Don't want to press "J" because it's boring. Want to auto jump because... reasons. Not sure I follow OP 
I would love a NPC Helmsman
- Thread starter lysan
- Start date
Yep...
This has been raised many, many times before in these threads. My 2 cents (read 2,000,000 Cr
) - auto system maybe (need to see how it works), insta-travel no.
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OK, I'm not generally one to complain too much about ED as I do enjoy playing it but this topic touches on one thing in ED that I do really dislike and have been very critical of in some other threads and that's the amount of time that can be spent just looking at the screen doing nothing (or very very little - like pressing a button now and then).
To put another way the amount of time spent watching the game but not actually playing it. It's the only game I have, or play regularly, that suffers from this.
Long sequences of jumping are an example, but not the worst in my opinion (at least you get to press the 'jump' button periodically - whoopee!) the worst examples are those ultra-long supercruise journeys where you literally do nothing but fly in a straight line watching the distance counter roll down. At that point the game is little more than a screen saver, but not even a screensaver that you can leave alone just in case something happens. All CMDRs know that some supercruise journeys can take twenty or thirty minutes or more, some (more famously) an hour or more! That seems like really weird game design to me, allowing your player to be stuck in front of their monitor doing literally nothing but watch for such long periods of time.
I get that it's a big galaxy, and I actually like that it's a big galaxy. I get that some people see making these big journeys as a badge of honour and that's fine for them. For me, sadly, it's wasted game time in a (real) world where game time is a precious commodity. I haven't been to Colonia, or Hutton Orbital and I don't anticipate either any time soon (although at least Colonia has stuff to do on the way).
I can't think of many answers that would make both me and the honour-badge-wearing long-distance travellers happy, or that would work well with ED's consistent real-time universe, mainly I'm just having a moan.
The only thing that I think might make sense (and potentially be quite cool) is introducing jump-gates, either interstellar or intrastellar or both. They could alleviate the timesink problem for people like me while still allowing others to use the old methods if they wanted. They could be easily controlled for balance purposes - they would only ever go between two fixed locations, there'd be a cost to use them, some could be reputation or rank locked, etc. They could be rare things only located in certain problem areas. They would also be extra in-game eye/ear-candy and FD's design & audio depts could go to town! Building them could be focus of CGs like some stations and megaships have. Although they've never been part of the Elite universe they're a sc-fi staple, and I can imagine a nice emerging narrative around Guardian Ruins and ancient technology leading to their development that could be really cool (Canonn Research would have a great time!).
To put another way the amount of time spent watching the game but not actually playing it. It's the only game I have, or play regularly, that suffers from this.
Long sequences of jumping are an example, but not the worst in my opinion (at least you get to press the 'jump' button periodically - whoopee!) the worst examples are those ultra-long supercruise journeys where you literally do nothing but fly in a straight line watching the distance counter roll down. At that point the game is little more than a screen saver, but not even a screensaver that you can leave alone just in case something happens. All CMDRs know that some supercruise journeys can take twenty or thirty minutes or more, some (more famously) an hour or more! That seems like really weird game design to me, allowing your player to be stuck in front of their monitor doing literally nothing but watch for such long periods of time.
I get that it's a big galaxy, and I actually like that it's a big galaxy. I get that some people see making these big journeys as a badge of honour and that's fine for them. For me, sadly, it's wasted game time in a (real) world where game time is a precious commodity. I haven't been to Colonia, or Hutton Orbital and I don't anticipate either any time soon (although at least Colonia has stuff to do on the way).
I can't think of many answers that would make both me and the honour-badge-wearing long-distance travellers happy, or that would work well with ED's consistent real-time universe, mainly I'm just having a moan.
