Launch Complexes and Programs Conversion Guide

Introduction

This page is intended to outline the differences between an old RP-1 career and the developmental launch complexes (LC) and programs career. Launch complexes replaces the old pad system to tie together vehicle construction and integration with pads. Programs replaces the old contract system with a pseudo-budget system.

Launch Complexes

• Instead of having a single monolithic VAB which is capable of building any rocket you must build a LC which can build, integrate, and launch a specific launch vehicle (LV). You can build additional pads for a LC, but those pads cannot be used by another LC.
• Currently mass is used as a proxy for LV detection. A LC allows for a range of variation to accommodate modest changes in LV configuration.
• A LC can be modified from its original design to accommodate larger or smaller LVs, but only by so much. You should not expect to convert a 20t LC into a 500t complex. Instead you will have to build a new complex.
• The upgrade point system is gone. Build rates and research times are now tied to staffing individual LC and the R&D center with engineers and researchers. There is a significant salary cost associated with staffing (1k funds/worker year) in addition to an upfront hiring cost.
• You can fire engineers and researchers to reduce your upkeep
• Each LC has a maximum build rate defined by its staffing limit which scales with the tonnage limit. At a fixed BP cost per LV mass and maximum staffing a LC with a higher mass limit will build slower than a LC with a smaller limit.
• Each staffed LC (including the Hangar) can build craft simultaneously, allowing earlier access to multiple build queues. However, it is important to note that each LC will only be able to build 1 craft at a time.
• There is no longer a maximum science limit associated with the R&D upgrade level. Instead upgrading R&D increases the maximum staffing level. Upgrading R&D no longer increases your rate of research.
• LCs and the R&D center have individual efficiencies that naturally increase over time. Changing the staffing of a LC or the R&D center will reduce the efficiency. Additionally there is a global efficiency modifier which applies to all LCs and the R&D center.

Programs

• Programs adds a pseudo-budget system where income and most costs are distributed over time. Currently part unlock costs are not distributed so plan accordingly.
• Programs are activated in the admin building and there is a maximum number of allowed active programs associated with admin building level.
• Income is based on which launch programs are active at a given time as well as the current rep level. There is also an annual subsidy that increase over time. The annual subsidy eventually plateaus. Each program pays out a specific fixed amount over a fixed time window
• A program unlocks a specific group of related contracts that include optional contracts that reward reputation and contracts whose completion is required to complete the program.
• Completing a program early will lose some of the potential income, but will yield bonus reputation
• What happens when you don't complete the required contracts in a program in a given window?