Large Ship Refueling @ Outposts

Awhatnow? :S

I'm not opposed to this just to spite people flying large ships.

It's just that it's NOT real life. It's a game.
When you play a game you have to accept that you are likely to be forced to make compromises depending on your play-style.

You wouldn't (I hope) expect to, for example, use a sniper-rifle in an FPS and then request that it's also fitted with a red-dot sight so you can use it effectively at close range.
The whole point is that you've chosen a sniper-rifle to give you an advantage at long-distances and you accept that means the weapon is going to be less effective at close range.

Same thing applies in ED.
When you choose to use a large ship you are taking advantage of it's superior ability to carry cargo, to configure a diverse array of equipment and mount more powerful weapons.
The trade-off for these advantages is that you can't land at platforms.
It's not realistic to then expect the dev's to provide workarounds that overcome the limitations of that ship.

The shuttle thing someone mentioned sounds fun, though. I can think of some neat other uses for that. For instance, you could maybe use it for salvage missions in the same way you use the SRV for surface salvage missions. Find the wreckage with the big ship, go get it with the little one. This would be a cool use for multicrew maybe, with NPCs attacking you, and one player has to use the shuttle to get the salvage while the others defend him.
 
You wouldn't (I hope) expect to, for example, use a sniper-rifle in an FPS and then request that it's also fitted with a red-dot sight so you can use it effectively at close range.
The whole point is that you've chosen a sniper-rifle to give you an advantage at long-distances and you accept that means the weapon is going to be less effective at close range.

As a consummate Sniper-Rifle fan, I will say, without a doubt, they are just as effective at close range as they are at long range. And they have the same reload speeds at both ranges... which can be a major disadvantage if there happens to be someone else right behind the guy who ate a sniper round point blank.... Leading cause of sniper deaths: Someone behind the first guy at close range. Followed closely by: Other Snipers and Artillery.
 
The shuttle thing someone mentioned sounds fun, though. I can think of some neat other uses for that. For instance, you could maybe use it for salvage missions in the same way you use the SRV for surface salvage missions. Find the wreckage with the big ship, go get it with the little one. This would be a cool use for multicrew maybe, with NPCs attacking you, and one player has to use the shuttle to get the salvage while the others defend him.

It's still the same fundamental issue though; the game imposes various limitations on each ship. The main limitation of large ships is that they can't land at platforms.
If that's a limitation you aren't willing to accept, fly a smaller ship.

Don't get me wrong, personally I'd love it if FDev made it so that ships could dock with each other to transfer fuel, cargo, passengers and even repair each other.
That might actually create some additional gameplay and allow people to play cooperatively in new ways.

It's just not realistic to simply say "I'm flying a large ship but I want the advantages of flying a small ship too" though.
 
It's not necessarily making life easier for the big ship pilots.

Refuelling by limpets at an outpost would leave the bigger ships nicely vulnerable to attack if they have to do it with shields and power down .... so there could be a gameplay balance there if the feature were introduced :)
 
I think there is a point missing among all the snipers and limpets and shuttles....
Balance.
There are limitations imposed in this game tha is solely because of balance. Accept that. Of course we would have thought out solutions inRL, but this is a game .
In RL everybode would be in a carrier with full Escort squadron and a Full CAC,CAG on the wings. But this is Elite, and large ships cannot dock. We cannot com with other systems, ect, ect. Yo cannot fit two PP, you can not fit Double frameshift, you cannot swap fuel tanks, you can not...
Balance, balance...
Accept it or be defeated.

Cheers Cmdr's
 
I am opposed to one of the few advantages from small/medium ships being removed. No cargo transfers, no shuttles please.

Fuel is one thing that I could maybe support depending on how it's done but it'll spread to repair and restock and missions and cartograhpics and contacts. When cargo gets mentioned my response is a instant: no thanks.


Trade CG, area around dries up fast due to Cutters/Vettes/Condas/T9s soaking up all the surrounding supply. But theres often pads for Pythons and Asps to get to and hoover up to the point where sometimes it's better to use a medium ship. Gives an increased level to the decision making process which is a good thing in my book.
I want small pad only docks too (perhaps megaships may fulfill this at some stage).
 
And who cares?

I don't fly big ships (when I play at all) as they don't interest me.

