If even half of my suggestions made it into the game I'd buy ALL of the DLC in the Elite Store just to thank them!!!! Seriously, if exploration was that well fleshed out I'd dump some serious money into the game, and I'd do it gladly.
If even half of my suggestions made it into the game I'd buy ALL of the DLC in the Elite Store just to thank them!!!! Seriously, if exploration was that well fleshed out I'd dump some serious money into the game, and I'd do it gladly.
I was with you right up to point 8 of your list .....then it goes very weird, paranormal activity?
Grief and Bliss....I can't tell is this is some sort of meta pvp/carebear joke I don't get....
The rest of your list is excellent btw....not sure about submersibles, this is meant to be expanding the exploration mechanic without creating additional content so I can't see that happening, maybe new varieties of SRVs are possible.
Anything that is not as expected when exploring, can be called "paranormal activity". It doesn't mean it isn't natural, just that we do not yet understand what it is. The current Flower ship hyperdiction thingy is "paranormal" until they figure it all out, it is then classified as a "rare or very rare natural event" or something like that, but not paranormal. Paranormal activity is to be expected when exploring new things, as logic would say by discovering new things, whatever it may be.
For the "weird" additions, of course there will be weird stuff going on when we reach the paranormal phase of explorations, there is nothing defined, nothing explained and just weird and exciting. The Grief and The Bliss are just place holder concept of such weird things that goes beyond todays technology or understanding of things. You can replace the placeholder names with "Sickness" and "Cure", "Evil" and "Good", "Rational" and "Irrational", "War" and "Peace", "Radiation" and "Radiation Shielding" or whatever.
If you put the future technology into the hands of humans of the 21th century, that technology would be indistinguishable from magic.
So adding stuff that is beyond our understanding is what to be expected and even "normal" for the future as we always explore the "unknown" both in timespace and in our own minds. Having stuff happening to us mentally is as viable as sci-fi or even science already today. And it is and will be important in the future.
And paranormal activity could be very rare, or common, depending on how we want to model our simulation. That is up to FD to decide, because they would probably want to simulate the weird stuff and stuff that is unknown for explorations sake and for game plays sake. It is actually why we explore in the first place. It is what drives us into the unknown. The risk of discovering something that we did not expect.
Submersibles are special vessels that can traverse the extreme high pressure liquid layers of an astronomical body. We could see it as a type of mod to our own spaceships, allowing for higher pressure than vacuum.
Outposts, bases and resource extraction site building is part of the continuation and the logical immersive next step in the process, the "why we go do these things in the first place". We go because we can do something progressive, and get our name on it, make some money, help people, spreading society and civilization through the galaxy. It is a long progress chain to reach those deep levels of explorations, as I described well in my previous post ( it is so many layers of exploring that it would take weeks or months to complete ).
---
Frontier Developments:
Every layer of exploration can be added incrementally by future updates.
1. Entering a system. Honking.
2. Scanning an astronomical body, getting first layer detailed information. Including surface snapshots.
3. Going in closer, entering orbital range, starting deep layer scan, getting detailed continental information and top layer magma reports. Optionally going to the next astronomical body and start over from 2 aka (Opt2).
4. Going into the atmosphere, getting gas readings, starting detailed super deep layer scan, getting detailed area information and lower level magma reports. (Opt3)
5. Hovering above the surface, 10 km or less, getting detailed biology and geology survey, starting detailed hyper deep layer scan, getting detailed landing area information, getting sentient intent data, getting core composition reports.(Opt4)
6. Landing on the surface, getting detailed microbiology and microgeology survey, starting drilling operations for full surface crust composition scans and testing. Getting detailed unique structure information for molecular compositions. Getting magma samples and can start resource extraction and material extraction. Exploring larger caves and ship-inaccessible areas using SRV and Skimmers. First contact with life and low tech sentient life.(Opt5)
7. Going under the surface using magma drill vehicles and submarines. Getting liquid and magma samples and deep biological samples. Testing for deep sentient organisms and invisible hyperdimensional activity. (Opt6)
8. Finding hyperdimensional entry points for sub-dimensional surveys. Sending probes into sub-dimensional cavities, reading historical data by dimensional timeloops and testing for odd paranormal phenomenas. Checking for earlier alien visitation and demonic or angelic background interference. Testing for "The Grief" and applying "The Bliss" if found. (Opt7)
9. Creating small survey station and optional plans for bases or outposts on the surface or in the system. Sending small probe home with data in case of ship destruction later.(Opt8)
10. Notifying any optional 3rd party associates about the finds.(Opt9)
11. Starting construction of bases and/or outposts. Putting up sentries and hiring workforce. (Opt10)
12. Estimating revenues and hiring police security forces accordingly. Doing pirate and hostile faction activity estimations.(Opt11)
13. Setting up local loyalist government and preparing for departure.(Opt12)
14. Moving on to the next exploration target.(Opt13)
Each Opt option makes a hierarchical exploration tree that increase manifold in options, thus making each astronomical body an entire local universe of optional deeper exploration and exploitation.
