Reqeusted: One More "Tutorial" - Test Drive

[IndigoWyrd]

The current in-game tutorials are great - they really let you get a feel for things - as long as those things are small craft.

A "Tutorial" that gives us the chance to test out different ships and outfitting would be monumental.

No rank locks, no budgets to be concerned with - no Engineering, just pick a ship, rig it, and take it for a test drive - maybe out to a Nav beacon where we can try a little hunting with it and back to the station.

Who's ever invested a good deal of time, effort and energy into obtaining a ship you found out very quickly that you hated?

The "Test Drive" Tutorial would solve all that, and give everyone a chance to try their hand at any ship currently available in a manner that has no impact on anything at all, and should not be terribly difficult to create, as it only makes use of what already exists.

Thoughts?

 

[Daniel Cloudsifter]

I agree.

I once suggested something similar - a simulator - that would allow you to test fly/test fight a ship with various load outs before having to buy it. It would certainly alleviate a lot of player frustration and buyer's remorse. It would also clearly show that something that appears horrible - say a D rated Python or a D rated Cutter (massive drift!) - really shines when it is A rated (and thus, worth the investment).

Something like this tutorial shouldn't be too hard to implement.

 

[OfftheRails]

Docking a T9. You could pack a heck of a tutorial into that particular process.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Not for me. Some of the fun is not knowing whether you will like the ship or not. I am on the silly ship exploration trip in a FAS. Never flown one before, and it's not my cup of tea. So when I get back I will be selling it. But I certainly enjoyed trying it out.

 

[Andovar]

I like it.
With the new 'telepresence multicrew', they could have a similar telepresence simulator in the station where it puts you into a holodeck arena in the ship of your choice.

 

[Kaocraft]

I'm opposed to this. The ships (and their unique flight experiences) are the primary reward and progression structure in the game. It's the only unique "content" for anyone to strive towards. Short circuit this and you don't have a game anymore.

 

[SpaceTerp]

This would also help when tweeking key-bindings and new macros.

 

[Andovar]

I'm opposed to this. The ships (and their unique flight experiences) are the primary reward and progression structure in the game. It's the only unique "content" for anyone to strive towards. Short circuit this and you don't have a game anymore.

Maybe their unique flight experience is your primary reward and progression structure, but it's certainly not everyone's.
You're not actually getting the ship, and you're not going to be able to do anything with it other than maybe fly through a mailslot and buzz around an asteroid field to test it out.
If that would actually spoil things for you, then just don't do it.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

This would also help when tweeking key-bindings and new macros.

I use the Frame Shift tutorial for that - where you take off and fly to Freeport.
I also use the SRV and Fighter tutorials for testing SRV and Fighter related keybinds and macros.
Has probably saved me a billion credits already.

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe their unique flight experience is your primary reward and progression structure, but it's certainly not everyone's.
You're not actually getting the ship, and you're not going to be able to do anything with it other than maybe fly through a mailslot and buzz around an asteroid field to test it out.
If that would actually spoil things for you, then just don't do it.

Yep, have to concur with the "Then don't do it" thought here. As a Tutorial, it's purely optional, so you're under no obligation to complete it, except your own OCD.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Hehehe, isn't that called beta?


Tbh I suggested this a long time ago but in a different form. Missions to take ship X to place Y as safely as possible, collisions, damage and being in combat for extended periods decrease your payout, also with exceptionally well calculated mission timers so you have maybe a 15 minute grace period for slow flying and you loose a significant cut of payout then after say another 15 minutes they kick you out the ship and you end up at the starting station with a failed mission.

See Test Drive Unlimited (the game) for a similar example of how this could work