Select Targets from System Map

[steevaavoo]

I should imagine it's fairly self explanatory but I would very much like the ability to select target planets, stars, asteroids, stations etc. from the system map, to avoid some of the guesswork currently involved and improve/streamline exploration.

Also a keybind to open and close the system map directly would be most welcome.

Would anyone else like to see this too?

 

[SneakytheRogue]

+1

Anything to reduce clicks for tedious tasks

 

[Ben Ryder]

I should imagine it's fairly self explanatory but I would very much like the ability to select target planets, stars, asteroids, stations etc. from the system map, to avoid some of the guesswork currently involved and improve/streamline exploration.

Also a keybind to open and close the system map directly would be most welcome.

Would anyone else like to see this too?

I think exploring is about educated guesswork or just plain guess work. Tourism however is different and equally valid.

I'm going on tour soon around the founders system. Not really exploration.

Not really a fan of short cut keys that skip the interface though. A simple and tweak like the one you suggest has knock on effects. For instance interdiction become harder to execute. Pirate turns up catches you one. You hit system map and your off in a trice. Pirates end up hanging around for those not so good at navigation but there's no one around in supercruise because they locked destination in a flash a zipped off.

Let's see what they come up with

 

[Akilax]

I would like to see this option as well.

It would make it a little more comfortable to navigate and seems like a basic function for a computer system in the year 3301.

 

[Lazy Murph]

+1 to this idea. But I think you should only be able to target things that have been explored first.

 

[steevaavoo]

Ben I'm not sure what you're driving at with your response unfortunately (I can be very slow on the uptake though so it's probably me!) As I understand it, if I want to run away from interdiction, I don't need to look at the UI or the Maps, I just pick a direction and run like hell, or very quickly select any system in range and hit hyperspace. But as I said I'm probably misunderstanding your concern.

Lazy Murph - well, my idea is that you run the Discovery Scanner which, as I understand it, populates the system map with bodies in range. Then what annoys me with the current setup, is that you have to look at the system map, do a calculation based on the Semi-Major Axis of an interesting-looking body on the map in AU multiply it by 480 to get the ls range, then hope that the body is at it's widest orbit point (it frequently isn't) so that the body you target from the Navigation UI is the right one, then fly there and with luck it's where you were aiming for.

Add to that the fact that you can't get out of the system map with a single keypress like you can with the galaxy map, and it can (and frequently does, to me) become an exercise in frustration.

To have to Explore the things prior to targeting them - assuming you mean performing a Surface Scan - would render my suggestion largely useless as by that point you already know what everything in the system is, which makes the system map pretty but no better than the Navigation UI.

But bear in mind, I'm making assumptions based on what I've read, so I'm quite possibly wrong!

Definitely appreciate that I'm not alone in my desire for this feature - thanks guys!

Steve

 

[SquidgyB]

I'm not sure what ben's getting at there either - you still have the FSD cooldown to contend with, and you can target an object even quicker by just looking at the left panel and choosing a target, unless I'm also missing something here...?

There's a fair bit I'd like changed with respect to the UI of the Galaxy/System map - remembering settings between sessions (both logging off and between going to the System map/back again or from the Galaxy Map to the game and back again), and as you mentioned; Targetting objects from within the System Map (targeting/routefinding the system itself from there would be useful too, for when you're scouting systems from afar).

which makes the system map pretty but no better than the Navigation UI.

For you maybe There's a *lot* of useful information in the System Map that I'll always check out when I'm scouting systems, although again I'm probably holding the wrong end of the stick on this one...

 

[SneakytheRogue]

I'm taking it Ben doesn't like it because he prefers to attack people when they're sitting motionless while navigating a route in their galaxy map? And its unfair because then when he attacks, they'll be able to exit the galaxy map sooner and try and get away?

...Despite that its faster (on such an occasion) to just look at your left panel and choose a random location and jump? In fact, IIRC you don't even need a destination to supercruise anyway once the FSD recharges. Just SC soon as you can and then pick a destination after you've left the interdiction site....

I don't think I need any fancy degrees or schooling to state simply that poor UI should never be retained to serve as a game balancing mechanic. Like, with any sort of game. Ever.

