Change "altitude" to "elevation" in manual

Vanessa finds "altitude" to carry too much of an aviation connotation.
Zefram finds "elevation" to carry insufficient connotation of being
relative to sea level, so also adds a clarifying note.  Beware of changing
this terminology without negotiation, as it aroused surprisingly strong
opinions.
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Zefram 2014-08-08 17:40:28 +01:00
parent 488070c1ee
commit e3b44be6ec

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@ -29,58 +29,65 @@ ore
The technic mod makes extensive use of not just the default ores but also The technic mod makes extensive use of not just the default ores but also
some that are added by mods. You will need to mine for all the ore types some that are added by mods. You will need to mine for all the ore types
in the course of the game. Each ore type is found at a specific range of in the course of the game. Each ore type is found at a specific range of
altitudes, and while the ranges mostly overlap, some have non-overlapping elevations, and while the ranges mostly overlap, some have non-overlapping
ranges, so you will ultimately need to mine at more than one altitude ranges, so you will ultimately need to mine at more than one elevation
to find all the ores. Also, because one of the best altitudes to mine to find all the ores. Also, because one of the best elevations to mine
at is very deep, you will be unable to mine there early in the game. at is very deep, you will be unable to mine there early in the game.
Elevation is measured in metres, relative to a reference plane that
is not quite sea level. (The standard sea level is at an elevation
of about +1.4.) Positive elevations are above the reference plane and
negative elevations below. Because elevations are always described this
way round, greater numbers when higher, we avoid the word "depth".
The ores that matter in technic are coal, iron, copper, tin, zinc, The ores that matter in technic are coal, iron, copper, tin, zinc,
chromium, uranium, silver, gold, mithril, mese, and diamond. chromium, uranium, silver, gold, mithril, mese, and diamond.
Coal is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found from altitude Coal is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found from elevation
+64 downwards, so is available right on the surface at the start of the +64 downwards, so is available right on the surface at the start of
game, but it is far less abundant above altitude 0 than below. It is the game, but it is far less abundant above elevation 0 than below.
initially used as a fuel, driving important machines in the early part It is initially used as a fuel, driving important machines in the early
of the game. It becomes less important as a fuel once most of your part of the game. It becomes less important as a fuel once most of your
machines are electrically powered, but burning fuel remains a way to machines are electrically powered, but burning fuel remains a way to
generate electrical power. Coal is also used, usually in dust form, as generate electrical power. Coal is also used, usually in dust form, as
an ingredient in alloying recipes, wherever elemental carbon is required. an ingredient in alloying recipes, wherever elemental carbon is required.
Iron is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found from altitude Iron is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found from elevation
+2 downwards, and its abundance increases in stages as one descends, +2 downwards, and its abundance increases in stages as one descends,
reaching its maximum from altitude -64 downwards. It is a common metal, reaching its maximum from elevation -64 downwards. It is a common metal,
used frequently as a structural component. In technic, unlike the basic used frequently as a structural component. In technic, unlike the basic
game, iron is used in multiple forms, mainly alloys based on iron and game, iron is used in multiple forms, mainly alloys based on iron and
including carbon (coal). including carbon (coal).
Copper is part of the basic Minetest game (having migrated there from Copper is part of the basic Minetest game (having migrated there from
moreores). It is found from altitude -16 downwards, but is more abundant moreores). It is found from elevation -16 downwards, but is more abundant
from altitude -64 downwards. It is a common metal, used either on its from elevation -64 downwards. It is a common metal, used either on its
own for its electrical conductivity, or as the base component of alloys. own for its electrical conductivity, or as the base component of alloys.
Although common, it is very heavily used, and most of the time it will Although common, it is very heavily used, and most of the time it will
be the material that most limits your activity. be the material that most limits your activity.
Tin is supplied by the moreores mod. It is found from altitude +8 Tin is supplied by the moreores mod. It is found from elevation +8
downwards, with no altitude-dependent variations in abundance beyond downwards, with no elevation-dependent variations in abundance beyond
that point. It is a common metal. Its main use in pure form is as a that point. It is a common metal. Its main use in pure form is as a
component of electrical batteries. Apart from that its main purpose is component of electrical batteries. Apart from that its main purpose is
as the secondary ingredient in bronze (the base being copper), but bronze as the secondary ingredient in bronze (the base being copper), but bronze
is itself little used. Its abundance is well in excess of its usage, is itself little used. Its abundance is well in excess of its usage,
so you will usually have a surplus of it. so you will usually have a surplus of it.
Zinc is supplied by technic. It is found from altitude +2 downwards, with Zinc is supplied by technic. It is found from elevation +2 downwards,
no altitude-dependent variations in abundance beyond that point. It is with no elevation-dependent variations in abundance beyond that point.
a common metal. Its main use is as the secondary ingredient in brass It is a common metal. Its main use is as the secondary ingredient
(the base being copper), but brass is itself little used. Its abundance in brass (the base being copper), but brass is itself little used.
is well in excess of its usage, so you will usually have a surplus of it. Its abundance is well in excess of its usage, so you will usually have
a surplus of it.
