yeah it does work, but it doesn't have a thruster value for thruster plumes that I'm aware of.
I haven't  really looked into it very far though.

[lostllama]

Most StarFuries in TBP allow you to go backwards if you hold down Z (or whatever key you've assigned to reverse thrust) once you've bled off your forward momentum. I can't recall properly but Joshua may have achieved the same thing in his RealFlight mods.

[KewlToyZ]

$Rear Velocity:

[Kosh]

In theory.

In practice, no canonical FS ship has ever demonstrated such an ability. From a storyline standpoint, they've all got their drives on the rear end, and they're reaction drives, so they shouldn't be able to.

On the flipside they shouldn't come to a complete stop when they cut their engines either, but they do.

[Admiral_Stones]

I always thought that, in space, an object will maintain the same velocity forever.

And then I played Freelancer and killed the engines.

*Humhum*

In theory, yes. Although there are various particles hitting your ship, which will stop it someday. Not counting the infinite range of gravitation. So, even in space, Perpetuum Mobile = Bull****.

[terran_emperor]

don't you mean perpetual momentum = Bull****

[redsniper]

No. He meant Latin.