Pointless Data Cache!

[Skip Rockbounder]

Heya Guys, I'm kinda hoping that someone with a tongue at ED reads and understands my bewilderment concerning Large and Small Data Caches, they're illegal cargo!, Why in heavens name would a cache of galactic survey data be of no interest to a Superpower's Astrogation arm to such a degree that it's illegal? I simply do not understand why ED cannot see that the existance of such a 'Hook' can be used to entertain the player and embroil her/him (alphabetically listed there) in what could be continuation missions... simply by tagging the cache and a message requiring the player to visit X star system to hand it in, hell you could even have faction bandits trying to waylay the said pilot, a second point to that end would allow systems that seemingly absolutely nobody is interested in finishing off scanning... because Cmdr Lazyslob has just :x (used) the only worthwhile body in a lonely and unwanted system and left useless unknown bodies 200,000 LS away that nobody wants to go and scan, this would allow ED to fill in the empty spaces that simply ain't gonna get done... discoverer Cmdr NPC123.

As an aside but still in the same vein, Occupied Escape Pods, Ok you can for the most part sell these quite legally on the open market... Why? I simply don't understand why? would it not make more sense to have a heading under the 'Communications' tab and turn them to the over to the authorities... or even sell on the black market as slave meat as an option for the more evil/pirate'y player, it just feels wrong to sell someone without their knowledge on an open market for god knows that purpose (so cheaply too) when slaves are perhaps illegal at that port.

What are other Forum users opinions on this (if you don't have an opinion cos you don't care I'll understand you not answering)


David, over to you!

 

[Aura Lorell]

My name is not David but may I mention your last point? It was announced at Lavecon that specific search and rescue operators will exist in the stations where we'll be able to hand in escape pods. This is a 2.4 feature.

Tagging systems is not an NPC operation and personally I wouldn't like to find systems tagged by NPCs as a result of a data survey delivered somewhere. That of course is my personal opinion not a natural law. I have no idea if the survey caches are going to be revisited after 2.4 as part of a larger exploration revamp.

 

[Skip Rockbounder]

Thanks for your input R

Thanks for your input Rhea Lorell, I understand your point about NPC's tagging systems and I too would not like to be beaten to the draw by such a nonperson, I refer however to the hypathetical cases where a player pilot has jumped into a system tagged the ELW and the Star and left that small ball of ice orbiting an inconsequential brown dwarf... two years ago... with no real chance of it ever getting finished!

This also could become a mission for the player to go to that (random but status known to ED) system and perform a full scan upon request... megabucks... Hmmm! the thought makes exploration even more exciting obviously it would be outside of the bubble and not necessarily in the same district as the data cache was found.. that's the trouble with thinking at a keyboard... thoughts are never finished!

PS, thanks for the heads up on the search and rescue thing... sounds good!

 

[Aura Lorell]

The problem with what you propose is that is assumes it's easy to figure out which systems are half scanned. As far as I understand it, the tags are nothing more than that and again at Lavecon FD people talked about how the process of selling data is a one time transaction that leaves no history behind other than the tag in the system. I don't think it's possible to find out which system is half scanned and apply to that some random NPC tag.

 

[Aura Lorell]

At any rate I'm sure they'll revisit the whole exploration mechanic post 2.4, so perhaps they'll do something with the data caches too.

 

[Skip Rockbounder]

Hmmm, If what you think or understand is true Rhea, then that is a shame, I suppose it would be kinda 'hardcoded' into the game with no real hope of change or adaption... I guess that could be the price of procedural generation I guess!

You'll have to excuse me for hopping in and out of the thread, I missed your last post expressing hope as I was posting this one... I'm out Exploring and planet hopping at the moment and only one screen... and I had Two 'long ways' to go, nearly there now though[yesnod]