Does FD really think this is "healthy" balance?
- Thread starter Dave1029
- Start date
This is true
However what I take issue with is with the idea of using FSD range as a balancing mechanic at all, and more precisely the very wide spread of FSD ranges between the ships creating such a difference in efficiency and fun for general mission running that involves interstellar travel. Combat is not really something I enjoy much except for the odd interdiction, but I do enjoy running missions, fighting whatever foes that turn up, and generally wandering around in the bubble. The spread in FSD ranges means that for such a game play style I am effectively limited to flying an Asp Explorer or an Anaconda if I don't want to increase my already considerable time spent charging my jump drive. The drop down to the other ships with similar load outs (multipurpose/light combat/armed trader style) is rather large.
There is no reason to start insulting people. We differ in opinion, nothing more. I can see that something that causes you to make a decision is a balancing feature. You can't, seemingly because it doesn't suit your designs. That's normal enough, but just don;t expect others to just accept your diagnosis.
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Not nearly the size of Cobra's, or even Eagle. More like the fighters you see in the CQC/Arena portion of the game.
That was hardly meant as an insult. You need to open your eyes. The argument really boils down to you think it's a balancing factor because some people are not patient enough to stare at loading screens. I think that's absolutely ridiculous and a poor excuse for balancing factors. That's like saying in Call of Duty... Well tell you what. You can have a minigun, BUT, you must only spawn with 1 minute left because it should take longer for you to reach the battlefield cause you have a minigun. Or just properly balance it and make it have a spool up time and be innacurate. Much like you can properly balance the ships to fit the roles they were designed for. There is no jump a long way role.
Well, in the end it's all just what we think. Telling me I'm insane, or need to open my eyes doesn't make an impression on me. It just shows your temperament. I won't change what you believe but, hopefully FD and others will see that your opinion is balanced by others. That's all I can ask for.
Also i cant see a door on the Conda big enoth to fit a FDL through
I still don't get what you are arguing about. Ship transport will be implemented soon, this should fix the problem.
If you feel this game is wasting your time what are you still doing here? Regardless of how you feel about them the differing jump ranges are one of the considerations taken into account when balancing ship classes and they affect everyone equally.
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It might solve the issue of getting fighters out to CGs, but it doesn't solve the wider issue of FSD ranges stopping us from using ships that would otherwise be suitable for the purpose, as in my "general mission running" example. If you enjoy running missions, and value your spare time, you are VERY limited in your choice of ships. If interstellar travel was made more interactive and fun I could have understood why they chose to balance on range, but it is pretty much the single most mind numbing aspect of Elite. Jump, turn, charge, jump, turn, charge, jump...
Are you sure ? But are we gonna be able to actually fly fighters or they will be like drones ?
I am confidently sure. I read it somewhere, maybe even here on the Forums, but I have no way to offer you a quote. I'm not exactly sure how you will be able to use them completely but, the inference I got was that they were available to fly by the commander. What I am not sure of is, whether you can deploy them as a drone/AI controlled escort.
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We'll be able to have both options.
There's statements about this on the forums somewhere if you're interested.
next update after 2.1
Most missions require you to jump to the next system, which is possible with every ship in the game (not just Anaconda and ASP...). If you want to do long range smuggling/hauling/trading you can do this with every ship that has a jump range close to 20 ly or above (=most ships in the game). Why should you be able to do efficient trading in a combat ship? Just take a Cobra or Python.
For the FSD range balance fans - can you explain why you think this is a good mechanic? And I am not talking about the need to balance ships against each other, I am talking about using FSD range to do it.
- Why balance on an aspect that has zero tactical effect? (Besides the extreme fringe case of hyperjump chases that most commanders have never experienced)
- Why balance on an aspect that has such a dramatic impact on a players time usage?
- Why balance on an aspect that forces you to use one of the least developed mechanics in the game for a longer time (jumping from star to star requires only the barest minimum of input from the pilot, but still enough to not allow you to do something else at the same time)?
