Plasma Blocks - the fourth state of blocks

Since 99% of the visible glowing matter in the universe is in a plasma state i suggest this should be have a part in a game called starbound.
The sun, like all stars, is basicly a plasma sphere for instance.

Why a plasma block? Well plasma is also described to be the fourth state of matter (that is all matter) and therefore plasma would be the fourth state of blocks.
That would be reason enough for me but its propably not very interesting without usefull application.

So whats a plasma block used for?
I would suggest to make it a high tier element for higher technology.

Real world applications include:
The basis for neon lights (interior)
Plasma etching in the semiconductor industry (industry/computers)
Arc welding or flux-cored arc welding is based on plasma (tools)
Several applications in medicine
Used in monitors
The Magnetoplasmadynamic truster is used in spacecrafts (propulsion)
Plasma is essential for nuclear fusion reactors. (energy)

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That does not neccessarily mean that blocks of plasma should be found on any planet, plasma rarely exists in any biosphere.
Rather it would be the visual and physical transformation from solid state blocks ínto plasma.
Perhaps there is even more than one kind of plasma for diffrent needs.
Plasma is basicly a gas, that means storage and transport would require some sort of container.
A plasma generator or transformator is used to produce the plasma with or without the container.



Leaving scientific accuracy aside, these blocks/containers could make for valuable high tech machine part and trading object.
Of course one could say that plasma in technology is just a side effect, the energetic byproduct.
But visualizing complicated encapsulated technology is not that easy with pixels in 2D.
A plasmablock, similar to other liquid blocks would give a greater visual representation of whats going on, a functional graphic element in the game.
Or simply put, a believeable base material for high tier crafting operations.

In game applications could be:
Crafting material for other stuff (the new 90inch plasma tv in your spacecraft)
Techtree leapfroggin, can't produce it yet - buy it
A storage for energy (given its contained)
An instable element with potential catastrophic leakage effects if not handled with care
An impressive visual effect if scaled large enough
An indication of technological progress. Plasma application on a large scale suggests a higher level of technology
The fourth state of all blocks when blasted with my thermogun (see post...)
A refrence to reality

So, to rest my case. Plasma is such a huge factor in the universe that integrating it seems natural to me given the scenario. Its certainly not necessary because the same applications can be described in other ways, more simple perhaps.
But - its cool, it glows and its very different from a battery.
And since when is "keep it simple" the motto in starbound.
It can be visualized constantly without ignoring science, unlike electricity which, though very much related to plasma, is mostly invisible and unspectacular if used properly. Plasma allways looks quite impressive. So if there is a need for another high tier element that cannot be mined or found, it could/should be plasma!

I made mockups for a standart plasma generator, the plasma block in containers. And the plasma-powered shoe lacer just for fun.





Link for voting: http://playstarbound.com/suggestions/?p=view&id=4568

 

I really dont get it.
Plasma isn't touchable, is only visible, so can't be a block. I dont think there is, eg. vapor blocks or propane blocks.

But, maybe the container is a good idea as an enegy type. It's like you take an item/block, put it in a machine, and that machine converts it into "generic" plasma, usable for crafting and supplying energy to vehicles/mechanims/weapons (like plasma swords/lazers)

 

Well thats true, without the container there has to be a new way to visualize plasma since there is no concept for gas in the game i know of. Maybe the container could even be smaller to fit block size. The point is not so much having a placeable plasma block but a recource that can be created and transported. That said i also would like to see it scalable, like lava it could be contained by other blocks, maybe just dissipating if the containment is not closed. Water seeps away on sand, why then should deflagrating energetic gas not be possible to visualize? I would even suggest that the standart placement tool can take single plasma block and put it somewhere else, why not? If its uncontained it dissapears, if it is it behaves like a liquid with low gavity.

 

You sir get a like and a this is awesome from a upcoming electronic engineer who uses the products made of plasma etching.

 

Well, thank you!

 

So you could possibly use these blocks as a power source, but perhaps you could build a type of cannon to launch these?

 

SCIENCE

 

there should be RAINBOWS

 

SCIENCE RAINBOWS

 

Woah, woah, woah ... those there are some highly dangerous materials ...

Silliness aside, I would like to see Plasma in some form in Starbound. Perhaps when visiting certain locations, such as a star, an option of "harvest" will appear (once your ship is properly equipped for such an endeavor) and you are able to collect said plasma. This method would eliminate the need for "loose" blocks of it, yet a person would able to craft storage containers and siphon it from the ship's storage to these containers, and from those containers to whatever applicable use.

 

SCIENCE PLASMA RAINBOWS

 

Don't you make me get more colorful letters man. Ill do it.

 

SUPER SCIENCE PLASMA RAINBOWS

 

Well that's what I call rainbow coloring ...

 

Initializing Quarantine protocol 987 this is not a drill we have infectious rainbows spreading we will need to evacuate the premisses immediately....

On to a serous note, plasma would be a great idea after all you can't have fusion w/out it (remember kids cold fusion is a LIE)

 

There's solid blocks and then liquids.

There are no 'air blocks' or 'liquid blocks'.

And plasma isn't something you can use as a block either. It's physical behavior is more like between a liquid and a gas, yet still not quite that
Stars are basically balls of plasma.
I can see "plasma" as something you create from fuel for Ion thruster engines (e.g: Flying vehicles and small ships for landing on planets and moons) and some weapons (no, not light sabers, those things are physically impossible, I'm talking something more like flamethorwers and grenade launchers), and maybe decoration (plasma in neon light), but other than that I don't see much use for them. So it'll work to have plasma as something that appears a result from something else, instead something you directly use.

For example, you don't make plasma and then put the plasma in neon lights. You make neon lights, and then they make plasma.

 

I know that, thats why wrote the same in my original post, i also explained what the idea is really about.

This is not the science club forum and never will be. I made the suggestion to give a game mechanism a name that fits instead of using some scifi blabla like "unobtainium" to do the same. To repeat, plasma tech is a technology tier not something you build houses with.
And i am a little surprised to see such nitpicking on this forum, where usually every idea from the scfi/fantasy world is welcome. This is a game after all?

And about,"there is solid and liquid only", i allready answered to that too.

 

As long as you get those cool machines I support this.Just science fiction.

 

Actually, plasma is an etherial block. The materialization of plasma is a mixyure of unstable particles. Weapons using that would be like lightsabers (WHOOM WHOOM!) containing the plasma through elctromagnets. Crazy deathly complicated recipie anyone? But aside from that who cares? Its a game! Plasma murder YAY!

 

Can I make a sun if I have enough?