If I wanted a 'radio-tuning' game I would have rather bought an old radio.

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sollisb

Banned
There are ways to reduce your time in the FSS. If you find a cluster of planets, you only need to resolve one in the FSS, then you can fly there and the other planets will automatically be detected and scanned as you get within range of them.

Also, your FSS is not a 2D map, but rather it's a 3D view of what is outside your ship (you are essentially panning a camera / telescope mounted to your hull). What this means is that whatever your ship is pointing at will be front-and-center when you toggle to the FSS, so if you see something while looking out your window that's obviously a planet or sun, point your ship at it and then activate the FSS, and you'll not need to "hunt" for the planet using the FSS, you'll just need to zoom in on it.

By mixing short amounts of time in the FSS with flying around (instead of trying to scan the entire system in one go), you'll find the "pill" easier to swallow.

The whole 'sell' of the FSS was you could do it all from the FSS. Funny you now say it's not up to the job and we have to go back to flying around. And how can it be a 3D view if it's on a 2D screen? There is nothing 3D about the FSS. If it was 3D I should be able to use it in VR like a real 3D viewing, instead I get a totally immersion breaking 2D cheap looking thing.
 
And how can it be a 3D view if it's on a 2D screen? There is nothing 3D about the FSS. If it was 3D I should be able to use it in VR like a real 3D viewing, instead I get a totally immersion breaking 2D cheap looking thing.
Ah, this bit has been confusing me slightly. Now I get it, in VR the FSS is flat screen. Of course it is the same on flat screen too, but the difference is not so obvious.
Even so, all objects FSS shows are correctly placed in the 3D environment around you, you just see it throught the screen (which has a grid imposed on it).
 
There are ways to reduce your time in the FSS. If you find a cluster of planets, you only need to resolve one in the FSS, then you can fly there and the other planets will automatically be detected and scanned as you get within range of them.

Also, your FSS is not a 2D map, but rather it's a 3D view of what is outside your ship (you are essentially panning a camera / telescope mounted to your hull). What this means is that whatever your ship is pointing at will be front-and-center when you toggle to the FSS, so if you see something while looking out your window that's obviously a planet or sun, point your ship at it and then activate the FSS, and you'll not need to "hunt" for the planet using the FSS, you'll just need to zoom in on it.

By mixing short amounts of time in the FSS with flying around (instead of trying to scan the entire system in one go), you'll find the "pill" easier to swallow.

Yes, thats exactly it. Generally i find that if there are gas giants, discover that and proximity discover the moons. This actually is a great experience and you have much in cockpit choice once you get there of what to explore next, as well as the proximity freebies if that is all you want. It also clears up the clutter in the spectrum analysis if you're progressing through a system.

For ice ball / single body systems, most of these can be completely done in the fss without hitting the pain threshold so i don't mind that. The only real reason to keep going in these systems is the credits.. first mapping one of the traditionally valuable bodies gets millions of credits per body and you dont need 100% system mapped.

While in the fss, you can actually add agency back by approaching it spectrum first.. seek out all the bodies of a particular kind rather than letting the blobs lead you. This grows into something acceptable too.

If you're a tagging explorer, resolving that is probably one of the highest.. in the bubble you are only mapping, but out of bubble, you just have to not care about the mapping tag apart from its utility (credits and poi). You can also see from within the fss if someone has come in before you so if you're tagging first and ocd its actually quite quick to decide to move onto the next one. Duck, hows that for synergistic cherry picking? :p

Im not a visual explorer, but over a ciggy came up with a solution for that too.. see anything with a close orbit is going to require an adaptive zoom before it resolves. If you keep in mind the context of the zoom, ie, discover your planet, but then pull back and look at the zoomed in orbital level, you can quite handily see if there are any other blobs there, discover those, and see if all the bodies in that zoom level meets your interest criteria. I have a feeling this would work really well in practice, as long as you have leads to the base requirement for your interesting. Reading the spectrum is quite easy, and you don't need all the bodies. You can tell if any body is ringed or not from the arrows.

