An interesting placeholder for 30 minutes of game time. Now what?

[Alderius]

I'm fairly disappointed, I have to admit. I happened to be in Merope as part of the CG when 2.4 dropped, there were the dire warnings, "be afraid" and videos of fleets of ships being destroyed. At last I could look for some actual game play and interaction with Thargoids! I thought surely, FD wouldn't continue the RNGenerated alien encounters/video trailers/lack of real content. But yes, in essence they did, and that's why the disappointment.
Don't get me wrong, the graphics are cool and the sound is great, but it's little more than a barely interactive RNGenerated video trailer. Yep, I was hyperdicted once while doing the CG, and yes I dropped into a USS 5 and USS 7, was both a spectator and an opponent, but so what? You can watch them go about their business, and they leave. Or you can scrap with them but you can't win. There are variations on both of those, but the bottom line is it's as interesting as watching a video trailer over and over again. After 30 minutes of "alien time", I left and went back to the bubble because in essence, alien encounters are just irritating after the first few "OOOh and AAAh" moments while trying to go about your regular business. As often quoted, a mile wide and an inch deep.
As the CG for alien weapons an scanners was independent of Thargoids actually showing up, FD would have been far better off running that CG earlier so we could actually have some content when they arrived, rather than "Meh, I'll come back to Maia when I can actually interact". It's just like the alien ruins, not worth visiting until it got fixed. On that note, I couldn't be bothered going back to the ruins, did they ever get fixed? Might be the same for me and Thargoids.

 

[Surprised Brony]

Well, as far as I can gather, this is just barely the tip of an iceberg that heralds the beginning of a cold and difficult winter. The start of 2.4 might seem underwhelming but that's what they're trying to sell, I bet you. They want us to experience the transition from normal life to curious observation, to whatever comes next. It would have been jarring and kind of pathetic if it just started a huge war on day one.

 

[LKx]

They might have overhyped 2.4.0 a bit, but it's just the first stage.
They did say it was a staged release.
I'm sure that 2.4.1 in a month or so will unlock some cool stuff.

 

[Alderius]

Well, as far as I can gather, this is just barely the tip of an iceberg that heralds the beginning of a cold and difficult winter. The start of 2.4 might seem underwhelming but that's what they're trying to sell, I bet you. They want us to experience the transition from normal life to curious observation, to whatever comes next. It would have been jarring and kind of pathetic if it just started a huge war on day one.

Yes, they are releasing 2.4 in stages and the current CG will open up weapons and scanners. I think, like LKx, that this was really overhyped. The introduction of Thargoids, from a game play perspective, is as mediocre as my interdiction by an Elite Anaconda NPC, and about as irritating if you're trying to haul cargo in the MAIA area......

 

[Stewart_]

Have you gone down to visit the various Alien sites, including Barnicles - see whats changed?
Tried various ways of interacting with the Thargoids?

30 minutes play, and you throw your arms up and give up!?? LOL.

 

[Surprised Brony]

Yes, they are releasing 2.4 in stages and the current CG will open up weapons and scanners. I think, like LKx, that this was really overhyped. The introduction of Thargoids, from a game play perspective, is as mediocre as my interdiction by an Elite Anaconda NPC, and about as irritating if you're trying to haul cargo in the MAIA area......

I think that's the point, though. I'm betting they're lulling us into a false sense of safety. Especially with weapons that will be able to hurt them coming soon, we'll be getting a little too cocky for our own good. Things will seem like theyre getting better for us, then it'll all go to Hell.

Hopefully. :3

If it was just overhyped, I guess we've got some very pretty pew pew targets.



Something is telling me we haven't even begun to see them angry.

 

[Tikigod]

Well, as far as I can gather, this is just barely the tip of an iceberg that heralds the beginning of a cold and difficult winter. The start of 2.4 might seem underwhelming but that's what they're trying to sell, I bet you. They want us to experience the transition from normal life to curious observation, to whatever comes next. It would have been jarring and kind of pathetic if it just started a huge war on day one.

