Can we maybe not change ARX cosmetics on-the-fly, please?

WR3ND · Jul 7, 2019

I've heard this will be part of the update introducing the ARX currency system for cosmetics.

I've actually rather enjoyed cosmetics being a part of game-play in the game, needing to go to stations to change them around.

Here are a few key points for me:

Learning to recognize ships by sight on expeditions and the like. This includes things like fleet roster pics. https://www.distantworlds2.space/fleet-showcase

Looking forward to coming back from the black to pickup my gold squadron trophy and apply my Distant Worlds 2 decal. A bit of extra wind in my sails, and an element of reward for the undertaking.

And of course the obvious, changing a ship's appearance out in the middle of nowhere, including things like ship kits, doesn't make much sense contextually in the game.

So, yeah, I'd prefer the application of ship cosmetics remain a compelling part of game-play than something applied frivolously with no in-game context supporting it.

Thanks.

Factabulous · Jul 7, 2019

You know you can just ... not change livery in flight. Willpower - that's all it takes.

Personally I'm looking forward to being able to apply by DW2 decal - which I can't redeem until the September release as I'm nowhere near civilization.

WR3ND · Jul 7, 2019

Yes, but I'd rather enjoy the game for what it is rather than what I have to pretend it to be. Game doesn't make sense or isn't compelling to play? That's alright, just imagine it is.

Vandaahl · Jul 7, 2019

Maybe a good compromise to both situations would be the ability to not change it in game, but somewhere from the Main menu. In short, when you are not in game.

Northpin · Jul 7, 2019

Maybe they could introduce livery limpet controllers

Iskariot · Jul 7, 2019

WR3ND said:
I've heard this will be part of the update introducing the ARX currency system for cosmetics.

I've actually rather enjoyed cosmetics being a part of game-play in the game, needing to go to stations to change them around.

Here are a few key points for me:

Learning to recognize ships on expeditions and the like.

Looking forward to coming back from the black to pickup my gold squadron trophy and Distant Worlds 2 decal.

And of course the obvious, changing a ships appears out in the middle of nowhere, including things like ship kits, doesn't make much sense contextually in the game.

So, yeah, I'd prefer the application of ship cosmetics remain a compelling part of game-play than something applied frivolously with no game context supporting it.

Thanks.

I don't like it either.
It is an unnecessary magical mechanic added to a spacesim.
I think this does not belong in ED. ED is becoming too gamy.

Vandaahl · Jul 7, 2019

Northpin said:
Maybe they could introduce livery limpet controllers

Go away!

edit
On second thought, maybe she could clean the window as well...

Morbad · Jul 7, 2019

Northpin said:
Maybe they could introduce livery limpet controllers

It's just a slave, flying a canister, holding a paint brush out a hole in the side.

HAMM3R · Jul 7, 2019

Maybe the paintjob on the ship isn't traditional paint but some kind of electrically charged nano-coating (or whatever) whose appearance can be manipulated from within the ship.

Vandaahl · Jul 7, 2019

HAMM3R said:
Maybe the paintjob on the ship isn't traditional paint but some kind of electrically charged nano-coating (or whatever) whose appearance can be manipulated from within the ship.

And the holo paint job was born...

Vardaugas · Jul 7, 2019

Vandaahl said:
And the holo paint job was born...

Telepresence paintjob. It's applied virtually from a distance by remotely downloading the pattern from a main database in Sol and holographically applied to the ship. Instantly. Because we suddenly have FTL communications.

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead · Jul 7, 2019

I quite like being able to change my livery in deep space. I often get bored of how I look. Lol

Vardaugas · Jul 7, 2019

RELSPI said:
we can already communicate instantly with travelers at Beagle Point, so long as we're besties with them

this proves that comms in Elite are handled by Friendship Drives

Now imagine they'd add an appropriate delay to it where you need to wait days to weeks for a response. Similar with Galnet news or any other messages from factions.

RELSPI said:
It's already canon that Ship Kits are holographic, iirc.

That was an unfortunate act of appeasement towards the ever complaining during a lifestream iirc. It would be better if it got retconned together with that other abomination, telepresence.

Northpin · Jul 7, 2019

HAMM3R said:
Maybe the paintjob on the ship isn't traditional paint but some kind of electrically charged nano-coating (or whatever) whose appearance can be manipulated from within the ship.

I like more my livery limpet controller.

I could equip a ship with fuel limpets, repair limpets and livery limpets and call it Ye Old'e Barber Shop and provide full services to weary travelers

Vardaugas · Jul 7, 2019

RELSPI said:
It would make the game hilariously boring, and be useless considering external communication is easy

Exactly. Hence it gets handwaved away for the sake of gameplay.

Though it may be interesting to calculate how long information takes to spread. Just for science, really.

Factabulous · Jul 7, 2019

Best make the most of it - when 2020 drops and we get Space Legs we'll be painting the ship the old fashioned way - a la Red Dwarf

Northpin said:
I could equip a ship with fuel limpets, repair limpets and livery limpets and call it Ye Old'e Barber Shop and provide full services to weary travelers

A new form of PVP via Livery Limpets "OMG! I can't believe you painted my ship PINK!"

Spaceman Si · Jul 7, 2019

Factabulous said:
You know you can just ... not change livery in flight. Willpower - that's all it takes.

Personally I'm looking forward to being able to apply by DW2 decal - which I can't redeem until the September release as I'm nowhere near civilization.

The corollary to this is that all it takes is for you to exhibit willpower to wait until you are in an appropriate place near civilization to apply your decal

WR3ND · Jul 7, 2019

Vandaahl said:
Maybe a good compromise to both situations would be the ability to not change it in game, but somewhere from the Main menu. In short, when you are not in game.

I'd rather it remain a compelling element of game-play and contextual immersion in the game, so what you're suggesting isn't really a compromise in that regard.

Still though, I think what you're saying does actually have a fair bit of merit none the less and could have further practical implications.

For example, the cosmetics could be tested out in the training scenarios, on the menu screens, and so on. Might provide some reason for my ship being "docked" on the menu screen when it's actually 10s of thousands of light-years away from colonized space in the game proper.

Rick6549 · Jul 7, 2019

RELSPI said:
It's already canon that Ship Kits are holographic, iirc.

Really ? I never knew that.

Vasious · Jul 7, 2019

Galnet News Septermber 3305: Firmware update to Ships Holo Me System
Today the Pilots Federation announced a firmware update to the Ships Holo Me system is ready to go live , which will allow the projection of the holofield to the external surface of the ship.

This will allow the near instantoious "repainting" of a ship to the livery of the Commanders' choice, with a tie in to the Bank of Zaonce's new online ARX shopping App.
It has even been programmed to mimic wear and tear that comes with long super-cruise journeys for that Authentic "Frontier ship" look.

The Download will be available to all ships fitted with a COVAS system from Midnight tonight and expected to be a 30 minute download for ships in the Bubble FTL comms network. Commanders in Colonia and out on exploration missions should check with their FTLC service provider.

Tune in tomorrow for Gwendolyn Nash's review of the ARX shopping App by the Bank of Zaonce which will cover this feature as part of her review.