No motivation to go on.

[Cargobane]

You (but not just you) really, really need to understand that a lot, and I mean a whole lot, a huge lot, a humongous lot of the grinding is in the way you choose to play.
You talk about 'the game focusing on grinding'... but do not forget your own focus on grinding.
That is where you as a player of the game can make the difference.

No. You don't get it. When it requires 100 things to progress to the next stage, and those 100 things are the exact same, it doesn't matter if how long it takes to do it. You can spend 100 hours, or 1hr for 100 days. That's a grind and how you play the game doesn't change the requirement of getting 100 babbles to complete the task.

So the grind is built-in to the game and how someone plays it doesn't change this fact.

 

[Gortron]

That's exactly what i'm struggling with except for me the difficulty is completely artificial. I already have Anaconda and I don't have trouble killing NPCs; for me the problem is how disgustingly broken the mission system is. Most of the missions take considerable amount of time to complete and reward just 1-2% rank increase. On top of that the mission spawns don't always spawn or I'm forced to complete the mission in a time window 1 hour to the future, when I don't have time to play anymore. This has forced me to pretty much only accept cargo transfer missions because I know there won't be unexpected obstacles to completing them. They still even reward the same 1-2% rank increase and are much faster to do. They are incredibly boring though and I don't want to go through the grind. I don't think it should be this way.

The problem is you trying to win a game that doesn't have an end. I've got over 1000 hours in the game and have made no attempt to buy an anaconda. I'm still enjoying it, you aren't.

Your problem, not mine.

 

[Darrett]

No. You don't get it. When it requires 100 things to progress to the next stage, and those 100 things are the exact same, it doesn't matter if how long it takes to do it. You can spend 100 hours, or 1hr for 100 days. That's a grind and how you play the game doesn't change the requirement of getting 100 babbles to complete the task.

So the grind is built-in to the game and how someone plays it doesn't change this fact.

In Pac-Man, you have to eat a ridiculous number of Pac-Dots to move on to the next level. Then you have to do it again. And again! That game is so grindy.

It's all about the perception of a grind and how much fun it is to eat those Pac-Dots, and escape from the ghosts.

 

[SGT_VicMorrow]

The problem is you trying to win a game that doesn't have an end. I've got over 1000 hours in the game and have made no attempt to buy an anaconda. I'm still enjoying it, you aren't.

Your problem, not mine.

I dont think anyone is trying to beat an unbeatable game. I just think your smugness is so drowning you don't see that other players are in need of help and you dont want to assist in making them better players. Good luck on your next 1k hrs as that maybe the last hrs you get play because you and others like you slowly alienate the player base to no one and they shut game down.

 

[CMDR_Blitva]

I agree. There is NO WAY you can do some goals in this game WITH OUT USING google and youtube tutorials.
for example.. how for the hell on earth i can find the soontill relics?
simple.. quit game.. start browser.. oh joy.. google knows everything.. then go back.. that's lame but I AM FORCED to do that...
There should be IN GAME tips and some kind of information what can give you a guide or clue.. like they are present as something on planets or can be find near xyz star class.
or... dont use google.. make trillion station landing and make your own database but after some patch is common to change changed data and database is not valid.

 

[Cargobane]

In Pac-Man, you have to eat a ridiculous number of Pac-Dots to move on to the next level. Then you have to do it again. And again! That game is so grindy.

It's all about the perception of a grind and how much fun it is to eat those Pac-Dots, and escape from the ghosts.

That is not even remotely close to being relevant.

 

[Darrett]

That is not even remotely close to being relevant.

Sure it is, you just don't like how it refutes your argument.

The way you play and the way the game presents the grind is all that matters.

 

[Glock_N_Load]

No you cannot have a difficulty slider that makes 1 mode easier unless you separate the BGS and universes. It would not be fair to make 1 mode easier as it has been said all modes are equal and if you are gonna affect the same universe equally in solo as a player in open you better face the same threats. Solo is not singleplayer it is as it has been said like a private group with no one else invited. There is breaking news that will help even the worst pilots though. There is a new feature called wings that allows you to team up with others to the mutual benefit of all in the wing

Face the facts the exploit of solo farming is dead

All modes are not equal. No wings in solo

 

[Cargobane]

Sure it is, you just don't like how it refutes your argument.

The way you play and the way the game presents the grind is all that matters.

