A basic auto-pilot would be a true boon for Exploration.

[Commander Morelenmir]

Travelling any sort of long distance is currently incredibly gruelling. The most I can manage in one sitting is a 100 hops and that is with a break at 50! I could never really get in to EVE properly, but one place they got it right was the auto-pilot. I strongly suggest that ED be given something similar.

Jump, dodge the sun, jump... Over and over and over again. Honestly I have nearly given up playing at the mid-point of my current journey just because of the thought of the 600+ return hops that lay in front of me. I cannot be the only one who feels this way!

I am not for a second suggesting complete automation--fuel-scooping would need to be manual, as would advanced discovery and detailed charting of each planet. Also any attack or accident could instantly drop the ship out of auto-pilot and return manual control--just as being attacked when auto-docking already does. In fact that is the point--in universe we already have Docking Computers for quality of life and that process would require far more processing power than a simple steer around a star and then re-jump should demand. I honestly cannot think of any good in-universe or real life reason to keep things as they are. Also as with Docking Computers anyone who for some reason feels sufficiently masochistic could just not use the feature!

The most basic degree of computer control would make so much difference. I seriously doubt I will ever do any exploration or passenger sight-seeing trips again as I just cannot take a thousand repetitions of the same mindless routine. I am pretty sure my brain is already running out of my ears because of it!!!

Come on guys, please give some though to this.

 

[Lestat]

So you want people to make bots so they can buy sell and such and let the game play the game. HELL No.

I think people should read Method to get rid of in game bots Before they talk about Autopilot.

 

[varonica]

The most basic degree of computer control would make so much difference. I seriously doubt I will ever do any exploration or passenger sight-seeing trips again as I just cannot take a thousand repetitions of the same mindless routine. I am pretty sure my brain is already running out of my ears because of it!!!

Come on guys, please give some though to this.

We have, many times, indeed many, many times as evinced by all the threads you could have read through so you could familiarise yourself with all the arguments against it and put up a proper proposal instead of just repeating the same thing.

The answer is not.

Exploration is designed for a particular player group in mind, those who want to go places and explore things not because they are hard and a long way away. But because you find bit dull, boring and repetitious you want to take that away from those who enjoy the exploration mechanic. Here's a suggestion, don't go exploring!

 

[Commander Morelenmir]

That is really harsh guys. Please do not speak to me in such an unnecessarily confrontational manner. It is unpleasant to read and could be considered an attempt to intimidate. I doubt you would behave like this in real life so please exercise the same restraint and good manners in this virtual meeting place. We are all fellow users and have just as much right to comment and request improvements to the game as each other. If my repeating an old request annoys you then I apologise, but still ask that you remain civil.

 

[Para Handy]

.......... Honestly I have nearly given up playing at the mid-point of my current journey just because of the thought of the 600+ return hops that lay in front of me. ..............

Can I have your stuff?

Forget the autopilot mate - never gonna happen.

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

So you want people to make bots so they can buy sell and such and let the game play the game. HELL No.

[knocked out]

What tf is wrong with people on Elite forums? I really do lose a piece of my soul every time I see arguments of this kind. Is this game made for people only?
No one in those posts ever suggested anything automated except system (station) A to system (station) B flight repetitive task.

Don't know about you, but I do have some life and do not have much energy left in me when I get to play this game after work to be eager to fling mouse up and press J twenty times over, not even speaking about doing same in T9. I'd much rather watch some Youtube while the game does this for me to save my energy for some other things in this game.

This game not having autopilot is just stupid. We already have automated cars on the streets, yet we don't have an autopilot in supposedly 3300. Wha?

Given NPC pirates and other stuff, no one expects fully automated AFK trading from it.

All I want from autopilot is to relive me from watching my ship during those fifteen or something jumps. At least to some extent. Even screw SC to station autopilot, give me at least that. I simply don't have that much energy in me to spend it on that crap when I get to play this game. Too hard to understand? Average age of this game's player is something around 35, so I am hardly alone in this.

