Why Do Players WANT to Keep Old Ships

[gbjbaanb]

I’ve noticed that while many players want any kind of forward movement on Elite, there seems to be a very opinionated and vocal group that just… really wants everything to stay the same and doesn’t want new ships.

I really do not understand this logic and I am seriously open to hearing about it.

Elite Dangerous is 11 years old. It struck me hard the yesterday when I was ship shopping and compared the design on the Cobra Mk IV and Mk V. The older ship LOOKs its age in design.

So here is my take. I suspect that most people protesting new ships and power creep have probably replaced their actual car in the last 11 years. Probably because their old car started to look dated and now they have a new car that is somehow improved.

I get the appeal of KEEPING old ships in the game, like coming across a retro Dodge Charger and not knowing if it has 80 horsepower or 800. But the current ships can never get that vintage position if new, better stuff doesn’t come out.

Even if you think the FDL is the god of all ships and you are the god of pilots, are you really THAT invested in maintaining that pole position? The life blood of the game is coming up with new builds and designs and then trying them out. Wouldnt you at least want a NEW FDL? I am afraid I just do not understand the logic.

I hear a lot of people say “I don’t want to grind again” … well what do you do then? I am genuinely asking. From what I can tell, this game essentially IS grinding. So what are you doing in your masterwork ship?

Idk, just wanted to collect thoughts on the matter. I am probably the weird one, I also do not, at all, understand the appeal of fleet carriers. It’s like some people got on the mental treadmill of chasing that next bigger badder ship and … just kept on it until they got fleet carries. I am sure they’re good for BGS stuff, but… to play with?

Most people don't like change. Its normal, change means having to learn stuff all over again, means losing your entrenched position and having to rebuild it again, etc. So we are resistant to change.

Many other people involved in hobbies like Elite fall into that category, change is a threat to whatever it was they liked. Even if the new stuff is better, they don't know that until they have accepted the change, and they resist the change because the new might not actually be better. It no different to people always buying the same brand and never trying a new one. Its very common.

As for fleet carriers - they're a great base. ED needs that, given outdated practices like cargo following the player and not the ship its on. A FC solves (well, doesn't solve it, it mitigates the problem) and so people want them for that reason.

 

[marx]

I'd just like an option to SCO-stabilize earlier ships, like a new engineering recipe for the bulkheads, or an internal module, and so on. I like my Courier, for example, but there's really no "Courier but with easy SCO" replacement - and you can replace "Courier" in there with many other ships.
Keep the new ships coming though. I've yet to hear anyone saying (in earnest) that they don't want any.

 

[Felix DiCestria]

where did you hear that?

FU, Zac said the Corsair was the last medium ship (disappointing those hoping for a medium Saud Kruger) either the corsair launch or the month before. Of course Zac also said the cobra was a medium...

 

[Jinx Chrome]

FU, Zac said the Corsair was the last medium ship (disappointing those hoping for a medium Saud Kruger) either the corsair launch or the month before. Of course Zac also said the cobra was a medium...

I would not take this statement at face value but extend Zac's sentence with 'for now'. The upcoming ship(s) may be large, and perhaps a few small ones to fill the SCO gaps but who knows what is coming in 2 years?

 

[Cmdr Esteban]

FU

There’s no need to be rude

 

[aRJay]

…

Idk, just wanted to collect thoughts on the matter. I am probably the weird one, I also do not, at all, understand the appeal of fleet carriers. It’s like some people got on the mental treadmill of chasing that next bigger badder ship and … just kept on it until they got fleet carries. I am sure they’re good for BGS stuff, but… to play with?

As I don’t do deliberate BGS activities or even PP I don’t know that my FC would be of any great help but it has allowed me to finally get further than the 5,000Ly unlock trip by letting me explore in mental comfort.

 

[Shadowsnog]

FU, Zac said the Corsair was the last medium ship (disappointing those hoping for a medium Saud Kruger) either the corsair launch or the month before. Of course Zac also said the cobra was a medium...

its possible i could have missed a bit from older streams, but it fs wasnt in the last one.
dont they keep older videos on youtube? i could find only highlights and the last episode.