Part of the problem is the way Frontier reps talked about 2.4 right out of the door. With comments about high threats, challenge, and answering questions about if they would have significantly better AI than standard NPCs saying vague stuff like everyone had better be ready and really suggesting right out of the door there would be something meaty to dive into with the Thargoid interactions.

Instead it's USS with different scripted behaviour scenarios and AI that seems at the same Pre-caffine Monday morning potato grade as the rest of the AI when it comes to reactions outside of the scripted sequences.... and the whole threat/interest is held together with what is the equivalent of RPG resistance stat padding and target resistance ignoring rules.


Not that I was personally expecting much else, but just read some of the pre-2.4 release posts in this thread.

 

[777Driver]

Have you gone down to visit the various Alien sites, including Barnicles - see whats changed?
Tried various ways of interacting with the Thargoids?

30 minutes play, and you throw your arms up and give up!?? LOL.

There will always be people that want to be the lead role in that 'epic' space movie they created in their head. The reality is that thankfully Elite dangerous is not that kind of game. We are just tiny pieces in a much larger picture.

 

[Alderius]

Have you gone down to visit the various Alien sites, including Barnicles - see whats changed?
Tried various ways of interacting with the Thargoids?

30 minutes play, and you throw your arms up and give up!?? LOL.

In summary, yes. I've been to various alien sites (not since the week-end, I've been working the CG. Did they change?), and I've watched Thargoids, shot Thargoids, stole stuff the Thargoids wanted and then been attacked, and been hyperdicted by Thargoid wings. The end result is always the same, either they ignore you or you fight and have to run. Of course, you can spin the interaction any way you like (wing up to attack, give them an escape pod, shoot them from behind, use lasers vs torps......), end result is always the same. So yeah, after 30 minutes I've determined all outcomes (watch or run), the different variations aren't terribly interesting as the outcome is always the same. Meh!

 

[Alderius]

There will always be people that want to be the lead role in that 'epic' space movie they created in their head. The reality is that thankfully Elite dangerous is not that kind of game. We are just tiny pieces in a much larger picture.

It's a big universe and I have no doubt that I play an insignificant part (maybe I can influence the BGS in my home system, maybe......). For me it's not about the lead role, it's about some depth to the game play. With Thargoids the hype was big, but as of today the outcome is dirt simple, watch the Thargoids, or let the Thargoids kick your butt..... Hauling passengers has more depth.....

 

[Surprised Brony]

Part of the problem is the way Frontier reps talked about 2.4 right out of the door. With comments about high threats, challenge, and answering questions about if they would have significantly better AI than standard NPCs saying vague stuff like everyone had better be ready and really suggesting right out of the door there would be something meaty to dive into with the Thargoid interactions.

Instead it's USS with different scripted behaviour scenarios and AI that seems at the same Pre-caffine Monday morning potato grade as the rest of the AI when it comes to reactions outside of the scripted sequences.... and the whole threat/interest is held together with what is the equivalent of RPG resistance stat padding and target resistance ignoring rules.


Not that I was personally expecting much else, but just read some of the pre-2.4 release posts in this thread.

I won't deny that it did sound like the release itself would be nice. I think it's nice, but it certainly wasn't as epic as it could have been. But I think that moment is coming.

Like I said, it could be a slower transition than we're used to. Still, won't deny that you have a point.

 

[CMDR Nef]

I think that's the point, though. I'm betting they're lulling us into a false sense of safety. Especially with weapons that will be able to hurt them coming soon, we'll be getting a little too cocky for our own good. Things will seem like theyre getting better for us, then it'll all go to Hell.

Hopefully. :3

If it was just overhyped, I guess we've got some very pretty pew pew targets.



Something is telling me we haven't even begun to see them angry.

Inb4 the age old, "that nigh invulnerable ship that took an entire fleet to destroy was just a scout!/ an adolescent!" type thing.