Chromium is supplied by technic. It is found from altitude -100 Chromium is supplied by technic. It is found from elevation -100
downwards, with no altitude-dependent variations in abundance beyond downwards, with no elevation-dependent variations in abundance beyond
that point. It is a moderately common metal. Its main use is as the that point. It is a moderately common metal. Its main use is as the
secondary ingredient in stainless steel (the base being iron). secondary ingredient in stainless steel (the base being iron).
Uranium is supplied by technic. It is found only from altitude -80 down Uranium is supplied by technic. It is found only from elevation -80 down
to -300; using it therefore requires one to mine above altitude -300 even to -300; using it therefore requires one to mine above elevation -300 even
though deeper mining is otherwise more productive. It is a moderately though deeper mining is otherwise more productive. It is a moderately
common metal, useful only for reasons related to radioactivity: it forms common metal, useful only for reasons related to radioactivity: it forms
the fuel for nuclear reactors, and is also one of the best radiation the fuel for nuclear reactors, and is also one of the best radiation
@ -89,37 +96,37 @@ ore to satisfy these uses. Beware that the ore is slightly radioactive:
it will slightly harm you if you stand as close as possible to it. it will slightly harm you if you stand as close as possible to it.
It is safe when more than a metre away or when mined. It is safe when more than a metre away or when mined.
Silver is supplied by the moreores mod. It is found from altitude -2 Silver is supplied by the moreores mod. It is found from elevation -2
downwards, with no altitude-dependent variations in abundance beyond downwards, with no elevation-dependent variations in abundance beyond
that point. It is a semi-precious metal. It is little used, being most that point. It is a semi-precious metal. It is little used, being most
notably used in electrical items due to its conductivity, being the best notably used in electrical items due to its conductivity, being the best
conductor of all the pure elements. conductor of all the pure elements.
Gold is part of the basic Minetest game (having migrated there from Gold is part of the basic Minetest game (having migrated there from
moreores). It is found from altitude -64 downwards, but is more abundant moreores). It is found from elevation -64 downwards, but is more
from altitude -256 downwards. It is a precious metal. It is little used, abundant from elevation -256 downwards. It is a precious metal. It is
being most notably used in electrical items due to its combination of little used, being most notably used in electrical items due to its
good conductivity (third best of all the pure elements) and corrosion combination of good conductivity (third best of all the pure elements)
resistance. and corrosion resistance.
Mithril is supplied by the moreores mod. It is found from altitude Mithril is supplied by the moreores mod. It is found from elevation
-512 downwards, the deepest ceiling of any minable substance, with no -512 downwards, the deepest ceiling of any minable substance, with
altitude-dependent variations in abundance beyond that point. It is a no elevation-dependent variations in abundance beyond that point.
rare precious metal, and unlike all the other metals described here it It is a rare precious metal, and unlike all the other metals described
is entirely fictional, being derived from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth here it is entirely fictional, being derived from J. R. R. Tolkien's
setting. It is little used. Middle-Earth setting. It is little used.
Mese is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found from altitude Mese is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found from elevation
-64 downwards. The ore is more abundant from altitude -256 downwards, -64 downwards. The ore is more abundant from elevation -256 downwards,
and from altitude -1024 downwards there are also occasional blocks of and from elevation -1024 downwards there are also occasional blocks of
solid mese (each yielding as much mese as nine blocks of ore). It is a solid mese (each yielding as much mese as nine blocks of ore). It is a
precious gemstone, and unlike diamond it is entirely fictional. It is precious gemstone, and unlike diamond it is entirely fictional. It is
used in many recipes, though mainly not in large quantities, wherever used in many recipes, though mainly not in large quantities, wherever
some magical quality needs to be imparted. some magical quality needs to be imparted.
Diamond is part of the basic Minetest game (having migrated there from Diamond is part of the basic Minetest game (having migrated there from
technic). It is found from altitude -128 downwards, but is more abundant technic). It is found from elevation -128 downwards, but is more abundant
from altitude -256 downwards. It is a precious gemstone. It is used from elevation -256 downwards. It is a precious gemstone. It is used
moderately, mainly for reasons connected to its extreme hardness. moderately, mainly for reasons connected to its extreme hardness.
rock rock
@ -140,16 +147,16 @@ cobblestone generator, can be an easier way to acquire sand than
collecting it where it occurs naturally. collecting it where it occurs naturally.
Desert stone is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found specifically Desert stone is part of the basic Minetest game. It is found specifically
in desert biomes, and only from altitude +2 upwards. Although it is in desert biomes, and only from elevation +2 upwards. Although it is
easily accessible, therefore, its quantity is ultimately quite limited. easily accessible, therefore, its quantity is ultimately quite limited.
It is used in a few recipes. It is used in a few recipes.
Marble is supplied by technic. It is found in dense clusters from Marble is supplied by technic. It is found in dense clusters from
altitude -50 downwards. It has mainly decorative use, but also appears elevation -50 downwards. It has mainly decorative use, but also appears
in one machine recipe. in one machine recipe.
Granite is supplied by technic. It is found in dense clusters from Granite is supplied by technic. It is found in dense clusters from
altitude -150 downwards. It is much harder to dig than standard stone, elevation -150 downwards. It is much harder to dig than standard stone,
so impedes mining when it is encountered. It has mainly decorative use, so impedes mining when it is encountered. It has mainly decorative use,
but also appears in a couple of machine recipes. but also appears in a couple of machine recipes.