News Chapter Four - Exploration Reveal
Again, define "interesting".
What makes a planet on the system map interesting? Unless it's an non-atmospheric rocky body, you can't do anything other than look at it.
Wouldn't you prefer a way to actively discover interesting elements on or around those planets that you can actually interact with and potentially have some gameplay attached?
This is what I was afraid of.
Unfortunately, this does not make things happy for me. Don't get me wrong, there are some great things, like the probes, being added, but I can't say I, myself, will be able to move forward through the new system.
The advanced discovery scanner (which cost a lot, by the way) is now only going to discover the entry star, which we did in a few seconds with the targeting and data scanner prior. The ADS gave us the "infinity" of the system. We could move to explore certain planets after this. Probes added at this point would have been great as is, but muddling up things now with the time involved to first "discover" by having to use a HUD before finding each stellar body before it appears on the system map is not my idea of fun, at the moment.
Granted, if I was more HUD oriented, what with all these new HUDs coming around, I might be fine. However, I'm older, my eyes aren't what they used to be (although still ok for the most part), they're more sensitive, and bringing up more HUDs just bring up more headaches (literally).
Well, maybe I'll get used to it and things will be fine. If I'm being honest with myself though, I'm finding a time sink here which doesn't add to my enjoyment of the game and discovery. The probes will, but this new "honk" system will not. I was hoping for more in the way of discovery outside of "honking" and finding planets. I was hoping for more things to interact with in deep space, more points of interest within the space that maybe the new HUD could help with outside of revamping the entire process, and not just USSs. So, probes get a big thumbs up for me, but the new honk-and-search does not, as it sounds a waste of my time, which I want to find meaningful in my discoveries and not just another icy planet.
I was also hoping to hear something about module racks, but I guess this new functionality was the easiest way to make it happen.
I do have a question or two, if possible, to be considered.
1. Is the new functionality of the ADS going to add to the weight of our current?
2.
3.
4. Will the new HUDs be able to be customized for those of us with color blindness (not me) or other visual distress (me)?
Anyway, I'm just one player among thousands, and my opinion is, of course, just on me and not really of any significance. I see here a lot of others will enjoy themselves, so I guess I'll just leave it alone, now.
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Other than that, I'm motivated by the rare, unique and beautiful. A tiny planet baking in the corona of twin stars (currently identifiable from an ADS honk), binaries so close they could kiss (currently identifiable from an ADS honk), my enduring quest to find landable planets over 10G (candidates currently identifiable from an ADS honk), four moons lined up in their orbits (currently identifiable from an ADS scan and the mark one eyeball with orbit lines on) etc. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
^^^ This.
This too
We're missing whatever the Codex is and how exploration with fit together with mining (it was suggested that there may be better mining opportunities outside of the bubble). It was also very briefly said that new signal source content will be added. To what degree and how it fits under the umbrella of exploration is up to interpretation and speculation for now.
What could be added is something I doubt we could all agree on. I'm a treasure hunter/anomaly explorer myself and if you start putting that stuff everywhere it's going to upset people that think that stuff should be exceedingly rare (as it is now). It seems as if they're probably just going to go ahead and stick with the idea of 'core improvements' over new additions. Not something I think we can fault them for since that is what was said from the beginning, unless someone can re-share them saying something different.
Indeed. If we could all do without the "hardcore/casual/real, etc." labeling and get into the actual details of the proposed future improvements...
... that'd be great.
You know how you can tell just by looking at the system map and an ADS whether any of the planets are worth exploring? Well, it sounds like this will work the same way, but with just a tiny bit of deduction involved. It's just instead of a system map it'll be the sensor readings. In time you'll recognize quickly which mix of signals are low value snowballs and which spikes mean an earthlike is somewhere in the system.
thats what I got out of the explanation anyway.