You are delusional if you think that the dots in pac-man are the same as a Kill/Ton/Material in ED.
Or maybe you're right and just don't realize it yourself. How many dots are on Level-1 of Pac-Man? Now go Trade that many Tons, get that many Kills, or do that many Jumps. x100 to get to Map-2. Then repeat that Dot consumption. How long until you get to Map-5 and realize that the Map hasn't changed, and the next 20 Maps are the same as well.

At least in pac-man, the maps and tactics to complete them change. Not so in ED.

 

[SMcA]

No. You don't get it. When it requires 100 things to progress to the next stage, and those 100 things are the exact same, it doesn't matter if how long it takes to do it. You can spend 100 hours, or 1hr for 100 days. That's a grind and how you play the game doesn't change the requirement of getting 100 babbles to complete the task.

So the grind is built-in to the game and how someone plays it doesn't change this fact.

I agree with Iskariot. Grinding is a frame of mind, a country you don't need to visit etc.
True, if you don't grind but just play to enjoy playing, you don't get the rewards as quickly. But you don't get Tee'd off, either.
I've been playing since Premium Beta* and gave up grinding when ED went live.
You want to earn about 300 million more. That is more than my total assets and it sounds like I am enjoying Elite more than you.

* Almost 3000 hours (I am semi-retired)

 

[Iskariot]

Iskariot, you reply like a chat bot. You (but not just you) really, really need to understand that a lot, and I mean a whole lot, a huge lot, a humongous lot.

Are you using Google translate?

No I am a chatbot. Just realized it.

 

[Zazzilas Arden]

So I just came back after a few weeks to try the new update, and I really like what they did with the radio chatter and the graphics, however, I'm at this point in the game in which everything seems like a huge mountain climb, and this update has made it even harder.

First I start with my current objectives:

-Earn about 300 million more, to install a good shield and an A PP to my Cutter.
-Improve reputation with the empire and see if there are any Empire-aligned engineers.
-Get access to the engineers and start collecting materials to improve the different modules

Problems:

-Farming in Haz res is out of the question now, tried to get my Cutter there, faced an NPC Anaconda, and I beat it, but It left me at 32% with a breached canopy: Total earnings : 100k
I welcome the challenge of the new and harder AI, but the rewards should really be increased to compensate.
-I couldn't find missions, docked at many stations, looked for systems in state of war, most of the missions were for small ships and no combat oriented ones. They all paid pretty low. Only found one combat mission, and it paid 100k.

Neither of these options will help me earn money or get along with the Empire

-Trading back and fourth seems to be the only viable way to make money now and achieve at least the first objective, but having so little time and so many more engaging games to play right now, I can't justify spending my time doing that. While I could be having fun in Overwatch instead, or just beating any game of my backlog. And thats before even starting to talk about getting materials for the modules.

TL;DR: The game has become even slower and grindier.

Hop into a smaller, more combat capable ship. A mod-free Cutter is essentially a flying target to the new AI. With that ship, earn the money for your Cutter upgrades. THEN fly the Cutter.

You don't have to forget about the cheaper ships just because you own the most expensive one!

 

[Monsoon]

Sure it is, you just don't like how it refutes your argument.

The way you play and the way the game presents the grind is all that matters.

No it is not...it is rather idiotic
comparing pacmac with a space simulator
And if you can not see that the analogy is so wrong then trying to explain why would be a waste of time

 

[Iskariot]

No. You don't get it. When it requires 100 things to progress to the next stage, and those 100 things are the exact same, it doesn't matter if how long it takes to do it. You can spend 100 hours, or 1hr for 100 days. That's a grind and how you play the game doesn't change the requirement of getting 100 babbles to complete the task.

So the grind is built-in to the game and how someone plays it doesn't change this fact.

I am not denying there's grindy stuff in the game or that it might be improved.
But you are denying that your own mindset and the way you play the game plays an important role. It really does.
It obviously does as I and others do not seem to perceive the grind to be even remotely as bad as you do.

Just an example.
I felt the grind like everybody else when I forced myself to do trading and nothing but trading for a prolonged time, approx. 18 months ago. It was bad.
But then I realized that I could do it in a way that was more my style.
I outfitted my T9 with weapons, the strongest shield it could carry, a kill warrant scanner and I decided to confront the pirates that interdicted me and I even went into USS with it.
Of course it was not the most effective way to do bulk trading , but I discovered it was great fun and the feeling of the grind was gone.