 

[Alderius]

I think that's the point, though. I'm betting they're lulling us into a false sense of safety. Especially with weapons that will be able to hurt them coming soon, we'll be getting a little too cocky for our own good. Things will seem like theyre getting better for us, then it'll all go to Hell.

Hopefully. :3

If it was just overhyped, I guess we've got some very pretty pew pew targets.



Something is telling me we haven't even begun to see them angry.

I just wish they had lived up to that at the beginning, rather than ratcheting up the hype and then spoon feeding us Thargoids that are less interesting than a CZ......

 

[777Driver]

It's a big universe and I have no doubt that I play an insignificant part (maybe I can influence the BGS in my home system, maybe......). For me it's not about the lead role, it's about some depth to the game play. With Thargoids the hype was big, but as of today the outcome is dirt simple, watch the Thargoids, or let the Thargoids kick your butt..... Hauling passengers has more depth.....

More depth is always a good thing. Personally I am pleased with what we have so far, the QoL features and general graphic tweaks have been a massive improvement for me. Didn't expect much from the Thargoids themselves, am not even convinced that these are Klaxians that we are dealing with, all my encounters have been Peaceful. This is definitely going to be a slow burner, I now have some motivation to finish off upgrading my main fleet via engineers, also making a nice amount of cash hauling thargoid tech.

My hope is that we will eventually have access to alien tech and Oresrians stations as things progress, a slow buildup in tension as opposed to typical games - 7 hours and you have seen and done everything, saved the galaxy and hooked up with the leading lady.

One major thing that needs improvement is Galnet, this should be the equivalent off CNN/FOX/BBC/Al Jezira, all with their own bias and constant news feeds. So much that could be done to add depth, as it stands Galnet is like flicking through some low budget internet news feeds.

 

[CMDR Nef]

I wonder if we'll ever see Thargoid stations? That'd be a sight to behold. Imagine heading inside of a mothership!

 

[Dbrn47]

I'm sure most of the content is hiding behind 'mysterious things added'. With 'mysterious things added' also being added in stages this patch, you'll have plenty of things to look for, but the bad news is you probably won't know if you've found it all. It's pretty clever when you think about it, puts the blame on us, that we simply can't find the content that was added. At least we received some cool glasses.

 

[CMDR Nef]

I wonder what the "mysterious new places" are? Or they actual locations? Or does "places" refer to the non-human signal sources?

 

[Surprised Brony]

I wonder what the "mysterious new places" are? Or they actual locations? Or does "places" refer to the non-human signal sources?

Too many possibilities. Too many questions. Such as, what will happen when we try those missiles out? What if we kill one? What will come to retaliate?

 

[Noctover]

Im both quietly confident and sceptical at the same time.

Sceptical because i had a feeling Aliens would be separate to the game as an optional threat only..

But confident that this rather hefty 7gig patch has put the entire framework for the Thargoid career in place and can now be seamlessly escalated to simulate the progress of the coming war. It only makes sense that we didn't undock come patch day to find legions of goids bringing the feds to their knees and burning our sheds....Its escalated a little and gradually will continue to do so.

Everyone just needs to chill and see how it pans out, this patch was always going to be a slow burner unlike the horizons release....Im pretty sure FD made that clear.

 

[Stewart_]

All in 30 minutes, in 2.4? I doubt it. LOL.

( referring to the title "An interesting placeholder for 30 minutes of game time. Now what? ")

In summary, yes. I've been to various alien sites (not since the week-end, I've been working the CG. Did they change?), and I've watched Thargoids, shot Thargoids, stole stuff the Thargoids wanted and then been attacked, and been hyperdicted by Thargoid wings. The end result is always the same, either they ignore you or you fight and have to run. Of course, you can spin the interaction any way you like (wing up to attack, give them an escape pod, shoot them from behind, use lasers vs torps......), end result is always the same. So yeah, after 30 minutes I've determined all outcomes (watch or run), the different variations aren't terribly interesting as the outcome is always the same. Meh!