The point of Elite is flying in space! Navigation is a necessary side effect, but isn't the point of the game.


*** BACK ON TOPIC ***


The System Map has so much information that I'm constantly going in and out of. Trade data, even if partly bugged, and prohibited items are always important checks. Not to mention population, size, and economy of destination stations in a system.

My biggest beef of all is when exiting from a system map to the galaxy map, it goes back to your target system rather than the system you just looked at. Especially when looking for a midpoint on route as a refueling destination on a 200lY trip, its a pain when I find a valid location on the system map and go back to galaxy and I have no idea if the system was 29 or 39 or 92 tauri.

 

[steevaavoo]

For you maybe There's a *lot* of useful information in the System Map that I'll always check out when I'm scouting systems, although again I'm probably holding the wrong end of the stick on this one...

You're absolutely right there mate - in that regard I was speaking only of the application of target selection through the system map - if (per my probable misunderstanding of Lazy Murph's post) I have to deep-scan every body in the system in order to select them on the system map as targets, well, once I've deep-scanned them all, I will no longer need to select them through the system map as targets! :S

 

[steevaavoo]

I'm taking it Ben doesn't like it because he prefers to attack people when they're sitting motionless while navigating a route in their galaxy map? And its unfair because then when he attacks, they'll be able to exit the galaxy map sooner and try and get away?

I couldn't speak to that having never met Ben in or out of game. However, as far as I am aware, an interdiction pulls you automatically out of the Galaxy Map as it is (probably the System Map too). Plus you already can drop immediately out of the Galaxy Map - it's the System Map I'm more concerned with.

Given that we can already hit M (or whatever we've bound) to close the Galaxy Map at will, it isn't much more of a stretch to have a similar open/close binding for the System Map too in my opinion. I am even prepared to believe that the groundwork has been laid as we can already get to the System Map directly through the Navigation UI - so it currently seems a little silly to be able to get straight in to the System Map, but then have to go back out through the Galaxy Map.

At the moment I just hit Esc twice (once drops me to the cockpit showing the main menu, twice exits the main menu)

poor UI should never be retained to serve as a game balancing mechanic.

Indeed

 

[SneakytheRogue]

I couldn't speak to that having never met Ben in or out of game. However, as far as I am aware, an interdiction pulls you automatically out of the Galaxy Map as it is (probably the System Map too). Plus you already can drop immediately out of the Galaxy Map - it's the System Map I'm more concerned with.

Based off of my interpretation of this. I've edited for readability in bold:
"Not really a fan of shortcut keys that skip the interface though. A simple and tweak like the one you suggest has knock-on effects. For instance interdiction becomes harder to execute. Pirate turns up and catches you with one (interdiction). You hit system map and you're off without a trace. Pirates end up hanging around for those not so good at navigation but there's no one around in supercruise because they locked destination in a flash a zipped off."


Didn't know about the M button, going to make use of that. Although I just got my hotas so it might not be mapped anymore, will check. I've been using ESCx2 to leave menus in emergencies but it can be annoying to use, and a button to exit completely out of system map rather than go back to galaxy map is a simple task of adding a permanent button control to a UI template.

 

[steevaavoo]

Based off of my interpretation of this. I've edited for readability in bold:
"Not really a fan of shortcut keys that skip the interface though. A simple and tweak like the one you suggest has knock-on effects. For instance interdiction becomes harder to execute. Pirate turns up and catches you with one (interdiction). You hit system map and you're off without a trace. Pirates end up hanging around for those not so good at navigation but there's no one around in supercruise because they locked destination in a flash a zipped off."


Didn't know about the M button, going to make use of that. Although I just got my hotas so it might not be mapped anymore, will check. I've been using ESCx2 to leave menus in emergencies but it can be annoying to use, and a button to exit completely out of system map rather than go back to galaxy map is a simple task of adding a permanent button control to a UI template.

Fair enough - though the fact remains that going into the System Map doesn't break off an interdiction - in fact it would make it easier for the Interdictor to succeed... wouldn't it??

Yes absolutely - the button mapping should be very easy to implement. I just hope it happens soon