++ Applause ++ thread for Frontier's magnificent Beta responses

[NecasekO]

I have to disagree regarding blueprint balancing - IMO it was handled quite poorly and while most big issues were resolved many minor issue still remain with vague promises of being fixed at a later date.

1. If FDEV truly wanted to make new blueprints better they could have done that from the start - they have all the equations for calculating mod statistics, as well as data about existing mods created by players.

2. Many of the changes were quite heavy handed, significantly buffing specific high profile blueprints (FSD range, DD thrusters, overcharged weapons) while neglecting other blueprints. This will disrupt balance between existing blueprints and any hope for balance against stock ships or NPCs is gone. Also, shields are stronger than ever.

While I understand some reasons for this approach it seems very short-sighted, creating as many balance issues as it solved. And since FDEV never managed to reach a good balance of engineer mods in the months and years since 2.1 release I don't have much hope for the future.

That said, 3.0 brings LOTS of welcome changes, I just don't think engineer mod balance is one of those.

 

[Vandaahl]

Allrightythen

 

[CmdrKull]

I had a very enjoyable time with the beta and can hardly wait to get a nice bump to my FSD range and then go exploring. I’m a little sad that my least favorite ship is now one of the best long-distance explorers, I truly dislike the T7 and, even fully engineered, I couldn’t stand flying it last night. Ok sad is probably not the right word. It’s not quite jealousy as I could just fly the T7 instead of the AspX if I didn’t want to enjoy my game time.... I just wish the Asp and maaaasaybe the Defender got a nice jump-boost as well, or really instead as the T7 is for masochists and you’re taking away too much of their suffering. They won’t thank you for it. They never do.

I’m excited. I’m always excited when a big update comes out but I haven’t been this excited since the neutron boost was introduced. Landing on planets is fun again, engineers are less daunting, Thargoid scouts were a blast (I actually hired a crewman for the AX fighter), I didn’t test out piracy at all but I likely will later on in live.

Hooray and job well done FD. You’ve got a lot of happy fans right now, probably less vocal than those who are upset, but we’re here.

 

[NascentChemist]

I'm also very happy with the Beta. The amount of engagement was impressive.

As 3.0 was only meant to be a starting point for the (now extended?) Beyond series, this is a very good sign.

We've all got out nitpick-y quibbles, like the length of Beta for me, but I'm very thankful for all the hard work. Especially those saints in the bug reporting section.

 

[Dbrn47]

Literally unplaya...

Oh right, not one of those threads. Yea, sweet changes and feedback consideration. [up]

 

[SushiCW]

I know that many, including actually myself, are concerned that the answer to power creep has been moar power creep but what we see here is a sound foundation for a future rebalance. Frontier had to deal with the acquisition and crafting processes themselves before they deal with the outcome levels. I am optimistic that those will one day be addressed.

I wish I could share your optimism on this point. Frontier have expressed no willingness at all to rein in power creep if it means nerfs. I don't think they've got any viable path to a major rebalance.

In the meantime, verisimilitude is lost in this patch, but balance is probably not going to be too much worse.

I've more or less given up hope for a rebalance that makes me happy and resigned myself to just enjoy the game for whatever it happens to be at the given moment. Frontier doesn't care about the stuff I do, most of the players don't either, so why should I make a fuss?

On the bright side, I got my #FreeKeely seat. Can't be disappointed about that!

 

[NMS]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and not be willing to offer applause on a promise, when I see in concreate live build the grandfathering problems fixed then I applaud. Even then I still think it would of been far easier to just balance the new stuff and convert the old without all the confusion/suspicion that the edge-cases are still there.

I'll wait until the end of the year to see what else comes next, so I'll then judge if there's anything to applause or not.

 

[Dommarraa]

Hurray for 3.0
Sorry, but I do remain disappointed that FD have again listened overly to the vocal edge case. Doesn't bode well for the future.

 

[Eldragon]

The QoL improvements in the Beta, and actually getting improvements based on player feedback, brought me back into the game again.

There's still a long way to go, but this is the right direction.

Now where do I go to start asking for a third weapon group? I have renewed hope it might happen.

 

[Maro-Val]

For once proper communication and consideration of feedback, doesn't make good for years of pretending of listening to the playerbase.

But i wont mess with the nice atmosphere of this really nice update, so bravo frontier. Keep up the good work and maybe.. just maybe this game one day will be deeper than one inch. I trully hope so..

 

[Truesilver]

Hurray for 3.0
Sorry, but I do remain disappointed that FD have again listened overly to the vocal edge case. Doesn't bode well for the future.

I have always welcomed your posts (and respect what if I am right may be a 2000AD-comic-based avatar) but ... 'vocal edge case'?

It does seem to me that with this patch Frontier have pleased most of their customers very, very much. I mean, both this and the reddit forums have been like a street party since Beta 3.2, when better-than-god-rolled dirty drives were announced.

Power creep, yes, but necessary (for now) ... or at least forgiveable, in the circumstances.

 

[Six6VI]

So, Q1 participation patches?

Inviting a large chunk (PC/Mac) of the player base into a 3-rehash Beta, listening to feedback and actually implementing some of those changes...

One small step for Frontier, a giant leap in game design!

Bravo David, Sandro and team. o7

[Looking forward to 33 more years of Elite, if it doesn't kill me first ]

 

[Madrax573]

I'll give them a round of applause when they fix the stupid fa-on bug and give us a true fa-off/on default toggle.

Untill then I'll just stare icily out the window at the new gorgeous planets!