Make our own ships

[Gamel0rd1]

Please read this through. I don't want anyone jumping down my throat for the wrong reasons.
.
So we have about 30 pilot-able ships in the game right now. Unfortunately, there's not that much variety. I'm suggesting an easy way to produce our own ships whilst the developers can do their own gameplay features.
.
By all means this does NOT mean you can make a ship and go fly it straight away just for yourself. No. You need to make it then send it over via email or PM to a designated design team (This is still a suggestion, so don't go and do this!!!), and if they approve of it, it gets the go-ahead.
.
Now, actually making it. This will probably be immensely difficult to so - especially trying to reproduce the themes Frontier portray. I fully understand Frontier might be very private about software, designs, assets and code they use, which will probably be a downfall of this idea.
.
A play will need to model a ship, compile it as a textureless white/grey model and export it as a file format Elite uses. Next, you will need to design a texture for the model. An online program could be made that applies a specific theme for the company you want the ship for. Simply upload the model and apply the theme. Example: Gutayama will be White with blue neon lights and blue markings. You should be able to rotate your model and apply the white gutayama theme. Then simply apply neon lights and other assets to the hardpoints, utilities and internals. Export the texture as a separate file which will be applied to the model ingame.
.
Next a text file will need to be made where the pitch/yaw/roll the speed is configured, the hardpoint positions, utility mount positions, sizes, hull strength, shields, speed, jump range, cost etc. The finished files (text, model and texture) should be sent off to someone to examine and evaluate the ship and hopefully give it some tweaks and send it through to be added to the game. Now, I'm not sure how Elite: Dangerous handles the ships, whether it be code, encrypted or server sided files so I might be wrong about some of this. The overall idea doesn't change, though
.
This idea is to add much more variety to the game and allows players to add more content and potentially strategy to his the game is played, whilst constructing ships which have strengths and weaknesses. This will help save FD time and effort whilst adding new content and options for players. 30 ships doesn't yet give an awe feeling yet. 100 certainly will!

Note: 100 ships might get overwhelming, but there are over 100 makes of cars for different purposes, which is just as nice. Either way, please post what you think below!

 

[Marra Morgan]

 

[Gamel0rd1]

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net...heHomer.png/revision/latest?cb=20090908145331

Oh boy if I was on my PC I would +1 to you! But in all seriousness the ships would need to be approved first

 

[R3DB3RD]

You know you can do this already right. Design ships, build a design portfolio, suit them to FD every few weeks. Keep sending emails. Keep sending emails. Start ringing them weekly. Keep sending emails. And if you work hard enough and keep emailing them and your designs have any merit... They'll give you a job.

In the meantime, FD designs the ship so that we don't have a galaxy filled with Starship Enterprises, Millennium Falcons, that cool ship from Blake 7 and fleets of pvper's flying various parts of the human anatomy.

Sorry for any inherent sarcasm. It's a nice idea, but I want to fly ships, not spend my every waking hour drawing them first. This is so far removed from what Elite is as a game that I'm fairly sure it's in the Andromeda Galaxy.

 

[Iskariot]

Unfortunately, there's not that much variety.

Are you kidding me?

 

[bamber]

so basically give us the ability to design more ships to get more ships?

Problem is there wil be 1000000 variants of basically 1 ship

Everyone will design a

800T 4 massive hardpoint 6 large 3 medium hardpoint class 6 Shielded ship that can fit an A7 power plant and A7 FSD drive ship able to jump 60LY with thrusters than can give it a top speed of 390 that can land on an outpost

so we'll go up to 31 ships.............................

 

[Don Alvarez]

I'll settle for a battlewagon variant of the T9 with two large hard points cut in on each side, about 12 utility slots and dual powerplants. It'll all fit in there.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

OP ship creation argument innit?
Player's are always likely to design a ship with few, if any flaws and then they'll get knocked back because of balance reasons.
And, even if it was limited to "design" only, it would take a fully customizable suite to make it happen and that'll take up a lot of dev time and a lot of the backers will be mad...not to mention those who want the main game to be the priority and not the "fluff".

