34th century technology...no autopilot

[Rdc74656]

So 24th century ships (Star Trek) have computers that can fly the ship to a destination. 10 centuries later , in the same galaxy...ships are not able to be flown by computer. What gives?

I understand this request will probably cause uproar within the community saying that it removes the gameplay realism but it is just a game after all.

I would request an updated docking computer (similar to the way discovery scanners advance to the point they have an infinite range) that apart from having the ability to dock at a set destination also has the ability to auto pilot (Supercruise & FSD) the ship unless you became interdicted or attacked in someway...

I feel this would allow time to play around with the onboard systems and/or the external camera (which i feel would benefit from an automatically set up fly-by camera mode) to take some beauty shots.

Also as an afterthought, you could set the ship to a search pattern to search for the ever elusive (mission critical) ship or sensor ping.

just my thoughts.

 

[trollson]

Its a game about piloting a spaceship.

 

[UmbraRex]

So, lemme get this straight.

It's a game about piloting a spaceship (As trollson noted) Yet you don't want to pilot your spaceship.

On discovery scanners, IMHO they are passive sensors on the hull of your ship that pick up emissions then decode & display the information for you. The higher grades have more sensitive sensors.

Star Trek is not in our past in Elite. It doesn't/never existed so the tech comparisons are invalid.

I BELIEVE the lore for most of the AI people seem to expect but don't have is there was some kind of computer rebellion due to AIs getting to smart so computers are kept as minimally functionally as possible now to prevent a reoccurrence.

Any lore expert, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[777Driver]

So 24th century ships (Star Trek) have computers that can fly the ship to a destination. 10 centuries later , in the same galaxy...ships are not able to be flown by computer. What gives?

I understand this request will probably cause uproar within the community saying that it removes the gameplay realism but it is just a game after all.

I would request an updated docking computer (similar to the way discovery scanners advance to the point they have an infinite range) that apart from having the ability to dock at a set destination also has the ability to auto pilot (Supercruise & FSD) the ship unless you became interdicted or attacked in someway...

I feel this would allow time to play around with the onboard systems and/or the external camera (which i feel would benefit from an automatically set up fly-by camera mode) to take some beauty shots.

Also as an afterthought, you could set the ship to a search pattern to search for the ever elusive (mission critical) ship or sensor ping.

just my thoughts.

Agreed, hulking 2000+ tonne ships that are operated like aircraft built in 1905. My 2.5 tonne Piper Archer has an Autopilot, even has better navigation tools on board.

Been discussed many times, there is an active discussion on the main forum atm.

As someone who loves hand flying these ships 99% FA-OFF, and someone who enjoys flying in the real world, I find the lack of automation is quite strange in this game. Nudging a stick every now and again on long journeys is not flying, am glad some people enjoy such mundane tasks, I'd rather delegate control and hand fly the interesting parts, leave the option for nudging the stick to those that prefer an era when men were men and ships/aircraft had to be 100% manual, pretty much the year 1905.

@UmbraRex - AI & guidance computers are completely separate things, not even worth comparing the two.

 

[Rdc74656]

Its a game about piloting a spaceship.

oh i agree, just nice to have an option.

figured it could be an update to the docking computer, could rename the module to "navigation upgrade module" and then have the different classes do more (e.g the crapest version just does docking, then the more upgraded class, the more it could do, so then the class A would be able to perfectly align the ship to target planet for example and once arrived, puts you into a low orbit, or docks at a base if you selected one..

Like you say its a game, now if it was real and i lived in 34th century. i'd expect the computer to be able to handle a course plot and engage command.

Use it or don't thats why it would be an option-able module.

 

[Rdc74656]

Agreed, hulking 2000+ tonne ships that are operated like aircraft built in 1905. My 2.5 tonne Piper Archer has an Autopilot, even has better navigation tools on board.

Been discussed many times, there is an active discussion on the main forum atm.

As someone who loves hand flying these ships 99% FA-OFF, and someone who enjoys flying in the real world, I find the lack of automation is quite strange in this game. Nudging a stick every now and again on long journeys is not flying, am glad some people enjoy such mundane tasks, I'd rather delegate control and hand fly the interesting parts, leave the option for nudging the stick to those that prefer an era when men were men and ships/aircraft had to be 100% manual, pretty much the year 1905.

@UmbraRex - AI & guidance computers are completely separate things, not even worth comparing the two.

I'm glad someone saw this in the same mind-set as me

I don't use a thrustmaster or anything, although i have got one but can't really leave it out as the "devil-child" daughter that i have in the house would most likely break it as shes 1 year old.
But again this is why i was liking the idea of an auto pilot...the "X" series of space games has a purchasable navigation command software that allows for the user to set a destination station in a far-off sector and it auto pilots it's own way there.

This then allows me time to put the ketttle on and change my daughters filled nappy but i can just look at the screen and notice that A)i've arrived safe B)the ships just flown into a pirate filled sector and the turrets are doing a poor job protecting the ship in which i take over (once nappy filled due to the tactical pause C) ship has not moved as i forgot to engage the command.

sorry for typo's if any i'm using wireless keyboard.

But yes 777Driver, I 2nd your comments

 

[Rdc74656]

So, lemme get this straight.

It's a game about piloting a spaceship (As trollson noted) Yet you don't want to pilot your spaceship.

On discovery scanners, IMHO they are passive sensors on the hull of your ship that pick up emissions then decode & display the information for you. The higher grades have more sensitive sensors.

Star Trek is not in our past in Elite. It doesn't/never existed so the tech comparisons are invalid.

I BELIEVE the lore for most of the AI people seem to expect but don't have is there was some kind of computer rebellion due to AIs getting to smart so computers are kept as minimally functionally as possible now to prevent a reoccurrence.

Any lore expert, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I enjoy doing the missions, data missions, not done passenger yet but i feel i'll enjoy those, skimmer missions. I dont go after other players or anything as i'm not a (or if its less sensitive) I just feel the bits inbetween accepting a mission and claiming the rewards are sometimes a bit tedious. having to constantly nudge a dot to make sure i don't lose alignment to a orbital station does kind of get in the way of Real Life for me as really i just want to arrive and dock at the station, base or wherever.