Feedback #10845
Scientists, Engineers, Stayputniks in Sandbox/Science modes have full pilot abilities
Description
Tested under clean stock 1.1.3.1289 Win x64
Scientists & Engineers, (& indeed Stayputnik probes) whether silver or orange suited, have full pilot abilities, able to set SAS to prograde/normal/target etc as if they were five star pilots when in Sandbox or Science gameplay modes.
What suggests this is a bug rather than intended design is that Sandbox/Science mode engineers do have unique abilities in that their presence aboard a vessel affects mining drill extraction rates as they would under Career gameplay mode. I can't envisage a design decision that equips engineers with unique bonuses in Sandbox/Science modes but has pilot skills universal.
Gameplay Questions forum - http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/146691-are-scientistsengineers-supposed-to-have-full-pilot-abilities-in-sandboxscience-modes/ - suggests the original design intent was to have orange suited kerbals be universally skilled in Sandbox/Science mode, but for career specialities to remain relevant for their silver suited companions (presumably for pre-v0.22 compatible saves?). Testing thus far reveals no difference between silver & orange suited kerbals under Sandbox/Science gameplay modes - Jeb extracts ore at the same (low) rate as a silver suited scientist, only an engineer (silver or orange) on board will boost the rate.
Logging under feedback rather than bug, as further investigation suggests this behaviour may have been intended three years back but has increasingly become problematic as game features have been added.
Ie a Stayputnik probe and an Okto2 probe are now functionally identical under Sandbox, vastly different under Career - indeed, ignore torque wheel strength and all probe cores are identical in Sandbox mode. Mechanics tied to specialities introduced after the original career/science/sandbox splits retain their unique bonuses, mechanics which pre-exist the split are universal.
| fullPilotAbilities.png (1.79 MB) fullPilotAbilities.png | engineers/scientists with full pilot abilities | ||
| engineerBonus.png (2.28 MB) engineerBonus.png | sandbox engineer abilities unique to their profession |
History
#1
Updated by sal_vager about 8 years ago
Updated by - Status changed from New to Not a Bug
- % Done changed from 0 to 100
Erm sorry but no, red Iron Crown must have forgot what stock is like ;)
In Sandbox and Science modes all Kerbals are equal, skills are a career mode game mechanic.
#2
Updated by MiniMatt about 8 years ago
Updated by 
Except all kerbals are not equal in sandbox & science.
Only engineers provide mining drill bonuses in sandbox & science
Only scientists can clean out goo & material bays in science (and sandbox, not that it's relevant there)
As new features further differentiate abilities across all 3 game modes, the only way in which kerbals are equal is their ability to directly pilot vessels.
#3
Updated by sal_vager about 8 years ago
- Status changed from Not a Bug to Acknowledged
Okay I used the wrong word there, not equal, but all will equally be 5 star Kerbals in sandbox mode.
All Kerbals will be able to pilot at the highest level (SAS) and can repair other parts, the engineer and scientist bonuses are the maximum for those Kerbals.
The four orange suited Kerbals are not treated any differently.
The probes as well are all maximum level in sandbox, as it is the levels that control what abilities they have, which are fixed to specific levels per probe in career.
This might change but is not planned at this time, and I acknowledge and appreciate your feedback.