I developed some thougts in another thread on exploring gameplay in Odyssey, and then found an intersting thread that seems to have died, and I decided against necro-bumping it, but if you´re interested, here it is:
Scarb Engineering ideas
My thoughts were as follows:
--> Ideas for the SRV Scarab:
-Make the SRV independent from minerals/stations. Why does it use ammo-dependent plasma repeaters? Why does it burn other fuel than the ship?
-Give the Scarab some outfitting/engineering options! This cute little Buggy has TONS of potential. For a long time now. But instead, we got a bulky, new Scorpion-SUV/IFV, which IS outfittable. That´s fine, I like it, I´m gonna buy one, but the Scarab could grow so much in its role as a light utility vehicle.
--
Possible options for the Scarab, as patches/updates, outfitting, unlockable modules or engineering options:
Surface mining has become more tedious in Odyssey due to scattered geologicals and biologicals. Even with keeping this new distribution system (that I like! It makes tons more sense than "points of interest", and is way more immersive!), I would like the surface materials/formations to still form clusters like in Horizon, for the sake of gameplay. Even if they are not marked and you have to scout and find them, please let me at least find some rich mineral fields once in a while. Emptying a full SRV tank to find just enough phosphorous and sulphur for one more refuel is kinda...meh...especially if exploring requires more SRV time now, which is basically ok, but....There could still be large dense fields of braintrees (these exist, btw) and geysers and vents etc. (these are often very scattered) to discover, with loads of crystals and seed pods. You´d have to scout for them, but then you´d have a field day exploiting your find. If surface minerals are raw materials for engineering, and just an additional source to vacuum mining, fine. But: They are also required for rearming and refuelling the SRV. Now for the ship, that´s ok, you don´t get into intense firefights often during exploring. But the SRV depends entirely on stations, or raw materials, so it can lose functionality on long trips. Even more quickly as surface mats are more scattered now, and I don´t see myself lugging a whole space mining suite around that costs me dozens of lightyears in jump range, just to refuel the SRV in outer space. That kinda doesn´t make sense.
Scarb Engineering ideas
My thoughts were as follows:
--> Ideas for the SRV Scarab:
-Make the SRV independent from minerals/stations. Why does it use ammo-dependent plasma repeaters? Why does it burn other fuel than the ship?
-Give the Scarab some outfitting/engineering options! This cute little Buggy has TONS of potential. For a long time now. But instead, we got a bulky, new Scorpion-SUV/IFV, which IS outfittable. That´s fine, I like it, I´m gonna buy one, but the Scarab could grow so much in its role as a light utility vehicle.
--
Possible options for the Scarab, as patches/updates, outfitting, unlockable modules or engineering options:
- Refuelling from the ship
- Repairing in the hangar bay (possible hangar/AFM update)
- Replacing the plasma repeater with pulse lasers that don´t use ammo (weaker, more heat, more energy drain)
- Plasma slugs for the Plasma repeater that use fuel instead of ammo
- High-traction tires, high-speed tires, stronger thrusters, larger fuel tank, outside storage nets/hooks, mountable tools, mountable exterior storage extension (fuel efficiency/speed/climbing penalty), corrosive resistant storage rack, sturdy frame, lightweight frame, searchlight, crawler-limpets.....
- multi-colour wave scanner
- terrain map utility, upgradable with custom landmark/ navigation route option.
- ...
Surface mining has become more tedious in Odyssey due to scattered geologicals and biologicals. Even with keeping this new distribution system (that I like! It makes tons more sense than "points of interest", and is way more immersive!), I would like the surface materials/formations to still form clusters like in Horizon, for the sake of gameplay. Even if they are not marked and you have to scout and find them, please let me at least find some rich mineral fields once in a while. Emptying a full SRV tank to find just enough phosphorous and sulphur for one more refuel is kinda...meh...especially if exploring requires more SRV time now, which is basically ok, but....There could still be large dense fields of braintrees (these exist, btw) and geysers and vents etc. (these are often very scattered) to discover, with loads of crystals and seed pods. You´d have to scout for them, but then you´d have a field day exploiting your find. If surface minerals are raw materials for engineering, and just an additional source to vacuum mining, fine. But: They are also required for rearming and refuelling the SRV. Now for the ship, that´s ok, you don´t get into intense firefights often during exploring. But the SRV depends entirely on stations, or raw materials, so it can lose functionality on long trips. Even more quickly as surface mats are more scattered now, and I don´t see myself lugging a whole space mining suite around that costs me dozens of lightyears in jump range, just to refuel the SRV in outer space. That kinda doesn´t make sense.