There is no end to the possibilities!
And it is all fully possible to do with progressive coding using the "Stellar Forge" ( Or a sub-level of the Stellar Forge we can call the Detailed Exploration Forge or something.)
THAT IS WHAT I WANT WITH EXPLORATION.
Explanation of The Grief and The Bliss mechanics:
Meta-immersive invention insertion. What someone could call The Rolling Menace or "winter" or whatever is coming and it ain't good:
The Grief is like the Dark Side of the Force in Star Wars, but self spreading and affecting the mind and mental ability and intent of sentient beings, very dangerous and similar to pure evil. It makes people into Harry Potter, and not the Good version.
The Bliss is a technological psychological weapon that contains and eventually may neutralize The Grief, making it suitable and safe for humans to locate to that area.
Deeper explanation about the weird stuff at point 8:
Anything that is not as expected when exploring, can be called "paranormal activity". It doesn't mean it isn't natural, just that we do not yet understand what it is. The current Flower ship hyperdiction thingy is "paranormal" until they figure it all out, it is then classified as a "rare or very rare natural event" or something like that, but not paranormal. Paranormal activity is to be expected when exploring new things, as logic would say by discovering new things, whatever it may be.
For the "weird" additions, of course there will be weird stuff going on when we reach the paranormal phase of explorations, there is nothing defined, nothing explained and just weird and exciting. The Grief and The Bliss are just place holder concept of such weird things that goes beyond todays technology or understanding of things. You can replace the placeholder names with "Sickness" and "Cure", "Evil" and "Good", "Rational" and "Irrational", "War" and "Peace", "Radiation" and "Radiation Shielding" or whatever.
If you put the future technology into the hands of humans of the 21th century, that technology would be indistinguishable from magic.
So adding stuff that is beyond our understanding is what to be expected and even "normal" for the future as we always explore the "unknown" both in timespace and in our own minds. Having stuff happening to us mentally is as viable as sci-fi or even science already today. And it is and will be important in the future.
And paranormal activity could be very rare, or common, depending on how we want to model our simulation. That is up to FD to decide, because they would probably want to simulate the weird stuff and stuff that is unknown for explorations sake and for game plays sake. It is actually why we explore in the first place. It is what drives us into the unknown. The risk of discovering something that we did not expect.
Submersibles are special vessels that can traverse the extreme high pressure liquid layers of an astronomical body. We could see it as a type of mod to our own spaceships, allowing for higher pressure than vacuum.
Outposts, bases and resource extraction site building is part of the continuation and the logical immersive next step in the process, the "why we go do these things in the first place". We go because we can do something progressive, and get our name on it, make some money, help people, spreading society and civilization through the galaxy. It is a long progress chain to reach those deep levels of explorations, as I described well in my previous post ( it is so many layers of exploring that it would take weeks or months to complete ).
I can see where you are coming from, however the phrase "Paranormal Activity" is pretty much well defined as ghostly ESP type activity in common parlance and can be confusing, I would suggest using a different phrase that wouldn't be so confusing, "unanticipated events" maybe.
I can see where you are coming from, however the phrase "Paranormal Activity" is pretty much well defined as ghostly ESP type activity in common parlance and can be confusing, I would suggest using a different phrase that wouldn't be so confusing, "unanticipated events" maybe.
Well, call it what I said then "Unexpected" or "Exciting", "Wonderful", "Interesting", "Unknown", "Unidentified", "Amazing", "Oddity", "Curiosity", "Unexplained", "Alien", "Not Normal", "Not what we are used to".
But the true word is "paranormal" for anything that is considered outside of the normal expected parameters.
of or relating to the claimed occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation. Such as <insert random modern memes for dazzling miracle-like phenomena>
I won't get into details because others here have done that but I would love to see deeper scanning mechanics. layers of information and a simulation of actual science would be great. I am surprised to have not seen this here yet but I would love to see the bookmark mechanics expanded. Color coding and expanded number of bookmarks and some sort of search option. I would also love to be able to pin bookmarks to the right hand navigation panel in the cockpit view for quick access. Bookmarks usable as waypoints in the galaxy map so that we can plot a 1000ly course that twists turns and doubles back. Deeper science and exploration mechanics for the SRV, instead of it being just a mobile mining platform and planetside donut buggy would make me actually buy the Horizons DLC today. Alien ruins, mega structures, ship wrecks, or really any sort of trace in the deep black. There have to be a few dead civilizations out there. I would love to see mission chains kicked off randomly in the deep black that send you to various places to do some science and return that information to Stellar Cartographics. A way scan for drive plumes or wake emissions within a certain radius of your position. I would love to be able to scan for the emissions of other explorers with a certain number of light years just to spur some conversation and for possible meetups. As has been mentioned multi crew should inherently allow for group exploration trhe possibilities in this type of gameply are too much to not seriously consider, although I would consider this more of a addfeature so it may not be applicable to this list.
