"Autopilot" mode inside a system

[James Son]

When you select a target in a system (planet, moon), it would be nice if in the Navigation panel menu (when you press Enter on the target) another item existed, i.e. "Autopilot" which while in SC, would automatically center the item, travel at max speed towards it and when the ship reaches scanning distance, it would drop speed to 30km/s.

 

[Stellar Gambit]

When you select a target in a system (planet, moon), it would be nice if in the Navigation panel menu (when you press Enter on the target) another item existed, i.e. "Autopilot" which while in SC, would automatically center the item, travel at max speed towards it and when the ship reaches scanning distance, it would drop speed to 30km/s.

.... easy pray if you interdict one of these part time players...

 

[Winterwalker]

.... easy pray if you interdict one of these part time players...

That would definitely be one of the balancing factors, against any perceived advantage, for having a system like the OP suggests. Personally I quite like the idea, even though it's been discussed before on the forums. The biggest argument against it is, "Ha, you want a game that plays itself!?". So, I'd like to see a kind of "programmable guidance system" which would be a bit like flying the ship "digitally" by input of destination and speed, possibly a couple of way points.

The OP mentions flying direct to planet specifically to scan the target. For reason of it being a total shortcut, I don't think the suggestion helps the idea to fly. If an autopilot required some specialist skill to program and maintain though, then I think FD might be more open to it. Because we don't yet have a system Orrery View yet though, I think this is probably some way off.

 

[James Son]

My point is that when you're exploring outside of the bubble and you wish to visit and scan the 2nd sun in a system and perhaps its planets, if the sun is i.e. 100KLSs away, such an addition to the game would be very helpful. You could do something else without paying much attention, instead of waiting 15+ minutes in front of the screen like a zombie. You could select the 2nd sun (or it's nearest planet to your current location), send the ship there and go for a cup of coffee. You return and the ship is where you want it.

I'm not talking about any multi-route system, not even a system clever enough to identify obstacles between you and your destination (i.e. if you've targetted the 2nd sun and it happens that one of the planets is in the way and you may crash on it, well, tough luck, you should have been more careful when setting your target).

P.S.: If you're stupid enough to use that unattended inside the bubble, you deserve what you'll get.