I'm not against the idea generally but this game has a lot of other things that need to happen first before this would even become a possibility.
Can't see it being a priority any time soon.

 

[Axel Deathrage]

I would be happy if I could color my ships anything I want without having to buy a specific paintjob. I'm not against real-money-paintjobs because cosmetics are cosmetics, but collecting materials from a moon and turning it into red/blue/yellow/green/cyan/whatever ink would be cool.

 

[BACKER #-4112]

I am still waiting on the concept of different type of thrusters to be a reality.

 

[rootsrat]

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net...heHomer.png/revision/latest?cb=20090908145331

It's 3 AM here and I laughed so loud I think my wife woke up

Please read this through. I don't want anyone jumping down my throat for the wrong reasons.
.
So we have about 30 pilot-able ships in the game right now. Unfortunately, there's not that much variety. I'm suggesting an easy way to produce our own ships whilst the developers can do their own gameplay features.
.
By all means this does NOT mean you can make a ship and go fly it straight away just for yourself. No. You need to make it then send it over via email or PM to a designated design team (This is still a suggestion, so don't go and do this!!!), and if they approve of it, it gets the go-ahead.
.
Now, actually making it. This will probably be immensely difficult to so - especially trying to reproduce the themes Frontier portray. I fully understand Frontier might be very private about software, designs, assets and code they use, which will probably be a downfall of this idea.
.
A play will need to model a ship, compile it as a textureless white/grey model and export it as a file format Elite uses. Next, you will need to design a texture for the model. An online program could be made that applies a specific theme for the company you want the ship for. Simply upload the model and apply the theme. Example: Gutayama will be White with blue neon lights and blue markings. You should be able to rotate your model and apply the white gutayama theme. Then simply apply neon lights and other assets to the hardpoints, utilities and internals. Export the texture as a separate file which will be applied to the model ingame.
.
Next a text file will need to be made where the pitch/yaw/roll the speed is configured, the hardpoint positions, utility mount positions, sizes, hull strength, shields, speed, jump range, cost etc. The finished files (text, model and texture) should be sent off to someone to examine and evaluate the ship and hopefully give it some tweaks and send it through to be added to the game. Now, I'm not sure how Elite: Dangerous handles the ships, whether it be code, encrypted or server sided files so I might be wrong about some of this. The overall idea doesn't change, though
.
This idea is to add much more variety to the game and allows players to add more content and potentially strategy to his the game is played, whilst constructing ships which have strengths and weaknesses. This will help save FD time and effort whilst adding new content and options for players. 30 ships doesn't yet give an awe feeling yet. 100 certainly will!

Note: 100 ships might get overwhelming, but there are over 100 makes of cars for different purposes, which is just as nice. Either way, please post what you think below!

You didn't think of one aspect: every ship in ED is designed not only outside, but also inside. And the interior design is already suited for the FPP module, when it comes out. You'd have to design all the interiors too, which isn't as easy as it sounds.

 

[GrimThara]

The closest we could get is if the developers at some point agree to take community designed models and consider implementing them officially into the game. It's not unheard of for developers to implement community made assets. Look at Warframe or War Thunder for example, they take community made models and skins and put them into the game on a regular basis as official items.

Didn't Star Citizen also have a community submitted ship design section a while ago? I think it did.

And although I doubt many people remember this, Infinity the Quest for Earth (a long dead game that was the Elite/Star Citizen of the 2007 era) also took on community submitted ships once upon a time.


Point being. I think if a dedicated 3D modeller and texture artist felt like making a fully featured and functional game asset in the style of Elite in their own free time and was alright with it being implemented, there is a small chance it might be.
It would certainly not be easy. I have some moderate 3D experience and the thought of designing an entire ship inside and out is a rather daunting one. Certainly months and months of hard work even for a simple fighter craft. Let alone a massive multi-crew vessel.


