the FSS, watching paint dry....

[Riverside]

lol ya I don't get that threat. I've seen it a few times in this beta. Do people actually think we care if they quit?

There is no subscription for ED, once you own the game you can come & go as you please. One of the reasons I play as much as I do is because one day the servers will be switched off & I will no longer be able to.

The basic meme of hopeless optimism is pretty well established.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Is there stuffz for hazzing ?.

I AspX - VERY used.

lol ya I don't get that threat. I've seen it a few times in this beta. Do people actually think we care if they quit?

It's not a threat, just a statement.
And no, I don't think anyone will care that I'm no longer playing.
Which is why I'm glad that the majority of players are happy with the FSS - that way nobody needs to care about what I do.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm now 2,000ly out at Hillary Depot in a 30ly ship.

[...]

I guess that's why there are 42 sections in the galaxy now, to draw out the achievements a bit.


ETA Re-reading this I'm doing the codex a dis-service, it's pretty good. I don't use external tools & I'm not really interested in visiting things discovered by other players for the sake of it (Beagle Point was a notable exception) but it's good to have targets to aim for & knowing there is a type of asset I've not ticked off is my kind of gameplay. Shame it doesn't list my discoveries from the ~30,000 systems I visited prior to 3.3 though

Okay I see what you're saying, Zig.

I've had weeks of playing the FSS to pieces during the betas, and now we're live, and I've thought hard about whether this is just another "oohhh it's new and shiny!" honeymoon thing.

Maybe it is and maybe it's not, but what I've posted earlier is what I'm thinking right now. I'm really enjoying exploration again - there is now actual variety in the process of exploration and godsdamint FDEV you're making me lose sleep because I'm finding it very difficult to crowbar myself away from the game at 1am instead of going to bed at a more reasonable 11:30pm [mad]

2 quite different sentiments to my post, which actually is pretty great

@River, I so hear what you're saying. The way I used to explore is gone, I wanted Frontier to develop in a way that I could extend on that. Wasn't to be, my way was thrown into the bin, and was replaced by blob hunting. Right now I am working different angles on the new system. I started quite wrongly with saturation to really get into the FSS and see where the shinies were for me. Every system, full exploration. Lasted 4 systems before I wanted to strangle a developer. I actually didn't want to jump to a new system to start going through the mundane motions all over again. That didn't work. So I now switched to spur of the moment exploration. Hop through systems until I feel all hopped out, or until I find something noticable. Which usually means scanning a bunch of HMC or MR planets which are landable for the sake of investigating POIs. So far the FSS is a thing I look to avoid. I am looking for something in the FSS to look forward to. Unsuccessful so far, but I just started. I have some more ideas and potential projects. And there's encountering the unexpected which I can't factor in. The new mechanism has to be judged on it's own. I'll get back to that in a minute ...

My spiel is long range exploration, and this system has a part of that covered. Once you are where you want to be you can dig in. But these are all presents. Go to place X and investigate. The beauty of the old way was, you knew what you were traveling through, so your eye could be caught by many a thing that made the trip memorable. It was always those moments that made me look forward to traveling towards a destination a long way away. That I am afraid is lost. The system you encounter will no longer nudge you and go: hey sailor, wanna spend some time? It's you who always needs to go: lets spend some time.

What I'm not going to do is decide after a few days the new system is not worth discovering (pardon the pun). That all depends whether I find a groove, or a flow which suits me. Since I cannot account for the unexpected, I cannot judge against it.

@Genar, really thrilled to hear you and other people enjoying exploration. The more people enjoy it, the better. Even if I'm the one left empty handed. I have had 3 good years of exploration and if this is quits, this is quits. I have accepted that the moment I found out about the new mechanisms. And before anyone goes: why have you been arguing so much against the new system, it's a discussion forum and I'm opinionated, deal with it

Be mindful though, I'm not betting against this being a result of the honeymoon period, but we're in day 3 so it may very well be. And I must say, there are signals that are cautiously hinting towards it, which I won't go in to, because they may very well be the figment of imagination. Who knows, it's all so subjective.

But I do claim that this mechanism has to have longevity before it can be considered a success.

 

[Stigbob]

lol ya I don't get that threat. I've seen it a few times in this beta. Do people actually think we care if they quit?

I think its very sensible to stop playing video games you don't like. Any other approach demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what a video game is.

 

[Ayn Otori]

Nopes.

Probing planets is a new layer... When you scan planets via the , you get exactly all the data you got prior to this update. Also, scanning allows you to see if there are any geological or biological hotspots on the planet. If you don't see that, there is no point going to it to probe it.

This. People don't understand probing is a NEW mechanic that allows you to actually FIND stuff on the surface. FSS is what previous: fly 8.000ls, wait for scanny circle, used to be. Better.

 

[WR3ND]

...

