Better Lander Rockets

v1.5.2 May 23rd, 2021

B&Bv2 and Prunariu Patch Compatible

Improved Lander Rocket code, Logic and Diagnostics.
READ Everything before using and make sure you have the optional mods. Reasons below.

Better Lander Rockets adds some significant fixes to the code for Lander Rockets.
The mod adds a new status panel used to figure out why the rocket is doing what it is doing.
The mod also adds some new features, read below.
This mod will be upgraded regularly as new features are added or fixes are needed.
Read the gotchas section too!

• Huge list of bug fixes this mod fixes is now here -> Complete Bug Fix List
• Picks already assigned or closest drones to the rocket when packing drones into cargo.
• Picks closest rovers to the rocket when packing rovers into cargo. Park them close by if you want to take a specific one.
• Picks closest colonists to the rocket when crew is called for. Park your rocket near a dome to guarantee Shanghai-ing as many from that dome as you ask for.
• Filtered Crew – Will not select or show Children, Tourists or Seniors as crew. **
• Will not steal drones from other Lander Rockets (Unlike vanilla code, which causes launch issues). Important when on an asteroid.
• No lost resources – Resources carried by drones or rovers get dumped on the ground if the drone or rover gets chosen to board a Lander Rocket.
• Prevents packing drones, rovers and crew into cargo unless there is a destination set and requested resources loaded, which allows all of these to work until the last possible moment.
• Settable default cargo loadout per rocket.
• Auto Load Cargo now off by default when purchasing or building a new Lander Rocket. So you dont get screwed up on the first time it lands on an asteroid.
• Automatically sets drone quantity to the drones attached when returning from an asteroid, so you dont leave them behind.
• Additional handy information status section in the rocket infopanel for finding issues.
• Rollover hint in Better Lander Status will show Launch Issues details.
• Adds more sols to the asteroid linger time upon landing the first rocket on the asteroid. – Settable in Mod Config Reborn
• Asteroid Hopping Feature – Transfer to other asteroids or Mars from Orbit
• Add ability to pack and unpack drones to the rocket just like a drone hub.
• Mod can be dynamically shut down through Mod Config Reborn option returning all original vanilla code into use.

Notations

** If you researched Forever Young tech allowing seniors to work, we will take them as a crew.
NOTE: Your Crew selection screen is filtered when on Mars, so the number of each specialist represents the colonists that match the filter. There is no filter when on an asteroid and selecting crew to go home.

*** Rockets must be past the takeoff stage and enroute (percent showing in rocket pin), or waiting in orbit of the abandoned asteroid otherwise they fly off never to be seen again.
Rockets on the surface of an abandoned asteroid will try a last ditch fast takeoff to get off in time, otherwise they are lost.

Optional highly recommended mod: Rocket Stock
Optional highly recommended mod: Fix Emigration Issues
Fix Emigration Issues containes a fix for counting free apartments which you WILL need for asteroids with colonists on them.
The devs have not fixed that yet.

If you use Deposit Auto Refill you should set that mod to check 5 times a sol and no less than 30% otherwise you run the risk of deposits on asteroids depleating in between time checks.
Deposit Auto Refill is here -> Deposit Auto Refill
Mod Config Reborn is here > Mod Config Reborn

Settable default cargo loadout
You can set the default loadout for each rocket independently in the rockets Infopanel. Just right click the panel.
Choices are:
Remember – Remember the last cargo you launched from Mars and set the default to this upon return.
Default – Use the games original defaults.
Empty – All zeros for all items.

Remembered launch payloads will remember everything except colonists.
For safety reasons you always have to set colonists if you want them on the rocket.
Cargo loadouts are saved when leaving Mars only.
If you installed this mod when a rocket was already off planet then I’ll just add fuel upon its return as the default this one time and remember the next launch.

Information Status Section
Loadout: The default cargo to set on arrival on Mars. (you still need to request it)
Launch Issues: Issues that may prevent launching.
Cargo Issues: Issues or status related to cargo requests onboard the rocket.
Drone Issues: Issues or status related to requesting drones.
Resource Issues: Issues with resources on the planet or asteroid when requesting resources.
Crew Issues: Issues with finding a crew.

Cargo is defined as drones, rovers or prefabs.**
Crew is colonists selected.
Resources are resources.

**Rockets that do not have a destination set will load resources into the rocket if asked, but the rocket will hold off loading cargo until a launch is asked for. This will show as Cargo not loaded, and is normal.

Asteroid Hopping Feature
Ability to transfer to another asteroid or Mars when a Lander Rocket is waiting in orbit anywhere. It requires 15 units of fuel.
Ctrl Click the waiting rocket to get a menu of destinations.

Asteroid Linger Time
The amount of time the asteroid lingers will be extended by 2 more sols the moment your first rocket lands on the surface.
If you installed this mod and already had rockets on an asteroid, the time will be extended automatically.
Number of Sols is adjustable from 0 to 50 via Mod Config Reborn screen.

Stealing Drones
A big change is the way the rocket finds drones. It will take drones assigned to itself first, then look for more from nearby controllers to fulfill the request.
It will not take drones from another Lander Rocket. If you want those drones you must reassign those drones to the rocket.
This prevents the rocket from taking drones away from an asteroid base if you are using the rocket as a drone hub.

I created a mods discussion about gotchas related to Lander Rockets here.
I’ll post my experiences, you post yours.
Gotchas and Gameplay

Please check out some of my other work:
SkiRich’s Mod Collection