∞ probes?

[Unknown Zombie]

Did FD indicate if the probes will spot Commander ships/SRVs on the planets as POIs?

They didn't specifically say anything about that, but I am 99.99999999% sure it won't.

Edit:

Instead of just saying "it probably won't" let me explain why I think it probably won't..

The surface of a planet is instanced so dynamic stuff like commanders are unable to be represented, but static stuff like geysers can be represented because their location is known and won't be changing.

That's why you see other players disappear from supercruise when they drop into orbital glide, even though you still see the planetary station they are going to.

 

[NeilF]

Or "the DSS passively collects materials from interstellar space" - which is really no different than 'fuel scooping metallic rings' other than it being a manual process - I mean IMO it's pointless to suggest 'fuel scooping metallic rings' just to satisfy one or two player's apparent need to feel they're twiddling every dial and pulling every lever in every single activity in ED.

Alas, that's missing the point and therefore the true appeal (to me at least), which I will repeat again:-

...It's not the probe generation. It's the planning/consideration/management of their generation.

A scenario again (based on a mechanic where you fuel scoop in a metalic ring for say 10-20 seconds to regen all your probes). I'm in a system, and via the FSS spot a rocky planet with some POIs on it, so decide to head off to it to "probe it". HOWEVER, I also notice there's a ringed planet in the system, and by looking at the orrery map (I'm not doing much else in SC), I realise this ringed planet in basically enroute. Do I stop off there on the way to "fuel scoop" there to generate more probes? Or do I wait for another system (I've still got 50!).

The above gives me a chance to do something well or poorly.

ps: And I fully understand such gameplay (style) isn't for all.

 

[andrewg_oz]

FD are probably reading this thread and both shaking their collective heads in disbelief and peeing themselves laughing.

I really hope they shove it to those who insist upon 'immersion' whilst ignoring everything else and make some of the new mining tools infinite as well. I can just see the veins popping out on the foreheads of some when they find out the new asteriods charges for mining are infinite as well

The folks Frontier will be laughing at are those arguing against the 'grind' and 'busy work' of mats gathering, while at the same time defending the (even more so, IMHO) 'grind' and 'busy work' of a probing mechanic scanning planets, where to date scanning has been just holding down a button or just pointing your ship in the right direction and waiting a few seconds for a scan to complete.

 

[NeilF]

...while at the same time defending the (even more so, IMHO) 'grind' and 'busy work' of a probing mechanic scanning planets, where to date scanning has been just holding down a button or just pointing your ship in the right direction and waiting a few seconds for a scan to complete.

You realise currently have to SC to within range of each, and every planet currently to scan them? You realise currently you have little/no idea of what planets have anything of significant at all on them?

You realise with the new FSS you can scan every planet without moving away from the star? You realise you'll know straight away which, if any planets have anything of significant at all on them?

You realise with the new probes you can locate exactly where anything of significance is on a planet?

Now, what was your point again about "busy work"? Because to me the new mechanics appear to be much faster for any exploration of note...

 

[Stigbob]

The folks Frontier will be laughing at are those arguing against the 'grind' and 'busy work' of mats gathering, while at the same time defending the (even more so, IMHO) 'grind' and 'busy work' of a probing mechanic scanning planets, where to date scanning has been just holding down a button or just pointing your ship in the right direction and waiting a few seconds for a scan to complete.

People like exploring.

 

[Toumal]

You realise currently have to SC to within range of each, and every planet currently to scan them? You realise currently you have little/no idea of what planets have anything of significant at all on them?

You realise with the new FSS you can scan every planet without moving away from the star? You realise you'll know straight away which, if any planets have anything of significant at all on them?

You realise with the new probes you can locate exactly where anything of significance is on a planet?

Now, what was your point again about "busy work"? Because to me the new mechanics appear to be much faster for any exploration of note...

You there! STOP MAKING SENSE!
But seriously, we can discuss how probes can/should be replenished. We can't debate whether the new mechanics are a timesaver however. They are, unless you're the kind of explorer who does not ever do surface scans, and never engages in any POI related activity.

 

[Rat Catcher]

The folks Frontier will be laughing at are those arguing against the 'grind' and 'busy work' of mats gathering, while at the same time defending the (even more so, IMHO) 'grind' and 'busy work' of a probing mechanic scanning planets, where to date scanning has been just holding down a button or just pointing your ship in the right direction and waiting a few seconds for a scan to complete.

Yes, but you missed the 'pointing at the 5th star in a systems planets after travelling the 540KLs to get there', something that, apparently, will not be needed after tomorrow's beta and once the new system goes 'live'.

Less 'busy work' in the new system unless you choose to make it so, or have I misunderstood the new mechanics?

Unlimited probes certainly have stirred up many mixed reactions, I wonder if the changes to mining will generate another 100+ page topic over something minor too? (pun intended)

Edit: Aargh! Ninja'd again!

 

[Micha]

115 pages over the most trivial of subjects, guess people have found nothing else to nitpick on from what's been revealed so far.

Well, this is something *concrete* to nitpick over and something which has 2 polar opposed sides arguing their cases.

Most other things which were discussed either require us to playtest them more in the beta before we can open further detailed discussion/feedback, or the initial feedback/discussion around them was largely met with community approval instead of disagreement.

But yeah, apart from some concerns about VR, personally I'm largely happy with what they've shown of the update so far.

