Whats the best way to learn to play this game?

[Blake]

I feel so overwhelmed with all the options and I can get into orbit but that's about it. I can't even get back down! If anyone has any suggestions on how to learn to build ships and go further into space and return successfully I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[WhamyKaBlamy]

I think the best way is to use Sandbox mode and to maybe watch some youtubers. Matt Lowne and Scott Manley both have playthroughs and tutorials. Matt Lowne is pretty much exclusively KSP I think.

There are tutorials in the game as well. 3 things you really need to get to grips with are Staging/Delta-V, Gravity Turns and Maneuver Nodes.

The Wiki is also your friend and asking questions on here too :)

I don't want to make my reply too long as others might have more suggestions. But ask questions and I'm sure peeps will give you their advice :)

[Ogre420]

Hope this helps...

***** YouTube *****

Wernher Von Kerman (*** VERY OLD version of KSP but does the best at explaining the basics of the game.***)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO-JFyNTqjIkRUNrmKS7LxPLSDzV5cQtd


YouTube™ Video: Kerbal Rocket School | Series Introduction
Views: 26,870
This series is meant to teach players how to design their own rockets, rather than show them designs by me. It is designed to supplement the game by providing tips, tricks, and general advice.


Scott Manley....

https://www.youtube.com/c/szyzyg/search?query=ksp%20tutorial

[Dominian]

The game's tutorials are definitely the first place to go.

Then you have to understand that rockets are mostly fuel tanks, which get decoupled once they are empty. That's called staging.

Orbit height around gravity centers is decided by how fast an object is going, as they are literally falling around it. The faster they fall, the further they are away.

Maneuver nodes are a concept in the game which help you to plan your journey while staying fuel efficient.

For a beginner it's paramount that you go into sandbox. Bind quickload/quicksave.

Once you can do rendezvous (two objects meeting in space) you can consider yourself proficient. This will take most players a few dozen hours or so. A mod called MechJeb will help you greatly with this, but isn't necessary. It's bascially an auto-pilot.

Other than that I can only repeat that Scott Manley is the place to go on YT.

[Jimmy]

Scott Manley's career tutorial. Watch it and play along with him and you will know everything you need to know by the end of it.

[Azunai]

you can use Alt+F5 to create named saves, so you can make multiple "checkpoint" to roll back to and don't have to redo whole missions when you mess up a specific maneuver

[GunsForBucks]

As someone who does not watch any youtubes or anything outside the game...

Do a couple of the basic game tutorials... don't do the mun one, it is buggy and honestly requires you to know things fairly well.

One thing to know, and something the game does not tell you, is that SAS modes are changed by clicking on the HUD dots. When you turn SAS on dots will appear next to the nav ball. Those dots are not just indicators, they are the switches to change the SAS mode.

Start a career game. Launch your first craft and get a feel of what to expect in getting missions from mission control building etc. Don't do too much, just launch a couple of things and recover them.

Then go into sandbox. Sandbox removes money and research needs and will allow you to experiment around getting to know the parts and how they work together. Once you get a feel for the parts then start a new career mode game.

In career mode buff your science and money gains and nerf the penalties. This will make it easier to progress and cheaper to upgrade. Play a couple of games to get the feel of orbital mechanics and what kinds of DV <fuel needs> you need to get places.\

Once you have done all that then you should be able to run a normal career without modifiers... it can be a bit rough as some jobs I find boring quickly but by that point you should have an understanding of how to do most things.

Alt F12 opens the debug menu. There are some cheats you can checkbox like infinite fuel and electric and can be a lot of fun if you are just playing around. The game gives you lots of options to modify it to your liking so don't be afraid to just play around and learn.

Personally I feel much more accomplished by doing everything from the seat of my pants, but to each their own, not everyone has the time I have to dedicate to playing a game.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2271903380

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2276230622

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2206660796

The important thing is to just have fun!

Good luck and welcome to KSP

[g0rml3ss]

I found the best way to learn was through failing, A LOT.

[Cat Grill Friend]

KSP is best learned through YouTube.

[Quizzical]

https://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Tutorial:How_to_Play

[Quizzical]

More generally, what the best way to learn a game is depends tremendously on how you learn well. If you learn most other games by watching videos, you can do that here, too. If you learn most other games by reading the wiki, you can do that here, too. If you learn most other games by jumping in and experimenting, you can do that here, too, though this game will have a harsher learning curve than most.

