I want auto pilot

[Zplintz]

One keypress to stop in space is perfectly adequate and hyperspace doesn't take long - they really aren't valud arguments for an autopilot.

Personally (and apologies in advance for anyone I'm just about to insult) I think the only reason to request an auto-pilot is to trade or explore afk. ED was never meant to be played like that.

 

[jabokai]

One keypress to stop in space is perfectly adequate and hyperspace doesn't take long - they really aren't valud arguments for an autopilot.

Personally (and apologies in advance for anyone I'm just about to insult) I think the only reason to request an auto-pilot is to trade or explore afk. ED was never meant to be played like that.

You're missing what a lot of us are asking for - rather than "autopilot" it's more of an "autostop". Some do want full on autopilot and I tend to agree with you on that front.

 

[Sandmann]

*bangs head against wall in frustration*

Not continuing with this thread. Posters are ignoring anything they don't like, and simply repeating what they want till opposition goes away. Will simply rely on FD's continued good sense.

 

[Magic Man]

The autopilot requested in this thread is a simple A to B tool. Something that will take fly you (not insta travel) to your already designated target and stop you there at a safe distance. Nothing more.

It adds no form of exploit nor dumbing down, no cheat nor simplification. It's a simple tool modelled after a functionality that would be available to the pilot to keep the craft travelling safely towards its goal whilst he catches up on a snooze, toilet, meal break etc. Think Han and Chewie talking to Ben and Luke whilst the Falcon was on auto pilot (in hyperspace but effectively the same thing here)

The ship remains vulnerable all the time and it flys no quicker than manually piloting the distance.

 

[yyy]

Not sure how to respond to this thread.
I'm about 500 hours into the game (beta's etc included) and I still have to witness the docking computer doing it's job. Not even once have I considered using it so a complete auto-pilot just seems wrong on so many levels.

I consider myself a fanboy at this point cuz well, there's only a handful of games that ever kept me playing this long but still ... having not played the original games and only discovering this till premium beta, it would still feel so wrong having an auto pilot doing all the work.

This game provides me with a sort of "on-edge-but-still-comfortably" kind of feeling I haven't felt in a long time.

On the ZX Spectrum engaging the docking computer gave me a quick tunnel animation and the ship was docked. Since ED is a simulation, don't know how FD would maintain time consistent for all players.

 

[Magic Man]

On the ZX Spectrum engaging the docking computer gave me a quick tunnel animation and the ship was docked. Since ED is a simulation, don't know how FD would maintain time consistent for all players.

The docking computer in ED flies real time, no time compression. It auto activates if present and as appropriate. (should be on a switch really but that's a different matter...)

 

[yyy]

Sure, add an autopilot if you like. Its not something for me though.

But be aware that:
- you will not learn how to fly you ship
- you will not learn how to avoid interdictions (or even be able to)
- you shouldnt watch netflix while gaming

On that note I officially predict a lot of future forum rage from AFK'ers being killed by NPC's in solo or mobius because they.

- didnt know how to fly the ship
- didnt know how to avoid interdictions
- watched netflix while gaming.

This thing about humans being able to multitask breaks down into the following:

Men = Incapable of multitasking
Women = Capable of multitasking, but the quality of the output suffers for each task when compared to doing one task only.

So the conclusion is for both men and women, don't bother multitasking. If you want to play ED, play it, but don't bother trying to do something else in the meantime.

Elite the original game had one goal, trade your way to better equipment and fight until you get to Elite status. To me the journey to Elite is more important than the goal. When I did achieve Elite status on the ZX Spectrum, I stopped playing and never went back to it.

 

[yyy]

Auto-pilot would be great but shouldn't fuel scoop automatically.

If the next jump is in the path of the corona of a scoop-able star OK, but if not then it misses that scoop and jumps on. If you cannot make the next jump, with the fuel in tank, you drop into normal space until you take over to refuel.

Auto-pilot should not be able to avoid interdiction.

Auto-pilot does not equate to less of a game as long as it cannot avoid non-static intervention. Stars are static, players/npcs not static.

On a personal note, I am just getting back from a ~70k light-year trip around the galaxy. I would have loved an auto-pilot to help me get back. Although I would have missed out on some scans along the way, that is the price I'd be willing to pay to get back. If somehow my ship popped because of player/npc intervention that would be MY fault but as it is 400 Billion stars some form of automation should exist especially outside of populated space. Anyway these are my thoughts on this.

Take a look at this as a feature request https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=137142

 

[Dave Angel]

After playing this game for a couple hundred hours I'm completely disinterested in traveling anywhere. Traveling has become extremely repetitive and tedious. I use an auto docking module which relives some of the tedium when dealing with stations, but that's only part of it. At first traveling was cool because it was new, but now that the novelty has worn off it's just a chore.

This ^ +1

autopilot would rock

 

[RobertPBham]

The problem with the feature request above is that it's only useful for inhabited space.

There are two types of autopilot:
1) Hyperspace jump control - plot a long distance route with multiple jumps and the computer handles the jumps to the selected system
2) Supercruise - when arrived in a system, the computer handles the journey to the planned destination

The most important version to me is number 1 - obviously having both would be great but I can deal with Supercruise. The completely boring part for me is jumping between multiple system (ie 500ly). There is no skill involved, it's a monotonous task and an autopilot would have zero effect on gameplay!