...The more people enjoy it, the better. Even if I'm the one left empty handed. I have had 3 good years of exploration and if this is quits, this is quits. I have accepted that the moment I found out about the new mechanisms. And before anyone goes: why have you been arguing so much against the new system, it's a discussion forum and I'm opinionated, deal with it

...

There are several people that have similar takes on the new mechanics and a preference for something else or some sort of compromise workaround, myself included.

Getting these opinions out and expressed to Frontier are important so that we don't get left in the dust in the game, twiddling our thumbs, and hearing the lamentations of our women. ← I showed my wife the new mechanics and the pics I took DSSing a gas giant (featured here https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/463572-How-much-faster-slower-is-exploration-now-compared-to-before?p=7252263&viewfull=1#post7252263) and she was like: ":x What is that? That's stupid." Great, now even my wife thinks I'm playing a "stupid" video game rather than a nerdy sci-fi galactic space sim. [downcast]

If some people love the new mechanics, sure, that's all well and good, for them. For others, I think some other feasible options are definitely in order.

 

[Old Duck]

My spiel is long range exploration, and this system has a part of that covered. Once you are where you want to be you can dig in. But these are all presents. Go to place X and investigate. The beauty of the old way was, you knew what you were traveling through, so your eye could be caught by many a thing that made the trip memorable. It was always those moments that made me look forward to traveling towards a destination a long way away. That I am afraid is lost. The system you encounter will no longer nudge you and go: hey sailor, wanna spend some time? It's you who always needs to go: lets spend some time.
.

I honestly think you'll love it once you get used to it. Seriously. I explore for the same reasons you do (avoiding the "road to riches" because I didn't want to "cheat"), and I absolutely love the new system. First thing to realize is that the FSS is not just some minigame, it's an overlay on top of the view from your spaceship, and blue blobs are not the planets, but only markers to help you see those planets - yes, you can actually see the planets themselves like Venus in the night sky. The spectrograph gives you a bird's eye view of what's in the system, and then the FSS is basically an advanced telescope that lets you scan the sky just like I do at night with my binoculars, except the FSS also provides all the cool stats on the planets (like my Star Walk app on my iPad). In fact, think of the FSS like one of those augmented reality apps that overlay data on top of the sky you are already looking at. Not only do you see the solar system as it really is (vs the old flat system map), but the FSS overlays orbit lines and other data as planets are discovered. The solar system comes alive in front of your very eyes!

As for traveling the system, the combination of POIs discovered by the FSS and the desire to map more "interesting" finds will cause you to travel more, not less. I found my first brain trees on a otherwise unnotable moon that had actually been skipped over by another explorer who must have been using the old system ages ago. I too would have skipped over that moon under the old system, but thanks to the FSS, I was alerted to biological POIs and I just had to go check them out!

I'm telling you, the new system really is amazing for people who love to actually "explore" and "experience" individual solar systems, which sounds like your cup of tea, so give it a chance, and I'm confident you'll fall in love with it over time [heart]

ps - I'm usually the cynic around here, so if I like it, you know it's got to be good!

 

[da_wae]

Time to bring back the deep and engaging exploration mechanics of the ADS "Honk and Jump". I also cannot help but relieve fond memories of using the DSS to scan planets while flying at them.

Super fun, deep stuff.

 

[tafkabb]

C&P from an Xbox thread. It saves on typing.

I haven't seen any instructional videos, I haven't read any 'how-to' threads, I populated the controls myself (took an evening and a bit) and I figured out the mechanic on a 1200 LY trip^* to Veil West last night.
It's superb, everything I could have wanted as a replacement for the original placeholder mechanic.
I honestly can't fault it, it's a joy.

^{*24 jumps. I got so engrossed in actually exploring, I ended up only jumping 7 of them [hotas]}

 

[Burke]

What I'm not going to do is decide after a few days the new system is not worth discovering (pardon the pun). That all depends whether I find a groove, or a flow which suits me. Since I cannot account for the unexpected, I cannot judge against it.

Well i admire your stamina. How lucky Fdev are to have customers that are willing to try and swim against the flow to get enjoyment from their product.

 

[S~P]

I honestly think you'll love it once you get used to it. Seriously. I explore for the same reasons you do (avoiding the "road to riches" because I didn't want to "cheat"), and I absolutely love the new system. First thing to realize is that the FSS is not just some minigame, it's an overlay on top of the view from your spaceship, and blue blobs are not the planets, but only markers to help you see those planets - yes, you can actually see the planets themselves like Venus in the night sky. The spectrograph gives you a bird's eye view of what's in the system, and then the FSS is basically an advanced telescope that lets you scan the sky just like I do at night with my binoculars, except the FSS also provides all the cool stats on the planets (like my Star Walk app on my iPad). In fact, think of the FSS like one of those augmented reality apps that overlay data on top of the sky you are already looking at. Not only do you see the solar system as it really is (vs the old flat system map), but the FSS overlays orbit lines and other data as planets are discovered. The solar system comes alive in front of your very eyes!