The utility of learning by watching videos will decline pretty harshly with time, however. When you're brand new, you could watch a video and have everything in it be new to you. Later on, once you have a specific question, if you try to find the answer in a video, it's going to be hard. If you're lucky, you watch a 10 minute video that has a 30 second chunk that answers your question. If you're not so lucky, you reach the end of a 30 minute video and realize that it didn't answer your question.

You can usually find answers much more quickly in text. That's mainly because text is readily searchable and videos aren't, but it also makes a difference that you can read faster than you can talk. If you learn well by reading, the answers to a whole lot of questions are in my guide linked above.

[Gamerazog]

you don't need to know that much of fisics, the game teachs you and you will actually end up learning orbital mechanics a lot, I highly recommend you to buy KSP

[Tux]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj-POZ_y7Rk&list=PLB3Ia8aQsDKgGHrNZnz2ca8NVuyj7eHXc

he goes into really good detail of controls and everything. The series of videos attached to that one, sorry I thought it was the playlist i posted

[Blake]

Originally posted by Gamerazog:

you don't need to know that much of fisics, the game teachs you and you will actually end up learning orbital mechanics a lot, I highly recommend you to buy KSP

I disagree. It literally lets me adjust even the tiniest details on every part which seems so insanely complicated.

Take a simple part like a parachute. Well you have to mess with the altitude adjuster thing to set the right height. Or how much fuel do you put in the rockets? Basically I feel like the game is a bit TOO realistic if you need an advanced understanding of mathematics, rocketry, and engineering.

It's supposed to be a game but it feels like it's an application test for NASA.

[Tux]

Originally posted by Winter Is Coming:

Originally posted by Gamerazog:

you don't need to know that much of fisics, the game teachs you and you will actually end up learning orbital mechanics a lot, I highly recommend you to buy KSP

I disagree. It literally lets me adjust even the tiniest details on every part which seems so insanely complicated.

Take a simple part like a parachute. Well you have to mess with the altitude adjuster thing to set the right height. Or how much fuel do you put in the rockets? Basically I feel like the game is a bit TOO realistic if you need an advanced understanding of mathematics, rocketry, and engineering.

It's supposed to be a game but it feels like it's an application test for NASA.

your both somewhat wrong in my opinion.
The game is hard, really hard and the learning curve is serious, but the learning curve is not math, rockertty or engineering.
its learning the tools, reference materials to the game specifically.
So to get really good ground work, like really good ground work, all you need is to watch the video series i posted above, know what TWR, and Delta V is from the kerbal wiki and your good to go, I dont want to make that sound easy cuz its not. some of those videos you will have to watch multiple times with a pen to write with more then likely.
oh one other thing as a new player, forget career mode. yeah that is my opinion but i STILL dont play career mode

[Manwith Noname]

Originally posted by Quizzical:

More generally, what the best way to learn a game is depends tremendously on how you learn well. If you learn most other games by watching videos, you can do that here, too. If you learn most other games by reading the wiki, you can do that here, too. If you learn most other games by jumping in and experimenting, you can do that here, too, though this game will have a harsher learning curve than most.

This right here. Where you are in your own understanding of various aspects of how we think the universe works and how you prefer to learn matter. How deep you want to go with things also has an impact.

I personally don't think KSP is that hard to pick up and play but that's based on where I started, not only with my own knowledge of science in general but also because 7 years ago the game was different. In some respects, there are things included in the game today that make things easier but they also can be part of information overload when you know next to nothing about rockets and space exploration.

My own recommendation, do each tutorial multiple times and begin with science mode. Don't go blindly watching videos people recommend potentially spoiling your own moments of discovery. Just play the game and when a particular aspect becomes a roadblock, look up very specific answers to your questions.

Edit: Also...

Originally posted by Winter Is Coming:

I disagree. It literally lets me adjust even the tiniest details on every part which seems so insanely complicated.

Don't get hung up on this. All parts should work fine with default values when you start out and essentially don't leave the home world. It's only as you progress with more complex constructions and missions beyond Kerbin, Mun and Minmus that any of it is likely to have any relevance.