Change Request Ramp Connector E has impractical geometry

Build: 1.12.3 4747
Mode: Creative / Survival
Platform: Steam
DLC Installed: Yes

Reproducibility: Always
Severity: Minor

Type: Block Shapes

Summary: Ramp Connector E has a smooth curved face that does not blend with any other blocks correctly, and should be altered to have a sharp edge

Description:
With the addition of the new CornerHalfD right/left blocks a few patches ago, we have had the opportunity to create a new angle transition blending a 45° and a 26.6° angle together. However, Ramp Connector E that should be used to continue this transition does not blend accurately due to what I believe is incorrect geometry across one of its faces.



For some reason the top face was connected together in a single smoothly-transitioning surface between 4 non-planar points, rather than split into two independent faces that would match the faceted surface angles of adjacent blocks. In my experience and seeing feedback from other builders over the years, this block always ends up in disappointment when we try to fit it into place.



In typical usage, you either end up with a lighting inconsistency as seen on the right of the image above, or a jagged geometric edge as seen on the left of this image. The geometric issue is especially troublesome as none of the other blocks share the angles that the curved surface generates at its edges, so it always results in a surface discontinuity.

My proposal is to change this top surface from a single curved face into two separate triangular faces. These do not have to be independent texturable surfaces, it just needs its geometry changed to support two faces with independent normals the same way that is done on the top faces of Corner A, Cut Corner C, Notched A/C/D, Ramp Connector B, etc. This should eliminate any compatibility problems with existing builds.



If the top surface is split into face A and B, each with independent normals that match their respective slopes, then this block will be blend perfectly with the existing slope sets. It will also massively reduce the size count of this block.

I recognize that this change would affect the geometry of many existing builds, and that this change is purely aesthetic. But it has been frustrating builders for quite some time, and I was hoping that this change would be relatively low effort and low impact.

 

Thank you for posting this, really hope it gets adressed! That situaion is a major pain point for my building.

 

I don't see this as a bug, it's more of a new block request. I don't think after so many years that block should have such z change.

 

I debated that, if this block should be preserved and a new one added, or just "fixed". I suppose either is acceptable. My question is, are there known cases where this existing block was used in its curved form that would not be improved if it was changed to a faceted model? I only have my experience and the feedback of other builders I have talked to to go on. My feeling was that we all used this block begrudgingly, because it fit where it needed to even if it didn't ever look quite right.

 

Well that's the thing, how can it be fixed when it was designed to be that shape in the first place? There's nothing to fix.

Just because a new block comes along that provides new possibilities doesn't automatically make the block bugged, it just makes it a block that doesn't fit for the purpose of the new block. Bugs don't come anywhere near it.