With such a large playing field, automation is the key.

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe autopilot is the wrong name and gives the wrong idea of the use of it.

1) Jump control
2) Navigation assistance

 

[Tryst]

*bangs head against wall in frustration*

Not continuing with this thread. Posters are ignoring anything they don't like, and simply repeating what they want till opposition goes away. Will simply rely on FD's continued good sense.

Thank god for that. You're only argument from start to finish has been that you don't want it, therefore it isn't going to happen.

 

[Brieus]

The autopilot requested in this thread is a simple A to B tool. Something that will take fly you (not insta travel) to your already designated target and stop you there at a safe distance. Nothing more.

It adds no form of exploit nor dumbing down, no cheat nor simplification. It's a simple tool modelled after a functionality that would be available to the pilot to keep the craft travelling safely towards its goal whilst he catches up on a snooze, toilet, meal break etc. Think Han and Chewie talking to Ben and Luke whilst the Falcon was on auto pilot (in hyperspace but effectively the same thing here)

The ship remains vulnerable all the time and it flys no quicker than manually piloting the distance.

Constantly hanging onto the stick/reaching up to tweak it every couple of seconds is really aggravating the repetitive-stress-injury in my shoulder. I can only make a couple of trips before the pain starts up.

 

[hawkenfox]

Lots of flame ... the original OP has a point there is no game inbetween long distance travel ... especially if you are

an explorer ...no interdiction ... nothing, it's boring really you should try it .

 

[poser765]

The problem with the feature request above is that it's only useful for inhabited space.

There are two types of autopilot:
1) Hyperspace jump control - plot a long distance route with multiple jumps and the computer handles the jumps to the selected system
2) Supercruise - when arrived in a system, the computer handles the journey to the planned destination

The most important version to me is number 1 - obviously having both would be great but I can deal with Supercruise. The completely boring part for me is jumping between multiple system (ie 500ly). There is no skill involved, it's a monotonous task and an autopilot would have zero effect on gameplay!

With such a large playing field, automation is the key.

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe autopilot is the wrong name and gives the wrong idea of the use of it.

1) Jump control
2) Navigation assistance

I can get behind this. traveling from point a to point b via hyperspace is only a time sink. There is no "game involved. Press J, wait, align, wait for FSD to cool off, press J, repeat. Literally no skill involved. That part of the game really isn't any fun because there is nothing to challenge you...there is no game. Just a sequential set of tasks that have to be repeated, and repeated, and repeated. Automate that! That would be great.

Super cruise on the other hand requires some skill. Not a lot, but it can be messed up and takes some input from the player. Leave that manual. Leave everything else manual!

I can assure everyone, that no one is allowing their piloting skills to degrade by allowing an automated hyperspace jump series...because there is no piloting skill.

 

[Vasious]

Well Suppose if ....

You want an Auto Pilot that can supercruise from Star to destination and then stop in the safe to disengage?
Make it a module with some mass, and know it will submit to any interdictions.

You Want an Auto Pilot that will jump an planned route star to star to star, and will try to scoop if it can?
Make it a Module with some mass

With the Docking Computer as well, then there is three internal slots already gone.

If you're a trader you have to give up cargo space
If you're an explorer you are adding mass.

Choice and consequence.

 

[Eisen]

If you're a trader you have to give up cargo space
If you're an explorer you are adding mass.

I completely agree with you! Naturally - as with every choice in life - there have to be pros and cons for such an "auto-pilot". Those who think, that having the stamina to endure hours and hours of "jump, scoop, align, jump..." is the essence of an explorer, don't need to use it - the pro could be a higher possible jump distance giving them an advantage over auto-pilot-users.
Personally I like exploring very much: Jumping into a system, scanning the worlds, enjoying the sights... But the outbound/inbound trips are an ordeal.
Eisen

 

[jabokai]

The completely boring part for me is jumping between multiple system (ie 500ly). There is no skill involved, it's a monotonous task and an autopilot would have zero effect on gameplay!

Some people seem to think that monotony, and mind-numbing repetition is a part of the "challenge". I don't understand it either but there you go, it's been said in this thread.

 

[Jumbik]

Some people seem to think that monotony, and mind-numbing repetition is a part of the "challenge". I don't understand it either but there you go, it's been said in this thread.

This will hopefully change with added content to the game. Simple autopilot would help a lot.

What I have stated in my previous posts, the autopilot would have some serious drawbacks but it would be backed up by added content for faster traveling if the ship would be controlled by human (gravity waves, sling shots etc.). Also the fact that you cannot walk around your ship is also a bit mind numbing for explorers... setting up a course with autopilot and then be able to walk around your ship would help a lot.

 

[Vasious]

Just don't fit them all to your ship, then scoop up an AI reminanet

 

[CMDR i Tetsuo]

yeah because we're all looking forward to the fall-out threads...
"WHAAA I left the game running on auto-pilot and when I returned I was dead and lost Eleventy-million space bucks WHAAAA!! Fix your game Bungie!"