Super-cruise Boost Button?

[Darkfyre99]

I just read the OP again.
There's several downsides to their proposal.

There was no mention of how much fuel would be used. It could be loads. You could burn it at a rate which means you'll only get a few minutes of boost, and run out long before reaching Hutton Orbital... Lol

Hutton Orbital is an outlier even for long distance Supercruise travel. Give that the OP's example mentions using it for a 300 kls journey, the fuel use can't be too significant. As the old saying goes, the devil's in the details, and the details provided don't seem to have a significant downside IMO.

Synthesis was also mentioned, which is a cost by itself.

IIRC, that was someone else's alternative to the OP's proposal. It certainly wasn't added to the OP.

Heat and stability was also mentioned later on, and catastrophic collisions.

Again, IIRC, that was someone else's idea. Again, it certainly hasn't been added to the OP.

If you used it on a short trip, you'd probably just massively overshoot anyhow, thus wasting time.

As described in the Opening post, I don't see this as a concern, especially for a decent Supercruise pilot. After all, the official motto of Stevenson's Whirlwind Adventures is, "If you're not willing to damage your ship, you're not really in a hurry."

Plenty balanced for me, even without a module.

As described in the Opening Post, there are too little drawbacks for me to be comfortable with if its added to base FSD functionality. What little drawbacks there are I would consider to be pocket change. As described, it's simply too powerful a tool without at least​ requiring a module for it to function.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

...(synthesis, heat, stability...

IIRC, that was someone else's alternative to the OP's proposal. It certainly wasn't added to the OP.

Think that was me. Certainly my suggestion involved a Supercruise variant of Jumponium that would be time-limited, require ever increasingly rare mats, and would involve turbulence, heat, the possibility of catastrophic failure in the event of impacts, etc.

 

[fu9ar]

I-Wars shield system was genius, and far better than just bubble shields, which everyone does.

Not really? The only other Elite game I've played, Oolite, uses 4 quadrant shields, and so did Rebel Galaxy.

 

[Velixar]

Thing is a player would be able to do Hutton Orbital with a ship with extra fuel tanks. I know the Op says well more damage. A fully repaired ship would mean an I win feature. Because we know Frontier will side with players that complains about dying on long trips to Hutton Orbital.

I look at supercurse like the 5,000 tons of in a trade goods missions. If 10 to 14 trips worth the time effort for the credits? It the responsibility of the player to make that choice. Same with supercurse. If it too far you have the right to go to another system.

I rather have more to do while in supercurse. Like avoiding space monsters or using instruments. Or walk around and do repairs. Or making making surface scanner ammo and having a chance of failing at it. Another idea would be able micro manage you galaxy route. Like being able scan near by stars so you locate old jump signature. So you can get a better chance of your name as first explored.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Not really? The only other Elite game I've played, Oolite, uses 4 quadrant shields, and so did Rebel Galaxy.

Freespace also used quadrant shields. ED was supposed to get it, but controls for it became an issue, IIRC.
Shame really.

I'd pull the "blame console simpletons!" card, but I use an Xbox controller for my PC, so..... Lol

 

[Muetdhiver]

Not really? The only other Elite game I've played, Oolite, uses 4 quadrant shields, and so did Rebel Galaxy.

I think he was refering to the concept of buckler style tracking shields that only really protect against one target* (IW only, AFAIK).
Quadrant shields are really bubble shields with a twist (still better than full vanilla ED bubble concept, but still).

Hek, I would even take Fore/Aft SW shields over ED's full bubble concept.

*Though ships could fit 2-4 tracking shields with upgrade to stack 2 of them against a single ennemy.
There also was ramming shields that made ramming practical but very timing intensive. Also worked as a very short duration forward shield of extreme intensity.

 

[S3B4ST13N]

I'd pull the "blame console simpletons!" card, but I use an Xbox controller for my PC, so..... Lol

I am disgusted by your weakness.



-
This topic has been around before, I've always been in favour of this approach:

* The boost can only be initiated at a certain speed (its purpose is long distance coverage; not to shorten times between planets around the same primary; however if the planet is far enough away, and the ship attains the required speed, then yes, the distance can be covered faster)
* The boost uses up your fuel reserves at an very high rate so you can't do say Hutton in a single pop; perhaps shave off an hour or so?
* The boost generates large amounts of heat so can't be used excessively, even if you have enough fuel
[MAYBE] * This boost is a "HOLD" mechanism, you cannot set it to a trigger; you must hold the button down.
[MAYBE] * You have very little control of your ship during this boost

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I am disgusted by your weakness.

I lack a desk for a HOTAS.

-
This topic has been around before, I've always been in favour of this approach:

* The boost can only be initiated at a certain speed (its purpose is long distance coverage; not to shorten times between planets around the same primary; however if the planet is far enough away, and the ship attains the required speed, then yes, the distance can be covered faster)
* The boost uses up your fuel reserves at an very high rate so you can't do say Hutton in a single pop; perhaps shave off an hour or so?
* The boost generates large amounts of heat so can't be used excessively, even if you have enough fuel
[MAYBE] * This boost is a "HOLD" mechanism, you cannot set it to a trigger; you must hold the button down.
[MAYBE] * You have very little control of your ship during this boost

This is basically what we've been asking for.

 

[S3B4ST13N]

I lack a desk for a HOTAS.

Even worse! :O

This is basically what we've been asking for.

Aye; and to me it makes the most sense. It's logical, it has some drawbacks and it lets a group of players cut their travel time if they want to. Win/Win imho.

