Limpet Controller Change

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

The idea would be to make limpet controllers function similar to planetary vehicle bays or fighter hangars. You can buy a limpet controller for your slot, which would itself have a number of slots for limpet programs - those being collection, prospecting, hatch breaking, repair, decontamination, refuel, research, recon...

The class of the limpet controller would determine the maximum size of the program, and the grade would determine how many slots the limpet controller has. A grade E limpet controller could only support one program, whereas an A could handle 5. A class 1 limpet controller could only handle the class 1 collector limpet programs, for example, which themselves only allow for one active collector limpet at a time, whereas a class 5 can handle the class 5 limpet program, which can allow for 3 active limpets.

Thoughts?

 

[jnTracks]

The idea would be to make limpet controllers function similar to planetary vehicle bays or fighter hangars. You can buy a limpet controller for your slot, which would itself have a number of slots for limpet programs - those being collection, prospecting, hatch breaking, repair, decontamination, refuel, research, recon...

The class of the limpet controller would determine the maximum size of the program, and the grade would determine how many slots the limpet controller has. A grade E limpet controller could only support one program, whereas an A could handle 5. A class 1 limpet controller could only handle the class 1 collector limpet programs, for example, which themselves only allow for one active collector limpet at a time, whereas a class 5 can handle the class 5 limpet program, which can allow for 3 active limpets.

Thoughts?

I super agree with this. There are so many programs we might need. As I look around at missions, many of them need a certain kind of limpet (or, MIGHT need it) and I'd have to change them out. It makes general mission running extremely limited (not to mention USS that turn out to be some sort of narrative thing which also seem to routinely require a certain limpet controller); unless I have access to a very large ship I couldn't possibly keep up and even then, the big ships seem to focus on larger compartments, rather than stack up a lot of size 1 and 2.
It's crazy that we can install a limpet controller and have the size also reflect how many different programs it can do.

 

[Orvidius]

Sandro said they want to implement slotted limpet controllers of some kind. Considering how long ago it was, I had hoped it would make it into the 3.3 release, but obviously it didn't. Maybe they ran into some issues with balancing it, or how much of an overhaul it will be.

 

[Lestat]

Or players need to decide what their ship needs to do. Because we don't need a mining Rig that can also have a Hatch breaker and Repair module or Fuel module because players believe multipurpose should do it all.

When they talk about ships being Multipurpose I don't think they mean it should be able to do it all at the same time. It more on the line you set up your ship as combat build, Trader builds or Mining build. or Pirate build or Exploration build. Or if it had multiple roles It would be an Armoured Trader. (Kinda like an Armour Car) Or an Exploration Build with Fuel transfer unit or hull repair unit.

This game should not stoop low as other Lame MMO games that let you have everything on your NPC.

 

[Leadfoot]

Or players need to decide what their ship needs to do. Because we don't need a mining Rig that can also have a Hatch breaker and Repair module or Fuel module because players believe multipurpose should do it all.

Well, the last thing one needs to do is tell a ship that wants to be rescued "Hold position here. I'll head 30,000 LY back to the bubble and come back with a fuel limpet controller. I only have hull repair controllers on board. It shouldn't take me more than a week or so to return. Try not to use too much air."

In one of the (dozen??) other threads on this subject, if FD had originally designed it so ONE controller did all the limpets, and they just added a dial to tell the controller what the limpet should do, no one would have complained. That is, of course, until someone suggests that instead of one controller, we should split it into eight of them.

Imagine the salt.

 

[jnTracks]

Well, the last thing one needs to do is tell a ship that wants to be rescued "Hold position here. I'll head 30,000 LY back to the bubble and come back with a fuel limpet controller. I only have hull repair controllers on board. It shouldn't take me more than a week or so to return. Try not to use too much air."

In one of the (dozen??) other threads on this subject, if FD had originally designed it so ONE controller did all the limpets, and they just added a dial to tell the controller what the limpet should do, no one would have complained. That is, of course, until someone suggests that instead of one controller, we should split it into eight of them.

Imagine the salt.

Exactly this.

I'm out in my general mission runner. I'm not expecting to be able to mine or trade large quantities with this build. Not even maximizing range or combat effectiveness. I'm riding in the middle and trying to have room for some cargo, some passengers, some guns, and various scanners so I can find things I'm looking for or farming.
In that ship, when I drop into a USS and find a ship that needs fuel, or repair, or pods to be rescued; I should be able to do so without running back to a station.

Yesterday I found a ship that needed rescue and they told me their escape pod hatch was broken so "you'll have to blast it open!" I targeted and carefully fired my guns only to get a fine for firing on a friendly ship....

Really?

So I get now that I was probably supposed to use hatch breaker limpets but the only controller I have room for in this build is collector since it will get by far the most use.

My controller should be programmable for any available function, or something. Maybe a size 3 can do everything while a size 1 can only do collect and fuel, etc.

(also what the hell is with the mission text/voice telling me literally to "blast" open the hatch and expecting me to get that they don't mean blast it open with my guns. Sorry guys, first time trying to rescue somebody. Maybe next time don't tell me to do exactly what you want me to not do!)

 

[Lestat]

Well, the last thing one needs to do is tell a ship that wants to be rescued "Hold position here. I'll head 30,000 LY back to the bubble and come back with a fuel limpet controller. I only have hull repair controllers on board. It shouldn't take me more than a week or so to return. Try not to use too much air."

