Discover Scanner Balance Adjustment

[avarusbrightfyre]

The current iteration doesn't really make a lot of sense, as each of the tools should provide a certain amount of information, getting more finite and specific as you switch to each tool. I propose having the discovery scanner ping all objects in the system and have them show up on the system map, like it used to. Have it only display basic information like if it's landable or has an atmosphere. By having this basic information, we can decide if we want to spend the time doing a more detailed scan or just move on based on whatever criteria we decide.

For example, I'm on my way to Colonia and trying to make decent time, but also get some exploration in along the way. Being able to quickly identify planets with atmospheres that I can land on will help me decide if I want to do the FSS or just jump to the next system. As it is, not being able to see anything on the system map until I specifically telescope it with the FSS means I'm either missing out on planets I'm looking for, or wasting an inordinate amount of time scanning systems that end up not having what I'm looking for.

A slight boost to the functionality of the discover scanner would make a huge difference.

 

[Lugh]

The detailed surface scanner already gives base level information as reflected in the frequency ranges found in the FSS

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

The detailed surface scanner already gives base level information as reflected in the frequency ranges found in the FSS

Right, but I'm saying the discovery scanner could provide a couple more of pieces of information so we can decide if we want to bother with the FSS. I'm not a fan of the FSS minigame, so if I can minimize it by having the disco scanner give me a bit more, and then only do the more detailed scan if I see something interesting, it would be preferable.

 

[Florenus]

Well, you either explore, or you travel fast.
You want to quickly find whether there's something interesting while changes to exploration were introduced to make you work a little for that.

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

Well, you either explore, or you travel fast.
You want to quickly find whether there's something interesting while changes to exploration were introduced to make you work a little for that.

I really detest the "all or nothing" point of view. There's no reason there can't be an option in between. I can live with having to do the FSS to get detailed information, but at least give me the information from the disco scanner to decide if it's worth investing the time. Right now the disco scanner is completely pointless.

 

[Lugh]

Right,

Right now the disco scanner is completely pointless.

Pick one... is it completely useless or does it just need to give more info.

Right now you get a pretty solid idea of what planet compensations are as well as the size of the over all system from using the D scan.

From there you can decide if you want to bother scanning the individual planets down.

Not interested in gas giants or rock/ice world's? Then ignore their frequencies on the fss

 

[varonica]

I really consider the FSS as being some sort of super sensitive gravity wave detector, it can pick up where planets are and how they are moving, their mass and rotation etc, but you can't tell details about them from that sort of data, you need spectrogram data for elements, you need visible light and infrared to tell atmosphere composition and temperature, you need to analyse the atmosphere to tell if there is bio, electromagnetic for refined elements and power signals from power sources. All these things you need to actually point your detectors in the direction of the planets you have found using the initial scan of gravitational anomalies in the system.

Being able to tell whether a body has atmosphere, whether it has bio and and other signs would be a big push from a system that detects gravitational anomalies, so it appears to be working exactly how I would expect.

 

[HRDiagram]

I am afraid I have a completely opposite view to the OP on this, and would hate it if this feature was removed.
Currently, it's one of the very few unique aspects of exploration (not travelling/commuting): exploration is meant to be slow and deliberate, not a rush.
Jumping in a previously undiscovered system, seeing an empty system map, and populating it as I progress through the FSS is possibly my favourite aspect of exploration.

In technical terms, what Varonica describes is pretty much how I see it.

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

I suppose it's just time for me to move on to something else. I have too many disagreements with the mentality behind the development of this game and a lot of it really kills the feeling of being in a highly futuristic, ultra-advanced space vessel rather than simply the equivalent of a fighter jet roaming the galaxy. The amount of manual input required from the pilot for even the most basic tasks is simply unrealistic for ships that by all rights should be able to just fly themselves at this stage of technological development, which is kind of funny since even today's comparatively primitive fighter jets have a pretty advanced autopilot system and most civilian airliners are almost completely automated at this point. We're already on the verge of artificial intelligence here in the 21st century, yet somehow in the far distant future even the most basic tasks still rely heavily on manual control from a human being. I'm not sure what the logical justification is for requiring me manually scan each planet to get frequencies that are continually emitted from celestial bodies which my highly advanced sensor suite should just pick up and analyze automatically, but this manual approach to things is the path taken in almost every area of the game. I suppose some view that as gameplay, but I just can't get on board with that attitude. I've never been a fan of doing things "just because". I don't mind being required to put in effort for progression, but it really needs to be logically justifiable effort, not just arbitrary, grindy tasks that should really be automated in the time period being simulated here.

 

[Lugh]

the time period being simulated here.

what time period do you think that is?

Its an arcade future as envisioned by the 1980s

 

[Taifu]

... We're already on the verge of artificial intelligence here in the 21st century, yet somehow in the far distant future even the most basic tasks still rely heavily on manual control from a human being. I'm not sure what the logical justification is for requiring me manually scan each planet to get frequencies that are continually emitted from celestial bodies which my highly advanced sensor suite should just pick up and analyze automatically, ...

AFAIK in the Elite universe, the human race had a near "extinction event" experience at the hands/code of an AI they created. As a consequence, AI is not just outlawed but is viewed with a health level of suspicion.

For me that very much counts as "logical justification" for not just making the human pilots manually do things but also even having human pilots... and as a result, a game centred around human pilots flying spaceships.