 

[TrailBlazer 143]

Even worse! :O



Aye; and to me it makes the most sense. It's logical, it has some drawbacks and it lets a group of players cut their travel time if they want to. Win/Win imho.

SHH!!! They'll hear you!

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Even worse! :O

I also lack a monitor, a chair, and a house big enough to fit a comfortable desk in. Lol

Aye; and to me it makes the most sense. It's logical, it has some drawbacks and it lets a group of players cut their travel time if they want to. Win/Win imho.

It is win/win, except for the stubborn group that want to inflict slow feeling gameplay deprived travel upon everyone else.

 

[TrailBlazer 143]

As described in the Opening Post, there are too little drawbacks for me to be comfortable with if its added to base FSD functionality. What little drawbacks there are I would consider to be pocket change. As described, it's simply too powerful a tool without at least​ requiring a module for it to function.

The main two things I'm concerned with is filling 300,000ls with something active and keeping Hutton Orbital a pain to get to.

I know explorers will want to use the Boost so they won't have to sit for tens of minutes, so hull damage and heat management would have to be minimal or at least manageable not to scare them off.

but again, if frontier can add something to fill the 20min void of not touching your controller with active gameplay, then I'll happily retract my statement about "going faster" as I'll be playing the game and not watching youtube/netflix from not being activly engaged with their product.

 

[Muetdhiver]

What about dark matter/strings coweb that allow for faster FSD speed between distant objects ?

With the twist that :

1) the threads are not straight
2) the "width" of the threads shrinks as you go faster
3) if a ship gets out of the safe width for it's speed, it suffers catastrophic FSD failure*
4) there might be anomalies sitting on the threads making navigation harder

*Facepalm in normal space with a half broken ship, FSD starts an anomalous micro jump where you exit rebooting above a 2G world, etc...

 

[Darkfyre99]

The main two things I'm concerned with is filling 300,000ls with something active and keeping Hutton Orbital a pain to get to.

Which is more a matter of personal choice, as opposed to truly having nothing to do.

To use your above (non-Hutton) example, a ten minute Supercruise like that can have about a minute of active navigation to escape the primary system quickly, seven minutes of actively searching for HGEs since I’m in prime spawning grounds, a minute of active navigation to lining up the secondary system to enter it quickly, plus a minute for the insertion and braking maneuver.

And, of course, you should keep one eye out for potential threats, both player and NPC.

Players who choose to turn off their brain and turn on Netflix by using the forum recommended technique have, IMO, earned every extra minute they “waste.”

I know explorers will want to use the Boost so they won't have to sit for tens of minutes, so hull damage and heat management would have to be minimal or at least manageable not to scare them off.

Which, of course, trivializes any potential risk to spamming boost while in the Bubble. Besides, with the Q4 exploration improvements, explorers may find themselves throttling down in the void between stars, due to all the things that an occupy their time. *crosses fingers*

but again, if frontier can add something to fill the 20min void of not touching your controller with active gameplay, then I'll happily retract my statement about "going faster" as I'll be playing the game and not watching youtube/netflix from not being activly engaged with their product.

Again, not touching your controller, by following the forum recommended technique, is a personal choice, and may well be responsible for why it takes 20 minutes in the first place. As is not paying attention to what’s happening around you during the trip.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

What is the "forum recommended technique" I keep seeing?

Is just just fly in a straight line at your destination, hitting every, single gravity well on the way?

I don't do that. Unless the time saved makes little or no difference. Or I fancy getting up for a coffee.

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

 

[Captain Willard]

Just admit it. The pvp crowd wants this. I fly all the time, 0ver 36,000 jumps and rarely ever see more than a few minutes in SC. All these references to the Hutton run are just, well you know. It starts with B.

 

[sewerratuk]

Just admit it. The pvp crowd wants this. I fly all the time, 0ver 36,000 jumps and rarely ever see more than a few minutes in SC. All these references to the Hutton run are just, well you know. It starts with B.

Just admit it. The only reason you are opposed to it is because you think the PvP croud want it

 

[Darkfyre99]

What is the "forum recommended technique" I keep seeing?

Is just just fly in a straight line at your destination, hitting every, single gravity well on the way?

Pretty much, but you forgot the whole 75%/blue throttle setting, just to make sure it takes even longer to get to your destination.

I don't do that. Unless the time saved makes little or no difference. Or I fancy getting up for a coffee.

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

Neither do I. But whenever I see a new thread asking for Supercruise advice, it pops up quickly and repeatedly.

I personally suspect that this particularly common form of advice comes from those who just want easy interdiction targets.

 

[fu9ar]

I personally suspect that this particularly common form of advice comes from those who just want easy interdiction targets.

That's what I think about a lot of the "advice" I see people giving.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Pretty much, but you forgot the whole 75%/blue throttle setting, just to make sure it takes even longer to get to your destination.

LOL!

Anyone sitting at 75% throttle, and hitting gravity wells, and complaining about supercruise times aren't the brightest folk...

That said, if your system has two stars and 1 gas giant with no moons at the secondary star, which is some 300,000+ls out, and for some ungodly reason they've put a station out there, then there's not a lot you can do to actively make the trip more fun. There's no gravity wells to avoid. And USS spawns are slow, and NPC's few, and being interdicted are impossible for about 90% of the trip. So it's sit and wait. (And get coffee...At 100% throttle!).

I suppose you could argue that it's EDs way of telling you to get up and stretch, so we don't all die of DVT...

There's probably a disclaimer in the manual somewhere warning of long periods of inactivity...