As for some kind of in-game ship designer. Well. I think what this supposed upcoming Engineers update claims to let us do is the answer. Just let us tune already existing ships to further suit our gameplay needs. I would also like to see them add in the (as posted above by Backer#-4112) different looking modules from the old days. I remember looking at those concepts and reading about them back in 2014 thinking that would be cool. Just let us make the ships we already have into something more personal. Either by changing the shape of our engines or slapping on a name (a feature coming in the future at some point) and some extra decorative elements.


Oh well, ultimately, I don't think any of this will happen. I do not think they would take community submissions (unless they are of outstanding quality) and I have low hopes for any kind of meaningful customization for the ships in the future.

Still, I support the idea.



But hey, at the end of the day. If you really want to make your own ships then learn 3D modelling and texturing as a hobby or profession. You may not be flying what you create in Elite Dangerous but it'll still be a lot of fun. And who knows, maybe you'll make your own game some day or find a game to fly it in.

 

[El Dragoon!]

Please read this through. I don't want anyone jumping down my throat for the wrong reasons.
.
So we have about 30 pilot-able ships in the game right now. Unfortunately, there's not that much variety. I'm suggesting an easy way to produce our own ships whilst the developers can do their own gameplay features.
.
By all means this does NOT mean you can make a ship and go fly it straight away just for yourself. No. You need to make it then send it over via email or PM to a designated design team (This is still a suggestion, so don't go and do this!!!), and if they approve of it, it gets the go-ahead.
.
Now, actually making it. This will probably be immensely difficult to so - especially trying to reproduce the themes Frontier portray. I fully understand Frontier might be very private about software, designs, assets and code they use, which will probably be a downfall of this idea.
.
A play will need to model a ship, compile it as a textureless white/grey model and export it as a file format Elite uses. Next, you will need to design a texture for the model. An online program could be made that applies a specific theme for the company you want the ship for. Simply upload the model and apply the theme. Example: Gutayama will be White with blue neon lights and blue markings. You should be able to rotate your model and apply the white gutayama theme. Then simply apply neon lights and other assets to the hardpoints, utilities and internals. Export the texture as a separate file which will be applied to the model ingame.
.
Next a text file will need to be made where the pitch/yaw/roll the speed is configured, the hardpoint positions, utility mount positions, sizes, hull strength, shields, speed, jump range, cost etc. The finished files (text, model and texture) should be sent off to someone to examine and evaluate the ship and hopefully give it some tweaks and send it through to be added to the game. Now, I'm not sure how Elite: Dangerous handles the ships, whether it be code, encrypted or server sided files so I might be wrong about some of this. The overall idea doesn't change, though
.
This idea is to add much more variety to the game and allows players to add more content and potentially strategy to his the game is played, whilst constructing ships which have strengths and weaknesses. This will help save FD time and effort whilst adding new content and options for players. 30 ships doesn't yet give an awe feeling yet. 100 certainly will!

Note: 100 ships might get overwhelming, but there are over 100 makes of cars for different purposes, which is just as nice. Either way, please post what you think below!

WRONG GAME FORUM, GO TO SPACE ENGINEERS GAME FORUM

 

[Fox White]

So I hate always being negitave on good ideas but there are 2 big reasons why this will never happen.

1) FD cant even produce community made paintjobs. They even requested it from the community but dont have the <whatever you want to think/> to actually make them.

2) lore breaking aside the same reason you cant send in a picture to Ford. Sure maybe they will look at one but dont bet on it.

I think if you want to design a few ships in game your best bet is to start showing up at the FD building and pretending you were hired to work on ships. They are pretty busy from the sound of it so they might not even notice you.

 

[Forlorn]

Kudos for putting in the effort for writing up a design process for a game feature that we know virtually nothing about, but I don't think it even scratches the surface of how complicated the ship design process is.

But of course, I could be wrong - I know knothing about it either!

 

[Charles Erika von Hackbeil]

Unfortunately, there's not that much variety.

