Proposal Discussion Deep Space Probes

Theodrid

Theodrid
Having been interested in, and reasonably well read up on projects like Voyager I & II I think it would be a good idea to be able to buy and distribute long range probes in this game.

You could launch probes from your ship, (maybe only the larger class vessels), with a desired destination. If a probe successfully reaches its desired destination it could potentially send data back to your ship with information on the planet/system/nebula. Also, maybe the accuracy of this information could depend on the distance travelled by the probe, the further away the probe is, the less reliable the information.

Of course probes also would not always reach their destination, some would hit planets or suns, some could get 'knocked' out of hyperspace by asteroids or other players, some may even get stolen by other players or pirates. There would have to be a risk/reward element to deploying these probes.

Of course if successful you may discover valuable minerals or resources, a colonised planet or some 'unknown object'. Maybe even a defective probe could end up somewhere miraculous and surprise you. And who knows, with the scale of this game maybe the probes would help us discover 1.3% of the ED universe as opposed to 1.2% in our lifetime. :p
 
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Nagual

Nagual
Have you read about Exploration in the DDFa? In particular this bit?

Players explore to build up the details on their galaxy map
When starting a new commander the player will have some details on their galaxy map
This will allow the player to travel to any locations they have map data to, without having to explore
Players can buy map data from authorities to expand their ships computers library of maps
New map data will allow the player to travel to new locations without needing to explore
Map data that is bought from authorities is not to the highest level of detail and can be improved with player gathered data
Map data includes hyperspace routes to systems and major points of interest in that system
Players can use scanning equipment and probes to detect systems and record new hyperspace routes
Scanners are used to detect any nearby systems that are within the players jump range
Scanners will give the player a vague indication of the direction of a system
High end scanners can give the player a better details of the system they have detected (is it a star, an asteroid field etc.)
Players can then launch hyperspace probes that will give the player more information on the part of space they are looking at
Probes will give the player heat-map style data to help guide the player to the correct co-ordinates for a jump
Heatmap data might be ambiguous, creating skill based gameplay where the player learns to interpret the readings they recieve
Different equipment can determine the quality of heatmap data
Different probe ammo can provide different information, or react based on objects in the target system
Click to expand...
 
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Nagual

Nagual
Theodrid said:
Ah, my search was fruitless then - feel kinda silly now!
Click to expand...

Not at all, ideas and suggestions etc are always great, it's easy to miss things in the DDFa. Better to suggest away and be shown a link than to remain silent and never have any ideas posted up.
 

cadmonkey33

cadmonkey33
Theodrid said:
Ah, my search was fruitless then - feel kinda silly now!
Click to expand...

Your suggestion seems different from the DDF proposal.
The DDF proposal suggests probes being used in your current system, whereas yours suggests being able to send probes to other systems as a kind of fire-and-forget thing.
I like it.
 

Nagual

Nagual
cadmonkey33 said:
Your suggestion seems different from the DDF proposal.
The DDF proposal suggests probes being used in your current system, whereas yours suggests being able to send probes to other systems as a kind of fire-and-forget thing.
I like it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the DDFa talks about both, in the first instance scanning / probing a system with a hyperspace probe to gain general information. This will no doubt vary on the equipment you use, and perhaps personal skill in working out what the returned data means. You can then make an informed decision on where you go from there. Once you get to a system, there are more scanners and probes to use within the system for a higher level / more detailed information.
 

cadmonkey33

cadmonkey33
Nagual said:
Yeah, the DDFa talks about both, in the first instance scanning / probing a system with a hyperspace probe to gain general information. This will no doubt vary on the equipment you use, and perhaps personal skill in working out what the returned data means. You can then make an informed decision on where you go from there. Once you get to a system, there are more scanners and probes to use within the system for a higher level / more detailed information.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess 'hyperspace probes' covers it.
 
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