News Chapter Four - Exploration Reveal
Absolutely in agreement. As Mr Braben once said, there should not be in game development for the sake of it, without enhancing story or functionality in the game.
Hopefully engaging with the mapping tool gives you the ability to capture known resource locations, so picking up materials in an SRV become less grindy - but is that it ? Swapping a grindy SRV drive for a grindy surface probe salvo ?
One thing I really wish for as an explorer, is the ability to bookmark a particular gully, crater, or other such location, which can then be shared with the community to enable others to find it ( or race to it ) - this simple feature enhancement would dramatically increase game play.
.,;:|| Cmdr Over ||:;,.
--
Terrestrial representative of Cmdr Halo Jones
While I like the sound of the new scanning mechanics, that's a very good point.
Long overdue improved bookmarking tools for the GalMap are also conspicuous by their absence. Tags / folders please!
Reposting for the new people.
I gathered all the official answers and their questions for convenience.
Q: I do have a question though: when we fully map a planet with probes does it reveal the exact locations of all POI's on the surface? Or does it reveal search zones to find the POI's?
A: It will give you the exact location of persistent POIs. The more transient, smaller POIs such as a collection of skimmers will not be located by the surface scan.
Q: Are we going to see combined scanner racks?
A: Unfortunately this is not planned at the current time.
Q: Will the full map add a POI or marker for things like alien sites once they are found? One that is targetable
[/LIST]
A: Alien sites will be targetable once a surface scan has been completed.
Q: Will payouts be increased to compensate for this extra time requirement?
A: We believe that players should receive greater credit rewards for the same amount of time and effort.
Q: Will you overhaul the engineer blueprints for the scanners? Such as more efficient probes, better accuracy, stuff like that?
A: We will be maintaining an Engineering option on the DSS, the new upgrade will provide it with a larger probe capacity.
Q: Will scanning the nav beacon reveal the system?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you still need to travel to a system in order to discover its planets ? Or can you discover planets from a nearby system ?
A: You can only discover stellar bodies in the system you are currently in.
Q: Will the nav beacon still work?
A: Players will automatically gain the location of starports and outposts when they enter the system.
Q: Will you have to crash your probes into a planet to get a surface scan, or will getting a probe into orbit be enough?
A: The probes work by impacting on the surface of the planet, you are not attempting to get them into an orbit.
Q: So we can finally have 4 players mixed between both wings and multicrew?
A: I've updated the OP for better clarity on what was meant with that line: 'This allows wings or commanders in multi-crew to engage in exploration together, each earning credits and exploration rank and making the process more efficient.'
Q: Will we still have the means to quickly tell if a system might be worth looking at more, or is that getting nerfed?
A: 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.
Q: Are USSs system or commander specific?
A: USSs are still Commander specific, however you can still use wing beacons to allow friends to join you.
Q: 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.
A: 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.
Q: If the USS are no longer random, does that mean they are finite?
A: The USS will be finite, but we plan to have more that one or two at any one time. The USS do decay, they only last for a certain amount of time, and the remaining time is displayed to the player. More USS will spawn and appear over time.
Q: Will your muticrew member be able to enter SRV?
A: SRVs do not support multicrew at this time.
Q: Will this be stored in the cargo hold or in the DSS's internal storage?
A: The DSS has internal storage for the probes, like ammunition.
Q: How will the system map work/look after the initial honk and later on?
A: The initial 'honk' will just reveal the entry star. As you use the to explore, more stellar bodies will be revealed as you find them, which will then populate the system map.
Q: So we can finally have 4 players mixed between both wings and multicrew?
A: I've updated the OP for better clarity on what was meant with that line: 'This allows wings or commanders in multi-crew to engage in exploration together, each earning credits and exploration rank and making the process more efficient.'
Q: For micro-probes, what materials will be needed to synthesise them, and how many can we carry at once?
A: We don't have our synthesis recipe nailed down at the moment. We are currently working with a ship's holding around a couple of hundred probes. It's important to note that scanning a planet varies based on size of the body and aiming skills of the pilot.
