Exploration lets be honest, there's still not much to do

Jabezz

J
So having played the game for about 2 years most of the time pew pewing, trading with the odd bit of mining I was really looking forward to the new exploration mechanics.

I will give credit where credit is due the new exploration mechanic is far more interesting than the previous honk/ jump situation and Frontier have done a good job in developing this. However having now excitedly set off into the black in full exploration mode and being several thousand light years in after a few days of FSS and DSS I'm disappointed to find that there's pretty much sod all out here to do. I've scanned, I've mapped and I've been down on many planets with the old SRV and there's literally nothing. All the planets are boringly featureless, ok you'll get some biological POIs or geological POIs, or maybe a canyon or two to throw the fighter down but come on really, is that all there is?

Even the planet terrain is bland. I mean what about throwing in some mission storylines in there somewhere that lead to a linked sequence of other missions that you can see make a difference in that locale? I don't know? Anything?

So yes exploration, a step in the right direction but throw some gameplay events or excitement in there because cataloguing star systems repeatedly soon gets a bit boring or maybe Im being impatient?
 

Jabezz

J
Vingtetun said:
I've made millions more than I would usually, I've found all sorts of beautiful planet/moon/ring combos, I can now locate geysers (not seen one in game before this week) and planetary wrecks easily, been able to locate and land at guardian sites and all in all, it's a BIG improvement!
Click to expand...

It is a big improvement I cant disagree with that but once you've done those things a few (dozen) times then what?
 
Last edited:

DukeIronHand

D
Yes, it’s a video game that tries to encompass many factors of a fictional, make-believe, “spaceman’s life.”
Given the hundred RL factors involved in the whole process I am not sure how much more you are expecting?
If the game was called “Elite:Exploration” you’d have some ground (maybe) but it’s a bit of everything to everybody.
 

sollisb

Banned
S
Vingtetun said:
I've made millions more than I would usually, I've found all sorts of beautiful planet/moon/ring combos, I can now locate geysers (not seen one in game before this week) and planetary wrecks easily, been able to locate and land at guardian sites and all in all, it's a BIG improvement!
Click to expand...

I know it's amazing, but.. You could do all that with the old system!! I know, amazing isn't it!
 

DeletedUser191218

D
Jabezz said:
So having played the game for about 2 years most of the time pew pewing, trading with the odd bit of mining I was really looking forward to the new exploration mechanics.

I will give credit where credit is due the new exploration mechanic is far more interesting than the previous honk/ jump situation and Frontier have done a good job in developing this. However having now excitedly set off into the black in full exploration mode and being several thousand light years in after a few days of FSS and DSS I'm disappointed to find that there's pretty much sod all out here to do. I've scanned, I've mapped and I've been down on many planets with the old SRV and there's literally nothing. All the planets are boringly featureless, ok you'll get some biological POIs or geological POIs, or maybe a canyon or two to throw the fighter down but come on really, is that all there is?

Even the planet terrain is bland. I mean what about throwing in some mission storylines in there somewhere that lead to a linked sequence of other missions that you can see make a difference in that locale? I don't know? Anything?

So yes exploration, a step in the right direction but throw some gameplay events or excitement in there because cataloguing star systems repeatedly soon gets a bit boring or maybe Im being impatient?
Click to expand...

The problem is that all there is, is black space and dead rocks. The mechanics themselves are fine. But the simple reality is there isn't much to actually find. If/when the game gets legs and atmos planets it will become much more interesting and vibrant but until then it's black space and dead rocks.
 

DukeIronHand

D
Rambojambo said:
The problem is that all there is, is black space and dead rocks. The mechanics themselves are fine. But the simple reality is there isn't much to actually find. If/when the game gets legs and atmos planets it will become much more interesting and vibrant but until then it's black space and dead rocks.
Click to expand...

Legitimate point!
 

Bob McBobblehead

Bob McBobblehead
There would be more to do if FDev introduced a breadcrumb mechanic to the codex discoveries so the exploration community could work together to find super unique discoveries.

It would be great if we could follow a long breadcrumb trail from a crashed ship that eventually leads to a long dead alien city.
 

Dooguk

D
sollisb said:
I know it's amazing, but.. You could do all that with the old system!! I know, amazing isn't it!
Click to expand...

Which is why the update is free. When things like atmospheric planet landings, space legs.....etc, come along, in other words gamechangers, FD will charge for them.
 
Last edited:

znôrt

znôrt
watch
[video=youtube;LCRZZC-DH7M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRZZC-DH7M[/video]
 

CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost

C
Vingtetun said:
I've made millions more than I would usually, I've found all sorts of beautiful planet/moon/ring combos, I can now locate geysers (not seen one in game before this week) and planetary wrecks easily, been able to locate and land at guardian sites and all in all, it's a BIG improvement!
Click to expand...

You obviously didn't do enough VIP passenger missions - they often want to see geysers and fumaroles.
Finding Guardian sites and Thargoid sites was very easy before 3.3 after FDev added location markers for those sites.

That said, the new exploration system makes it easier to find surface POIs allowing more players to see those POIs for themselves. The downside of that is, that it makes it obvious that geysers and fumaroles and other volcanic activity sites are using the same assets. As a result it becomes very repetitive (and for some pointless) after a very short period of time.

Hopefully FDev keeps improving exploration by adding more variety to the assets.
 

Komemiute

Komemiute
Jabezz said:
So having played the game for about 2 years most of the time pew pewing, trading with the odd bit of mining I was really looking forward to the new exploration mechanics.

I will give credit where credit is due the new exploration mechanic is far more interesting than the previous honk/ jump situation and Frontier have done a good job in developing this. However having now excitedly set off into the black in full exploration mode and being several thousand light years in after a few days of FSS and DSS I'm disappointed to find that there's pretty much sod all out here to do. I've scanned, I've mapped and I've been down on many planets with the old SRV and there's literally nothing. All the planets are boringly featureless, ok you'll get some biological POIs or geological POIs, or maybe a canyon or two to throw the fighter down but come on really, is that all there is?

Even the planet terrain is bland. I mean what about throwing in some mission storylines in there somewhere that lead to a linked sequence of other missions that you can see make a difference in that locale? I don't know? Anything?

So yes exploration, a step in the right direction but throw some gameplay events or excitement in there because cataloguing star systems repeatedly soon gets a bit boring or maybe Im being impatient?
Click to expand...

I literally disagree with every sentence in your post.
But hey, so is the nature of Online Forums... :) Take care- hope you'll find your fun.
 

Rat Catcher

Rat Catcher
sollisb said:
I know it's amazing, but.. You could do all that with the old system!! I know, amazing isn't it!
Click to expand...

Yes, truly amazing! In the old system you could spend an indefinite amount of time flying upside down over a body looking for something and never find it, such a time-sink! At least now you can fly those 400KLs and at least know that there is something there and that you will find it. As you said, amazing :)
 

CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost

C
Ratkatcher said:
Yes, truly amazing! In the old system you could spend an indefinite amount of time flying upside down over a body looking for something and never find it, such a time-sink! At least now you can fly those 400KLs and at least know that there is something there and that you will find it. As you said, amazing :)
Click to expand...

The mapping could have been added to the old scanning system without any problems.

That said, I like the mapping mini-game.
 

B1rdy

B1rdy
Komemiute said:
I literally disagree with every sentence in your post.
But hey, so is the nature of Online Forums... :)
Click to expand...
And your post unfortunately adds nothing to this discussion, you could as well skip that remark.

@OP: The process has been changed, but the ultimate outcome hasn't been change. We can just find the same stuff more reliably now. It is an improvement, but, as someone else said, it is rather mapping that actual exploration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom