Please automate Supercruise - its the most pointless gameplay element.

[eza]

This is how it starts: Please automate "insert item here".
Next they'll want insta-docking, insta-mining, insta-discovery, automated attacks, and before you know we're all playing a giant spreadsheet clone of Eve.

No thanks.

Is it really that hard to just fly your ship? Don't you WANT to fly your ship? Why are you playing Elite if you don't want to fly your ship?

I can understand the desire for star-to-star microjumps - nobody likes the excessively long flight to Hutton Orbital - but if you don't have to at least fly your ship to your destination, what's the point of the game at all?

i really don't understand the negative and hyberbolic responses.

frontier elite 2 and frontier first encounters both had autopilots

flight sims have autopilots

what is the problem here? is it not a step backwards for ED to not have an autopilot?

if there was an autopilot in ED i'd use it in the same way i use it in DCS A-10C - to hold me on course while i look at the map, or weapons loudouts, or any number of things that involve me not looking where i'm going.
seeing as a lot of functions in ED require you to look to the left or to the right, rather than straight ahead of you, it would be quite useful.

 

[JughedJones]

i really don't understand the negative and hyberbolic responses.

frontier elite 2 and frontier first encounters both had autopilots

flight sims have autopilots

what is the problem here? is it not a step backwards for ED to not have an autopilot?

if there was an autopilot in ED i'd use it in the same way i use it in DCS A-10C - to hold me on course while i look at the map, or weapons loudouts, or any number of things that involve me not looking where i'm going.
seeing as a lot of functions in ED require you to look to the left or to the right, rather than straight ahead of you, it would be quite useful.

I really don't know how many more times I can ask this, but here it goes again. In A-10C your autopilot holds your heading (or climb, or bank.)

When you're in supercruise, what's keeping you from pointing it in the direction you want, then letting go of the controls? You stay on the same heading! You can check your map, read galnet, plot your next route, go get a drink if you have the time, any number of things.

In short, you don't want to use the same type of autopilot as is in DCS... because it's already there. You want to press a button while the computer takes you from station to station. It's a completely different thing. It's not necessary and it's a 'win grind now' button for traders. I.E. press button to get to station, press button 2 to land, press button to buy commodity, launch, press button to get to station, whatever...
take some responsibility at least.

 

[AndyC77]

I don't see any problems with adding auto cruise. If people want to put it on their ship that's fine. If they don't then they won't. Simple isn't it?

 

[JughedJones]

I don't see any problems with adding auto cruise. If people want to put it on their ship that's fine. If they don't then they won't. Simple isn't it?

We already have it.

Why do we want to take the dev's attention away from real things while they 'fix' an unbroken mechanic. Believe me, the first time someone sets this 'trade win button' and it crashes them into a sun with their Type-9 and 400 tons of Palladium, they'll wish they'd stuck to their guns.

It's unneeded and what most people are claiming they want is already there. Simple.

 

[SCADVID]

I really don't know how many more times I can ask this, but here it goes again. In A-10C your autopilot holds your heading (or climb, or bank.)

When you're in supercruise, what's keeping you from pointing it in the direction you want, then letting go of the controls?

Pirates.

Why are pirates in solo, again?

When did solo become "risk vs reward" and "danger everywhere"?

I look for ED solo game play to be more of a sim for commercial space flight...like NASA (or Space X) meets Wal-Mart. It's not like they don't have tons of history to write a game story around it all, either. Politics? Crash that 100,000,000 spacecraft and see how fast and furious the politics would become too!!!

 

[Rankaze]

Here's my take on this. You want autosupercruise? Sure.

All interdiction attempts against you automatically succeed, and you don't get the reduced FSD cooldown from submitting.

If you want to go AFK while your ship flies itself, you better be ready for the consequences!

 

[JughedJones]

Here's my take on this. You want autosupercruise? Sure.

All interdiction attempts against you automatically succeed, and you don't get the reduced FSD cooldown from submitting.

If you want to go AFK while your ship flies itself, you better be ready for the consequences!