Q: How does this affect CZ / PP combat areas- are they unaffected and visible <1000L/s as normal, or do we look for them?
A: You can now use the discovery scanner to find them no matter where they are in the system. It's important to note that you still discover USS, CZ etc if you fly close to them in supercruise.
Q: Will there be new contents of signal sources?
A: Yes.
Q: Next, will the logistics of conducting multicrew exploration be made simpler?
A: I'm unsure on the exacts on this one, I have made a note to look into it.
Q: Say, I jump into an unknown - to me - system within the bubble, say for a mission, and I have to go to a given planet. At that time I am not interested in looking around for things - I just want to find that planet and go there fast. Now, I just honk the scanner, detect the planet and set course. What happens with this new mechanism?
A: If you want the location data without using the discovery scanner you can still scan the Nav Beacon to obtain this information.
Q: USS spawn, is it a one off, or will new ones generate if you stay in a system for a long time
A: USS will continue to spawn at set intervals, each one has a timer as well which denotes when it will expire.
Q: Do the different levels of discovery scanner still have the same range limitations?
A: We are considering upgrading all discovery scanners into a single discovery scanner and removing the lesser versions from the game. Those players who have already purchased scanners above the basic level would receive compensation.
Q: But if USS decay, it means others will spawn instead. Right?
A: USS will continue to expire and spawn at set intervals.
Q: Also, will we be getting any new kinds of info on stellar bodies?
A: We aren't presenting any new information on the stellar bodies, but the new tools provide earlier and easier access to data we already presented in the system map.
Q: You mentioned "gravitational anomalies". Care to share an example?
A: These gravitational anomalies represent the gravity produced by stellar bodies and are used to help guide players towards their possible locations.
Q: Also, about the probes and first mapping: will we be able to map bodies which we can't (yet) land on?
A: Yes.
Q: Apart from that, how close do you need to be to a planet for the DSS to work, and can those probes be started from normal space?
A: The DSS is a supercruise only module, we are balancing the range at which it can be used to make it a satisfying experience.
I gathered all the official answers and their questions for convenience.
Q: I do have a question though: when we fully map a planet with probes does it reveal the exact locations of all POI's on the surface? Or does it reveal search zones to find the POI's?
A: It will give you the exact location of persistent POIs. The more transient, smaller POIs such as a collection of skimmers will not be located by the surface scan.
Q: Are we going to see combined scanner racks?
A: Unfortunately this is not planned at the current time.
Q: Will the full map add a POI or marker for things like alien sites once they are found? One that is targetable
[/LIST]
A: Alien sites will be targetable once a surface scan has been completed.
Q: Will payouts be increased to compensate for this extra time requirement?
A: We believe that players should receive greater credit rewards for the same amount of time and effort.
Q: Will you overhaul the engineer blueprints for the scanners? Such as more efficient probes, better accuracy, stuff like that?
A: We will be maintaining an Engineering option on the DSS, the new upgrade will provide it with a larger probe capacity.
Q: Will scanning the nav beacon reveal the system?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you still need to travel to a system in order to discover its planets ? Or can you discover planets from a nearby system ?
A: You can only discover stellar bodies in the system you are currently in.
Q: Will the nav beacon still work?
A: Players will automatically gain the location of starports and outposts when they enter the system.
Q: Will you have to crash your probes into a planet to get a surface scan, or will getting a probe into orbit be enough?
A: The probes work by impacting on the surface of the planet, you are not attempting to get them into an orbit.
Q: So we can finally have 4 players mixed between both wings and multicrew?
A: I've updated the OP for better clarity on what was meant with that line: 'This allows wings or commanders in multi-crew to engage in exploration together, each earning credits and exploration rank and making the process more efficient.'
Q: Will we still have the means to quickly tell if a system might be worth looking at more, or is that getting nerfed?
A: 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.
Q: Are USSs system or commander specific?
A: USSs are still Commander specific, however you can still use wing beacons to allow friends to join you.
Q: 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.
A: 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.
Q: If the USS are no longer random, does that mean they are finite?