Not so happy they reversed their original design decision for finite probes after some people complained (before trying it out and seeing how much effort it would -actually- be to maintain a stock of probes...) but ultimately it's not such a big deal. What annoyed me far more was that after years of petitioning FDev to give us Heatsink synth for explorers, they finally added it into the game but then required MANUFACTURED MATERIALS for synthing them. Talk about a total and utter slap in the face for explorers. Oh well. Any now they're bending over backwards in order not to potentially inconvenience anybody.

 

[TankMaster]

Well, this is something *concrete* to nitpick over and something which has 2 polar opposed sides arguing their cases.

Most other things which were discussed either require us to playtest them more in the beta before we can open further detailed discussion/feedback, or the initial feedback/discussion around them was largely met with community approval instead of disagreement.

But yeah, apart from some concerns about VR, personally I'm largely happy with what they've shown of the update so far.

Not so happy they reversed their original design decision for finite probes after some people complained (before trying it out and seeing how much effort it would -actually- be to maintain a stock of probes...) but ultimately it's not such a big deal. What annoyed me far more was that after years of petitioning FDev to give us Heatsink synth for explorers, they finally added it into the game but then required MANUFACTURED MATERIALS for synthing them. Talk about a total and utter slap in the face for explorers. Oh well. Any now they're bending over backwards in order not to potentially inconvenience anybody.

Well, not sure how much of a slap in the face crafting heatsinks really is, I mean, I've played the game since the premium beta days and I've never used heatsinks when exploring and never had heat issues aside from that first time I jumped straight into the middle of two stars that were very close to each other.

I realize other players like to use heatsinks while exploring but I imagine their use is rare as well while the probes used for mapping will have much heavier usage in comparison.

 

[Julio Montega]

You there! STOP MAKING SENSE!
But seriously, we can discuss how probes can/should be replenished. We can't debate whether the new mechanics are a timesaver however. They are, unless you're the kind of explorer who does not ever do surface scans, and never engages in any POI related activity.

Here is a suggestion to a ceasefire:

I value consistency a lot,
so let us change probes in the following way:

- Probes have shorter travel time to the point "golfed"
- probes will stop before hitting the surface and return automatedly, like collector-limpets do (resulting in a total travelling time as of now seen in the livestream)
- probes then are refueled via the ship tank, draining a bit of fuel from the reserve tank

Additionally there will be cheap synthesis blueprints to improve the scan range
of the current "clip of probes".

How does that sound?

 

[NeilF]

115 pages over the most trivial of subjects, guess people have found nothing else to nitpick on from what's been revealed so far.

OR... Some folks are simply have a what they consider an interesting discussion...

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Here is a suggestion to a ceasefire:

I value consistency a lot,
so let us change probes in the following way:

- Probes have shorter travel time to the point "golfed"
- probes will stop before hitting the surface and return automatedly, like collector-limpets do (resulting in a total travelling time as of now seen in the livestream)
- probes then are refueled via the ship tank, draining a bit of fuel from the reserve tank

Additionally there will be cheap synthesis blueprints to improve the scan range
of the current "clip of probes".

How does that sound?

Nah, I prefer the look of them hitting the surface, and I can pretend I'm nuking the place.

The new mechanics look fine as they are.
Just the ammo situation has people all in the twist.

Personally, I'd go the way of point defence.
Huge ammo supply, easy to refill, if you ever need too.
Infinite does feel strange, but 200 is probably way too low. Anything between 1000-10000 would be fine by me, providing synthesis materials are grade 1 and 2 only (for basic, if we get grades).
Like I said before, on a long exploration trip, I'm going to land and drive about collecting stuff anyway, just for a change of pace.

Ideally, FD will let us test the probe limit in beta, even if they can't cobble together some cheap synthesis in time.

But that said, if we end up with infinite, I'm not fussed.

I do wonder how many non-horizons PC users are left now, with Mac being unceremoniously dumped. FD probably know the answer.

 

[Stigbob]

I do wonder how many non-horizons PC users are left now, with Mac being unceremoniously dumped. FD probably know the answer.

There's at least one, but he claims to have quit playing some time ago so he doesn't really count.

 

[Drelthar]

I'm just gonna keep track of how many I used and then pick up some iron/etc and repair my SRV.

Then pretend this was restocking my probes.

 

[Bryan K]

There's at least one, but he claims to have quit playing some time ago so he doesn't really count.

Sounds like most forum users, actually. I wonder how many in this thread no longer play?

 

[Rat Catcher]

Sounds like most forum users, actually. I wonder how many in this thread no longer play?

I've not played for ummm... 3 days!

does that count?

 

[Hellakitty]

So, regardless of the 35 pages of guff that supposedly fully grown adults who should know better have been crying over, what are the actual chances that the developers are going to change the probe count to something finite?

 

[Nagual]

I must have put my clocks back too far, I've only got 9 pages

 

[Hellakitty]

I must have put my clocks back too far, I've only got 9 pages

I have posts-per-page set at 50, which is maximum as far as I can see. How d'ya manage that?

 

[Nagual]

I have posts-per-page set at 50, which is maximum as far as I can see. How d'ya manage that?

How odd, yes you're correct that the current max is 50, it used to be 200 which I selected. It must have been changed at some point but didn't revert settings previously picked.