As for traveling the system, the combination of POIs discovered by the FSS and the desire to map more "interesting" finds will cause you to travel more, not less. I found my first brain trees on a otherwise unnotable moon that had actually been skipped over by another explorer who must have been using the old system ages ago. I too would have skipped over that moon under the old system, but thanks to the FSS, I was alerted to biological POIs and I just had to go check them out!

I'm telling you, the new system really is amazing for people who love to actually "explore" and "experience" individual solar systems, which sounds like your cup of tea, so give it a chance, and I'm confident you'll fall in love with it over time [heart]

ps - I'm usually the cynic around here, so if I like it, you know it's got to be good!

Really, that's like saying to someone who hates eating marmite that if they keep eating they will get to like it. FSS is like marmite you either love it or hate it.

 

[WR3ND]

Really, that's like saying to someone who hates eating marmite that if they keep eating they will get to like it. FSS is like marmite you either love it or hate it.

I don't hate it per se. It's not how I want to go about exploring the galaxy in the game in general though.

Definitely a use sparingly in moderation sort of game mechanic for me.

 

[Eukanuba23]

I don't know how console players have enough buttons, but as a PC player using an Xbox controller I have found that I can map all the new functions quite logically onto my controller.

I'd love to be able to spend $10k on a setup like Exigeous has, but failing that, spending £30 on an Xbox controller makes the experience much less confusing than relying on the keyboard for everything.

([video=youtube;c6voyCgjAFo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6voyCgjAFo&[/video]

 

[Red Anders]

Really, that's like saying to someone who hates eating marmite that if they keep eating they will get to like it. FSS is like marmite you either love it or hate it.

It's like Christmas dinner and sprouts. When I was five, I explained to my parents that I didn't like them. When I was ten, after five more years of choking them down, I raised the subject again. I think it was the year I turned sixteen that I finally cracked and explained that although it had become a running annual joke within the family, I was no longer prepared to ruin my Christmas dinner by forcing myself to eat a vegetable that I found disgusting. It was perhaps another four or five years before the first year that they didn't still appear on my plate for me to leave.

So yeah, by about 2038 there might be some acceptance that actually, you're just not a big fan of it.

I don't hate it per se. It's not how I want to go about exploring the galaxy in the game in general though.

Definitely a use sparingly in moderation sort of game mechanic for me.

That's it. There are times I would choose to use it for sure. Sadly, that's the option that was disregarded.

 

[Cmdr Steele]

The tools are cool and the planetary waypoints are excellent, it's just the universe is still persistent. Not one thing you do in game changes a single thing in game, apart from bgs text. The storyline is still non-existant from an in game perspective and the incessant instancing is still annoying.

 

[xondk]

So anyone else find this incredibly boring? I think I'm going to quit while I'm ahead here, way too many controls to map and rather confusing to boot.[where is it] Heading back to bubble to try out the new mining. Hope you die hard explorers have fun!

Oh, come on.

"Honk makes exploration boring"
They add something more involved.

"This is boring you have too many controls."

Quite frankly if you are confused, it isn't boring, if you think that your definition is plain and simply wrong.

You don't like it? fair enough, but please don't use boring and other things, instead maybe give an example of what you would want it to be instead?

 

[chaosapiant]

I love the new system. It's actually both immersive and engaging. Sure the previous system was easier, but easier isn't always better.

 

[Old Duck]

Really, that's like saying to someone who hates eating marmite that if they keep eating they will get to like it. FSS is like marmite you either love it or hate it.

Hogwash. It's like riding a bike or ice skating, neither of which are all that enticing the first couple times you try it. However, once you figure it out, it isn't that bad, and once you've had practice and get really good at it, you'll find you are having way more fun than when you were falling down on your behind every five seconds.

 

[Stigbob]

It's like Christmas dinner and sprouts. When I was five, I explained to my parents that I didn't like them. When I was ten, after five more years of choking them down, I raised the subject again. I think it was the year I turned sixteen that I finally cracked and explained that although it had become a running annual joke within the family, I was no longer prepared to ruin my Christmas dinner by forcing myself to eat a vegetable that I found disgusting. It was perhaps another four or five years before the first year that they didn't still appear on my plate for me to leave.

So yeah, by about 2038 there might be some acceptance that actually, you're just not a big fan of it.

That's it. There are times I would choose to use it for sure. Sadly, that's the option that was disregarded.

Sprouts are fantastic when not overcooked, steamed for 15 minutes is perfect. Or roasted with bits of bacon.

MMMMMM Sprouts.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

It wasnt supposed to be equivalent, it is gameplay vs pressing one button. Nothing is equivalent to that, and it blew. You may as well have removed it and just auto-scan on entering a system.

It does that now.. you land and it autoscans via proximity everything in range.

Also looking at your metrics you often quote.. id say its about 60/40 against the fss. There should be lots of karma waiting for you on reddit if you craft the right post title complaining about the official forums. That's a staple there too. Go on before someone beats you to it!