I know, someone will reply with "maybe this game is not for you then" crap. Ahead of that: go fk yourselves. I know, this might be somewhat offensive, but do you understand that you are simply trolling at this point? I've paid my money, not just on the game, hardware upgrades simply so stars on loading wont look like light bulbs which someone smeared with snot should be counted as well. So I have to just fk off at this point? Cause some people sit on their parents' heads and have crapton of free time and energy? Don't think so.

 

[LuxAeterna]

Exploration is boring only because there's not much out there but the content Fdev puts into the game, which is limited at best. Out of the 4 billion star systems out there, there's only (maybe, being generous) a few hundred systems with actual playable exploration content (Guardians, Thargoids, etc.) in them besides the core game assets (NPCs, planets, USS's, etc.). I don't think an auto-pilot is what the game needs at the moment.

While most are okay with being space photographers, I agree exploration is tedious for what you get out of it (jump, dodge star, scan, jump, dodge star, scan, land, jump). All you got out of the trip was some pictures and credits.

 

[LuxAeterna]

[knocked out]

What tf is wrong with people on Elite forums? I really do lose a piece of my soul every time I see arguments of this kind. Is this game made for people only?
No one in those posts ever suggested anything automated except system (station) A to system (station) B flight repetitive task.

Don't know about you, but I do have some life and do not have much energy left in me when I get to play this game after work to be eager to fling mouse up and press J twenty times over, not even speaking about doing same in T9. I'd much rather watch some Youtube while the game does this for me to save my energy for some other things in this game.

This game not having autopilot is just stupid. We already have automated cars on the streets, yet we don't have an autopilot in supposedly 3300. Wha?

Given NPC pirates and other stuff, no one expects fully automated AFK trading from it.

All I want from autopilot is to relive me from watching my ship during those fifteen or something jumps. At least to some extent. Even screw SC to station autopilot, give me at least that. I simply don't have that much energy in me to spend it on that crap when I get to play this game. Too hard to understand? Average age of this game's player is something around 35, so I am hardly alone in this.

I know, someone will reply with "maybe this game is not for you then" crap. Ahead of that: go fk yourselves. I know, this might be somewhat offensive, but do you understand that you are simply trolling at this point? I've paid my money, not just on the game, hardware upgrades simply so stars on loading wont look like light bulbs which someone smeared with snot should be counted as well. So I have to just fk off at this point? Cause some people sit on their parents' heads and have crapton of free time and energy? Don't think so.

If you're watching Youtube then you're not playing the game. So now you want an easier way to watch more Youtube instead of playing the game you paid to play?!
That's ...

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

Exploration is boring only because there's not much out there but the content Fdev puts into the game, which is limited at best. Out of the 4 billion star systems out there, there's only (maybe, being generous) a few hundred systems with actual playable exploration content (Guardians, Thargoids, etc.) in them besides the core game assets (NPCs, planets, USS's, etc.). I don't think an auto-pilot is what the game needs at the moment.

While most are okay with being space photographers, I agree exploration is tedious for what you get out of it (jump, dodge star, scan, jump, dodge star, scan, land, jump). All you got out of the trip was some pictures and credits.

If you speak about development resources expenditure, I belive autopilot for ED already were available once as 3rd party program. Basic system A to system B jump sequence autopilot is really not that hard to implement.

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

If you're watching Youtube then you're not playing the game. So now you want an easier way to watch more Youtube instead of playing the game you paid to play?!
That's ...

[knocked out]

Autopilot in current state of the game cannot be implemented as fully automated feature. All I expect from it is to spare me from pressing two buttons. I do not expect to be able to just go make a supper or something while I'm moving from system A to system B. I have two monitors, just saying.

 

[space voyager]

I'd love a somewhat limited autopilot. For instance, working in systems with a nav beacon.

Otherwise an autopilot that would take you anywhere... Completely destroys the purpose of exploration in Elite.

