Engineering and Pre-Built Ships

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

With the T6, this is interesting.

I know there's been problems with PWA so does this mean this has been looked at?

Also, as we're looking at mining, does that mean we're going to see a 500% increase in asteroid yield for tritium? *

* Sorry; I couldn't resist

 

[CMDR X]

...
Long-term ED players appear to be very averse to change, well, when it may take away their perceived superiorority... Maybe it is time to embrace change for the overall good of the game, even if it 'undermines' years of play?

Speaking purely for myself, I am not concerned for my years of play being undermined. That is mine and no one can take that from me. I'm concerned for Elite's unparalled gameplay experience being overly cheapened down. I have no problem with these new ideas if they are carefully balanced. Something Fdev is unfortunately not very good at.

 

[Flimley]

As far as the builds are concerned, I can't help but notice that the T6 lacks a detailed surface scanner. Those are necessary to see the hot spots in the Rings; if this is meant to be a functional pre-built, it definitely would need one of those.

Additionally, I can't help but notice that it does not have any way to do core mining, despite having a pulse wave scanner.

Yes. These ships absolutely need to be honed in and fit for purpose. If involving real currency. Didn't that T6 have B rated thrusters also? What is that all about?! No one in the known universe purchases 'B' rated thrusters...., no one!!!!!
I think frontier need to seek proper advice front dedicated miners (and other disciplines) regarding decent 'fit for purpose' no need to swap out modules later 'builds'. And achieve as far as possible, spot on builds.
Maybe only engineered to a G3 level so it's decent, but encourages cmdrs to later upgrade thereby actually using engineers.
... some in the past have accused frontier of not playing their own game. And instances such as this highlight that.

Flimley

 

[Obsidian Ant]

You can rebuy your pre-built ships for free every time. However if you modify the ship with credit purchased modules then you would need to rebuy that cost.

Thanks for the info!

 

[The Lawful]

The AX Chief has a small beam, but Thermal Vent must be engineered separately? What about the hull and HRP, all stock? The thing seems to be far from meta and not exactly overkill | P2W. Sounds fair IMHO

O7,

 

[Rat Catcher]

I'm concerned for Elite's unparalled gameplay experience being overly cheapened down

While I admit to being unsure precisely what you mean by that statement, surely it would be better for the game to get more players actively involved - maybe even produce an influx of new players because "the grind" can be sidestepped to some extent?

ED really needs to be more forward looking than previously, even if it means that folk like you & me who have many years of play behind them, are not best keen on the change.

 

[HRDiagram]

Totally looking forward to the complaints of those being slaughtered in the AX Chieftain!

 

[CMDR X]

While I admit to being unsure precisely what you mean by that statement, surely it would be better for the game to get more players actively involved - maybe even produce an influx of new players because "the grind" can be sidestepped to some extent?

ED really needs to be more forward looking than previously, even if it means that folk like you & me who have many years of play behind them, are not best keen on the change.

I agree 100% Rat. If these changes mean new players and another 10 years online, I am all for it. But they really need to get it right and not hop on the horse only to fall off the other side. (Ancient Hungarian wise saying)

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

While I admit to being unsure precisely what you mean by that statement, surely it would be better for the game to get more players actively involved - maybe even produce an influx of new players because "the grind" can be sidestepped to some extent?

ED really needs to be more forward looking than previously, even if it means that folk like you & me who have many years of play behind them, are not best keen on the change.

I agree although it's always a careful balancing act... attract new players to make it more accessible or dumb it down so that it cheapens what vets have achieved in their - for some - huge amount of time and effort.

Not a decision I would like to be making.

 

[Rat Catcher]

But they really need to get it right and not hop on the horse only to fall off the other side.

We can but hope!

 

[Ian Doncaster]

As far as the builds are concerned, I can't help but notice that the T6 lacks a detailed surface scanner. Those are necessary to see the hot spots in the Rings; if this is meant to be a functional pre-built, it definitely would need one of those.

Additionally, I can't help but notice that it does not have any way to do core mining, despite having a pulse wave scanner.

Thinking of it more specifically as a starter laser-miner to be operated in hoover mode (and therefore not needing to find hotspots), I'd say the main obvious drawback is the Collector size - even two size 1 mining lasers are going to need more than one active limpet, so that'll be a lot of waiting around for the limpet to finish.

That said, while it can be improved on, it's still an adequate "My First Miner" to bring back 96t of mixed minerals and pay for some upgrades (my first mining T6 was a lot worse, other than the collector count). People who already know how to mine really aren't the market anyway.

 

[Rat Catcher]

I agree although it's always a careful balancing act... attract new players to make it more accessible or dumb it down so that it cheapens what vets have achieved in their - for some - huge amount of time and effort.

Not a decision I would like to be making.

I agree with the sentiment.

Despite the crazy numbers of hours I've played, and the fleet of G5 engineered ships built, I'd applaud if FD abandoned engineering as we know it and made it possible to just buy engineering direct from engineers with credits. With unlocks for the engineers left as they are today, so a little bit of experience is gained along the way.

 

[CMDR X]

WT heck am I doing here? I have three PA's to G5. from

 

[Angus Poindexter]

Well, it seems that no matter what FDev does, it's going to be wrong in somebody's eyes. For me, I just want to play the game.

 

[Flimley]

The T6 miner I'm OK with but the Chief with the Guardian weapons is a bit too much. Give it only AX Multicannons and Missles and it would balance. Guardian/Engineer/PP unlocks should not be bypass-able with real fake money. I know you're all gung-ho for Thargoids but I think sticking to basic ship purchaces would be wiser:

A rated Keelback for Combat+SLF
A rated T7 for Cargo
A rated DBS/X for Exploring
A rated Dolphin for Passangers

You get the picture. I would not like to see G5 PA/Rail Kraits for sale in the store.

Remember you said this:
"However, we will be listening to your feedback as we go about this process."

This is make-or-break territory you are wading into with these changes. Please get this one right.

Your dead right here. And as i mentioned above. Engineered 'bought' modules included with ships should be sold at G3 max!
This gives newbies a taste of the advantages of engineered modules. And will encourage them to engineer them further. thereby pulling them into the world of elite.
If you sell G5 modules from the store directly, there is zero impetus to explore the engineers. and that is a detriment to further game world discovery.

Flimley

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

Well, it seems that no matter what FDev does, it's going to be wrong in somebody's eyes. For me, I just want to play the game.

^ This. And me too.

 

[Bahamut_TMG]

Well, it seems that no matter what FDev does, it's going to be wrong in somebody's eyes. For me, I just want to play the game.

Me three...

 

[WarDoggo]

The T6 miner I'm OK with but the Chief with the Guardian weapons is a bit too much. Give it only AX Multicannons and Missles and it would balance. Guardian/Engineer/PP unlocks should not be bypass-able with real fake money. I know you're all gung-ho for Thargoids but I think sticking to basic ship purchaces would be wiser:

A rated Keelback for Combat+SLF
A rated T7 for Cargo
A rated DBS/X for Exploring
A rated Dolphin for Passangers

You get the picture. I would not like to see G5 PA/Rail Kraits for sale in the store.

Remember you said this:
"However, we will be listening to your feedback as we go about this process."

This is make-or-break territory you are wading into with these changes. Please get this one right.

I couldn't agree with this statement more. I'd add that it's fankly kind of a slap in the face to all the work we've put in unlocking this stuff/grinding reps for permits, etc. naturally in-game. It's skipping mechanics we've all had to learn/deal with/overcome along the way. Why should that be different for people who decide to pay real money for a 'jump start' ship?

A-Rate it if you want to, that's perfectly fine. Any player with sufficient credits can do that in-game. But tech unlocks/engineering means you're into more "endgame" content, you've put in the time, you know what you're doing, and you're ready for the more challenging content. Let new players get there on their own, when they are ready for that content, just like all of us did.

 

[Cmdr Andrew Johnson]

Greetings Commanders, 

We wanted to give you a heads up on our plans for Engineering coming later this year and share a first look at two of the Pre-Built ships that will be hitting the Gamestore in May. 

Read more: https://elitedangerous.com/news/engineering-and-pre-built-ships

@Paul_Crowther Can you confirm if engineering is looking at ships / on foot / or both please

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

Hello, I'm a beginner explain the firegroups of the AX Jumpstart Chieftain to me in two sentences or less, I don't have much time which is why I'm paying to skip the grind.