I know, Iskariot quoted the same sentence, but... I peg you pardon?

You sound like a Nimmersatt. I prefer quality to quantity and thats where FD delivers.

 

[lysan]

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net...heHomer.png/revision/latest?cb=20090908145331

My first thought!

 

[Krait_79]

Please read this through. I don't want anyone jumping down my throat for the wrong reasons.
.
So we have about 30 pilot-able ships in the game right now. Unfortunately, there's not that much variety. I'm suggesting an easy way to produce our own ships whilst the developers can do their own gameplay features.
.
By all means this does NOT mean you can make a ship and go fly it straight away just for yourself. No. You need to make it then send it over via email or PM to a designated design team (This is still a suggestion, so don't go and do this!!!), and if they approve of it, it gets the go-ahead.
.
Now, actually making it. This will probably be immensely difficult to so - especially trying to reproduce the themes Frontier portray. I fully understand Frontier might be very private about software, designs, assets and code they use, which will probably be a downfall of this idea.
.
A play will need to model a ship, compile it as a textureless white/grey model and export it as a file format Elite uses. Next, you will need to design a texture for the model. An online program could be made that applies a specific theme for the company you want the ship for. Simply upload the model and apply the theme. Example: Gutayama will be White with blue neon lights and blue markings. You should be able to rotate your model and apply the white gutayama theme. Then simply apply neon lights and other assets to the hardpoints, utilities and internals. Export the texture as a separate file which will be applied to the model ingame.
.
Next a text file will need to be made where the pitch/yaw/roll the speed is configured, the hardpoint positions, utility mount positions, sizes, hull strength, shields, speed, jump range, cost etc. The finished files (text, model and texture) should be sent off to someone to examine and evaluate the ship and hopefully give it some tweaks and send it through to be added to the game. Now, I'm not sure how Elite: Dangerous handles the ships, whether it be code, encrypted or server sided files so I might be wrong about some of this. The overall idea doesn't change, though
.
This idea is to add much more variety to the game and allows players to add more content and potentially strategy to his the game is played, whilst constructing ships which have strengths and weaknesses. This will help save FD time and effort whilst adding new content and options for players. 30 ships doesn't yet give an awe feeling yet. 100 certainly will!

Note: 100 ships might get overwhelming, but there are over 100 makes of cars for different purposes, which is just as nice. Either way, please post what you think below!

To be honest I would be happy with just all the original elite ships to be in game. Whilst crowd sourced ships might look very aesthetically pleasing I'm very much a traditionalist when it comes to elite ships despite their relative plainess!

Now using crowd sourced approved material for something like missions on the other hand would be a great idea.

 

[Gamel0rd1]

So I hate always being negitave on good ideas but there are 2 big reasons why this will never happen.

1) FD cant even produce community made paintjobs. They even requested it from the community but dont have the <whatever you want to think/> to actually make them.

2) lore breaking aside the same reason you cant send in a picture to Ford. Sure maybe they will look at one but dont bet on it.

I think if you want to design a few ships in game your best bet is to start showing up at the FD building and pretending you were hired to work on ships. They are pretty busy from the sound of it so they might not even notice you.

Well it can't really be breaking the lore because there is no lore. In the original elite series there is lore but apparently we're supposed to make out own lore

 

[CMDR Heisenberg B. Damned]

Realistically this isn't likely to happen. Each additional ship will need to be added to each game on each and every PC/xBox at several Levels Of Detail (LOD).

Get a copy of Blender and design a ship (it'll take you ages). Then take that ship and redesign it for at least 3 LOD so you're not loading a massive file for a ship that's little more than a few pixels. Now design the inside as rootsrat said.

Now imagine the huge number of designs that are going to flood FD. Think of the hours of employee time it'd take going through each one and how many they'd have to reject to keep the number of ships practical for an online game. Think of how annoyed every one of those rejected designers is going to be.

It's a nice idea but it's just not practical.