 

[Eymerich]

I am not denying there's grindy stuff in the game or that it might be improved.
But you are denying that your own mindset and the way you play the game plays an important role. It really does.
It obviously does as I and others do not seem to perceive the grind to be even remotely as bad as you do.

Just an example.
I felt the grind like everybody else when I forced myself to do trading and nothing but trading for a prolonged time, approx. 18 months ago. It was bad.
But then I realized that I could do it in a way that was more my style.
I outfitted my T9 with weapons, the strongest shield it could carry, a kill warrant scanner and I decided to confront the pirates that interdicted me and I even went into USS with it.
Of course it was not the most effective way to do bulk trading , but I discovered it was great fun and the feeling of the grind was gone.

Yes.

But at the end of the day you found yourself doing the same activities: mining 1 t of platinum (if you want improve your power distrubutor) is... mining 1 t of platinum

There is no other way (maybe go random on a planet and hoping to get a canister or attack some cargo): you can't purchase it.

Collecting a firmware is just that: or you go in eveery poi created by Fd hoping found that material or you complete one of mission as reward.

At the end of the day (weeks, month --> +2000 hours here) you are tired doing the same things over and over the time.

I have already did that: start again... bla... not so interested anymore

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

All modes are not equal. No wings in solo

I am with you here. +1 for the crusade for NPC wings.. I am still not getting into the AI debate... my gut feeling it is just players are not used to thinking about route planning and not biting off more they can chew. Sadly I had to cancel gaming last night due to disrupted install.... 20 mins to go and back in my eagle

Ed is 15gb now....... it's getting to be pretty big

 

[Nebiroth]

He is right though. It's fine for a long established player who farmed RES sites for months and has all the stuff they want and credits coming out of their ears.

For a new or returning player the climb has become much more formidable. Like it or not Elite IS a grind game, because to do the fun and exciting stuff you need lots and lots of credits. If you don't have those you are stuck in a mediocre ship and can't afford the upgrades you must have in order to participate in the more fun stuff.

If you already have hundreds of millions of creditsa then yes, the game was "boring" but if you don't then getting those credits is now much slower, it's a chicken and egg thing

The biggets problem I think is that the risk/reward ration has swung too far in both directions. Maybe credits weretoo easy to get, but now they are too hard. There's little emotive to do missions, which either rinvolve flying around for hours for not very much, or decent credit rewards where anyone not flying a fully upgraded ship with lots of experience is just going to get crushed

 

[Cmdr Cheese Wedge]

I'm going to reply to every "AI too hard thread" with this quote from the grandfather of the space sim genre.

"Winter is coming."

 

[Calebe]

I am not sure what the OP was doing but I have seen a few kill missions (kill 16 pirates) for about 1,300,000 saw another for 2.1 million. I took the first, took awhile but saw 2 eagles that I needed, killed 1, and the other killed me. Never happened before, 2 eagles were simple, not anymore. I was not really expecting what I ran into but I liked it. One on one I win, but it is now a challenge, and 2 on 1, and well I better be a lot more careful. That is how it should be. So I am liking it, even though my python cost me 3.5 million to replace it, it was a lesson I liked. The game is more dangerous as the name says and a lot more fun. Before 1 2 or 3 ships and I won without trying. Now 2 on 1 against me and I will be careful and may run. I did run into an Anaconda and it took my shields down quick, but I had it's down as well. I ran as my hull was disappearing to quickly and their shields were just down. I will now re-evaluate strategy.
.
All I can say is well done SJA you made the game a challenge and fun again. The Mistress of the Minions has done a great job, don't change a thing.
.
Calebe

 

[bkrownd]

I agree with Iskariot. Grinding is a frame of mind, a country you don't need to visit etc.
True, if you don't grind but just play to enjoy playing, you don't get the rewards as quickly. But you don't get Tee'd off, either.
I've been playing since Premium Beta* and gave up grinding when ED went live.
You want to earn about 300 million more. That is more than my total assets and it sounds like I am enjoying Elite more than you.

* Almost 3000 hours (I am semi-retired)

The Grind is simply the Work gets you from the starting point to the point where you WANT to be. If it wasn't for the Grind I would have quit this game early on because the first month or so playing generally sucked, and the thing that kept me going was expectation that I could Grind my way to more capable and enjoyable ships. Fortunately my goals were pretty modest compared to most. It might not work that way for you, but different strokes for different folks, etc.