It certainly is quicker in most circumstances, although as EUS said earlier the time to 'complete' a system is much longer now because of the extra layer of information (mapping).
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the FSS, watching paint dry....
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It certainly is quicker in most circumstances, although as EUS said earlier the time to 'complete' a system is much longer now because of the extra layer of information (mapping).
The stellar forge is still a thing of beauty, I don't like this new system but it still allows me to take in the sights but yeah, it does manage to be quicker but feel like more of a chore somehow, depends on what a player is looking to get out of the process I suppose
When 2.1 came out with engineering & the new & 'improved' AI I went exploring to get away from the soul-crushingly repetitive Elite Anacondas, a change I didn't like meant I came to appreciate a different part of the game I'd always considered pretty dull before.
Maybe this is an opportunity for you to spend a bit more time in the bubble managing a minor NPC faction or something
They should have named it . "}
The stellar forge is still a thing of beauty, I don't like this new system but it still allows me to take in the sights but yeah, it does manage to be quicker but feel like more of a chore somehow, depends on what a player is looking to get out of the process I suppose
Why didn't they just make the fss optional? The god mode it provides sounds like something you'd need to pay an outfitting cost for (and as expensive as reasonable too). I would do this by the way.
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I can see how if you are a dedicated explorer or really like that aspect of ED, that you might like or really prefer the new FSS system vs old. Out there in the black, it's -something- to do. It gives you the true sense of actually manually -exploring-. Totally get that.
But if you're trying to use exploring mechanics (as in you are using exploration functions but not really -Exploring!-) in or near the bubble, it is a detestable, horrible mini-game time sink for me. KEYWORDS "for me".
I don't say it is or demand it has to be for anyone else. I'm just saying for me it sucks, big time. But also concede if I were to go out on a pure exploration voyage, it would be nice to have actual manipulation things to DO while in the black - because exploration before was more a mental game, do I go scan that planet, is that a earth or water like planet, etc - you weren't 'at the controls' like when you are firing weapons for combat, or mining tools for mining, etc.
So I totally see why dedicated explorers wanted their own version of 'exploration tools' just like combat, mining, surface scanning etc has. But I also see and say, that when I'm just mostly in the bubble, it totally and without mitigation sucks. Big time.
I liked and prefer instant reveal of non-mapped bodies in system, I liked honk and go with the previous all revealed but not identified just fine. I detest the FSS mini-game. I would prefer a means that explorers could still have manual exploration tools but allow in-bubble and near bubble old system of honk=reveal all.
But if you're trying to use exploring mechanics (as in you are using exploration functions but not really -Exploring!-) in or near the bubble, it is a detestable, horrible mini-game time sink for me. KEYWORDS "for me".
I don't say it is or demand it has to be for anyone else. I'm just saying for me it sucks, big time. But also concede if I were to go out on a pure exploration voyage, it would be nice to have actual manipulation things to DO while in the black - because exploration before was more a mental game, do I go scan that planet, is that a earth or water like planet, etc - you weren't 'at the controls' like when you are firing weapons for combat, or mining tools for mining, etc.
So I totally see why dedicated explorers wanted their own version of 'exploration tools' just like combat, mining, surface scanning etc has. But I also see and say, that when I'm just mostly in the bubble, it totally and without mitigation sucks. Big time.
I liked and prefer instant reveal of non-mapped bodies in system, I liked honk and go with the previous all revealed but not identified just fine. I detest the FSS mini-game. I would prefer a means that explorers could still have manual exploration tools but allow in-bubble and near bubble old system of honk=reveal all.
As someone in the latter category I like the changes.
Not trying to prove anything I just dont want to be roped into your generalization. I think Its a pretty decent post regardless.
I think (Keyword "I") the new FSS/DSS combination of tools is more suited, and far more helpful for those in the bubble than those on the edge of nothingness. With the new system, you can identify and resolve USSs, identify all the surface POIs for mat collecting, identify the mission USSs easily and if you are so inclined, identify all the tourist beacons and well everything else that might be of interest. And since you will be in the bubble there is vastly more of a chance that within a few weeks, nearly every popular system will be fully mapped, so after you do the new honk and open the FSS, you will see 100%. Then all you have to do is scan for the USS/POI or whatever tickles your fancy.
Inside the bubble there's always nav beacons so no need. You can also line up a series of the USS's you want very easily.
That's because that display is supposed to be the job of this guy
Now that exploration finally has the tools necessary to qualify it as a full profession the one commander- one ship paradigm of the old Elite on which ED is based on is breaking down.
