Long Jump Option

The original Elite allowed you to buy one off Galactic Hyperdrives with an entirely self contained fuel supply ... they were single use .... I say bring them on.
The original game allowed you not to be affected by anything not in your computer so all sorts of things were possible that you can’t do in a multiplayer landscape including loading in a new galaxy via the galactic hyperdrive.
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
I assumed that anyone reading my comment would have the nous to apply the idea of the original drive to the modern game ... 🤔 ... perhaps extrapolate the idea of a one off, long jump drive ... I assumed incorrectly ... that's on me.
It seems clear that the Galactic Hyperdrive could not be used as long range hyperdrive inside the same galaxy....
 
As I remember there were eight galaxies - so one would need to make a total of eight galactic hyper-jumps to get back to the starting galaxy - and even then it's not clear where in the starting galaxy one would jump to.

The original game had fixed systems that were the only ones that could be used for the galactic hyperdrive. You had to find and travel to the correct system using the regular drive to use the galactic hyperdrive, ok so Beagle Point as the one departure and arrival position in our galaxy?
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
The original game had fixed systems that were the only ones that could be used for the galactic hyperdrive. You had to find and travel to the correct system using the regular drive to use the galactic hyperdrive, ok so Beagle Point as the one departure and arrival position in our galaxy?
One source I found indicates that the entry point into each of the eight galaxies in the original game was fixed. I haven't found anything to suggest that they could only be used in one (or more) system in each galaxy.
 
The original game had fixed systems that were the only ones that could be used for the galactic hyperdrive. You had to find and travel to the correct system using the regular drive to use the galactic hyperdrive, ok so Beagle Point as the one departure and arrival position in our galaxy?

One source I found indicates that the entry point into each of the eight galaxies in the original game was fixed. I haven't found anything to suggest that they could only be used in one (or more) system in each galaxy.
I have to admit that I am not clear about this, I seem to recall that you could use the Galactic Hyperdirve anywhere but it had limited availability. This is because I thought I left a galaxy before I had done with it due to a dodgy key press on my Spectrum.
But it was about half my lifetime ago so probably confused.
 
fewer loading screens more gameplay. This isn't a play the game less. This is a spend less of your game time doing something fairly worthless and more time doing the stuff you want to do. There's no skill to jumping it's just a rote time filler. It's a barrier that isn't required when we're never going to explore the entire galaxy even if you could instantly jump to each star.
Then ask for the loading screen to stop shutting down internal ship activities. So the player can continue doing stuff while traveling. Why is my head violently snapped forward to look out the front window?

My computer should be capable of loading the next instance while I am looking at my active missions, setting up fire groups, or looking at a map. These functions should not be auto-closed just because my ship is entering/exiting a hyperspace jump or supercruise.
 
It seems clear that the Galactic Hyperdrive could not be used as long range hyperdrive inside the same galaxy....
I regret thinking anyone would have had the foresight to see past the name and maybe just consider the general idea ... This forum never disappoints for it's nitpicking.
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
Again ... I'm giving people more credit than I guess I should 🤷‍♂️
... or maybe others don't share the opinion that the existence of the Galactic Hyperdrive in the original forms a precedent for longer than normal hyper-jumps in this iteration of the game.

Noting that there are means of extending ones jump range already in the game (in addition to Engineering), i.e. Guardian Frameshift Boosters, synthesis and White Dwarf / Neutron Star scooping.
 
... or maybe others don't share the opinion that the existence of the Galactic Hyperdrive in the original forms a precedent for longer than normal hyper-jumps in this iteration of the game.

Noting that there are means of extending ones jump range already in the game (in addition to Engineering), i.e. Guardian Frameshift Boosters, synthesis and White Dwarf / Neutron Star scooping.
Except people weren't arguing the idea ... just the name 🤔 .. guess now I'm nitpicking ... but here we are.
 