look again at that ingame image on the first page. I could be wrong but it seems to me that the spikes around the reticle indicate how many unscanned there are left, the direction to find them in, and their energy level in terms of value/importance
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Amen. I made my Elite rank in exploration some time ago by scanning, almost exclusively, undiscovered worlds, just the opposite the Roads to Riches. I take pride not in the distance I've traveled, but in finding undiscovered worlds and systems as close to the Bubble as I can, 4 years after the game was released (slim pickings), which includes getting my name on actual catalog star systems - you know, IRL stars. So the way I see it, _I_ am a "hardcore" explorer, and all these roadtrip space hippies who think Beagle Point is the throne of God don't speak for me, LOL
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Finding something should be relatively quick and easy, once you know what you're looking for. While they aren't going with spectral analysis, the principle is much the same. Given the current system and the proposed one, I'm pretty sure I know which one NASA would go with.
https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/M31_velocity/spectrum/spectra_info.html
Why shouldn't I be selfish? Why shouldn't someone who has invested thousands of hours into a game believe that their experience is worth more than someone who has just scratched the surface? As for assumptions, you are the one who is assuming that things will be better without any evidence whatsoever. All we've been told is that there is a new mini-game that we have to engage in to get the info we already have. If it is slower, then it is certainly not to my advantage and probably not even to yours if you ever get interested in exploring.
Looks good so far, but doesn't make me forget about the ice planets though... sorry.
Since you'll be spending much more time scanning a system and its planetary bodies, a high grade fuel scoop won't be as much of a necessity anymore for true explorers. Considering you actually have something to do while you wait for your ship to refuel. Unless there's only a single star or so [big grin] Doesn't apply to getting from A to B a.s.a.p. of course.
I hope we'll also be able to discover more interesting 'things' on planets besides what we have now. I think this is important as well to compensate for no planets with atmosphere and gorgeous looking ice planets That and the new scanning system would go well hand in hand. Even though I think the new scanner is a great improvement. I'd really also would like to find something 'really' interesting on those planets out in the black. I hope it's just not mentioned here right now and that this will still come with the new explorer update.
Since you'll be spending much more time scanning a system and its planetary bodies, a high grade fuel scoop won't be as much of a necessity anymore for true explorers. Considering you actually have something to do while you wait for your ship to refuel. Unless there's only a single star or so [big grin] Doesn't apply to getting from A to B a.s.a.p. of course.
I hope we'll also be able to discover more interesting 'things' on planets besides what we have now. I think this is important as well to compensate for no planets with atmosphere and gorgeous looking ice planets
That and the new scanning system would go well hand in hand. Even though I think the new scanner is a great improvement. I'd really also would like to find something 'really' interesting on those planets out in the black. I hope it's just not mentioned here right now and that this will still come with the new explorer update.
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First of all I'm really glad to read that exploration will receive some love, so I really appreciate the team's attention to this aspect of the game - one that I greatly enjoy. Now, to the feedback:
- Modules - reusing existing modules is a nice idea in order to allow current explorers to jump into the new system right away, but I'd suggest that we take the opportunity and flesh out the system a bit more - after all, I want to be a better explorer:
- Make the ship's reactor bay output, sensor suite rank and PIP distribution influence speed and signal resolution. This brings choice to ship/modules choice: 60LY+ jumps and slower/poorer resolution times, or 30LY and very quick/precise scans? No shields, so all power output goes to signal co-processor computer?
- Entering Discovery Scanner mode turns the signal processor computer on, drawing energy from SYS.
- New module
- Signal Co-Processor (Utility Mount) - draws power, generates heat, generates quicker/better signal analysis. Brings to Sensor Suite the same benefit as Shield Boosters for Shield Generators, while making utility mounts more useful for exploration.
- Visualization - It would be interesting if the Discovery Scanner mode somehow overlay information atop the external view of the ship. This would be quite useful for VR players.
- Event - A System Scan in a place infested by Thargoids can trigger an encounter. This can be expanded so players actively honk in Thargoid-infested systems to taunt the killer flowers.
Overall, sounds very intriguing.
Was slightly worried that the “nerfing” of the ADS would make delivery missions to new systems a pain but (a) Nav Beacon option still remains and (b) sounds like starports will show up automatically now anyway: makes sense they would have “location beacons” or something for ships to detect whereas planetary bodies would not, hence the new fancy scanners for locating those.
So, very positive thus far!