A: The USS will be finite, but we plan to have more that one or two at any one time. The USS do decay, they only last for a certain amount of time, and the remaining time is displayed to the player. More USS will spawn and appear over time.
Q: Will your muticrew member be able to enter SRV?
A: SRVs do not support multicrew at this time.
Q: Will this be stored in the cargo hold or in the DSS's internal storage?
A: The DSS has internal storage for the probes, like ammunition.
Q: How will the system map work/look after the initial honk and later on?
A: The initial 'honk' will just reveal the entry star. As you use the to explore, more stellar bodies will be revealed as you find them, which will then populate the system map.
Q: So we can finally have 4 players mixed between both wings and multicrew?
A: I've updated the OP for better clarity on what was meant with that line: 'This allows wings or commanders in multi-crew to engage in exploration together, each earning credits and exploration rank and making the process more efficient.'
Q: For micro-probes, what materials will be needed to synthesise them, and how many can we carry at once?
A: We don't have our synthesis recipe nailed down at the moment. We are currently working with a ship's holding around a couple of hundred probes. It's important to note that scanning a planet varies based on size of the body and aiming skills of the pilot.
Q: How does this affect CZ / PP combat areas- are they unaffected and visible <1000L/s as normal, or do we look for them?
A: You can now use the discovery scanner to find them no matter where they are in the system. It's important to note that you still discover USS, CZ etc if you fly close to them in supercruise.
Q: Will there be new contents of signal sources?
A: Yes.
Q: Next, will the logistics of conducting multicrew exploration be made simpler?
A: I'm unsure on the exacts on this one, I have made a note to look into it.
Q: Say, I jump into an unknown - to me - system within the bubble, say for a mission, and I have to go to a given planet. At that time I am not interested in looking around for things - I just want to find that planet and go there fast. Now, I just honk the scanner, detect the planet and set course. What happens with this new mechanism?
A: If you want the location data without using the discovery scanner you can still scan the Nav Beacon to obtain this information.
Q: USS spawn, is it a one off, or will new ones generate if you stay in a system for a long time
A: USS will continue to spawn at set intervals, each one has a timer as well which denotes when it will expire.
Q: Do the different levels of discovery scanner still have the same range limitations?
A: We are considering upgrading all discovery scanners into a single discovery scanner and removing the lesser versions from the game. Those players who have already purchased scanners above the basic level would receive compensation.
Q: But if USS decay, it means others will spawn instead. Right?
A: USS will continue to expire and spawn at set intervals.
Q: Also, will we be getting any new kinds of info on stellar bodies?
A: We aren't presenting any new information on the stellar bodies, but the new tools provide earlier and easier access to data we already presented in the system map.
Q: You mentioned "gravitational anomalies". Care to share an example?
A: These gravitational anomalies represent the gravity produced by stellar bodies and are used to help guide players towards their possible locations.
Q: Also, about the probes and first mapping: will we be able to map bodies which we can't (yet) land on?
A: Yes.
Q: Apart from that, how close do you need to be to a planet for the DSS to work, and can those probes be started from normal space?
A: The DSS is a supercruise only module, we are balancing the range at which it can be used to make it a satisfying experience.
There are no first mapped by tags in the game currently. There are first Discovered tags which as far as I know will be staying.
Those tags are preserved, the mapping ones are different, new ones. Mapping =/= scanning.
I still think here is quite a misunderstanding (either in the community or on my side
) :As I understand the new principle, after a Honk from etry point, You get the whole spectrum of electromagnetic signature of the system in display (see OP screenshot).
My strong guess is that with time and experience every Cdr will be able to tell just by looking at the frequency-spread, if valuable bodies a present - similar to the SRV-Wavescanner - You dont need to drive to a rock to know if its a Outcrop or a mesosiderite.
It´s simply a different way of showing the bodies (not sysmap, but spectrum), so IMHO those Cdrs which like rush-exploration will be able to do so same way as before...
I'm curious to see how this works. I'm bit afraid of the increased time that we'll need for discovering what systems are uninteresting.
I'd like to see that discovery scanner would work as mass detector and reveal all bodies in the system giving at least mass and distance instantly after use without any extra work. Even that would help to determine if I want to spend more time in the system.
