I'm in the camp that likes the new FSS - it's more interactive, intelligent, and immersive for explorers. That said, I feel like exploring as a whole could use an additional aid in the form of generally locating unique phenomena (like LaGrange clouds or guardian structures) from outside of the system. Below is the base concept:
Deep Space Scanning Mode
While in FSS in a typical system, FSS has two modes: local scanning and deep-space scanning. Local scanning is what we see now and functions as normal.
In Deep-Space Scanning Mode, the FSS displays only star(s) in the local system (to serve as basic reference points - making a single star system not very helpful, which is intentional). Beyond this, it still uses the spectral range but instead of tracking frequencies in the system it tracks stellar frequencies within 100ly. These frequency bands correspond (like in normal FSS) to major signal groups:
-Thargoid Signatures (Barnacles, presence of NHSS, Other...)
-Guardian Signatures (Structures, Other...)
-Human Signatures (Megaships, Generation Ships, Stations, Structures, Other...)
-Stellar Phenomena (Lagrange Clouds, etc.)
Not surprisingly, there could be a LOT of noise with such a wide array of frequencies...that is intentional, after all we want some skill associated with using this mode. Remember, though, only 100ly range means much of our galaxy will only show stellar phenomena.
What it would look like
(I'm not an artist, so sorry, no actual pictures!)
Very similar to FSS now, with signal 'clouds' needing to be pinpointed and scanned. Once scanned, they will be identified as the type they scanned under (Stellar, Thargoid, etc.). They will also display a 20ly range 'band' they fall in: 0-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100. Exact ranges would be too strong (and easy) but this allows some level of guessing, as explained below.
Then comes the actual work: scanned points will display in Analysis Mode of your cockpit when selected from navigation at the bottom of the list (because their distance is 'an indeterminate range', much like a commander selects a system to warp towards. The point in the HUD will actually display the 'range band' mentioned earlier. The commander now has a sense of direction towards that point and can begin navigating in its direction...but without a perfect sense of distance, we may still be searching across a number of systems.
Towards the galactic core, a range of 20ly covers hundreds of stars! Whereas in fringe areas, the range could very well identify a single candidate system.
Why?
At risk of sounding like a smart-alike...why not? I personally want to see more tools for explorers to 'find' phenomena and sites out in the black, but I also don't want it to be a gimme...otherwise we kill the very heart and soul of exploring: the hunt itself. As it is, though, much of elite: dangerous feels less like a hunt and more of a stumble around and hope. Or just use the codex and not really try at all! A deep-space scanning mode (or module...but reason dictates the FSS ought to be able to do this) would open up the galaxy a lot more, without tearing down the skill wall that separates explorers from codex followers.
I also think 'too much noise' (such as what we'd expect in the galactic core, or the center of the Pleiades) is not bad...this is a problem that 'makes sense'.
Thoughts?
Deep Space Scanning Mode
While in FSS in a typical system, FSS has two modes: local scanning and deep-space scanning. Local scanning is what we see now and functions as normal.
In Deep-Space Scanning Mode, the FSS displays only star(s) in the local system (to serve as basic reference points - making a single star system not very helpful, which is intentional). Beyond this, it still uses the spectral range but instead of tracking frequencies in the system it tracks stellar frequencies within 100ly. These frequency bands correspond (like in normal FSS) to major signal groups:
-Thargoid Signatures (Barnacles, presence of NHSS, Other...)
-Guardian Signatures (Structures, Other...)
-Human Signatures (Megaships, Generation Ships, Stations, Structures, Other...)
-Stellar Phenomena (Lagrange Clouds, etc.)
Not surprisingly, there could be a LOT of noise with such a wide array of frequencies...that is intentional, after all we want some skill associated with using this mode. Remember, though, only 100ly range means much of our galaxy will only show stellar phenomena.
What it would look like
(I'm not an artist, so sorry, no actual pictures!)
Very similar to FSS now, with signal 'clouds' needing to be pinpointed and scanned. Once scanned, they will be identified as the type they scanned under (Stellar, Thargoid, etc.). They will also display a 20ly range 'band' they fall in: 0-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100. Exact ranges would be too strong (and easy) but this allows some level of guessing, as explained below.
Then comes the actual work: scanned points will display in Analysis Mode of your cockpit when selected from navigation at the bottom of the list (because their distance is 'an indeterminate range', much like a commander selects a system to warp towards. The point in the HUD will actually display the 'range band' mentioned earlier. The commander now has a sense of direction towards that point and can begin navigating in its direction...but without a perfect sense of distance, we may still be searching across a number of systems.
Towards the galactic core, a range of 20ly covers hundreds of stars! Whereas in fringe areas, the range could very well identify a single candidate system.
Why?
At risk of sounding like a smart-alike...why not? I personally want to see more tools for explorers to 'find' phenomena and sites out in the black, but I also don't want it to be a gimme...otherwise we kill the very heart and soul of exploring: the hunt itself. As it is, though, much of elite: dangerous feels less like a hunt and more of a stumble around and hope. Or just use the codex and not really try at all! A deep-space scanning mode (or module...but reason dictates the FSS ought to be able to do this) would open up the galaxy a lot more, without tearing down the skill wall that separates explorers from codex followers.
I also think 'too much noise' (such as what we'd expect in the galactic core, or the center of the Pleiades) is not bad...this is a problem that 'makes sense'.
Thoughts?