But why should someone willing to grind out a large ship BE at a disadvantage as to where they can frickin LAND or REFUEL?

Your argument is tantamount to saying SUV owners have numerous advantages so they shouldn't be allowed to park at smaller convenience stores, only large grocery chains.

Seriously, THATS how ridiculous this has gotten. Sooner or later, the owner of some small store chain, IS going to find a way to accommodate the drivers of large SUV type vehicles. A fact history has proven.

The same holds true here. For once, can we please stop talking about godsforsaken BALANCE and let the universe evolve in a natural, believable, market driven.manner? Just this ONCE?

Try docking this:

DSC_0074ship.jpg

here
small-port-of-corfu-nautical-club-corfu-ionian-islands-sailing-greece.jpg


Picked the wrong vehicle to compare :)
 
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And who cares?

I don't fly big ships (when I play at all) as they don't interest me.

But why should someone willing to grind out a large ship BE at a disadvantage as to where they can frickin LAND or REFUEL?

Your argument is tantamount to saying SUV owners have numerous advantages so they shouldn't be allowed to park at smaller convenience stores, only large grocery chains.

Seriously, THATS how ridiculous this has gotten. Sooner or later, the owner of some small store chain, IS going to find a way to accommodate the drivers of large SUV type vehicles. A fact history has proven.

The same holds true here. For once, can we please stop talking about godsforsaken BALANCE and let the universe evolve in a natural, believable, market driven.manner? Just this ONCE?

No I am sorry it is you who need to stop a moment and consider. If unlimited evolution was unlimited, it would be as i describe it..If you had it you way there would be 5 people playing this game. A small ship NEEDS to be viable, what about noob's, the only face Armadas in your world, they would not even start to play. You idea would completely onerail the game in benefit of the already rich and migthy. Absolutely no thanks. Everybody has a place in this game, wheter in a hauler or a cutter. Benefits for each and drawbacks for each. As it should be.

Cheers Cmdr's
 
2020:

Since development was unlimited in the game in 2017 may I present my new ship:

The flying asteroid aka "the Death Star", it needs no shields as its a 300 meters thick. its powered by 1o0 class 8 thrusters, 10 class 8 pp. As you see its armed with no less than 25 las 8 turreted Rail guns and plasma cannons, has got 6 class 8 fuel scoops and 4 flass 10 fsd's. It ges max 700 lY pr jump and refuels once a year, it never docks, it teleports all thats needed. It does not even need a crew or me, its just there, dont go to close.
It smokes a station in seconds.

Brave new world.

Cheers Cmdr's
 

Fair point. And I still think small Marina's and backwater outposts with no ability to service large ships should exist.

But I also think some smaller outposts should feature services for large vessels, in higher population centers, during Boom states, or at wealthy locations.
 
No I am sorry it is you who need to stop a moment and consider. If unlimited evolution was unlimited, it would be as i describe it..If you had it you way there would be 5 people playing this game. A small ship NEEDS to be viable, what about noob's, the only face Armadas in your world, they would not even start to play. You idea would completely onerail the game in benefit of the already rich and migthy. Absolutely no thanks. Everybody has a place in this game, wheter in a hauler or a cutter. Benefits for each and drawbacks for each. As it should be.

Cheers Cmdr's

Oh good lord. Small ships are faster, cheaper, harder to hit, cost less to insure, often have longer jump ranges (because someone thinks that boredom is a balancing feature) and are more fun to fly.

Small Ships wouldn't be any less warranted if some - SOME - outposts here and there began offering "large ship services."
 
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Fair point. And I still think small Marina's and backwater outposts with no ability to service large ships should exist.

But I also think some smaller outposts should feature services for large vessels, in higher population centers, during Boom states, or at wealthy locations.

I can get on board with that. Seems fair.
 
I have both large and small ships, plenty of 'em, and use most of them for various things. So long as you prevent cargo transfer / mission work betweem the outpost and large ships and allow only fuel, this is a tiny change in abilities for large ships vs small. Those of you who pride the small ship's current roles are in no danger of seeing those roles wiped out.

The more I think about it, allowing for turn in of bounties and navigation data cannot be allowed, since that might impact the BGS of the system/station. Fueling does not. Like I said--tiny little change, and I would guess most folks aren't buying the smaller ships just so they can refuel at platforms.