I played around with the fss for the first time last night.
The constant switching of modes and large number of different controls is indeed quite annoying.
I also had to move the fss pitch and yaw to keyboard as I was unable to controll it with the flightstick (deadzones couldn;t be changed).
I don't like the 'mouse acceleration' thing that they added to it.
All in all I'm not liking the new systems very much yet, but like I said it's only been one night.
The constant switching of modes and large number of different controls is indeed quite annoying.
I also had to move the fss pitch and yaw to keyboard as I was unable to controll it with the flightstick (deadzones couldn;t be changed).
I don't like the 'mouse acceleration' thing that they added to it.
All in all I'm not liking the new systems very much yet, but like I said it's only been one night.
Oh yeah its amazing in the bubble. All you're using it for is system sources and fun things, which is absolutely perfect. You basically don't have to use it at... all... for discovery which also removes the problem of the interface being forced on you at precisely the wrong moments as well.
Yes, the problems only occur in out of bubble exploration.
During my few days of gold rush i did not use it once. /satisfied
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Agreed, since around 80 to 90% of players will never leave the bubble FD correctly introduced mechanics that will aid the majority, not a very small subset of the player base. As for outside of the bubble, I love the new system, I haven't encountered any problems, in fact I find it has sped up my exploration, even with the odd detour because I saw something on a planet I wanted to explore (which would never have happened under the old system). To be honest, the only real complaint some can state is that it stops them racing through the black and never stopping for anything.
Different people play in different ways though. I very rarely use the nav beacon to get system data and regularly fly to nearby systems (using the visited stars filter) to grab some exploration data for a quick extra bit of influence for the BGS (and because I enjoy doing it).
Not that I'm talking about systems that I have not previously explored, and this is still a thing in 3.3. The majority of my ships have a scoop & DSS fitted and did have an ADS on board before 3.3.
That one way to play is not adversely affected does not mean others aren't. I got by just fine while in the bubble because I could choose to either travel to the body as I would have before, or take a chance by going blind in supercruise to use the FSS to resolve the bodies. I tended to travel most of the way there (to get away from the system entry point & stations) then open up the FSS, or with gas giants just scan that & have it's moons automatically resolve as I got close enough.
Using the FSS to resolve USSs is probably the least frustrating part of the FSS Scanner Screen as they all become visible when you are tuned into that left-most frequency.
Have you used it much yet? How are you getting on with it compared to the old process?
One thing I remember - from way back - was the idea that if you were scanning a system you'd be detectable by pirates / other players. In effect that's what we've got, now,you're a slow moving dot in supercruise! Anything that adds jeopardy like that is good for me, I like it scary. Out in the black black, interdiction's never going to happen so sanctuary still exists.
Pretty much. I spent a whole weekend once trying to find a geyser field - or anything - and didn't find a single one!! Compelling gameplay that sure wasn't. Yesterday I bagged two in first discovery, flew right to them and composition scanned the devils!
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I enjoyed firing planetary probes in Mass Effect 2 and i always wanted to have some in Elite... I got exactly what i wanted
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This is exactly what I dislike about the new system.
You jumped through a couple of hoops, following a process that's impossible to fail, and you had stuff handed to you on a plate.
That's definitely not 'compelling gameplay' for me. It's basically a scratchcard where you always win.
So what you're implying is that the year of work on screen adaptations fancy icons and silly bindings are all just, in the main, to search for USS's ??
Though I guess I see what you mean, not sure I agree you always win.
I could have honked scooped the system obviously and never have known. As it happens I spent an hour in a system of ice worlds, that pre-3.3 I'd never have looked at. Then I did have to fly out to a planet - identified off discovery as a candidate - to scan, make planetary approach and then scan the objects. But the DSS doesn't tell you (codex wise) exactly what type of features they're going to be, if it's a fumerole type you've already seen or not, so I'm sure there will be plenty of blind excursions.
The focus has shifted imo, from 'finding things' to 'what you find'. Although that is a shift from what we've had to date, personally anyway, feel I've paid my dues looking - mostly in vain - for blue circles.
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I like it, I've only used it to find specific USS's so far whilst engineering my Mamba (very very nice ship). I set the hat left/right to tuning secondary fire to select target hat up/down to zoom and x/y axis to panning, really easy to find what you are after and one handed. Massive improvement, the best bit is you can still do it the old fashioned way by dropping into random signals as you go which I enjoy doing whilst travelling anyway.
I'm off exploring soon (I've been saying that for over a year) so I'll suss out probing then. Overall it seems much more involved and fun than the old honk routine.
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