 

[varonica]

[knocked out]

What tf is wrong with people on Elite forums? I really do lose a piece of my soul every time I see arguments of this kind.

Really? Then stop reading them.

You know what really annoys me, having to respond to the exact same suggestions over and over again. Even though they are exactly the same as every other suggestion we have had on the exact same subject about twice a week for last two years. The exact same suggestions have been made, the responses in detail have all been supplied over and over again so it gets to the point where writing endless explanation of why this is a bad idea just grinds people down. So the answers, because people are to lazy to do a forum search and look for "autopilot" before throwing the same thing out again, tend to get a bit short and sarcastic....ooh just like this one!

It's just like having a group of five year olds sitting in the back seat and saying "are we there yet?" over and over again.

 

[Captain Willard]

So sorry for you. Elite has and prolly always will be, one pilot one ship, not having automated everything.
Auto pilot will never happen, it's not about what players want, it's about the game.
The game is afoot.

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

Really? Then stop reading them.

You know what really annoys me, having to respond to the exact same suggestions over and over again. Even though they are exactly the same as every other suggestion we have had on the exact same subject about twice a week for last two years. The exact same suggestions have been made, the responses in detail have all been supplied over and over again so it gets to the point where writing endless explanation of why this is a bad idea just grinds people down. So the answers, because people are to lazy to do a forum search and look for "autopilot" before throwing the same thing out again, tend to get a bit short and sarcastic....ooh just like this one!

It's just like having a group of five year olds sitting in the back seat and saying "are we there yet?" over and over again.

Oh really now? I'd like to say that I've started some of those topics.

And each and every time they are getting filled with either fear of trade automation, or with "play your own damn game™" statements or with some other bullcrap. Not once I've heard something reasonable against this feature.

Most "reasonable" arguments were just people being stuck in their impression and not understanding that implementation can have different depths. Others are just trying to explain that trying to ejaculate by jerking off a rubber toy is one of the best things sex life have to offer.

Everything gets repetitive and boring at some point. Especially something that has little to it to begin with. I might add, boiling point for appearance of those topics is maaarvelous and graaatifying unlocking process for some engineers. Make autopilot way slower than flying manually, make it boot for a full minute, whatever disincentives against using it you can come up with. Just allow me and others to plan some ship in Coriolis or whatever instead of pressing J button 51st time in 3 hours.

 

[Para Handy]

...........
Everything gets repetitive and boring at some point. ..............

Like people repeatedly asking for the game to automate the PILOTING of their imaginary spaceship so they can do something else in the meantime.

[down]

 

[LuxAeterna]

Oh really now? I'd like to say that I've started some of those topics.

And each and every time they are getting filled with either fear of trade automation, or with "play your own damn game™" statements or with some other bullcrap. Not once I've heard something reasonable against this feature.

Most "reasonable" arguments were just people being stuck in their impression and not understanding that implementation can have different depths. Others are just trying to explain that trying to ejaculate by jerking off a rubber toy is one of the best things sex life have to offer.

Everything gets repetitive and boring at some point. Especially something that has little to it to begin with. I might add, boiling point for appearance of those topics is maaarvelous and graaatifying unlocking process for some engineers. Make autopilot way slower than flying manually, make it boot for a full minute, whatever disincentives against using it you can come up with. Just allow me and others to plan some ship in Coriolis or whatever instead of pressing J button 51st time in 3 hours.