One thought:
- I know the “two 1s in a 2” racks were ruled out but space is a premium - especially in small ships like the DBX or if you want to leverage the new Guardian FSD Boosters. If the ADS will no longer “do all the work for you” perhaps it could instead include a Surface Scanner to make the extra cost worthwhile: i.e. players can choose to use two slots for separate BDS and DSS at 1k and 250k, respectively, or pay the 1.5 million for an ADS which does both functions and keeps an extra slot free?
Or even:
- BDS detects starports only
- IDS includes the new exploration scanning tool
- ADS is an IDS plus DSS to save space
Plenty of options then and keeps the tiered modules approach in game today.
Was slightly worried that the “nerfing” of the ADS would make delivery missions to new systems a pain but (a) Nav Beacon option still remains and (b) sounds like starports will show up automatically now anyway: makes sense they would have “location beacons” or something for ships to detect whereas planetary bodies would not, hence the new fancy scanners for locating those.
So, very positive thus far!
One thought:
- I know the “two 1s in a 2” racks were ruled out but space is a premium - especially in small ships like the DBX or if you want to leverage the new Guardian FSD Boosters. If the ADS will no longer “do all the work for you” perhaps it could instead include a Surface Scanner to make the extra cost worthwhile: i.e. players can choose to use two slots for separate BDS and DSS at 1k and 250k, respectively, or pay the 1.5 million for an ADS which does both functions and keeps an extra slot free?
Or even:
- BDS detects starports only
- IDS includes the new exploration scanning tool
- ADS is an IDS plus DSS to save space
Plenty of options then and keeps the tiered modules approach in game today.
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No. It would ruin the emissions analysis gameplay and the excitement of revealing the planet through the telescope for the first time.
This is a really good proposition they have, and I would hate to see it ruined by the current cheap mechanic.
(AFAIK)You will still be able to discern certain planets from others by looking at the electromagnetic emission output, you don't have to spot every planet to find what you are after. You see an interesting signal you narrow it down to see what it is. You see no interesting signatures then jump to next system.
The only compromise I would accept is if the process was sped up somehow. But I would prefer they keep it as described.
Anyone here talking about how slow it's gonna be seriously have to stop thinking this games is YOUR JOB. you wont get more income by playing it the more efficient way, and you should take a step back and think about how you play the game, yes it's probably gonna kick your CR/hr down. but you will have to play an ACTUAL GAME, instead of a mindless > jump > honk > press period to see the nav map > look for something interesting , repeat.
dissuade some
The current system also makes the 5000LY Paliin unlock a little profitable without being way way more time consuming. It's why I decided to do it. The New system looks to remove that incentive....unless one is willing to invest a much much greater amount of time and effort. Said another way....it seems the new system will remove the incentive to explore (too much of a ground) when just going from A to B and may even dissuade a few folks from going to some places.
Kind of sounds like the new system will make getting credits for a water world a lot more time consuming....just to get Water World credits. I assume there's not going to be new great things to find (no cool ruins and such). Maybe keep the "Honk" and see all bodies still possible in some way
Currently it takes me 67 jumps to get the the Gnosis. That takes 65 minutes if I scoop and honk. In the current system I can take a moment to see if there are any high Credit planets to scan after the honk. Scanning the water worlds and such gets me a fair amount of credit by the time I get to the Gnosis...with only about a 15% increase in travel time. I need to pay for sending modules to the Gnosis so the current system gives me a way to pay for that. It seems the new system will remove that incentive and make a decision to go to a "Gnosis" like event less appealing.
The current system also makes the 5000LY Paliin unlock a little profitable without being way way more time consuming. It's why I decided to do it. The New system looks to remove that incentive....unless one is willing to invest a much much greater amount of time and effort. Said another way....it seems the new system will remove the incentive to explore (too much of a ground) when just going from A to B and may even dissuade a few folks from going to some places.
Kind of sounds like the new system will make getting credits for a water world a lot more time consuming....just to get Water World credits. I assume there's not going to be new great things to find (no cool ruins and such). Maybe keep the "Honk" and see all bodies still possible in some way
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You're not a REAL explorer 'till you've run out of fuel and lost your ship, because you've been up all night and that one more jump just couldn't wait till morning.