The ADS

[Ziggy Stardust]

Don't mind me.
Let's say they would add the ADS in its old functionality again... Wouldn't it make more sense to add the functionality without the ADS? Just jump to the system and instantly reveal the system map without the unnecessary button pressing?

Call it part of the FSS for all I care. When you honk, the FSS populates a system map, and you can go into spectrometer mode in it as well. The ADS is still dead. Everyone is happy.

Well, I'm glad we got this solved after all this time. Not that it's going to happen, but at least we figured it out.

 

[Shinji Ikari]

Except when changing X is not desirable for your product.

Let's consider: X to be a blend of 90/10 ground sirloin with a patented formulation of seasonings, which is then grilled a specific way, prepared and served in a specific way.

Enter enough "Customers" who complain, because they feel your 90/10 ground sirloin should be replaced with ground Tofu.

But your business is called "F-k Tofu, Eat Meat Burgers"

Now it sounds like you need to replace your customers instead.

Is ED called F-k ADS, use FSS? Also, KFC does sell vegetarian food now lol.

 

[lenna]

Except when changing X is not desirable for your product.

Except in the case of the FSS/DSS there are ZERO grounds not to change it. There are numerous flaws in the implementation and design that are undeniable on the whole.

The 3.3 exploration changes arguably have had a net negative result on ED as whole IMO and the opinion of others but that could have been avoided if they had not removed the ADS in the first place. Moving forward changes to the FSS/DSS are essential to the QOL of the product as a whole. FD need to realise this and plan to address it as a matter of priority, not necessarily immediately but perhaps as part of (or after the release of) the next major expansion.

 

[Enderby]

I'd be happy with a honk that populated the system map (and the nav panel - "Unexplored") with the planet images but with no other info. You'd still have to fly there or use the FSS to 'discover' them.
There's room for both ADS like stuff and FSS like stuff, I'm sure.
Indeed, there is a desire for it.
With a little tinkering.
Keep everyone happy.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

So, in summary:

Nobody who liked the FSS last time we had this conversation has changed their opinion
Nobody who disliked the FSS last time we had the conversation has changed their opinion
FDev continue to ignore the issue and focus on enhancing the new player experience bug list

See you all next time.

Well the people who don’t like it have shuffled around a bit Burke’s taken the lead this time and is doing an admirable job.

Shame you got jaded and left we miss you drew.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Call it part of the FSS for all I care. When you honk, the FSS populates a system map, and you can go into spectrometer mode in it as well. The ADS is still dead. Everyone is happy.

Well, I'm glad we got this solved after all this time. Not that it's going to happen, but at least we figured it out.

No thanks. An optional module please. I do not want the system map populated after a honk.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

But he isn't 'supporting' the game - his Patreons are supporting him, surely? Is that not the way of most of the 'influencers' - to maintain their 'channels' (and possibly themselves) by encouraging viewers to provide financial incentive to continue?

Otherwise, well phrased

That’s a really good point. Maybe we should raise a small find and “sponsor” a fss... education.. campaign video by these content creators. That’s how it works right? Maybe it will eventually get back on reddit and frontier will have to answer.

 

[Sysmon]

No thanks. An optional module please. I do not want the system map populated after a honk.

Can we at least agree it would be nice to have something in the cockpit UI after a honk? And not just the "X bodies discovered" notice? I would like some sort of mass function graph and a representation of the FSA spectrogram in the cockpit view. Then based on that I can decide if I want to look closer at the frequency analyser for anything in particular.

S

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

But I suspect that FDev will not want something that bypasses the FSS. That is my guess. I hope you understand that.

I disagree. Every other gameplay mechanic they’ve released in the last 3 years at least, including the other one that came in the exploration crusher patch, is optional.

Why is exploration special to be the only one in years?

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Well the people who don’t like it have shuffled around a bit Burke’s taken the lead this time and is doing an admirable job.

Shame you got jaded and left we miss you drew.

No they haven't. It's been the same all along.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

I wonder how the FSS crowd would feel if, after 2 years of using it, FD reversed course and said, " Not enough people are using the FSS anymore and exploration has fallen off. Therefore we are removing the FSS and restoring the ADS."