Can we please have Jaques leave Colonia for somewhere very far away, now FDev have (a) put enough stations in the area that Jaques isn't really needed and (b) made it so very soon it's going to be just like the bubble in terms of tedious bickering and territorial fighting, which many of us just did not want but predicted would happen once players weren't trusted to get on with things out here on our own.
"Our scientists have been studying the scan logs of <some system <1000 ly away> CMDR Bosen delivered to UC some months ago. We would like you to verify the orbital parameters for bodies X, Y, and Z in that system." (simple DS honk, low pay)
Or
"…and we believe not all bodies in the system are accounted for. Please scan the system and we will pay a bonus of W cr for any additional bodies found…" (more advanced DS honk)
Or
"…and have questioned her findings. Please verify the composition and environment of <body L> in that system…" (simple SS scan)
Or
"…and have found that he did not scan all bodies. Please determine the composition of <body U>…" (more advanced SS scan)
Or
"…and we are interested in exploiting it. Please go to <body T> and retrieve surface samples from locations we will provide you…" (something akin to a surface salvage mission, except with materials instead of cargo)
Basically, "structured" exploration; give people a concrete goal rather than simply flying off and coming back whenever. Won't change how the serious explorers operate, but might introduce some other players to the joy of it.
Better exploration mechanics would go a long way here, so I'll throw my hat in with that suggestion as well.
Perhaps it's a really small thing, but I think we should have the option of transmitting our scan data back home at any time, with a 50% loss of monetary reward, and without it applying to any faction reputation. It would encourage players to hoard their data until returning to port, as they do now, but also provide an alternative. If you're willing to take a 50% loss on the payout, you can transmit your data and not worry about taking some risks soon after.
The thing I want most is for them to fix the damn lighting system. I want to be able to see the light cast by other stars in multiple system (especially black hole systems, which currently aren't lit at all unless there's a companion star below the BH in the system map, rather than next to it). https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...nated-by-stars-if-the-primary-is-a-Black-Hole
And fix the inconsistencies in the system map (all companion stars should be below the primary, not next to them. Show double planets properly. Use ls as distance units consistently. Add an extra figure so we don't have things like "Orbital Period 0.00 days", etc.)
And get rid of the ridiculous planets that have > 2000 K surface temperatures and millions of atm surface pressure.
"Our scientists have been studying the scan logs of <some system <1000 ly away> CMDR Bosen delivered to UC some months ago. We would like you to verify the orbital parameters for bodies X, Y, and Z in that system." (simple DS honk, low pay)
Or
"…and we believe not all bodies in the system are accounted for. Please scan the system and we will pay a bonus of W cr for any additional bodies found…" (more advanced DS honk)
Or
"…and have questioned her findings. Please verify the composition and environment of <body L> in that system…" (simple SS scan)
Or
"…and have found that he did not scan all bodies. Please determine the composition of <body U>…" (more advanced SS scan)
Or
"…and we are interested in exploiting it. Please go to <body T> and retrieve surface samples from locations we will provide you…" (something akin to a surface salvage mission, except with materials instead of cargo)
Basically, "structured" exploration; give people a concrete goal rather than simply flying off and coming back whenever. Won't change how the serious explorers operate, but might introduce some other players to the joy of it.
Better exploration mechanics would go a long way here, so I'll throw my hat in with that suggestion as well.
I agree with this to some degree, but feel that this structure might get a little repetitive after a while.
I would very much like to see a variety of structured exploration missions, many have been suggested in this thread: retrieval of escape pod / black box / data etc. from a deep space crash site, for example. I like how this could lead to a chained mission that might take you somewhere you might not have gone.
I'd also like to see missions based around the expansion of human space: Find an un-tagged terraformable world within X lys of Y system. The closer the world is to an EL the higher the payout.
The thing I want most is for them to fix the damn lighting system. I want to be able to see the light cast by other stars in multiple system (especially black hole systems, which currently aren't lit at all unless there's a companion star below the BH in the system map, rather than next to it). https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...nated-by-stars-if-the-primary-is-a-Black-Hole
My main bug bear (growls included fro McGrew!) is that the Detailed Surface Scanner is totally wasted. I would like to see it have functions such as identifying POI regions from supercruise view so we can land in specific areas of the planet to find more stuff.
Everything revolves around that Planetary scan, and at the moment it is poo, finding something on any planet/moon is basically down to happy accidents.