I'm sorry, but I have to say this again. "Autosupercruise" is not what these people are asking for. It can't be because we already have it. They want auto-warp, auto-supercruise, auto-plot course around planets, and auto-disengage at their destination.

Whatever. Let-em have it at the cost of terrible efficiency and possible death.

 

[Winterwalker]

Whatever. Let-em have it at the cost of terrible efficiency and possible death.

I'm arguing for the module and (higher up in thread) have also asked for balancing consequences. Ship gets there no more quickly than in manual, so there's no argument here, against the idea, that it can only add to the sim aspect, to have a programmable flight computer. People who are for the idea are saying they still want to fly the ship, most of the time, but like the idea because it mixes up the gameplay.

What I'd like to see is nothing more than a different control method; mouse and keyboard, gamepad, joystick ... plus pre-program your course and go. Pre-programming is not "let the game play itself", I still go where I want, when I want, I'm as interdictable as I ever was, but I can have some confidece in reading Galnet (acquainting myself with local politics, becoming more engaged in powerplay) and that I won't end up the other side of nowhere for it.

Why do we want to take the dev's attention away from real things while they 'fix' an unbroken mechanic. Believe me, the first time someone sets this 'trade win button' and it crashes them into a sun with their Type-9 and 400 tons of Palladium, they'll wish they'd stuck to their guns.

Not a trade/ win button but regardless, I think there are two points. One, SC exit is not yet optimised (not quite an unbroken mechanic) and calculating an arrival path, critical to a flight computer, might (might) help in early loading of an instance to make arrival seamless. Two, it's a discussion, and there may be a good argument for having this as a paid expansion dlc, which is obvious benefit to FD. A module that you buy in-game (or don't) is to add play functionality to your ship. Discussion is not a way to auto-everything, only looking at ways to futher improve an already good mechanic, to add even more skill, over the "push this button .. now," supercruise exit.

 

[acg515]

I completely disagree that supercruise is pointless. As pilots, the ability to supercruise well is part of our skillset and as such everyone should be able to do that.

Having an autopilot would be fine for those who are willing to use the space on it. We already have a docking computer, why not an autopilot? I won't use it because I don't need it but other people will.

 

[Rankaze]

Also, supercruise is not at all pointless to those of us in the bounty hunting profession.

Tonight I got my biggest bounty yet - a quarter million and change - for a Deadly Anaconda I interdicted in... yes, supercruise.

 

[kubovsky]

Also, supercruise is not at all pointless to those of us in the bounty hunting profession.

Tonight I got my biggest bounty yet - a quarter million and change - for a Deadly Anaconda I interdicted in... yes, supercruise.

You also could have done this with your opponent in automated supercruise....

 

[mossfoot]

Pirates.

Why are pirates in solo, again?

When did solo become "risk vs reward" and "danger everywhere"?

I look for ED solo game play to be more of a sim for commercial space flight...like NASA (or Space X) meets Wal-Mart. It's not like they don't have tons of history to write a game story around it all, either. Politics? Crash that 100,000,000 spacecraft and see how fast and furious the politics would become too!!!

Elite has always been filled with pirates. Always. It's part of the game and always has been. Solo doesn't change that nor should it. Solo just means you deal with AI only. If you want a mode that removes all risk...you're simply in the wrong game.

 

[PiLhEaD]

I've no problem with others wanting and using superc auto pilot.

As long as:
it's noticably slower,
the device takes up a shield generator sized compartment,
the autopilot atomatically submits to interdiction,
use of the device disables ship shields or significantly increases fsd recharge time.

For me this would be the right balance of risk and reward.

 

[Winterwalker]

This ..

You also could have done this with your opponent in automated supercruise....

and ..

If you want a mode that removes all risk...you're simply in the wrong ...

.. thread



------

Yup ...

I've no problem with others wanting and using superc auto pilot.

As long as:
it's noticably slower,
the device takes up a shield generator sized compartment,
the autopilot atomatically submits to interdiction,
use of the device disables ship shields or significantly increases fsd recharge time.