- - - Updated - - -

2020:

Since development was unlimited in the game in 2017 may I present my new ship:

The flying asteroid aka "the Death Star", it needs no shields as its a 300 meters thick. its powered by 1o0 class 8 thrusters, 10 class 8 pp. As you see its armed with no less than 25 las 8 turreted Rail guns and plasma cannons, has got 6 class 8 fuel scoops and 4 flass 10 fsd's. It ges max 700 lY pr jump and refuels once a year, it never docks, it teleports all thats needed. It does not even need a crew or me, its just there, dont go to close.
It smokes a station in seconds.

Brave new world.

Cheers Cmdr's

And out comes the slippery slope fallacy.
 
I have both large and small ships, plenty of 'em, and use most of them for various things. So long as you prevent cargo transfer / mission work betweem the outpost and large ships and allow only fuel, this is a tiny change in abilities for large ships vs small. Those of you who pride the small ship's current roles are in no danger of seeing those roles wiped out.

The more I think about it, allowing for turn in of bounties and navigation data cannot be allowed, since that might impact the BGS of the system/station. Fueling does not. Like I said--tiny little change, and I would guess most folks aren't buying the smaller ships just so they can refuel at platforms.

- - - Updated - - -



And out comes the slippery slope fallacy.

My post is obviously ridiculous, i ought to be obvious. But a fallacy.. I think not. With balance in mind, what if I say Weapons , Shields , Hull, SCB's and Engineer's. It shows how lttle or much to upset the balance.
The whole dicussion is a malarkey, a storm in a glass of water imo. In a big ship fit a fuelscoop and an AFMU, all problems solved, amirite ?
Dont play the "Convenient" card please...

Cheers Cmdr's
 
I don't carry a scoop always and there is the threat of battle damage. Last night my Conda was reduced to 17% hull and the scoop was rendered unusable along with several other components. I had to land on a heavy gravity world to refuel to get to a station to repair.

Always nice to have options.

I'd agree and add that its essential for a game to have options-many.

But I ask you cmdr, do you not think that this suggestion would be an element related to core game play? Or dare say...QOL related to player options? Hmm?

I think so! I also think you missed the memo; you must have been away from your desk playing the guyme or something (obviously without downloading the engineers addon--and all those lovely non optional mat gathering ways)...well anyways

Just so ya know, there is NO place here for core game elements leave alone QOL conveniences.

Nope---the agenda is squarely placed on developing the cosmetics division annnnnd, the research and dev dept--you know, that dept that offers game play elements that MIGHT be good 6 years from now if
over the next 4 years peeps show interest.

So ...you see...please read those crumpled up memos on the floor near the waste basket...see them as those incoming "Critical messages" we get more often than any attending ICU room physician rec's in 4 months of duty!
 
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Just so ya know, there is NO place here for core game elements leave alone QOL conveniences.

Give over? While I agree the OP is a QoL feature, the point updates are all about core game elements. (Holome might 'look pretty' but it's a separation of avatar from cocpit seat, just as Engineers might 'look like' loot/crafting and nothing else, but floating module variables allow for cascading damage models etc .. and I could go on).

I liked the extension made earlier about station refuelling needing shield and thruster shut down before fuel transfer, for health and safety reasons, in vicinity of an outpost station (outside or on edge of no fire zone). I think it probably means a 'small refuelling vessel' rather than limpets from the outpost but (QoL or not) I do go for the concept myself. As things stand fuel scoops are basically ubiquitous?
 
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Nah.

I don't want to sound harsh but part of the game is that when you fly a big ship you understand it has limitations as well as advantages.

You can't just expect to fly a big ship, take advantage of all it's, erm, advantages and then also expect to be provided with workarounds for it's limitations as well.

It's not a 'work around', it's a Q.O.L improvement and could easily happen.
The devs just have precious little time for all these great ideas.
(Truck and trailer pulls up to a fly speck town with one pub, driver looks out "Got four pallets of craft beer for ya". - Loader replies "Nah mate, sorry can't unload ya, no room"
"What?, you got a big empty carpark there, heaps of space"
" Yeah but....... it's only marked out for cars"
 
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