 

[sidereal6]

new ships shouldn't come at the expense of old ships becoming pointless. That's a failure of game design.

If this was a game that was being developed for a future release I’d agree with you - things should be balanced.

But since this is an 11 year old game being updated, I think it’s okay for some things to become obsolete. That happens in the real world after all.

There’s long been no compelling reason to own a T7 or an AspS. I like that they’re in the game though, so the NPCs can fly them. I would even like to see FDev add NPC-only ships. They probably have some models laying around that they decided not to finish.

 

[Felix DiCestria]

its possible i could have missed a bit from older streams, but it fs wasnt in the last one.
dont they keep older videos on youtube? i could find only highlights and the last episode.

 

[KRISXR]

its possible i could have missed a bit from older streams, but it fs wasnt in the last one.
dont they keep older videos on youtube? i could find only highlights and the last episode.

Zac did say that in the interview when the Corsair was announced as the next ship. I'm not looking it up and posting the video, but it's there. Ya, i don't think over the years that it was intended to mean they won't make any new medium sized ships. that definitely wasn't stated.

Agh! and Felix DiCestria just posted that while I was typing, Thanks Cmdr!

 

[Rat Catcher]

I hear a lot of people say “I don’t want to grind again” … well what do you do then? I am genuinely asking. From what I can tell, this game essentially IS grinding.

I'm sure for some the game essentially is grinding, fortunately, it never has been for me, maybe as I don't rush?

As for the old ships and the new, I have bought all of the new ships released to date on day 1, the PC is unlikely to be bought, but that is just preference.

I've retired a few old ships, but have kept the ones I enjoy flying, just because I can.

 

[Shadowsnog]

thanks for the link. im assuming "so this now sort of rounds up that final medium category" was not taken in context of previous ships having all distinct roles and this one, being multirole, covering all the other medium ship role requirements, but it was taken as a "this is final medium ship we will make ever"
...
ok
i mean
sure
it could hint at it being the last medium ship, if you would really want to. but with the context it is in it really doesnt say that thats the last medium ship.

 

[Jmanis]

If this was a game that was being developed for a future release I’d agree with you - things should be balanced.

But since this is an 11 year old game being updated, I think it’s okay for some things to become obsolete. That happens in the real world after all.

Hard disagree. This is a game, not the real world.

As a contrast, EVE is older, and has many, many more ships. All ships are still relevant there, despite new tech levels and capabilities.

There’s long been no compelling reason to own a T7 or an AspS. I like that they’re in the game though, so the NPCs can fly them. I would even like to see FDev add NPC-only ships. They probably have some models laying around that they decided not to finish.

This is because those ships were poorly designed and, like so many other misfires by FD, they simply never correct them.

Again. Trash game design.

 

[Rat Catcher]

*ex elite partners dont count as fdev

Don't let them hear you say that...

 

[KRISXR]

So as a lifetime grease monkey, working on, and selling everything from ferrari's to ford escorts, I have never had 1 customer buy a new or used vehicle like it was a pair of pants that were out of style. It's always the damn thing has been neglected to the point its junk, beaten on to the point it's junk, overworked and overloaded to the point it's junk, corroded to the point it's junk, or someone smashed it to pieces.

As far as vehicles from all manufactures since 2015, they are made to fail. You look at how every single aspect of it is made and its gonna fail, fast. Engines, transmissions, frames and sub-frames, suspension, cooling, heating, wiring, I have seen cars from the 70's all the way until now, it is unbelievable how weak these vehicles and their systems are, and less capable. A 1977 ford station wagon could tow 7,500 lbs with the optional tow package, that's more than most half ton pick-ups on the market in the last 20 years. They're usually 5,500 to 6,500 lbs with out any special tow bars and electric brakes added.

I heard an engineer say once- It's because all of these new younger engineers and their bosses have never held a wrench or know how to. An automotive engineer said that. Or my theory, they want them to fail before the loan is paid off, so the can push the consumer into never "owning" their vehicle and just keep getting paid to sell more disposable crap.

Horrible analogy. Oh and a charger from the 60's (I never was a fan, and those old muscle cars could not turn or stop) had pretty much 400hp, and 500lbs/ft. They all were dangerous killers, even with a skilled driver.