Yeah solving tagging and adding my own agency to clearing out the bodies (ie, NOT using it with the intention of just 100% clearing, this will.. kill.. your.. exploration) was the main difference. Sadly to add the agency you need a whole bunch of options and battle plans to provide it before you start.. and of course this isn't anywhere written on the tin.

BONUS: Also, as soon as you drop, fire up the fss and honk from there. If rng has dropped you with the star occluding the orbital plain, you'll want to scoop and fly somewhat perpendicular to the plan to ensure you don't have to do it again. If you honk from the fss.. well that's the only way to get an idea what direction to scoop in. Its also fairly common to drop in with the star not blocking anything as well, so might as well.

BONUS2: Using the fss spectrum first is so much better than tuning for every blob. The arrows only appear for that type.. which i thought was... but if you go spectrum first, this enables panning to feel completely different and you do feel like you are seeking and finding. Also its handy to look at the body number once discovered the fss over.. it actually communicates a map of the system and leaving this info unread somehow makes the experience worse. Again, do not go from blob to blob and tune. There's something wrong with that.
 
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All this time I was exploring and I never realised I was actually losing. And winning. Elite Dangerous: Pokemon Edition - gotta tag 'em all. :rolleyes:

This thread is the first time I've seen anybody refer to 'winning' and 'losing' in exploration. Seriously. As for the codex, there I was thinking it's primary purpose was to allow sharing of information, not to broadcast just how hard someone is winning to the rest of the player base. I guess I just need to be more competitive. Are we going to get new ranks? Maybe we could have 'Charlie Sheen' as the top one. :D
 
The whole 'sell' of the FSS was you could do it all from the FSS. Funny you now say it's not up to the job and we have to go back to flying around. And how can it be a 3D view if it's on a 2D screen? There is nothing 3D about the FSS. If it was 3D I should be able to use it in VR like a real 3D viewing, instead I get a totally immersion breaking 2D cheap looking thing.

What Old Duck meant was that if you hate FSS so much, locate main planet and fly closer to scan the rest the old way - so you don't have to spend as much time in so-hated FSS.
Less salt, more usage of the good-ol' mk1 brain. But something tells me you're here to fight, not discuss.
 
What Old Duck meant was that if you hate FSS so much, locate main planet and fly closer to scan the rest the old way - so you don't have to spend as much time in so-hated FSS.
Less salt, more usage of the good-ol' mk1 brain. But something tells me you're here to fight, not discuss.

Now if only there was a way where you could populate a system map without needing to spend a tedious amount of time doing something you dislike.
 
The whole 'sell' of the FSS was you could do it all from the FSS. Funny you now say it's not up to the job and we have to go back to flying around.

No ....... (you sure are tempting me to use an infraction-worthy insult here :mad:), that's NOT what I am saying AT ALL. My advice is for someone who does not like the FSS. I personally love the FSS, and use it in a very different way. Would you like to know how I use it? Here you go!

As a serious explorer, I personally love the FSS and related tools. When I drop out of hyperspace, I’m entering an entirely new and potentially undiscovered solar system. I mean, wow! Once I refuel my ship, I put a little distance between me and the star, then I “park” the ship, pop out of my pilot’s chair and go over to my science station (cue slide of Mr. Spock looking into his scanner). This is a seamless transition, like getting into my SRV.

This “science station” is the output of a visual, radio, and gravimetric telescope array built into my ship’s sensors. It sees 3D space around my ship, with the ability to zoom in and focus on specific objects in the solar system. In order to automatically focus in on a specific object (focusing over long distances is no trivial task), I need to match the frequency of the telescope’s focal algorithm to that of the planet or signal – the “tuning the dial” part of the procedure. This lets me zoom in and focus both optically and radiometricly to both “see” the planet and generate detailed statistics. Like Galileo, once I “discover” a planet using my telescope, I get credit for that discovery, assuming I’m the first.