Apart from the already made comment, fuel use doesn't work like that at all, it's exponential, which means double the length of your jump, quadruple the amount of fuel used, if you could make a jump 3 times the length of your current jump that takes 10 tons of fuel it would take 160 tons of fuel, not 30 tons of fuel. Most ships would exhaust all their fuel just doing a long jump twice the length of their current jump, the fuel use jump calculation isn't just a matter of adding all the fuel that used for each jump together so yes, it is indeed a major adjustment to the core mechanics of the game.
You're argument assumes an instant jump. The whole point is you're travelling at a slower rate of speed, which would have much higher fuel efficiency, thus allowing you to jump much further in one jump using the same relative amount of fuel. Are spaceships like cars? Of course not, but a little wiggle room is reasonable if it make the game less tedious. If it's more like dropping into some kind of "subspace" and traversing it, then my solution is just fine. Either way, from a gameplay and programming perspective, all it requires is adding a new fuel calculation and a new timer that holds the player in a loading screen for the required duration. It also would help a bit with server load, as with people having to load fewer systems along their journey, there would fewer server interactions. Wins all around, I'd say.
 
You're argument assumes an instant jump. The whole point is you're travelling at a slower rate of speed, which would have much higher fuel efficiency, thus allowing you to jump much further in one jump using the same relative amount of fuel.
Hyperjumps between systems have a speed associated with them? If my Frameshift Drive travels me slower between systems then I use less fuel? I was not aware of this.:unsure:

Or is this suggestion for fast travel packing in another suggestion: Adding a hyperdrive travel speed mechanic. So if we want to go a really really far distance in one jump we travel extra slow and stare at the screen for a really really long time. For huge distances just travel super extra slow and go do the laundry, make dinner, and come back later. Or maybe tomorrow. This sounds like an AFK travel idea.
 
Hyperjumps between systems have a speed associated with them? If my Frameshift Drive travels me slower between systems then I use less fuel? I was not aware of this.:unsure:

Or is this suggestion for fast travel packing in another suggestion: Adding a hyperdrive travel speed mechanic. So if we want to go a really really far distance in one jump we travel extra slow and stare at the screen for a really really long time. For huge distances just travel super extra slow and go do the laundry, make dinner, and come back later. Or maybe tomorrow. This sounds like an AFK travel idea.
I'm not sure of the physics behind the developer's system of travel. I'm also not suggesting super huge ranges where you can just travel across the galaxy in one jump, just something that drastically reduces the incessant need to constantly pilot the craft over long distances. The jump cycle gets super tedious when you have dozens or hundreds of them to do and you're just trying to get somewhere. I'm totally fine with a required time investment to get from one place to another, but it doesn't have to be super tedious.

My suggestion is a compromise between zero effort at all (full autopilot) and the extremely tedious process we have now (manually jumping hundreds of times). You still have to drop into a system, do some fuel scooping, then charge your FSD, but just once per tank rather than 6 or 7. You still have to be present and participating in the process, just not every second of the trip.
 
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I have spent giant amounts of time traveling the galaxy. And watching you-tube videos, late night shows, getting diner ready, laundry, etc while doing many hundreds of jumps.

There are two things that incredibly annoy me about the jump concept:

1. The jump sequence shuts down the ship maps and menus. SLAM... they are auto closed. BAM!

2. There is nothing else to do in the ship while jumping. Just look out the front window. (see point #1). Or watch the youtube video on second monitor. Or watch TV.

I am really surprised that a game fundamentally based on spaceship travel hasn't addressed this. Why can't the cmdr do activities while the ship is traveling? This question always brings up the weenie answer "well actually, the hyperspace screen is just a loading screen". Well whoopee-do. My PC is capable of doing other things while the next instance gets loaded. There is no need for everything ingame to come to a grinding halt.

My thoughts: Travel shouldn't be made easier, faster, or simpler. It should be made more enjoyable. Let the cmdr continue to setup fire groups, check inventory, review active missions. Why aren't there investigative chores a cmdr can do while flying? As said, this is fundamentally a spaceship travelling game. The player shouldn't be forced out of all gaming activities while traveling.
 
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