The only thing that I think might make sense (and potentially be quite cool) is introducing jump-gates, either interstellar or intrastellar or both. They could alleviate the timesink problem for people like me while still allowing others to use the old methods if they wanted. They could be easily controlled for balance purposes - they would only ever go between two fixed locations, there'd be a cost to use them, some could be reputation or rank locked, etc. They could be rare things only located in certain problem areas. They would also be extra in-game eye/ear-candy and FD's design & audio depts could go to town! Building them could be focus of CGs like some stations and megaships have. Although they've never been part of the Elite universe they're a sc-fi staple, and I can imagine a nice emerging narrative around Guardian Ruins and ancient technology leading to their development that could be really cool (Canonn Research would have a great time!).
Is there an official response from Frontier about whether they're considering to add Auto Pilot?
The Auto Pilot could have a time and distance limit. So after a while the player must manually pilot again until the auto pilot is recharged. Interdictions would require manual control.
The Auto Pilot could have a time and distance limit. So after a while the player must manually pilot again until the auto pilot is recharged. Interdictions would require manual control.
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Sounds like you are asking for a "Netflix mode". That's great for Netflix, but not so great for a game that's suppose to be about flying a spaceship.
My alternative suggestions:
1. Pick a ship with a longer jump range (for long journeys). You can then request your slow ship is delivered to you (after you arrive). That's what I do.
or
2. Don't go on such long journeys. Find things to do that don't require such long distances. (There are lots.)
Nothing new past "it will never happen" from long time ago I`m afraid.
You can use a protractor and set a course bearing, but that's it. If your off by a degree or two you'll be way off course by the time you arrive. More so if you hit a storm and/or try tacking to shorten travel time. There's no auto sailing option. There is a map you can use by plugging in the feedback/debug coordinates, but that'll be gone after the game leaves Alpha. Following coastlines will help you considerably, but that doesn't help much when you're heading down to South America.
Definitely takes a bit to get used to. They DO have a tade advisor built into the game though.
I think the issue is that many consider repeatedly pressing one button for dozens of hours on end isn't 'traveling across the galaxy'.
Right, there's auto pilot in airplanes and cars so why not in Elite Dangerous? There's no need to force players to do monotonous repetitive tasks.
I feel much the same about mining, so I just don't do it any more than I have to. I'm broadly in favour of a very basic, jump until the next fuel star, no scooping & give the star a wide berth kind of automation, as is fairly common in this thead.
However I do think ED is at it's core about flying a spaceship, so there should be some work involved even if it's only management rather than actually hands on. Having extended time to read/listen to galnet & search the galmap in-flight is a benefit. Full automation of flight would be for a different game I think, or multi-crew type activities where someone else does the flying.
Good thing no one is forcing anyone to do that then.
Besides, it's nice to stop and smell the roses once in a while too.
↑ Two other Commanders had tags in this system between Colonia and the bubble, but somehow missed this. Too busy playing the game "their way," I guess.
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Your vision of a spaceship thousands of years in the future is worse than the 1700’s vessels mentioned here. Even a small cessna today can fly a plotted course including climb, cruise, descent and approach. The best thing is you can still manually fly it.
Alternative suggestion: Just don’t use the autopilot if they implement it.
But not pressing anything or doing anything is?? We need more to do not less.
So because of that you want to keep a game mechanic that is not fun, nor is it challenging in any way or form? For some reason
I find these statement amusing, do you use any tools outside ED? Or is it vanilla all the way?
Removing a repetitive mechanic by not removing anything for others who love repetitive game is somehow a no no for some people.
I suggest that all stars we haven’t visited is not visible in the galaxy map, you can only travel to known star systems by “automation”.
Make a cartographer trader where we can buy maps to visit the areas, this way those who want to explore will still be explores and those who just want to fly around and trade can use the autopilot. That is a win win situation for all.
I want to remind all that this was in the design blue print at the beginning, so it’s not a new request, it also was in EFF.
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A lot of stuff was in design at the beginning.
"Things change" (c) Frontier
Agree, some for the better and some for the worsh, in my opinion in this case it’s the latter not the former.
And automated is fun and challenging?? You're kinda contradicting yourself
Well it can be if done correctly. Pushing a button and going afk is how many seem to think autopilots work, couldn't be further from the truth.
Even a basic guidance computer would be more engaging and challenging than hand flying and activating a jump every few minutes.
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