One of the reasons I ask is that when you see any poll or discussion on Engineer mods, the vast majority state that the first thing they will change is the FSD range. So interstellar jumping, repeatedly, is clearly an aspect of the game that very few people actually enjoy as they seek to limit as much of it as soon as the opportunity arises. Why FDev have chosen this particular stat to vary so greatly between ships is a mystery to me, and smacks of poor design, or variation for the sake of variation without any further thought behind it.
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You can do it in whatever you want But that is not the point. The point is you are punished for choosing anything other than an Asp Explorer or Anaconda by increasing the time you have to spend honk-jumping your way across space. As detailed above, I don't understand why this is seen by some as an acceptable way to balance ships that already have dozens of other widely varying stats.
Edit: As an example, I would not fly a Vulture of FDL even if the jump range was higher because they cannot perform the purpose I am looking for, which is to transport cargo while being able to fight off attackers and jump into the odd USS. But not being able to use the Clipper or Python for these tasks because I am giving up nearly 10 LY'rs of jump range to an Asp Explorer with a decent all purpose build means that ships that are otherwise suited become unusable due to excessive travel times. Why is this good balance? What does it add to the game? Nothing at all in my opinion, it only subtracts.
- Why balance on an aspect that has zero tactical effect? (Besides the extreme fringe case of hyperjump chases that most commanders have never experienced)
- Why balance on an aspect that has such a dramatic impact on a players time usage?
- Why balance on an aspect that forces you to use one of the least developed mechanics in the game for a longer time (jumping from star to star requires only the barest minimum of input from the pilot, but still enough to not allow you to do something else at the same time)?
One of the reasons I ask is that when you see any poll or discussion on Engineer mods, the vast majority state that the first thing they will change is the FSD range. So interstellar jumping, repeatedly, is clearly an aspect of the game that very few people actually enjoy as they seek to limit as much of it as soon as the opportunity arises. Why FDev have chosen this particular stat to vary so greatly between ships is a mystery to me, and smacks of poor design, or variation for the sake of variation without any further thought behind it.
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You can do it in whatever you want
But that is not the point. The point is you are punished for choosing anything other than an Asp Explorer or Anaconda by increasing the time you have to spend honk-jumping your way across space. As detailed above, I don't understand why this is seen by some as an acceptable way to balance ships that already have dozens of other widely varying stats.Edit: As an example, I would not fly a Vulture of FDL even if the jump range was higher because they cannot perform the purpose I am looking for, which is to transport cargo while being able to fight off attackers and jump into the odd USS. But not being able to use the Clipper or Python for these tasks because I am giving up nearly 10 LY'rs of jump range to an Asp Explorer with a decent all purpose build means that ships that are otherwise suited become unusable due to excessive travel times. Why is this good balance? What does it add to the game? Nothing at all in my opinion, it only subtracts.
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As said above, ship transport should adress most of the issues. I think some people just like the idea of different ship roles.
But you already have different ship roles, the ships are in fact noticably different in a large amount of tactically relevant stats. What need is there to add huge variation in FSD range to this mix, which as stated only has the effect of boring the commander with honk-jumping?
No, we all worked out our time spent in game and realised that we can use that ship. If you do not have the time use a different ship.
This scales with everything else in the game Explore/trade/combat more = can afford bigger ships. The only true currency in Elite is time same as all MMO's. Skill reduces time required but time is still the deterministic factor for everything except PvP.
Similarly if you have more time you can take an FDL, if you do not have time you take an Asp/Anaconda or any other decent ship and possibly buy an FDL there.
Either way for current practical advice 2.1 drops on Thursday and has FSD boosting modifications. 30 jumps really isn't that much, it's about 40 minutes travelling even on a bad day. Considering you'd do that once per week for CG's it's no big deal at all. It just feels a lot to you because of either your experience in game (lack of exploring) or because of your lack of playtime in general where 40 minutes a week means a lot.
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What need is there to have huge variety in cargo space? I think it could have something to do with making ships feel unique.