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

[Azreh Helas]

There already is a kind of an autopilot, your ship computer steers your ship if you launch a fighter without crew. Why can't this be extended into making jumps as well? nothing more than jumps and basic navigation.

 

[BinaryFu]

Listen I rather see some players leave because they want autopilot and don't pay attention to the game and don't bother playing the game than lose players that pay attention to the game focus on the game.

So, I'm curious - exactly how do you see the game losing players by giving all players the option to use something? I mean, if you don't want to use X, you simply...you know...don't. The game doesn't change *at all* for you and others like yourself.

So, what aspect of the above scenario makes players want to quit the game just because other players are now satisfied with their request?

I don't just *want* to know this, I really *need* to know this, because I sincerely believe there is a fundamental flaw in long-term player logic that says, "Game is perfect. Variance on game will cause displeasure in other long-term user base. Displeasure will cause long-term players to leave. This cannot be allowed, even if it allows company to have millions more players and exponential growth."

If the game plays like X, and you add OPTIONAL features A-W as well as Y and Z, you can now play the game as you wish. The whole alphabet is before you.

However, if you want the game to ONLY have feature X, as it did at the beginning, nobody is stopping you from doing so. In fact, if you keep all the other features OFF by default, you won't even notice a change in the game except there's more wizzy buttons in a side panel.

But if you want to add a feature...all you have to do is click a button.

But, in your argument, what you're telling us all right now is...THE ABILITY TO TURN A FEATURE ON OR OFF WILL GREATLY DIMINISH YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE GAME AND MAKE IT SO YOU WOULD NO LONGER WISH TO PLAY.

Really?

Please explain this logic to us, I for one sincerely hope you can.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

An autopilot wouldn't improve the way I explore in any way, shape or form, and anyway, I actually like flying my spaceship.

 

[teeblud]

I would quite like a command for voice attack. "Align with target " or "align with nearest planet" would be way cool for exploring. I don't think full auto pilot would be much fun though.

 

[0rionsbane]

The sheer amount of hate for an autopilot is staggering here, I think it would be good and should have been a damn module on release. If your worried about trade automation, news flash your to late there are bots everywhere and frontier don't have the staff to hunt them down for relatively normal play styles of jump, w/s, jump w/s jump x navigate 75% throttle. Also to watch you tube for the op pip (picture in picture) works nicely i use it often https://github.com/LorenzCK/OnTopReplica. The in game news thing is fine for a minute or two but after that i need something else.

 

[Para Handy]

The sheer amount of hate for an autopilot is staggering here, ............

I think you will find that this is because a lot of us feel that it would be against the mores of the game we bought. Accounts that use bots become perma-banned so if someone wants to throw away their purchase price for that - carry on.

Bots and autopilots mean lazy players who want a different game from what we have.

 

[Lestat]

I would like people to read the other topics below. We also explain why autopilot would not work. Everything to Bots would abuse autopilot and try to combat Bots with Captcha and why it would not work.

This topic point out a few point why autopilot would not work.
Automation and Scripting - An investigation into further abuses of BGS and Powerplay
or Method to get rid of in-game bots

 

[jhvanriper]

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.

Totally agree - So if I can transport an unoccupied ship between two stars, why is it game wrecking to transport the ship I am i between two stars? Seems only to make sense I could hire into a a heavy transport to move my ship from Colonia back to the bubble. Spent a week moving out there to find something to do and got there and .... Nothing.

And really who in their right mind thinks autopilot would not be a thing, when it already is a thing. So if you don't want autopilot don't use autopilot just like cruise control on my car! I like it and my wife does not. So maybe the autopilot routing rules are no stars that are not honked and no overcharging the FSD, so you have to either chart the path in normal space or do the long jumps manually.

Anyway my ship in is Colonia and really have not interest in moving it back to the bubble till there is a way that does not entail a week of stupid jump - honk - scoop - jump

Different players different interenests. Apparently those who want the simulation to be realish are wrong.

 

[SirMaxxx]

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!

So, as the OP actually said, make an autopilot optional.

 

[varonica]

So, as the OP actually said, make an autopilot optional.

Exploring is optional, what's the problem? See how that works?

Introducing an "easy travel" mechanic and then saying it's optional isn't an argument in it's favour!

 

[SirMaxxx]

Wow! Nice to meet you, too!
I merely pointed out that you wouldn't be "taking it away" from those that "want to go places and explore things not because they are hard and a long way away" if you made it optional.
That's all.
Now, why don't you go lie down for a bit?

 

[Lestat]

So, as the OP actually said, make an autopilot optional.

And you give the Rise to the bots. Great job SirMaxx. It makes the Gold seller more of a profit.

Wow! Nice to meet you, too!
I merely pointed out that you wouldn't be "taking it away" from those that "want to go places and explore things not because they are hard and a long way away" if you made it optional.
That's all.
Now, why don't you go lie down for a bit?

Thing is SirMaxx I can use it to exploit the system. That why Autopilot is not a good idea.

 

[SirMaxxx]

OK, I responded to your original ''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!" with the suggestion that making it optional (as op suggested) negates that argument.

That's it.

Now, you bring up Gold sellers.

OK - I don't know if there really is such a thing in ED (I assume you mean people selling accounts or currency for real money?) If there are, then that's not a problem for individuals in-game, is it? I mean, it's not a competition?
I could easily write a bot now to gain me a few billion credits - but to what end?

I don't genuinely understand how you could use an autopilot to 'exploit the system' if it was a part of the system? Sure, if you had an autopilot that you could program in-game to go off to systems, scan planets, trade, etc. - but I don't think anyone is suggesting that?