News Chapter Four - Exploration Reveal

[GALDART]

I do not particularly like the idea of ​​scanning the planets instantly, I've always imagined a probe mechanic for the game, but not in this way.

I think the probes should be divided into three types:

planetary - responsible for scanning the planet and discovering its composition and points of interest.

mining - this step could only be performed after planetary scanning, the mining probe would identify areas of interest on the planet where resources would be concerted in greater quantity to be extracted.

rescue - this step could only be carried out after the planetary scanning, this probe would search for fallen ships, ejected cargo that have fallen on the planet, capsules of recovery, etc.

the probes would be discarded (as well as drones) and would have rating (A, B, C, D, E) being A faster and E slower, another point that interferes with the probing speed and chosen task, which is the order of more fast for slower; planetary scanning> mining scanning> rescue scanning.
so I think it would be more realistic because the planetary probe would make the planet probe still in its high orbit which is much faster, the mining probe must fly lower on the planet to detect the mining points which makes the probe slower, and ultimately the probe that must fly as low as possible to locate ejecta consumer goods that have fallen on the planet, fallen ships or rescue caps.

the planet's scanning time depend on the size of the planet + probe rating + type of scanning, so it could vary between minutes, hours or days. you could leave the probe on the planet and simply come back later when the scanning was over.

a possibility of leaving places of interest marked for other players is also interesting.

 

[Rock-Hermit]

Probably a big ask, but is there any chance that we'll be able to use this interface to target stars outside the system and read their energy distribution? Maybe even ID them to an item on the actual galmap? This would be a useful and fun observatory-like feature, and I know I could probably spend hours just scanning the sky from anywhere, surveying the local constellations and nearby star clusters.

That would be an awesome addition [up]

 

[racer1]

The intention is that the energy distribution should provide explorers with information they can interpret to help identify if specific body types exist in a system.

That's reassuring thanks Adam. I am excited to try it out.

 

[Ian Phillips]

Hi Adam, this is a lot of cool stuff but a question please. This all scanning process happens in space. Is there also additional gameplay and new scan processes for the srv? Some reason to land on planets and increase the planetary data reward?

Please - that's enough of this one question for this thread.

 

[Warpfactor]

Out of curiosity, is the addition of space phenomena mentioned at Lavecon still a thing?

 

[mossfoot]

Probably a big ask, but is there any chance that we'll be able to use this interface to target stars outside the system and read their energy distribution? Maybe even ID them to an item on the actual galmap? This would be a useful and fun observatory-like feature, and I know I could probably spend hours just scanning the sky from anywhere, surveying the local constellations and nearby star clusters.

Hehehe... a feature that perhaps only a dozen people would actually use... and I find myself wanting it to be added because it just should be

 

[Flimley]

Question

as a special treat, can we have a different HONK sound please pretty please

Flimley

 

[Siobhan]

Question

as a special treat, can we have a different HONK sound please pretty please

Flimley

Blasphemy!

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

USSs are still Commander specific, however you can still use wing beacons to allow friends to join you.

Adam, can you comment - are there plans in future to make USS persistent across server instance? Or it is something not in plans? Also do people close to each other in supercruise see same USS?

Thanks.

 

[Knightshark]

Probably a big ask, but is there any chance that we'll be able to use this interface to target stars outside the system and read their energy distribution? Maybe even ID them to an item on the actual galmap? This would be a useful and fun observatory-like feature, and I know I could probably spend hours just scanning the sky from anywhere, surveying the local constellations and nearby star clusters.

I think this would be a lot work to implement because of the way procedural generation works (during hyperjumping irrc). But I may be wrong, it would be a super cool feature.

 

[mossfoot]

Question

as a special treat, can we have a different HONK sound please pretty please

Flimley

Or at the very least get this honk sound if we're in a system that has no planet or features outside of the star itself:

[video=youtube;_asNhzXq72w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_asNhzXq72w[/video]

 

[Henkka77]

So, i take it its a "no" for multicrew SRV then?

 

[Mephane]

The probes work by impacting on the surface of the planet, you are not attempting to get them into an orbit.

That sounds suspiciously like one of the designers proclaimed "they must be expandable like limpets, writes, go find some justification". Think of how much more interesting it would be to fly the probe around a gas giant, its rings, moons etc, heck the entire system (while other players in your crew are discovering more of the planets), then return to the ship before the jump to the next system.

 

[Adam Bourke-Waite]

Lots of interesting improvements here, but I've got to say that unless the DSS probes have a REALLY long range then the following statement is nonsense:



We currently have to fly to within range of a planet to use the DSS.

We will STILL have to fly to within range of a planet to use the DSS.

The data you currently earn from the existing Discovery Surface Scanner (DSS) is provided when using the new Discovery Scanner mechanics. The new DSS will provide the player with surface scan data, which currently does not exist in the game. This allows the player to get the first mapped tag on their discoveries.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Question regarding beta phase:

Will each feature be tested individually in sequence and then together, or will there be one giant test?

 

[imski]

The described system implies that we discover one stellar body type at a time.

Question:

Does this mean after the initial ADS honk we will have manually tune the settings to find ELW's, WW's, HMC's etc each time in each system?

Will these settings stay persistent after we move on or will they require resetting each time?

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Forgot Forum rules. My Apologies.

 

[Zer0axis]

Amazing work, Exploration is my favourite activity to do in elite and these sound like some amazing new additions!

 

[TheSynopticVision]

The data you currently earn from the existing Discovery Surface Scanner (DSS) is provided when using the new Discovery Scanner mechanics. The new DSS will provide the player with surface scan data, which currently does not exist in the game. This allows the player to get the first mapped tag on their discoveries.

Does this entail no more blind flying following coordinates to find a POI?

 

[Echoes]

Bit late to the party but hopefully you are still able to see this question.

Are there any plans to be able to bookmark coordinates on planetary surfaces? (for barnacles, persistant wrecks/settlements)