Tardis Operation - Flight

~~WIP~~Tardis Flight allows the Tardis to travel through different dimensions and cross large distances. There are several ways to fly the Tardis and many options to control its abilities. However there are also some limitations and dangers as well.

Understanding Tardis Flight

Tardis Flight can create a variety of experiences for different pilots.
Therefore, a thorough understanding of the Tardis is recommended.

Tardis Flight depends on the following factors:

Essential circuits are installed - Dematerialization Circuit, Fluid Links and Time Vector Generator A functional Tardis Monitor placed in the interior. Artron Energy level Tardis interior doors being closed.

Installation of Essential Flight-related Circuits

The most basic form of Tardis Flight requires the installation of the Fluid Links, a Dematerialization circuit and Time Vector Generator. Without them, the Tardis cannot take off and/or allow the player to enter its interior.

Minimum Requirements:

Dematerialization Circuits: 1% durability Fluid Links: 1% durability Time Vector Generator: 1% durability

Tardis Monitor

A Tardis Monitor allows the player to view their destination, flight progress and other essential properties of their Tardis. It is also important for long term flight-readiness via monitoring and maintenance access to Tardis sub-systems.

Multiple monitors may be placed in the interior. Each monitor will share the same information and have the same functionality.

Minimum Requirements for flight: Placing down A Tardis Monitor in the Tardis interior

Artron Energy Levels

The Tardis uses up Artron Energy during flight.

Each flight journey will use up 4% or more of the Tardis’ total capacity.

If the artron energy level reaches 0%, explosion particles will be emitted from the console,followed by a Tardis Crash and the ringing of the Tardis Cloister Bell.

Further consequences are the Tardis’s exterior position will be 5-10 blocks away from the position of the Tardis at a point in time when its artron energy banks were more than 0%.

Additionally a 5x5 crater will be generated near the crashed exterior.

Minimum Requirements for flight: 5% per flight

Average Artron Energy usage in certain scenarios:

Scenario

Artron Energy Usage (%)

Time of Flight (seconds)

Travelling 1 or more blocks in one axis in the same dimension as previous position

Travelling to another dimension without change in coordinates

Closed Tardis Doors

The Tardis interior doors must be closed during flight to prevent the player from being left behind at the Tardis’ previous location.

The Tardis is able to take flight if the interior doors are removed. However, the interior doors need to be replaced after the Tardis has landed to allow players to exit the Tardis.

Summary

Before activating flight mode, the following minimum requirements must be met:

Install a functional Dematerialization Circuit, Fluid Link and Time Vector Generator. They ensure the Tardis has an interior and has the necessary flight components A functional Tardis Monitor is placed in the interior. This allows the player to monitor the Tardis’ destination. Dimensional Dam durability is more than 0%. This ensures the interior dimensions are stable and prevents the player from being kicked out of the interior. Artron Energy levels are 5% or more. As each flight will use 4% or more of the energy banks, sufficient Artron energy levels are required to prevent Tardis Crashing. Tardis interior doors are closed. This prevents players from being sucked out from the interior and left at the Tardis’ previous location.

To activate flight mode, the main steps are as follows:

Set X, Y and Z Coordinates using X,Y,Z Plotters Pull Time Rotor Handbrake

Additional Flight Modifiers

The following methods provide greater flexibility and complexity to Tardis Flight. To use them, use the correct control as detailed below before taking off.

Modifier

Activation Method

Travel to other dimensions

Use Dimensional Control.*

Modify Tardis Exterior Direction

Use Directional Control

Change Landing Spot Search behaviour

Use Landing Type Selector

Travel to saved locations (waypoints)

Use Waypoint Controls

*Using Dimensional Control will revert the destination coordinates to the exterior’s current coordinates. It is recommended to change the dimension first, then input coordinates.

Types of Flight Modes

In additional to the basic steps of flight, there are a variety of methods to fly the Tardis. This includes Manual Flight, Stabilized Flight and flight options added by external mods, plugins or addons.

Manual Flight

Manual flight (aka non-stabilised flight) is a method of flight which requires the player to manage the Tardis’ controls during flight to prevent course deviations.

Manual flight allows the player to have more interaction and responsibility for a successful flight, but offers no advantage over stabilised flight. (As of 0.0.8A)

To start manual flight, the player must either remove stabiliser circuits or turn off stabilisers (if the circuits are already installed). Then, the Time Rotor Handbrake must be activated. Once the handbrake is activated, the player must respond to a variety of warning messages that appear above the hotbar.

Warning Messages

During manual flight, a warning message will warn the player of a potential danger with the current flight situation and provides a hint on the recommended action.

This message will appear over the hotbar for up to 5 seconds.

The player must press a control that prevents the potential danger. They have a 5 second timeframe to respond, starting from the first display of the warning message.

For best experience, it is recommended for the player to experiment and familiarise themselves with the warning messages and an appropriate response.

Figure 1 - One of many warning messages displayed above the player hotbar during Manual Flight Mode.

Potential Consequences - Tardis Crashes

If the required control is not activated within this time frame, the Tardis will deviate from its destination by 5-10 blocks and receive greater sub-system damage than incident-free journeys. This is shown by explosion sounds and smoke particles emitting from the console.

Figure 2 - Explosions, course deviation and sub system damage as a result of negligent flying.

Notes:

One warning message is shown at a time above the hotbar. It will last for up to 5 seconds. Unlike the original Tardis Mod, the required control will not light up blue. Instead the player must determine the required control from the warning message’s hint. E.g. “Fuel overpressurized” For a demonstration, please see the following video.

Figure 3 - Manual Flight Demonstration (Course Corrections)

Stabilized Flight Mode

Figure 4 - The installation and activation of Stabilizer Circuits allows for stabilized flight

Stabilized Flight is a method of flight which does not require the player to manage the Tardis’ controls during flight.

Stabilized flight can be activated by installing stabilizer circuits (with a durability of at least 20%)

Notes:

Each flight journey wears down 1% of the Stabilizer circuit durability. Once the stabilizer circuit durability reaches 0, the Tardis flight mode will revert to Manual Flight mode.

Telepathic Circuits

The use of the Telepathic Circuits allow the player to travel to a variety of Minecraft Biome Types, structures and other players (multiplayer only).

To use the Telepathic Circuits, right click the Telepathic Circuit controls and use the side buttons to cycle through the list of biomes, structures and players.

Notes:

Players with Biodampeners in their inventory cannot be reached via Telepathic Circuits However, their username will be displayed in the available teleport list.

Incidents During Tardis Flight

Answering the Communicator

If an Interstitial Antenna is installed, a constant phone ringing sound is heard in the interior. The ringing indicates a Village is under attack by Daleks!

If one chooses to travel to the village, the player needs to right click the Communicator. This will set the Tardis’ destination to the Village in distress.

Then, they must right click the Time Rotor Handbrake to take off.

Alternatively, the ringing sound can be ignored and will stop after some time. After the ringing sound stops, the player can no longer travel to the coordinates of the invasion.

To stop the ringing noise immediately, uninstall the Interstitial Antenna via the Sub-systems readout.

Notes:

To view a demonstration video, please see the following link. Keep in mind this demonstration uses an outdated version of the mod and the feature is subject to change.

Figure 5 - A demonstration of a Dalek Invasion via answering the Communicator.

Alternative Flight Methods

ComputerCraft Tweaked and OpenComputers Integration

Alternative methods of flying the Tardis can be achieved without the use of the console. This involves using the Handles Addon for OpenComputers and ComputerCraft.

For more information please see the Handles wiki: https://github.com/LotuxPunk/Handles/wiki.