∞ probes?

[Rat Catcher]

The suggestion of infinite & craftable probes has merit. It should appease everyone, as those like me - who honestly isn't bothered just carry on playing , and the ones who need to do something to acquire their probe stock can craft from materials gathered. That way no-one is trying to force their gameplay on anyone else.

I imagine though, those who really do dislike 'infinite' probes will retort with the 'spamming probes' argument once more :x

 

[andrewg_oz]

What I've been doing (trying to find Pattern Epsilon data to unlock the Guardian SLFs) is grind.
I want to unlock the SLFs so I have to do the same thing over and over to achieve that.

It all depends on how you choose to approach the problem. I chose to do Ram Tah's first mission. That meant flying to several different sites and scanning lots of obelisks. However the regular changes of tasks: scanning -> driving -> flying and never spending more than 10-15 minutes doing any one of those at a time meant that the entire task never came close to getting like a grind. I scanned any active obelisk I happened to pass by while going between my ship and the obelisks for the mission.

I ended up with 111MCr, 100+ Epsilon data points, and the variety of activities meant it was never a grind.

That's how I see adding mining to synthesise probes. A regular change of activity: flying-> probing -> mining, actually *reduces* grind. Just keep it so any one activity never has to take too long.

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

Some people are asking for a bit more depth than simply "infinite probes" right?

So you want a solution that's not a grind, has some level of enjoyment in it, then this is a candidate. It's not the material grind that seems to be the common complaint against finite, it has a few (simple) mechanics within it, and it has the player do something neat. I mean what more do you want?

Pretty sure if you presented fuel scooping right now for ship fuel people would complain they don't like it, for exactly the same reasons.

Don't say it too loud or at the next update players will start asking for ∞ fuel...

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

There's nothing wrong with probe spamming.

I spam packhounds all the time, simply because I like how it looks.

Spamming probes on the surface looks fun.

Planetary bombardment!

If you don't want to spam probes, just don't pull the trigger as often.

 

[Factabulous]

Don't say it too loud or at the next update players will start asking for ∞ fuel...

You suggesting they ban fuel scoops? That's harsh.

There's nothing wrong with probe spamming.

I spam packhounds all the time, simply because I like how it looks.

Spamming probes on the surface looks fun.

Planetary bombardment!

If you don't want to spam probes, just don't pull the trigger as often.

Well, you can only fire 3 at a time (w/o engineering), not sure that counts as spam

 

[Stealthie]

I'd be for it if there were a challenge in gathering mats. Endure the elements, deal with insane heat/cold. Heck, could be NMS style with some bars depleting depending on the planet. But as it stands it is risk-free and challenge-free, and as such a grind IMHO.

Yep.

What'd really be fun would be "challenging planets".

Right now, about the only thing I can think of is high-g but perhaps we could also have planets where brain-trees produce corrosive spores or planets that are either seriously close to stars, or seriously far away from them, which could cause problems for our ships.

And then have important stuff spawning commonly on those planets.

You want Polonium or Yttrium, for premium FSD injections, you can scav' around a regular planet to try and find it but you could also choose to visit a "demon planet" and get a lot of it quickly, or die trying.

 

[insanephoton]

Surely the whole point of the probe things is that the natural break comes when you spot something interesting and decide to investigate?

 

[Stigbob]

Don't say it too loud or at the next update players will start asking for ∞ fuel...

Nobodies taking that comedy red herring seriously.

 

[Factabulous]

Nobodies taking that comedy red herring seriously.

Dunno - it would make the DBX an even better explorer, people always complain about the scooping - maybe Matty is onto something

 

[Stigbob]

Dunno - it would make the DBX an even better explorer, people always complain about the scooping - maybe Matty is onto something

Lol.

 

[Toumal]

Don't say it too loud or at the next update players will start asking for ∞ fuel...

Fuel is a good example actually: It's not endless but very easy to scoop, if you don't forget your fuel scoop that is. I'm sure we can find some middle ground for the probes as well.

 

[Stigbob]

Fuel is a good example actually: It's not endless but very easy to scoop, if you don't forget your fuel scoop that is. I'm sure we can find some middle ground for the probes as well.

Make them use fuel like plasma slugs, all explorers carry scoops anyway.

 

[Factabulous]

Fuel is a good example actually: It's not endless but very easy to scoop, if you don't forget your fuel scoop that is. I'm sure we can find some middle ground for the probes as well.

Yes, it's a good example - each jump potential puts you in a position where you have to work not to refuel. Adding non-optional scavenging in an SRV / USS hunt which would wouldn't do naturally is pretty different - right?

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Yep.

What'd really be fun would be "challenging planets".

Right now, about the only thing I can think of is high-g but perhaps we could also have planets where brain-trees produce corrosive spores or planets that are either seriously close to stars, or seriously far away from them, which could cause problems for our ships.

And then have important stuff spawning commonly on those planets.

You want Polonium or Yttrium, for premium FSD injections, you can scav' around a regular planet to try and find it but you could also choose to visit a "demon planet" and get a lot of it quickly, or die trying.

Yes please!

 

[Factabulous]

Yes please!

Next week: "I found a rare site on a high G planet, broke my SRV and now I need to travel 20K Ly to get a new one due to dumb finite probes only available from planets - damn you FD"

 

[Stigbob]

Next week: "I found a rare site on a high G planet, broke my SRV and now I need to travel 20K Ly to get a new one due to dumb finite probes only available from planets - damn you FD"

Someone already suggested a fix for that, you sit and twiddle your thumbs for a few days while the probepart rats fly out to you.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Next week: "I found a rare site on a high G planet, broke my SRV and now I need to travel 20K Ly to get a new one due to dumb finite probes only available from planets - damn you FD"

Well I'm advocating SRV Synthesis. Lol

If you blow up all your SRVs, and didn't think to gather replacement materials first, then that's a similar boo boo to flying with no rebuy.

 

[Factabulous]

Well I'm advocating SRV Synthesis. Lol

If you blow up all your SRVs, and didn't think to gather replacement materials first, then that's a similar boo boo to flying with no rebuy.

This is where Matty turns up and says "Next thing they'll be asking for ship synthesis for people stranded in SRVs"

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Well I'm advocating SRV Synthesis. Lol

If you blow up all your SRVs, and didn't think to gather replacement materials first, then that's a similar boo boo to flying with no rebuy.

this is more work and may be beyond the scope for today..... but.........

i would be hugely in favour of SRV salvage as well as using materials to then repair it (so not building from scratch with mats)

of course sometimes SRVs are lost and unsalvagable which is why we also need wrecked SRV POIs imo from failed exploration expeditions..... obviously not too common and (I know this is a bit gamey) but i would suggest have the game prioritise creating one when SRV is lost.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

This is where Matty turns up and says "Next thing they'll be asking for ship synthesis for people stranded in SRVs"

Well I have suggested you can summon one of your other ships, providing it's fitted with an SRV bay, fuel scoop, and you have a spare crew member. There would be a lengthy wait depending on where you are, so you'd have to keep you and your SRV alive.
Of course, if you die before your ship arrives, you respawn as usual, and your summoned ship turns around and heads back.

Or something.