Speaking of discovery, I really like that the system map remains unpopulated until I actually find, magnify, and catalog a planet. I was never a fan of the “Google Galaxy” map view we automatically were given with the ADS. That’s not discovery, that’s tourism.

Now I can continue to scan the entire system from this parked location, or I can choose to immediately go to a planet of interest and map it. One of the advantages of the latter is that my ship will automatically detect and catalog any planets nearby. So for example, if I select a gas giant with a dozen moons, I just need to scan the GG in the FSS, and then fly to the GG and the moons will be all scanned and cataloged using the close-range sensors, thus greatly reducing my time using the FSS. Not mandatory, but it’s a cool little trick for CMDRs who like having a reason to fly to planets to explore them.

I personally find the FSS very similar to real-life stargazing. I scan the sky IRL with my high-powered binoculars, finding planets and stars of interest, then crosscheck them using my astronomical software, which gives me a page of statistics. Then I can go visit them in my SUV….. Wait, forget that last part.

It is possible to be very fast and efficient using the FSS with practice. That said, I actually enjoy the extra time it takes me to scan and catalog a system, followed by mapping and even landing on planets of interest. It adds a sense of immersion, accomplishment, depth, and scale that was sorely lacking before 3.3 dropped.

That’s not to say I find the FSS and DSS to be perfect. I have a list of very minor changes and adjustments I’d like made to the FSS, DSS, and Analysis HUD. But I find the concepts Frontier implemented to be fun, engaging, immersive, brilliant!

I had no idea I would be needing to post this little essay so much....
 
I'm enjoying the FSS. I like being able to finding mission targets without having to orbit and wait, or scan a nav beacon, and locating bases, stations and zones without having to potentially fly several minutes to get closer. However, I would agree there could be a few "shortcuts" that could make the FSS process faster without obviating its purpose and gameplay.

1) Snap-to the signal within a proximity when panning or some automatic "scan-seek" panning movement like today's digital car radios, and/or a proximity snapping to the frequency of a signal in the band of the scanner when tuning.

2) More colored circles. It already shows "orange" circles for "mission target" signals. Have a different colored circle for all the extra signals (distress calls, encoded signals, convoy, combat aftermath) i.e. all the signals not part of the system's orbital model making it easier to skip over them while scanning.

Just some idea examples of small split-second time saving shortcuts where it can already all be done with the FSS, but every little time saving bit can add up, perhaps reducing the overall time it takes to scan a system by 25% or more.
 
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I cannot adequately express just how terrible I find the 2d blob hunt twiddle.

The old system wasn’t great, by any means, but the new pseudo-gameplay of the FSS is so asinine that I find myself unable to enjoy, and, therefore, to play, ED after 4 years.

Words cannot express just how annoying I have found this FSS business.

Whoever at FD greenlit this as a good idea should be taken outside and spoken to in the harshest of fashions.
 
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sollisb

Banned
What Old Duck meant was that if you hate FSS so much, locate main planet and fly closer to scan the rest the old way - so you don't have to spend as much time in so-hated FSS.
Less salt, more usage of the good-ol' mk1 brain. But something tells me you're here to fight, not discuss.

Fight? With whom? lol

Is it not true that we were told we could do all from the FSS? But we can't. Even when it actually works as I assume it's intended to, it's a mess. Example; I pick which body type I want, and am then supposed to use my LRUD keys to search for the body on what is otherwise an empty screen.

It tells me I have scanned 88%, but no idea as to where what the other 12% is? If someone at FDev thinks I'm going to pander to that idiocy they're deluded.

And what's with the cheap 1980s ANSI graphics? ^^^ We've come so far and yet FDev give us that?! ANSI graphics in a VR graphical game. Did they run out of money? Or is that really the best the art department could come up with?

