Exploring space seems to be closely affiliated to Train spotting.

Nort

Nort
Exploring space seems to be closely affiliated to Train spotting.
Been there! Got the T-shirt!
It’s a bit like those children's tick sheets you get in some department stores, then if you fill in all the squares you get a bar of Chocolate.
Can it be made more relevant, more interesting? More like there is more to do!

One thing springs to mind is encountering plant life, or other life! There needs to be more reward, and more consequences for this. Not destructive consequences, but say a period of Quarantine on your return.

I have been out for a medium jaunt into the deep South, found lost off as yet undiscovered blobs. Taken tons of snaps for my space album, and got rather board.
I have no bobble Heads to keep me sane, and to be honest I don't really want one. What I would consider is a space gold fish, or space bird/bat.. Something I can chat too, swear at, and blame when things go wrong.

Could there be planets we visit, with such catchable pets, Not easy to find, not easy to catch! And not always on the same planet so cheaters don't pop over and get one, with little effort.
May be there could be a very rare marketplace for such collectable pets, back within the bubble.
Not for sale to pilots, if you want one you go find one for your self. And being random, you have to get exploring in earnest.

At the moment I find the exploration future looking much the same, can it hold my attention?
If it’s just Train spotting, then probably not

I have a buggy on my Asp, and have had no need to use it.. At all.. If it had a fishing rod, a bird catching net. A Bug Jar. Then the wheeled buggy might make some sense to take.

This is just a seed idea, needs to germinate and prune. Then may be some topiary to get a workable addition to the exploration boardroom.
 

Redfox

Redfox
Nort said:
Exploring space seems to be closely affiliated to Train spotting.
Been there! Got the T-shirt!
It’s a bit like those children's tick sheets you get in some department stores, then if you fill in all the squares you get a bar of Chocolate.
Can it be made more relevant, more interesting? More like there is more to do!
Click to expand...
I think most of us can agree that it'd be great to have more to do/find/prod/analyse/interact/etc. while exploring. But since there isn't, we need to roll with what we've got, or go do sth else. There have been so many threads containing many amazing gameplay mechanics for exploration over the years, but seeing what little actual content made it into "our" dedicated exploration release last (?) year, I'd not hold my breath for big exploration-changing additions.

With that bit of sadness out of the way, I don't see exploration as sth similar to trainspotting - except maybe for that maiden exploration trip out to Eta Carinae years ago. Since then the data, structure and rules behind ED's galaxy have been keeping me going through probably a dozen or so "science" projects, either alone or together with other commanders. The real life knowledge that can be gained along the way while trying to solve specific problems is equally amazing and fun.

If that sounds like sth you might be interested in (as you're clearly over trainspotting) I suggest you head over to one of the science/research oriented groups, e.g. DISC (discord.gg/SJcn53) or Canonn (https://canonn.science) and have a look if that suits you.
 

Sapyx

Sapyx
I have often compared the Codex to a trainspotter's guide, helping you tick off every different kind of space-thing. So for anyone using the Codex as a primary guide to exploration (which was, I assume, FD's intent in creating it), then it wouldn't surprise me if it felt like trainspotting. You really need third-party tools (eg EDD/EDSM) and groups (eg. Canonn, or this forum) to make it feel more like exploration.

I doubt that cockpit-pets (which have been much asked-for in one form or another) would ever be obtainable by any means other than Arx, since they would be "cockpit customization". But there could certainly be much more to discovering alien life than there currently is. Many of us are hoping for such interactivity in some form when atmospheric landings eventually arrive. It all hinges on how strongly Sir DB's original vision, for planets to have "cityscapes, animals, life, trees, being a big game hunter", is still pushing the development team.
 

Romeo India Charlie

Romeo India Charlie
Sapyx said:
You really need third-party tools (eg EDD/EDSM) and groups (eg. Canonn, or this forum) to make it feel more like exploration.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more. Gameplay per se is not exploration. It is the means to an end. I get the actual exploration feeling from interacting with other players. I felt more compelled to learn from what I read in these forums then the game itself. The goals I've defined, both of what I want to visit and what I want to discover, are around the tools and the communities.

That said, I don't feel that exploration is trainspotting. My POI list is, surely! But not exploration itself, unless we are referring to the exclusive use of the game and the in-game tools. I understand all this is very subjective and personal and agree that it would be great to have more to interact with or, at least, more rarities to find, e.g. GGGs are exciting because they are both awesome and rare.
 

Nort

Nort
My trip South was to get me away from the masses, and see what was down there. Also to give me an insight to long haul space jumping. What it has shown me is a huge repetitive set of boring procedures to endure.
This I was sort of aware off, but needed to endure to confirm.
The saving grace is the unexpected! What will pop into view next? I am not a numbers person, so distance, Ly’s Volumes, mass, ect do not register for me. It’s just another Star to scoop, then scan to see whats around.
My next thing is to find anything worth looking at,!!

This is and has been more of a surprise than I had originally thought , If I take my time to study each blob to see if it has any odd or interesting features. Some have simple yet visually pleasing pattens, some are paired and are nice and close to each other, and some not many are really quite extuodinery.

It may take 30+ jumps to find a gem, then I take my time and see what are the best angles, the perspectives, the colour range. Then flying around, landing, drifting, to get good shots.

The game as a combat game is meaningless to me,
The game as a trader is ok.
The game as an explorer has potential, buts needs more to do!
The game as a space scenery generator is extuodinery,

So for me ED is a space photographers playground, let's hope more planetary features are added with coming updates.
Large active volcano’s,
Running rivers,
Lakes, Oceans, Atmospheres.

I could go on , but these things take time to include, so I shall wish for big volcanos with huge lava flows to start.

Sorry Train spotters, I did not mean to offend!
 

marx

marx
A minor note:

Redfox said:
[...] but seeing what little actual content made it into "our" dedicated exploration release last (?) year, I'd not hold my breath for big exploration-changing additions.
Click to expand...
Not last year, it was more than a year ago: the middle of 2018 December.
 
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