I refuse to grind anymore

[bootsam]

G5 FSD isnt that bad. Neither is the unlock for the Guardian FSD Boost. Both, I'd suggest are worthwhile. The others arent necessary in a PvE world, until you meet a shield spamming npc anaconda. Which is when I realised I need shield killers when going nose to nose against one. I'm now getting some of those torps with the reverb cascade thingy, and Ive just unlocked the engineer for some PA mods. I like PA's they're fun. Use EDDB and Inara, get organised. Make it fun. It can be. I even enjoyed mining last night for Bromellite, as I got 50T in an evening in Bhotho AB 3 B ring.

I want to unlock all the human tech next. So Im off hunting mats again. Rhenium etc.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Once you hit deadly you`ll wish you had grinded the dumbineers. Have fun with the AI bulletsponges coming to redefine the concept of "time wasting" to untold levels never experienced before in ED.

 

[Muzz UK]

About 18 months ago, I had enough and stopped engineering modules. Especially as fdevs kept moving the goalposts, and I realized it will never stop.

But is it necessary to engineer in order to play the game in open?
I plan on playing ED again when the next update goes live, Mainly to discover new stuff through the codex.

But can I still play the game now though?
Will I be easily destroyed by NPCs/thargoids/humans?

Have I missed out on any essential engineering?

I know that the scanner interface has changed so are there any tips anyone can give me before I head out into the black?

Regards

Engineering is not required for PvE or any of the non PvP roles in game. I have a friend who's played 2 years without doing any engineering! PvP is a must because the likely hood of facing other engineered commanders is almost a certainty. At the end of the day the grind there has reduced and the fact you earn materials doing other things in game and we have materials trader makes the process so much quicker.

To be honest basic engineering takes a few hours and things like increase FSD range and better shields and low tier weapons are easy.

 

[RymdLazer]

To me it's like the "grind" is the gameplay. Only time anything gets "grindy" for me is when I start kitting out a ship. Then I have to do lists and crosscheck destinations via inara and go material hunting. Inbetween these projects I just work a nice systemcluster and enjoy building wealth by missions and opportunistic trading and bounty hunting.
It has a rythm and I enjoy that every pursuit is a project to itself.
With engineering it's like I almost always have enogh materials to g3 new ships. Then I might just play and sometimes upgrade via pinned blueprints. And sooner or later I'll just spend a few sessions visiting engineers in person for special effects.
I find it all a very organic part of the play cycle

 

[Goose4291]

About 18 months ago, I had enough and stopped engineering modules. Especially as fdevs kept moving the goalposts, and I realized it will never stop.

But is it necessary to engineer in order to play the game in open?
I plan on playing ED again when the next update goes live, Mainly to discover new stuff through the codex.

But can I still play the game now though?
Will I be easily destroyed by NPCs/thargoids/humans?

Have I missed out on any essential engineering?

I know that the scanner interface has changed so are there any tips anyone can give me before I head out into the black?

Regards

Not easily, it'll just be an actual challenge for you, particularly at the top end of the spectrum.

The Grind for the most part only results in you being able to do the same things you were previously, but easier (see: Annaconda pilots in solo with all g5 upgrades and an elite fighter pilot turret boats carrying 1t of biowaste in their carghold going AFK for half an hour plus in HAZ RES sites).

 

[Shaamaan]

Once you hit deadly you`ll wish you had grinded the dumbineers. Have fun with the AI bulletsponges coming to redefine the concept of "time wasting" to untold levels never experienced before in ED.

Don't scare me, man! I just hit Deadly this weekend... And the bar is stuck at 0% despite having some bounty-hunting sessions since... :/

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

...

The Grind for the most part only results in you being able to do the same things you were previously, ...

And that's why I really hate the engineers.

 

[Old Duck]

But is it necessary to engineer in order to play the game in open?

Are you wanting to frequently encounter other players? I ask because it's easy to find systems in the Bubble where you'll rarely encounter another CMDR, thus making Open as safe as Solo, but since you specifically mention Open as your goal, this may not be satisfying to you. FWIW, I have highly-engineered ships, but they are still no match for a wing of griefers. In other words, the question really isn't about Solo vs. Open, but rather PvE vs. PvP.

ps - when I play in Open, it's more about encountering the random CMDR in backwater system than it is seeing a dozen CMDRs at a CG, thus giving me the best of both modes (Solo & Open).

 

[Dash]

If you want to engage with other players, then you must absolutely engineer. You cannot compete head-to-head with engineered ships. That said, not everybody has engineered, and not everything in the game is competitive.

I know that NPC ships are engineered, so you'll find them tougher to fight if you yourself are not engineered. I'm not sure if the spawning mechanism is friendly for non-engineered humans, but if you're playing in a shared instance even then that wouldn't help.

As somebody who has done it and not enjoy it, Engineering is a grind and for casual gamers very rapidly becomes the only gameplay there is as it takes so long. It's boring trudging around looking for obscure materials etc. Even carrying collector limpets all the time is a pain, as you have to sit around with your cargo hatch open waiting for everything to be picked up. It is long, and boring, and generally necessary.

That said, quality of life is much improved once you've gone through the grind. Jump range in particular, if you're wanting to move about the bubble, or go into the deep, then maxing out your jump range is a fantastic help, and feels really rotten when you go back to an unengineered ship.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

I go full grind mode to get it over with. It's tough that what I most enjoy in the game is a precision engineered ship that excels in it's role. I've grinded all materials for my Mamba CZ build and my Phantom explorer in two days. And especially the Proto Light Alloys were pretty bad. I've filled the entire 150 storage. FD should really take a balance pass at the lightweight blueprints. The amount of Proto XXX materials for any lightweight build are a total outlier. The only other build that is equally bad is an all sturdy missile boat, the Technetium amounts required for that are crazy as well.

 

[Oss133]

What about bumping? Are you still bumping? Because, if you are, you should add a little grind to it. Ain't nothin' wrong with it.

 

[Muetdhiver]

Then don't

For open, Mild levels of engineering and knowing your escape routine is enough. G3 is more than enough to pwn most NPC's in a medium ship.

G3 engineering is dirt cheap and can be done anywhere thanks to the workshop. It's a godsend really. Just pack a 1A collector and a few limpets (I roll with 8)
and play the garbage truck after combats, you'll be set for life quickly if you stick to G3-4 engineering. G5 is still costly, but required for PvP combat but not for
PvB (player vs Brave Sir Robin)

 

[MarkAusten]

I grind most days but then I like my coffee fresh.

I'll get my coat.....

 

[Miko]

Its all optional. Grind has always been a choice if you don't like it just don't do it.

Nothings particularly hard to get hold of.

People like you say this, but the game puts everyone in the same space in Open play, which means anybody who doesn't force themselves to grind is at a severe disadvantage. Not everybody had the spare time to commit to the grind, either. This also ignored any non horizons players also put into the same space, despite having zero access to engineers.

Engineers threw everything out of balance. A non engineered ship cannot boost quick enough or muscle up against a ship with bolstered boosters and hill reinforcements etc. Not to mention the lack of experimentals which the engineered foe will be using to switch off an fsd etc.

It's not ideal so effectively it is a choice you're almost forced into if you want to survive in Open.

 

[Aashenfox]

Another OBYOZ post about how dissatisfied they are with the game, left to generate salt in the forums, for the OP never to return.

Yay.

 

[Sir.Tj]

Another OBYOZ post about how dissatisfied they are with the game, left to generate salt in the forums, for the OP never to return.

Yay.

Yeah I think we've had quite enough of these type of threads.

Closing.