The FSS is nothing more than a mini-game, badly implemented and buggy. You may like it and I respect that,. but just because I think it's a total cluster-fail, does not in any way imply 'i want a fight'. I'm entitled to my opinion and much as you to yours.
 
Now if only there was a way where you could populate a system map without needing to spend a tedious amount of time doing something you dislike.

You've missed something - the "and slap my tag on every object and instantly scan 100% of every surface for PROFIT" part :p

I'm not here to debate whether you like the system or not - as evidenced by multiple threads, it's subjective and as far as I'm concerned, subjective opinion is valid.
What I can't understand is why some people here are so vehement over proving why their subjective opinions is more objective than other subjective opinions.

General request (not to LeoBartlet, but everyone):
Voice your disapproval, explain why you think it's bad, go as far as to propose alternatives, but for God's sake - have some dignity and behave like an adult when it comes to accepting your point of view is not the only one out there, and by no means the representative one.

Thanks.
 
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All this time I was exploring and I never realised I was actually losing. And winning. Elite Dangerous: Pokemon Edition - gotta tag 'em all. :rolleyes:

This thread is the first time I've seen anybody refer to 'winning' and 'losing' in exploration. Seriously. As for the codex, there I was thinking it's primary purpose was to allow sharing of information, not to broadcast just how hard someone is winning to the rest of the player base. I guess I just need to be more competitive. Are we going to get new ranks? Maybe we could have 'Charlie Sheen' as the top one. :D
I know. I have learned more from exploring in the Dangerous Discussion forums in 3 months, than I have in 3 years of spending time in the exploration forum.

I'm actually quite crossed with my fellow explorers. All this time they have been exploring wrongly and telling me it's ok to be exploring falsely. And the attitude on the sploration forums is atrocious. It's all comradely and people appreciating other people's finds, while all this time they should have gnashed their teeth it wasn't them who found it. Each thread should have been: Look what I found, followed by "damnit! you won!", "crap, lost again [mad]" posts.
 
By mixing short amounts of time in the FSS with flying around (instead of trying to scan the entire system in one go), you'll find the "pill" easier to swallow.

I do appreciate that you're trying to offer the guy constructive advice but honestly, playing a computer game is supposed to be something an individual finds fun, that's the entire point of the exercise. If someone is at the 'hold your nose so the medicine doesn't taste as bad' stage, my own advice would be walk away and play something else.

I know. I have learned more from exploring in the Dangerous Discussion forums in 3 months, than I have in 3 years of spending time in the exploration forum.

I'm actually quite crossed with my fellow explorers. All this time they have been exploring wrongly and telling me it's ok to be exploring falsely. And the attitude on the sploration forums is atrocious. It's all comradely and people appreciating other people's finds, while all this time they should have gnashed their teeth it wasn't them who found it. Each thread should have been: Look what I found, followed by "damnit! you won!", "crap, lost again [mad]" posts.

OCJGALw.gif


;)
 
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And I shall continue attempting to express my distaste in any thread on the subject!

I fancy my chance of stating your point of view may have gained more sympathy should you have switched unproductive expression of distaste for productive alternative proposal.
I hope it's worth consideration.
 

sollisb

Banned
No ....... (you sure are tempting me to use an infraction-worthy insult here :mad:), that's NOT what I am saying AT ALL. My advice is for someone who does not like the FSS. I personally love the FSS, and use it in a very different way. Would you like to know how I use it? Here you go!

As a serious explorer, I personally love the FSS and related tools. When I drop out of hyperspace, I’m entering an entirely new and potentially undiscovered solar system. I mean, wow! Once I refuel my ship, I put a little distance between me and the star, then I “park” the ship, pop out of my pilot’s chair and go over to my science station (cue slide of Mr. Spock looking into his scanner). This is a seamless transition, like getting into my SRV.