Reasonable reasons why auto-pilot wouldn't work:
1. Game Mechanics

a. Sun(s) usually block the next jump. (And to get an early jump on the response, no, no additional code to make the ship go around the sun(s))
b. fuel and re-fueling requirements might not meet auto-pilot parameters (you do have to re-fuel at some point, unlike in Eve Online). You might get to auto-pilot like 5-8 jumps (ship and loadout dependent) before you have to refuel again... then auto-pilot for another 5 jumps. Or you could just run out of fuel all together before you're done auto-piloting your route. I'm guessing you'd be okay with this
c. after a FSD jump the ship throttle must be increased manually to initiate another jump anyways. Likewise, when exit a jump throttle must be manually lowered to keep from power-diving into the sun. (again, no, no additional code to make the ship auto accelerate or decelerate)​

These aren't flight-of-fantasy or speculative reasons but actual "technical reasons" why auto-pilot wouldn't work in ED in it's current state of development, otherwise correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

Reasonable reasons why auto-pilot wouldn't work:
1. Game Mechanics

a. Sun(s) usually block the next jump. (And to get an early jump on the response, no, no additional code to make the ship go around the sun(s))
b. fuel and re-fueling requirements might not meet auto-pilot parameters (you do have to re-fuel at some point, unlike in Eve Online). You might get to auto-pilot like 5-8 jumps (ship and loadout dependent) before you have to refuel again... then auto-pilot for another 5 jumps. Or you could just run out of fuel all together before you're done auto-piloting your route. I'm guessing you'd be okay with this
c. after a FSD jump the ship throttle must be increased manually to initiate another jump anyways. Likewise, when exit a jump throttle must be manually lowered to keep from power-diving into the sun. (again, no, no additional code to make the ship auto accelerate or decelerate)​

These aren't flight-of-fantasy or speculative reasons but actual "technical reasons" why auto-pilot wouldn't work in ED in it's current state of development, otherwise correct me if I'm wrong.

First and foremost. Autopilot was avaliable, and as an external program at that, untill FD swooped in. So somehow it cannot be implemented in game, with all the data in the same process?

And, no offence, but what do you mean by "no additional code to make"? No code could make this work? I strongly disagree.
a) Entry star(s) raduses/barycentric orbital radiuses and star's relative positions at the moment of entry are obviusly known to the program. It's really should be piece of a cake to calculate safe radius. Moreover, it would be a valid limitation to forbid plotting course through systems with "undiscovered" main stars.
b) totally ok with that. Lifting my attention from pressing J button for 3-5 minutes is great already.
c)now that "technical" reason is really invalid. Maybe by "no additional code to make" you mean it will "automate the game "too much" ? Thats not a technical reason at all.

 

[LuxAeterna]

Meh, there won't be an auto-pilot for a long while, if ever. But an auto-pilot to watch netflix is not a good reason to get the devs into your idea. Come back at a later time once you've thought about what your asking for and how to ask for it. You might get a better response...

Sorry OP, it's not that it's a bad idea it's just the community doesn't see the need for it at the moment.

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

Meh, there won't be an auto-pilot for a long while, if ever. But an auto-pilot to watch netflix is not a good reason to get the devs into your idea. Come back at a later time once you've thought about what your asking for and how to ask for it. You might get a better response...

Sorry OP, it's not that it's a bad idea it's just the community doesn't see the need for it at the moment.

Im not the OP in this particular thread .
How come it is a bad reason? Whom ED sees as their target audience? People tend to have less time and energy avaliable to play with age. Not having any form of autopilot in this game is wrong on every level.

"Oldfqs" on this forum stand against an autopilot cause they "voted" during Kickstarter so there wont be any and defend their choice to the death because of their pride.

ED, in turn, is responsible before them. Moreover, somehow I feel that they are overfocused to make road to anything in this game "hard". I do understand that while goal is sets it, "path" is more important than destination. But ED should understand that obstacles which are clearly pulled out of the rear without any ground to them and placed on the said "path" tend to infuriate people.

 

[PiggyPiggyPig]

How about a compromise solution.
Include the option of boarding a passenger ship to a few select destinations in the galaxy, but let it take a few days to get anywhere and when you do arrive you have the option of sending for your ship, which will take an equal amount of time. In other words, you get to your destination with zero effort but you pay the all the costs associated with being a passenger and more importantly a big penalty in down time.

Better than leaving your computer on continuously day and night with the cruise control set.