Please Note you don't see NPC after 200 LY past the bubble. Now, what would the chance be to finding another player in 400,000,000,000 systems? I rather put my money in a lotto ticket. Oh if you did find someone 400 billion systems. Direct them to Fuelrats?. I bet there a fuelrat that closer than whining about flying 30,000 LY to the system to replace a module and flying back 30,000 ly.

In one of the (dozen??) other threads on this subject, if FD had originally designed it so ONE controller did all the limpets, and they just added a dial to tell the controller what the limpet should do, no one would have complained. That is, of course, until someone suggests that instead of one controller, we should split it into eight of them.

Imagine the salt.

Ya I know your all for the Lame MMO games that let you do it all. That why I don't play those games. Why don't we keep Elite dangerous on the side of players using Common sense and use what you need and not I need it all mentality of other lame MMO games.

 

[Leadfoot]

Please Note you don't see NPC after 200 LY past the bubble. Now, what would the chance be to finding another player in 400,000,000,000 systems? I rather put my money in a lotto ticket. Oh if you did find someone 400 billion systems. Direct them to Fuelrats?. I bet there a fuelrat that closer than whining about flying 30,000 LY to the system to replace a module and flying back 30,000 ly.

Sorry, I should have noted that it might have involved an actual player. And yes, we have fuel rats. I'd still think it'd be nice to be able to render aid.

Ya I know your all for the Lame MMO games that let you do it all. That why I don't play those games. Why don't we keep Elite dangerous on the side of players using Common sense and use what you need and not I need it all mentality of other lame MMO games.

So are you suggesting that if FD had originally created one controller and just added "options" to it as more and more uses for limpets came into being, you'd be upset with that?

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

Ya I know your all for the Lame MMO games that let you do it all. That why I don't play those games. Why don't we keep Elite dangerous on the side of players using Common sense and use what you need and not I need it all mentality of other lame MMO games.

> Let's make the game unnecessarily complicated so I can feel good about knowing so much about loadouts!

 

[Arkadi]

I actually thought I've read a Frontier post some time ago, that they intend to do exactly this. I was surprised it was not in the 3.3 release.

This is very much needed.

 

[Malkevin]

Well, the last thing one needs to do is tell a ship that wants to be rescued "Hold position here. I'll head 30,000 LY back to the bubble and come back with a fuel limpet controller. I only have hull repair controllers on board. It shouldn't take me more than a week or so to return. Try not to use too much air."

In one of the (dozen??) other threads on this subject, if FD had originally designed it so ONE controller did all the limpets, and they just added a dial to tell the controller what the limpet should do, no one would have complained. That is, of course, until someone suggests that instead of one controller, we should split it into eight of them.

Imagine the salt.

I would like to have reprogrammable controllers, even if they took a few minutes to reconfigure and reboot - maybe use some basic materials too?

 

[Leadfoot]

I would like to have reprogrammable controllers, even if they took a few minutes to reconfigure and reboot - maybe use some basic materials too?

One of the other suggestions was grouping controllers into sets such as mining, etc.. i.e., a mining controller would be switchable from prospector to collector (since both are used for that activity).

I still think if you wanted to balance things out, controllers would be more expensive (or have more mass) if they're able to do more things in one box, i.e., a single operation controller would be .5 tons, one that controls all functions might have 64 tons of mass. Two 1-slot controllers should be able to fit into a 2-slot module, etc.

There are ways to balance something like this out if they were going to do it.

 

[Darcanis]

This would be great as I hate having so many slots taken up by tons of different Limpet controllers when in real life a universal limpet (which they are in game) would have a universal controller that simply uses different software addons for added functionality. Then again some of the optional modules would all be native functions or software addons as well like Planetary landing package, Detailed scanner, and Auto Dock. Auto Dock would simply have a on off under the ship screen same as nightvison and lights. Those who want it turn on.. Those who don't turn off... Why take up a slot for a 0 any weight module! Any 0 weight modules should be standard equipment or software upgrades! Anyway.. bit off topic... One universal limpet controller with software upgrades that plop into slots. Then just choose size and quality of controller 1 through whatever...

 

[Shnyrik]

The idea would be to make limpet controllers function similar to planetary vehicle bays or fighter hangars

That has been (at least for me) one of the most expected things for 3.3

The class of the limpet controller would determine the maximum size of the program, and the grade would determine how many slots the limpet controller has

I'd rather alternatively propose that they shouldn't have grades at all, only classes, and thus class should determine the quantity of slots.

I believe that controller racks shouldn't compete the current large specialized controllers, but rather be a means to get a larger specter of basic services. So, I think, they should have only size 1 slots and go in like two-three classes (just like current large controllers-- 3-d with two slots, 5-th with 3 slots and may be 7-th with more). This would kind of balance the new feature with the existing controllers.

If you are a pirate -- free one third slot for hatch breaker and collector.
If you are a saucer hunter -- free one third slot for decontamination and collector.
If you are an explorer -- free one fifth slot for collector and research and repair or refuel.
And so on.

On the other hand, if you want your limpets to go further, live longer and fly in quantities of more than one -- go get a single specialized controller just like now.

This would (probably) not ruin the current game balance too much.

 

[C64Fan]

Sandro said they want to implement slotted limpet controllers of some kind. Considering how long ago it was, I had hoped it would make it into the 3.3 release, but obviously it didn't. Maybe they ran into some issues with balancing it, or how much of an overhaul it will be.

Yes, I remember that too. Put that in the next update, FD.