Kerbal-Star-Systems-2 [2.0.3]

Kerbal Star Systems 2 serves as the successor to Galaxies Unbound, significantly expanding on its foundation. This ambitious mod elevates the Kerbal Space Program experience by offering a breathtaking representation of the stellar neighborhood surrounding Kerbol. KSS2 masterfully blends scientifically-based celestial systems with imaginative elements, creating a unique fusion of real-life astronomy and inventive fictional systems. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey through the cosmos!

Overview

Minimum System Requirements

Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: 1-2 GB VRAM
KSP: 1.12.x

Installation

1. Download KSS2

You MUST delete previous KSS2 versions from GameData before installing KSS2 v2.0
GU is not compatable in the same game with KSS2. You will get Kopernicus warnings and it will not complete loading
Previous KSS2 versions (1.x) are not compatable in the same game with this version. It will crash your game.
GitHub
- Download KSS2_Core.2.0.zip Unzip the file into your GameData directory
- Download the desired KSS2 system(s). Unzip the file into your GameData directory.
- Download ContractPack.2.0.zip if you wish to use contracts. Unzip the file into your GameData directory.
- Volumetric EVE is natively supported by KSS2. Legacy EVE is not currently supported, but is being worked on.

With Core, SystemAethera, SystemAlphaCentauri, SystemLuhman16, ContractPack, the KSS2-folder should look like this.

|- KSS2
	|- ContractPack
	|- Core
	|- SystemAethera
	|- SystemAlphaCentauri
	|- SystemLuhman16
	|- KSS2_License.md
	|- KSS2Settings.cfg

2. Dependencies

Kopernicus: REQUIRED. Download and install Kopernicus (v217 or later is required for the latest features in KSS2).
ModuleManager : REQUIRED. So many things depend on this.
NiakoUtils: REQUIRED: Surface effects. Bundled alongside KSS2. Put the 000_NiakoUtils directory in GameData.
Kopernicus Expansion-er: Not strictly required but supports features like wormholes.
KSP Community Fixes Strongly recommended for the enhancements and many fixes it provides.

3. Visuals

Volumetric EVE: For the new volumetric clouds, aurorae, geysers, etc. This is the Blackrack EVE and is currently not a free download. Not required but without it, the experience is greatly reduced. Note: The first release of Volumetric EVE (14_01_23) is known to have issues. You should use the latest version if at all possible.
Environmental Visual Enhancements Redux: NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORTED
Scatterer: Atmospheric shaders for those that are unable to purchase the new EVE Volumetrics.
Parallax 2: For the interesting ground scatter. Note: Neither Parallax 1 nor Parallax Continued are supported
Singularity: For black hole visuals
INSTANTIATOR: For other interesting effects like pulsars.
Distant Object Enhancement: Makes objects realistically visible over large distances.
PlanetShine
Deferred Rendering - We recommend using this mod, but please be aware that Parallax 2.0 objects under 2 stars may appear significantly brighter when deferred lighting is enabled. You might want to adjust the settings to mitigate this issue.

4. KSS2 General Settings file

It is adviced that you do not change any default settings unless you know what you are doing. The KSS2 General Settings are located in the KSS2Settings.cfg file located in KSS2

SpaceAnomalies : NO setting change required. Requires Blueshift be installed and that Space Anomalies be enabled in Blueshift. You will need to find and either dock with or klaw the anomaly to make it owned.
Exotics = True/False : Whether or not to enable some truely exotic things. These will be rare and will be challenging. Stock rockets and parts will not do it for you. They will present unique rewards though.
Wormholes = True/False : Whether or not to enable to wormhole network that connects the KSS2 systems. Take note that the network will be dynamic depending on which systems are installed.
HomeSwitch : Not currently implemented
HabitableWorlds : True/False : Whether or not to get Pandor around Novin, you must set the HabitableWorlds-setting to True in the KSS2Settings.cfg.
DistanceFactor : Not currently implemented
Rescale : Whether to use a 2.5x or 10x rescale factor. This setting needs Sigma Dimensions installed: https://github.com/Sigma88/Sigma-Dimensions
SunAsteroids = True/False : Whether to enable or disable asteroid belts around Kerbol
ExtraSolarAsteroids = True/False : Whether to enable or disable asteroid belts around the various KSS2 systems

Known Issues

Parallax Continued is not supported and its presence will disable all Parallax support. Full Parallax Continued support is being worked.
Only Volumetric EVE is supported. legacy EVE is currently not supported. Support is planned. Use of legacy EVE with KSS2 will not cause issues though.

Compatibility

Support Parts and Gameplay

Sterling Systems
Contract Configurator KSS2 related contracts. V2.1.3 or greater.
Kerbalism
Kerbal Health
Community Resource Pack
Rational Resources
Blueshift This is primarily a FTL mod, but it also provides Space Anomaly support. This is needed if you would like the various interesting space anomalies in KSS2 to be available. Enable Space Anomalies in the Blueshift in-game settings.
WildBlueTools Primarily a collection of tools for the WildBlue mods, this provides interesting functionality for the space anomalies
Space Dust Next Adds a wider range of harvestable resources for both stock and modded planets.

Planetmods - unless annotated, they are not known to be compatible but MAY be. Help us by testing and reporting your results.

Beyond Home
Corelian
ExtraSolar
GEP
GPP
Kcalbeloh
Lightlevels
OPM (Compatible) Any OPM Parallax mod must be for Parallax 2

Not compatible

Principia
Galaxies Unbound (GU)
Previous versions of KSS2
KSRSS (in general, it does not appear to play well with other planet packs)
Parallax 1
Parallax Continued. Should not break the game but will disable all Parallax support in KSS2
Komplexity (not compatible with the KSS2 contract system)
Mods not mentioned in this list have not been verified and might or might not work. Install at your own risk, there's no support for these.
Homeswitch and Galaxy mode are NOT currently supported

Contracts

KSS2 has a custom contract system for Career Mode players. Contract Configurator will need to be installed and you will need minimum v2.1.3. There are early and mid game contracts to help you staff up for the push to Interstellar and the main contracts will start to drop once you have fully upgraded the KSC. The contracts will steer you to the more interesting things. The KSS2 contract system is not compatible with Komplexity.

After launching the game (!important!)

Checklist

You need Texture quality at its highest setting. Otherwise a few worlds may spawn as black orbs.

Maneuver Tool Bug

Source: KSP Community Fixes

The KSP 1.12 maneuver planner tool will cause issues. It can cause stutter and freezes on scene load, when changing SOI, when timewarping far from Kerbol or when editing maneuver nodes, especially with Kopernicus modified systems. To solve this, you better disable it. KSS2 provides a patch when Community Fixes are installed to make sure this happens.

Support and Socials

Obtaining Support

[Discord Server] (https://discord.com/channels/609404909464453120/609411550771675136/1123689293316112434) Remember: No GameData screenshot, no support

Support Kerbal Star Systems 2!

Enjoy the mod? Consider donating to help me keep expanding and improving it. Your support truly makes a difference—thank you!