So Beyond 3.0 is coming on Tuesday as the first part of the promised improvements to and fleshing out of core gameplay. We had a chance to discuss it broadly and play with most of it in Beta.
Given the oft quoted "mile wide, inch deep" charge laid against the game, how are we all feeling about the key features of 3.0?
Have FD delivered on that score?
I'm going to measure this in fathoms shallower or deeper with a final depth measurement.
C&P: 20 fathoms deeper
There wasn't any before so this is at least a start. Shame about the KWS nerf.
Current depth: 20 fathoms
Engineers: 50 fathoms shallower
Arguably, engineers is the deepest element of the game, as it has the biggest impact on the core experience of flying space ships. Getting the most out of it requires a fair amount of time, experimentation, and research.
I feel like the new implementation just juggles things around without really doing that much to improve it. The whole thing is more prescriptive now which many may feel is an improvement, but for others may be a loss of depth.
Current depth: 200 fathoms
Planet Textures: 25 fathoms deeper
Finally, the beige is dead, long live different shades of beige but on the same planet
Long overdue, hopefully this is the start of a visually richer environment and that will be built on.
Current depth: 75 fathoms
Thargoids: 10 fathoms deeper
More encounters closer to home is welcome, especially more approachable targets like the Scouts.
Current depth: 50 fathoms (provisional - there's likely more we haven't seen in Beta)
Wing Missions: X fathoms deeper
Probably unfair of me to really rate this as I didn't do it in Beta.
We didn't have any before, so it's definitely more depth.
I'd have much preferred existing missions to be made wing compliant rather than just getting these top end large grind based ones.
Trading Updates: X fathoms deeper
I didn't use this enough to properly rate it.
Initially, I found the Galmap interface almost unusable so I didn't come back to this.
Apparently, I'd have got more use from the Commodities page.
Anything that reduces the need for out of game tools has to be a good thing.
What did I miss?
I know we get the Chieftan as the other highlight, but I'm not sure that counts on the depth scale.
How do you guys fathom it?
Given the oft quoted "mile wide, inch deep" charge laid against the game, how are we all feeling about the key features of 3.0?
Have FD delivered on that score?
I'm going to measure this in fathoms shallower or deeper with a final depth measurement.
C&P: 20 fathoms deeper
There wasn't any before so this is at least a start. Shame about the KWS nerf.
Current depth: 20 fathoms
Engineers: 50 fathoms shallower
Arguably, engineers is the deepest element of the game, as it has the biggest impact on the core experience of flying space ships. Getting the most out of it requires a fair amount of time, experimentation, and research.
I feel like the new implementation just juggles things around without really doing that much to improve it. The whole thing is more prescriptive now which many may feel is an improvement, but for others may be a loss of depth.
Current depth: 200 fathoms
Planet Textures: 25 fathoms deeper
Finally, the beige is dead, long live different shades of beige but on the same planet
Long overdue, hopefully this is the start of a visually richer environment and that will be built on.
Current depth: 75 fathoms
Thargoids: 10 fathoms deeper
More encounters closer to home is welcome, especially more approachable targets like the Scouts.
Current depth: 50 fathoms (provisional - there's likely more we haven't seen in Beta)
Wing Missions: X fathoms deeper
Probably unfair of me to really rate this as I didn't do it in Beta.
We didn't have any before, so it's definitely more depth.
I'd have much preferred existing missions to be made wing compliant rather than just getting these top end large grind based ones.
Trading Updates: X fathoms deeper
I didn't use this enough to properly rate it.
Initially, I found the Galmap interface almost unusable so I didn't come back to this.
Apparently, I'd have got more use from the Commodities page.
Anything that reduces the need for out of game tools has to be a good thing.
What did I miss?
I know we get the Chieftan as the other highlight, but I'm not sure that counts on the depth scale.
How do you guys fathom it?
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