The thing I don't get is why so many are adamantly opposed to more rather than fewer options.

I'm not advocating removal or no more improvement to the FSS. That would be fine.

I'm just saying that removing the ADS was not necessary and adding it back as an option would be an improvement and likely encourage more exploration.

If it's optional, no one is forced to use it and the never ADS crowd is unaffected. The way they explore currently would not be changed. For the "old guard" who liked the ADS, they would be happy that they would have the option to explore the way they used to before the ADS was removed.

It would be a win/win move by FD

Why the opposition? Makes no sense.

Make the DS upgrade to ADS expensive or not easy to engineer if FD thinks appropriate, but it should still be an option.

Or it’s having a negative impact on new players. We’re all old timers here, but think of the impression the fss gives the first time a new player would try out of bubble exploration. Takes 2-3 goes.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Can we at least agree it would be nice to have something in the cockpit UI after a honk? And not just the "X bodies discovered" notice? I would like some sort of mass function graph and a representation of the FSA spectrogram in the cockpit view. Then based on that I can decide if I want to look closer at the frequency analyser for anything in particular.

S

Yup. I've wanted the spectrograph as part of the analysis mode again from the very beginning. It would give it some kind of purpose.

 

[Sysmon]

Or it’s having a negative impact on new players. We’re all old timers here, but think of the impression the fss gives the first time a new player would try out of bubble exploration. Takes 2-3 goes.

Everything else in the game has a pretty steep learning curve (still) though. Why should exploration be a 1-button win?

S

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Or it’s having a negative impact on new players. We’re all old timers here, but think of the impression the fss gives the first time a new player would try out of bubble exploration. Takes 2-3 goes.

New players, I suspect wouldn't have an issue.

 

[Enderby]

What about having scan options in the ship panel thingy so a player could choose the method that they prefer?
With the 'populate map but no info, no discovery' scan choice (as above), for example, or the option to use the current honk scan.

Let players choose the way that most appeals to them, without stopping others from doing it a different way if they prefer that.

No need for 'punishment modules'.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

Everything else in the game has a pretty steep learning curve (still) though. Why should exploration be a 1-button win?

S

Are you still trotting out this tripe!?
Please explain exactly what you ‘win’ from an ADS honk.

Discovery Tags, nope.
Credits, nope.
All you get is an image.

Is it indicative with a high degree of certainty? Well, yes it is.
Does that level of certainty provide any tangible reward? No it doesn’t.
All it gives you is a choice.
Jump to the next system or go and get those rewards, by flying there or ironically enough by using the FSS.

Choices are good. So that would be a win, I’ll give you that.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

Everything else in the game has a pretty steep learning curve (still) though. Why should exploration be a 1-button win?

S

Doesn't make sense.

• The system map is not winning anything. The fss blocker is everyones small child caught up in asking for permission to do something rather than getting on with it and doing it themselves.
• The fss also gives them the reward for doing the work before they've done any work.

Its like frontier just woke up and decided to delete the game everyone was playing.

That's pretty close to the root of the problem actually. If they didn't dope out players with all the rewards (probably to make the really daft busywork gameplay appealing somehow) there would be less / no problems.

 

[babelfisch]

Call it part of the FSS for all I care. When you honk, the FSS populates a system map, and you can go into spectrometer mode in it as well. The ADS is still dead. Everyone is happy.

Well, I'm glad we got this solved after all this time. Not that it's going to happen, but at least we figured it out.

Yup, just found it odd that people are asking for an additional click and module.

 

[babelfisch]

No thanks. An optional module please. I do not want the system map populated after a honk.

 

[Sysmon]

Are you still trotting out this tripe!?

Yes. I don't want a placeholder back just because some got used to exploring with it. I'm sorry if using the FSA interrupts their Netflix viewing time. They are probably double sorry now that they can just set Supercruise Assist and hardly have to play at all. With the ADS + Supercruise Assist, it would be possible to explore while making dinner or doing housework.

Meanwhile, I'm glad to be able scale and adapt my exploration efforts to the question I'm trying to answer. The new tools are great for that, and I hope FDEV will add in more stuff for us to find with them, as well as more integration of the orrery into targeting in the same way the System Map and FSA Interface are.


S