This is really a two part question:
1) Can I make a coil spring w/o using softbodies if I don't require it to be visible? i.e. create a coil spring in the middle of a room and drop X rigidbodies on it, the coil spring will react accordingly absorbing some of the rigidbodies then push them away?
2) If I want the coil spring to be visible what is the general direction I would use? Softbody mesh somehow constrained w/ (1)? Or would 1 no long be relevant?
Thanks