Choose your own pilot's seat (for ships that have pilot/copilot configuration like modern aircraft)

Ted Striker · Nov 2, 2019

Many ships have identical pilot/copilot seats instead of one central captain's seat yet we have no choice which one we use, and in some ships the forced choice is incorrect (based on modern aircraft)

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The captain sits on the left, the first officer on the right. Some ships in game model this correctly, some don't.

And even if they don't, so what? Why not give us the option to choose which seat we prefer? Are we to believe that in the 20th and 21st century they offered simple automobiles with that option depending on where you lived, but in the 34th century we have no choice? Even when they install an identical seat right next to it? Is that seat meant as decoration only?

It seems such a simple option to add. Perhaps it can be part of the Livery screen for ships that don't have a central captain's chair. If you have for instance an FDL you can go to the Livery screen and choose either left or right pilot's seat. Maybe the option is best added to the increasingly bloated Options and Controls and all your eligible ships automatically default to it.

Is there some glaring technical limitation to this I'm not seeing?

Northpin · Nov 2, 2019

only if thy add front pilot seats for Anaconda and Corvette

Ted Striker · Nov 3, 2019

Anaconda and Corvette don't need the option. Ships with centered pilot seats are fine.

Misty_Dark · Nov 4, 2019

I do get that some ships have bad multicrew seats, like the Corvette, but I do not see any problem with this, as it is the player who picks which seat to use based on own preference.

And since multicrew already place players in those seats, so this has the potential of just needing a select function to be added, like on the bottom middle screen. And save this setting per ship...

And a bonus feature in the future could be to allow us to fly our ships from alternative locations, like the Observation deck on the Anaconda.

Misty_Dark · Nov 4, 2019

Ted Striker said:
Anaconda and Corvette don't need the option. Ships with centered pilot seats are fine.

That makes no sense at all, if there are multiple seats available, they all should be usable regardless of the ship. starting to add artificial limitations like that ship is fine it has a centred chair is not a compelling argument compared to your arbitrary, Captain on the left and first officer on the right...

Ted Striker · Nov 4, 2019

First off captain on left and first officer on right is not arbitrary, it's the airliner standard. Don't know why but it is.

Second, sure let's add the option for all ships. I have no problem with that. Not an easy task to pilot from a more rearward seat on the left or right but go ahead if you want. The seats are there but I bet you'll prefer piloting from the frontmost central seat. For other ships, what seat you prefer might depend on what country you're from, or if you're a fan of aircraft simulators (because flying a WW2 bomber from the right seat would feel so weird). Just let us choose.

JetsonRING · Nov 4, 2019

Another feature players have been requesting for years and crickets from FDev.

Captain Willard · Nov 4, 2019

Most likely a total waste of time coding it so you could pick and choose where to sit.
Where did captain and 1st officer come into the game?
We are pilots. One ship one pilot. That's what this game has always been about since 1984.

777Driver · Nov 4, 2019

Traditionally the Cmdr sits on the left, pilot on the right (Space shuttle etc) For aircraft: the captain on the left, Helicopters: pilot on the right.

@Op - Good idea, been requested many times, wouldn't take a massive amount of dev time to code, we have been asking for the option for over 4 years now.

Winterwalker · Nov 4, 2019

I fly a Chieftain chiefly (thanks to the OP for the opportunity to write that too). It would be a laugh to pilot from the rear seat. +1

Ted Striker · Nov 4, 2019

777Driver said:
Traditionally the Cmdr sits on the left, pilot on the right (Space shuttle etc) For aircraft: the captain on the left, Helicopters: pilot on the right.

@Op - Good idea, been requested many times, wouldn't take a massive amount of dev time to code, we have been asking for the option for over 4 years now.

I know but may as well keep the dream alive.

Captain Willard said:
Most likely a total waste of time coding it so you could pick and choose where to sit.
Where did captain and 1st officer come into the game?
We are pilots. One ship one pilot. That's what this game has always been about since 1984.

That has nothing to do with it, although I would like to have a crew on my larger ships like they should have.

One ship one pilot, no choice where to sit even though there are multiple identical seats.