Orrery maps please?
It would be strange is people could get their name into inhabited planets in the bubble as "First mapped". People having lived there hundreds of years and no-one mapping them, before our brave explorer comes? Just give inhabitated discovery tag of "Galactic Mapping" or some other organization.
Will we be able to scan nav beacons from supercruise with our new scanners? That would be helpful.
I'd like also to see new gameplay with nav beacons. Let players carry them into new systems. Eject empty beacon from cargo hold, scan system 100% and then scan beacon for uploading system data. After that beacon would be in the system permamently, giving other players chance to get system data fast. That would raise whole new career as roadbuilders where people would fly around in big ships and planting beacons along travel routes.
I'd like to see that discovery scanner would work as mass detector and reveal all bodies in the system giving at least mass and distance instantly after use without any extra work. Even that would help to determine if I want to spend more time in the system.
Orrery maps please?
It would be strange is people could get their name into inhabited planets in the bubble as "First mapped". People having lived there hundreds of years and no-one mapping them, before our brave explorer comes? Just give inhabitated discovery tag of "Galactic Mapping" or some other organization.
Will we be able to scan nav beacons from supercruise with our new scanners? That would be helpful.
I'd like also to see new gameplay with nav beacons. Let players carry them into new systems. Eject empty beacon from cargo hold, scan system 100% and then scan beacon for uploading system data. After that beacon would be in the system permamently, giving other players chance to get system data fast. That would raise whole new career as roadbuilders where people would fly around in big ships and planting beacons along travel routes.
Cr
is this going to possibly decrease the the Cr amount we receive per scan?
is this going to possibly decrease the the Cr amount we receive per scan?
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Please tell me this guy is wrong. Please tell me that the advanced discovery scanner will continue to function as it does now.
Thank you for the repost, Cmdr.
This first point shows the update to be almost zero interest to explorers? Outside of the bubble, there are only transient POV unless looking at specific story-based sites - which you can find coords for on forums / reddit anyway.
That's ok though, as I still like playing the game and looking at all the stuff - But I will manage my expectations accordingly.
.,;:|| Cmdr Over ||:;,.
--
Terrestrial representative of Cmdr Halo Jones
Also a day later these mechanics sound good.
But IMO it is very important that these mechanics are rewarding and the players have the feeling that these mechanics are rewarding.
- Re-balancing credit rewards is for sure easy to handle.
- If I fly light years around the galaxy I really would like to discovery more than just always the same planets/POIs in every system.
- Big exploration missions (with high credit payout off course) could be very rewarding. (e.g.: "search for 10 atmospheric planets inside a 50LY radius around system XY and give us every data you can get")
I am afraid and I can imagine that if these new mechanics are not rewarding for most of the players that the Q4 update will be just another chapter of disappointment.
But IMO it is very important that these mechanics are rewarding and the players have the feeling that these mechanics are rewarding.
- Re-balancing credit rewards is for sure easy to handle.
- If I fly light years around the galaxy I really would like to discovery more than just always the same planets/POIs in every system.
- Big exploration missions (with high credit payout off course) could be very rewarding. (e.g.: "search for 10 atmospheric planets inside a 50LY radius around system XY and give us every data you can get")
I am afraid and I can imagine that if these new mechanics are not rewarding for most of the players that the Q4 update will be just another chapter of disappointment.
Read the original post to find out.
I thought this game was centered around "first person in cockpit gameplay" - Why I am I again being taken out of my cockpit to some other screen!!! Why can this not happen IN COCKPIT ... what a load of rubbish. Again.
SRV Turrent - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
Gunner View - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
GalMap - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
SysMap - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
Now this.... Come on guys! Bring this stuff into the damn cockpit for crying out loud!
SRV Turrent - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
Gunner View - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
GalMap - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
SysMap - load of rubbish out of cockpit game play
Now this.... Come on guys! Bring this stuff into the damn cockpit for crying out loud!
Please don't tell me to read the whole post. Please tell me where it sais that the ADS will function as expected.