This “science station” is the output of a visual, radio, and gravimetric telescope array built into my ship’s sensors. It sees 3D space around my ship, with the ability to zoom in and focus on specific objects in the solar system. In order to automatically focus in on a specific object (focusing over long distances is no trivial task), I need to match the frequency of the telescope’s focal algorithm to that of the planet or signal – the “tuning the dial” part of the procedure. This lets me zoom in and focus both optically and radiometricly to both “see” the planet and generate detailed statistics. Like Galileo, once I “discover” a planet using my telescope, I get credit for that discovery, assuming I’m the first.

Speaking of discovery, I really like that the system map remains unpopulated until I actually find, magnify, and catalog a planet. I was never a fan of the “Google Galaxy” map view we automatically were given with the ADS. That’s not discovery, that’s tourism.

Now I can continue to scan the entire system from this parked location, or I can choose to immediately go to a planet of interest and map it. One of the advantages of the latter is that my ship will automatically detect and catalog any planets nearby. So for example, if I select a gas giant with a dozen moons, I just need to scan the GG in the FSS, and then fly to the GG and the moons will be all scanned and cataloged using the close-range sensors, thus greatly reducing my time using the FSS. Not mandatory, but it’s a cool little trick for CMDRs who like having a reason to fly to planets to explore them.

I personally find the FSS very similar to real-life stargazing. I scan the sky IRL with my high-powered binoculars, finding planets and stars of interest, then crosscheck them using my astronomical software, which gives me a page of statistics. Then I can go visit them in my SUV….. Wait, forget that last part.

It is possible to be very fast and efficient using the FSS with practice. That said, I actually enjoy the extra time it takes me to scan and catalog a system, followed by mapping and even landing on planets of interest. It adds a sense of immersion, accomplishment, depth, and scale that was sorely lacking before 3.3 dropped.

That’s not to say I find the FSS and DSS to be perfect. I have a list of very minor changes and adjustments I’d like made to the FSS, DSS, and Analysis HUD. But I find the concepts Frontier implemented to be fun, engaging, immersive, brilliant!

I had no idea I would be needing to post this little essay so much....

Firstly, I'm delighted you have found a home for the FSS and a role-play scenario to go with it. I always accept that some will love and others will hate.

I hate it because it's badly done in my opinion.

- if you turn on the FSS while pointing away from the planets, you have no idea where to search for whatever is there.
- You cannot select a body in the FSS. You have to revert back tot he System Map to select it. Why?
- It's buggy
- It's not 3D.
- It takes eons longer to use the FSS instead of what we had.
- I get information faster by honk/visual scan of system map.
- ANSI graphics. What the....
- Immersion breaking. I'm in a 3D ship in a 3D visualised galaxy and they dump me into a 2D screen. Cheap.
- I have to stop my ship to use the science console? In the 33rd century?

The only good use for the FSS that I have found is USS hunting. I can find out what they are real fast. How-ever.. I have noticed, that having found and identified all the USSs, I restart my engines and up pops, Unidentified USS located.. lols

This is what frustrates me about Frontier. We get a complete 3D mining system, fantastic graphics and they do the cheap-cheap on the exploration. As I said previously, I was testing this the weekend with a view to joining DW2. After what I experienced, it's totally turned me off the idea.

I still respect that others may like/love it. I can only speak for myself and how I experience things.
 
It is in a conversation specifically about tagging.

Sightseeing is a different topic, now I'm intrigued by the planet of doom maybe time to head out into the black.
Specifically whether exploration is a competition. It can be, for many, and anecdotal I'll say most, it isn't.

I also have informed you miss. It's called the Planet of Death and it's AWESOME. If you haven't been. Go there. Go there now. Really.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/357172-Challenge-to-land-on-the-world-of-death
 
I fancy my chance of stating your point of view may have gained more sympathy should you have switched unproductive expression of distaste for productive alternative proposal.
I hope it's worth consideration.

The productive alternative is the "side by side" functionality that should have been in from the start. Refusing to do this massivly compounded the original mistake
 
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