For me this would be the right balance of risk and reward.

 

[Vasea Azure]

As someone said already we don't really need autopilot - you point your ship at your target and... well... the ship fly in a straight line, not much to automate here. Only think that could be automate is SC exit but I don't really see the point.
In super cruise you can still check your map, chat with friend because as I said ship is flying itself in a straight line, at least mine is.
Also if FD for some reason will put the autopilot in game - it wont "dump down" anything - you cant "dump down" flying in a straight line really. Commanders, we should really stop overreacting on "autopilot" thing.

 

[Winterwalker]

you point your ship at your target and... well... the ship fly in a straight line, not much to automate here.

.. It's fair as things stand. But considering what a module could do, could set your SC exit at a place of your choosing away from nav point, or program different route solutions to the same nav beacon. The reasons why you might do this are not as important as fact this is not possible to accurately manual target as things stand. If introduced people would be able to explore different reasons for different routes to target.

Only think that could be automate is SC exit but I don't really see the point.

It's key. SC exit (timing) is "watch the clock and keep it in the blue" ..
There's a feeling this can become tedious after a while (esp. as flight is basically straight line).

In super cruise you can still check your map, chat with friend because as I said ship is flying itself in a straight line, at least mine is.

Yes, but not with any confidence.

The basic (trading) cycle is; Docked - Flight - Interdiction - Flight - Dock

In dock you are concentrated on various bulletins, commodity markets, upgrades, missions, refuels, plus you want to fly (or it's "unproductive time"). It's essentially stressful to be in dock if you have any sort of ambitions. Interdiction .. another stress point, dogfight, evade, kill, don't get killed.

Manual SC .. minor but significant stress dullness, watch dot, don't overshoot. Automated, read Galnet 99% sure of arrival at target destination, gives only chance in the cycle, to reach a (balance) stress free point.

Yes, you can park up to read the Galnet newspaper (coming in Powerplay) but it's not unreasonable to feel this is unproductive time, so that can be stressful too, if your goal is a new ship say.

Also if FD for some reason will put the autopilot in game - it wont "dump down" anything - you cant "dump down" flying in a straight line really. Commanders, we should really stop overreacting on "autopilot" thing.

Yes. +1 to over-reaction. It's only an addition, doesn't affect anyone else's game, adds "content", is not a very unreasonable automation (in the future after all) and doesn't realistically constitute click to win, if implemented to include pilot involvement in setting course and heading plus drawbacks to use.

 

[RosaMaus]

Personally, I think most of the complaints about SC could be obviated by just fixing the "Slow Down" mechanic. Just have it working so it ignores any object not targeted, (unless you are on a direct collision course), and rather than appearing too late for any useful action as it does now, have it set to give you a visible and auditory warning at, say, five seconds from the time you need to decelerate. That way you can page back from the LH or RH screens, netflix, the ED forum, Asian Babes or whatever in time to do something about it.

 

[Ben Ryder]

Mods please merge this thread with the countless others that are the same.

 

[Crank Larson]

On reflection, I can think of no reasonable argument against auto-pilot (which is what is being requested). As has been stated, we already have this today with airliners - why would we not have it in 3300? It wouldn't prevent any other game mechanic working (interdiction, etc.) and in fact would give the advantage to the interdictor if the pilot on auto had actually wandered off (and could add some excitement there... Having to run in from another room when you hear the sounds of laser fire, etc. and grab the controls to avoid destruction).

 

[AndyC77]

We already have it.

Why do we want to take the dev's attention away from real things while they 'fix' an unbroken mechanic. Believe me, the first time someone sets this 'trade win button' and it crashes them into a sun with their Type-9 and 400 tons of Palladium, they'll wish they'd stuck to their guns.

It's unneeded and what most people are claiming they want is already there. Simple.

You take things too seriously my friend. Its not a big issue at all. If it was in the game I wouldn't use it but I don't see how it would affect anybody else if it was in for people that want it. It really is that simple.