Why am I even posting this? Im a frickin tool.

Love the old ships, don't think its a big deal the current state ships are in, just a variety and choices between new and old, am i opposed to some sort of freshen up, no, but i wouldn't like to see the old ships totally brought up the new overcharged standard. After all, these new designs were a result from the end of the thargoid war and mankind's knowledge of the new hybrid tech.

 

[angusmadmac1]

My own thoughts and I'm out exploring with a Viper with a sco drive . Only 1 ship made me want to buy it, the MK2 and that was because of the looks. All the others do the same role on some aspects better in some and others worse as my older ships. I see most as a we want fast travel we want bigger cargo so we don't spend time flying etc. But I have been playing since 1980's so I'm in no rush, the game has gotten progressively easier over the years the new ships are just another symptom. But if you enjoy the new ones good for you I will keep flying my old ones and having fun .

 

[Bigmaec]

Because they are there, and some people feel attached to some ships (Dropship )

 

[Shadowsnog]

Nothing says dakka better than fully autoloader mc gunship :3

 

[MottiKhan]

I can honestly say that I've NEVER, in 40 years of driving, replaced a car simply because it "looks dated".
I currently own a 2003 Land Rover, which I bought in 2005, and it's still better for me than anything else I could buy for the money today and I have a 2008 Honda Civic that I bought a couple of years ago and it's been perfectly reliable and economical to run.
...

Same here, but 48 years since my first car. I currently have 3 cars. I won't mention the makes/models, but the years are 1984, 2015 and 2024. Each one serves its purpose well and none look "dated" to me. Classic, sure, but not dated.

As for the ships, I like the new SCO types. I bought the Python 2 when it first came out, but haven't spent arx on them since. The Python 2 is a nice ship, but it's not game changing and not, in my opinion, worth RL money. I don't mind supporting FD, but it'll be limited to cosmetics.

My Mandalay has replaced my Asp-X for long range travel and my Cobra 5 replaced my Cobra 4 as small ship with cargo capacity. My Type 8 replaced my Python for medium pad cargo running. I still have most of the old ships, though. No need to sell them and they're good for module storage.

 

[wrmiller]

I’ve noticed that while many players want any kind of forward movement on Elite, there seems to be a very opinionated and vocal group that just… really wants everything to stay the same and doesn’t want new ships.

I really do not understand this logic and I am seriously open to hearing about it.

Elite Dangerous is 11 years old. It struck me hard the yesterday when I was ship shopping and compared the design on the Cobra Mk IV and Mk V. The older ship LOOKs its age in design.

So here is my take. I suspect that most people protesting new ships and power creep have probably replaced their actual car in the last 11 years. Probably because their old car started to look dated and now they have a new car that is somehow improved.

I get the appeal of KEEPING old ships in the game, like coming across a retro Dodge Charger and not knowing if it has 80 horsepower or 800. But the current ships can never get that vintage position if new, better stuff doesn’t come out.

Even if you think the FDL is the god of all ships and you are the god of pilots, are you really THAT invested in maintaining that pole position? The life blood of the game is coming up with new builds and designs and then trying them out. Wouldnt you at least want a NEW FDL? I am afraid I just do not understand the logic.

I hear a lot of people say “I don’t want to grind again” … well what do you do then? I am genuinely asking. From what I can tell, this game essentially IS grinding. So what are you doing in your masterwork ship?

Idk, just wanted to collect thoughts on the matter. I am probably the weird one, I also do not, at all, understand the appeal of fleet carriers. It’s like some people got on the mental treadmill of chasing that next bigger badder ship and … just kept on it until they got fleet carries. I am sure they’re good for BGS stuff, but… to play with?

In my case it is because they have not released a upgraded Corvette. Still waiting on a better Python too. (not a wannabe FDL)

And...this will likely never happen. So when that other game releases the Tobii fix, I'll go back to modifying my ships as I see fit. (well, as much as I can anyway...)

And I grind as little as possible, because I truly dislike this simpleton mechanic, but there really isn't any engaging gameplay to replace it with unfortunately