So do we know how explosive decompression works yet?

[Tanelorn]

I have read and participated in many discussions here related to decompression, but I’m still in the dark on what specifically causes ruptures.

I’m guessing that it’s based on volume, which is why hull ruptures are more common than internal ruptures.

But have we actually figured out what causes a decompression to be explosive and tear apart the area around the cut?

Please share your wisdoms on this, team!

[ZomBeGone]

I can't say that I have seen one, but am up to experiment? Maybe cutting a hole in a pressurized cargo bay? Time for science!

[bb 80]

My guess would be: The bigger the amount of air, the greater the damage. Then there is the mass of the ship. The size of the hole may be important too.

[Slimjack]

From what I've noticed, everything will explode if the air goes into space. if you have a vacuum inside the ship (but closed to space) you can open and decompress everything safely.
Example, you go in shut the door behind you, use the enviro panel to suck out the O2. once you've made the vacuum in that compartment you can open all the doors which will make a lot of air rush around but nothing will explode. IF that first door was open to space when you start opening other doors that air will to into space and that's when I've noticed ♥♥♥♥ exploding.
Not saying this IS the answer to you question. Just my observation.

[ZomBeGone]

I cut a slice into a panel on a pressurized cargo bay for one of the largest ships. It made a lot of noise and a bunch of red "!" marks around inside and the frame rate dropped WAY low, but it was pretty... meh. Nothing was seriously damaged.
The one thing I did notice is that later when cutting loose ship sections, often instead of just moving a crack, they tend to be ejected 5+ meters away, I would have to chase them. I ended up with a couple in the barge and a few ejected into space. *shrug*

[Wiawyr]

There's a lot of contributing factors. Venting atmosphere between chambers in the ship is always going to be lighter and less damaging than venting atmosphere out into the salvage bay, but that doesn't mean venting atmosphere into the bay will always cause damage either. You can take advantage of this if you can safely depressurize a chamber of the ship that is then cut and opened to the bay; venting atmosphere into that chamber will be safer than venting it straight out into the bay, since the game is calculating a reduction in force for moving through another room.

[Tanelorn]

Looks like so far we have a small consensus that venting hull into the salvage bay is a no-no and is likely to result in explosive decompression. Venting into interior space is less likely or not likely to create explosive decompression. Sound right?

I think I have some testing to do...

- EDIT -
I confirmed that you can disassemble an Atlas by decompressing from the inside-out and will experience no ruptures. I'm liking this approach!

[Wiawyr]

Sounds right. Also, if you can cause a depressurization by opening a door, that is always the best method aside from using an atmosphere regulator. It'll blow loose items around and knock the atmosphere regulator from the pressurized chamber off the wall and into the unpressurized one, but with little to no damage. When venting, you want to be on the vacuum side and holding a wall with your hands using Q and E. Delta-p is a pretty horrifying thing to see happen.

[Slimjack]

Originally posted by Wiawyr:

Sounds right. Also, if you can cause a depressurization by opening a door, that is always the best method aside from using an atmosphere regulator.

This is also true. I once caused damage internally when i used the cutter to vaporize a door. Its always better to open the door with the panel. This is also something i noticed.

[JeanDeaux]

I've had best success at the start of a new ship to work on nothing but decompressing all compartments. I try to get all doors open and if I can't decompress with a regulator, then I blow out an exterior door to let all the atmosphere out at once. The larger the ship the less movement it does in the bay with the decompression. Grabbing onto the wall as this happen will keep you from getting blown about, and best to stand around a corner to avoid those flying objects.

[Stormageddon]

One of the main problems with decompression is the movement of objects. Specifically the asteroids. They seem to always be placed in areas that they will cause the most harm.
But anywhere there is a cut point to cause a decompression seems to be extra vulnerable to any damage from flying objects.

[GewaltSam]

I tend to check the ship first, put any and all loose objects (especially cargo and asteroids) into an air vent, and then decompress a room with a functioning regulator, if available. After, start to open doors to rooms that are still under pressure; if it's only air locks left, I cut into them if I can't open any more doors. Repeat until all rooms are vented and no more atmosphere is in the ship.

In most cases, I only lose one or two atmosphere regulators; apart from that, not much is damaged. When the ship is completely air-free, I start to strip the ship on the outside, then the hull and so on (I peel it from the outside to the inside).

My goal is to break as few as possible, although I don't care much about lights and such, for example. I guess i mostly get 95%+ salvaged, if nothing goes wrong.

Oh, and don't forget to drain the red pipes BEFORE you cut the power - that screwed me majorly more than once :D

[Jirina]

It doesn't work, it's a busted game mechanic the devs never bothered to fix. Game will spawn ships that are impossible to safely decompress - not because it's intentional "challenge", but because the game is poorly written. This has been around since it launched in Early Access, known issue, reported many times. This game is abandoned, all the devs want to do is launch it on consoles and squeeze a bit more money out of it.

[FinnomasterLpYT]

Originally posted by Jirina:

It doesn't work, it's a busted game mechanic the devs never bothered to fix. Game will spawn ships that are impossible to safely decompress - not because it's intentional "challenge", but because the game is poorly written. This has been around since it launched in Early Access, known issue, reported many times. This game is abandoned, all the devs want to do is launch it on consoles and squeeze a bit more money out of it.

Do better my friend. Go to the devs, tell them your problem, tell them how to fix the code and shut up

[Jirina]

Everything I said still checks out, I've had the game since it launched in EA and the development has been disappointing. Last update was over 6 months ago. Devs under-delivered on key gameplay elements and the game is what it is today. You'd be surprised how little the game has changed since it launched. They added 2 ship types and the pointless collecting side plot that doesn't provide engaging gameplay. Game loop is shallow and very quickly repetitive. You'll have fun for few hours, but don't expect much.

Don't defend this phoning it in development where you delivered minimum viable product. If they continued to make the game better and keep updating then sure, but they ditched as soon as it was out of EA and stable(-ish).

[FinnomasterLpYT]

Originally posted by Jirina:

Everything I said still checks out, I've had the game since it launched in EA and the development has been disappointing. Last update was over 6 months ago. Devs under-delivered on key gameplay elements and the game is what it is today. You'd be surprised how little the game has changed since it launched. They added 2 ship types and the pointless collecting side plot that doesn't provide engaging gameplay. Game loop is shallow and very quickly repetitive. You'll have fun for few hours, but don't expect much.

Don't defend this phoning it in development where you delivered minimum viable product. If they continued to make the game better and keep updating then sure, but they ditched as soon as it was out of EA and stable(-ish).

Im not completly sure they ditched the game, but you are kind of right. There werent any notable updates since