Use generic storage containers for all items in game.

[Xender]

Frontier said that they have plan to add storage for engineers crafting materials; but they already have module storage, so why they can't use this for materials? I think most of online games have generic storage solution. They probably have some interface like Storable or something and any item which can be stored implement this.

Just look at this beautiful and simple solution from EVE Online:

Or even old Morrowind inventory system:

Elder Scrolls Online, mmo released for PC, Xbox One, and PS 4. Inventory is generic and can be handled from keyboard and mouse or from gamepad.

All of them are much more flexible and useful than solutions in Elite. In my opinion it is really bad approach that Frontier needs to implement different storage solution for all virtual goods/items in game.
They could put they efforts into many other things if they already handle inventory system properly, once and for all.

The development process of storage functionalities in Elite looks like that:
B - Mr. Braben
D - developer

B: W need storage for modules, our community will love it, can some add this to the game?
D: Yup! I can.
B: So you should be able to add it quickly, because we already have ship storage option?
D: ekhmm, eeee, hmmmppf, I can't. I need to create another system for this because ship storage system wasn't created for that purpose.
B: ok...

After few months:
D: Modules storage finished!
B: Great, lets give it to the players.

Month later:
B: I have good idea to add crafting materials storage, so could you tweak a little modules storage to handle also crafting materials?
D: Module storage wasn't designed for that purpose, it could handle only modules. We also need new user interface to handle that.
B: ok

So what does it mean for players? It means iterating over and over each time FDev adding similar functionalities instead of adding one common functionality to handle all cases - like One Ring from LOTR
I can't find reason why Frontier handling storage in that way. Maybe FDev didn't think in design phase that Elite would develop into such advanced game with many reasons to store items? Because currently it looks like new functionalities are fused together by glue tape...

 

[Xender]

I hoped, will be more "hot".

 

[Lestat]

Those are different games with a different setup.

 

[Xender]

Those are different games but some systems could be implemented better and more expandable than it is now... Even if Frontier plans to add another types of storage they should make it more generic.

 

[Lestat]

Those are different games but some systems could be implemented better and more expandable than it is now... Even if Frontier plans to add another types of storage they should make it more generic.

Or players can decide to use a larger ship engineers crafting materials. Then make and store the module that you want to use for a smaller ship. Or always have spare cargo for materials. Risk vs Reward. Risk is it make your ship weaker. Reward is you have the space.

The store everything seems unrealistic and not really part of Elite. If you want that unrealistic type game there are hundreds of games that are unrealistic and have the magic storage that you wish for.

Let take the Morrowind setup. I would like you to get a real backpack and try to fill it with Bottles, Items and clothing of 90 different types shape and sizes and weight of items. Then try tp put them all in a bag. if you can then I would like you to walk around. Then tell me how that is Realistic it feels.

I think players need to start using Common Sense vs the game doing everything for you.

For me When I ride my Quad. I have a first aid kit, food, water and extra clothing in my backpack. It make it quite full.

 

[Preston]

It would nice if we could have storage at a system or station we call home to dump materials and such & it would make sense if we had to pay for the storage based on how much we store or for how long.

 

[omega9380]

Vehemently agreed. My biggest issue is engineers commodities. I traveled over 500 ly with an empty hold to pick up the Energy Grid Assemblies i needed for my Lvl 4 FSD upgrade. Not a single interdiction. I bought 5 EGAs. Started back to Long Sight base. Got interdicted no less than 15 times on the way back. Once, I got interdicted 3 times by 3 different NPCs in the same system in the time it took to travel 1500 ls to the station!

It's like a signal flare goes up to all NPCs when you buy 1 ton of Biowaste. Here he is, attack!! I know that is another oft-complained about problem, but it does extend to the engineer stuff. I would have loved to hung on to the engineer commodities I received doing missions while working on my Fed rank, but if you don't use them or get rid of them immediately, you spend the next few hundred jumps being hounded by every NPC pirate in the bubble.

A little off track, sorry, got into rant mode for a minute there . To be honest, I would be perfectly content with making all engineer recipes use only data or materials, if only to avoid the constant interdictions having stuff in your hold causes. Being able to take those 4 Nanobreakers and stick them in station storage while you go get the rest of the stuff you need to craft would be a godsend.