Set Course For HOME - QoL Idea/Suggestion for FDev

SpaceMachine

SpaceMachine
Background

I'm currently en route to Rhea, 16.75kLYs distant, and at just under 3kLYs into this return leg of my passenger/exploration mission, I've dropped any further exploration with the exception of honking. Things are getting a little repetitive now and I am entirely convinced that I could train a monkey to perform the task for me. If only I had a monkey...


Problem

Because I don't have a monkey, and because my DBX doesn't have a modded FSD, my ETA at Ito Orbital is 15hrs from now - provided I do nothing but ADS, Refuel, Jump and Repeat. Constantly. No comfort breaks.

All I want right now is to get home!


Reality Check

The decision to accept the passenger mission and go exploring was mine and mine alone. The provided time frame (4 weeks) was a clear indication that it would not be a casual undertaking. I also appreciate that my current plan to purely ADS, Refuel, Jump and Repeat hasn't been forced upon me - I am comfortably ahead of my schedule. But I do worry that best case scenario, I might soon develop RSI and at worst, a mild psychosis.


Proposal

Allow CMDRs to set a system as HOME - on the proviso they are presently docked in said system. Add this to the bookmark list and include a functionality restriction against activation to a specific distance from that system - somewhere outside of the 1kLY mark. Once in range, the HOME bookmark is added to the destinations panel and can be activated at any time, provided that the CMDR remains outside of this radius/distance from HOME.

Once activated (and confirmed) the navigation becomes automated and will jump all the way home in real time, locking the game to the CMDR until such time has elapsed. No scanning, no undo, just a countdown indicating when your destination will be reached and ship control relinquished.


Result

Those with limited time on their hands may be more inclined to venture out into the black, and I won't have to buy a monkey.


Aftermath

I'm guessing something similar may have already been suggested in QoL discussions, but in my defence I did perform a forum search before posting and found nothing. To be honest, I don't see why there would be any objections to this type of automated RTB system, as there would be no in-game benefits from using it.
 
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Factabulous

Factabulous
If you can autopilot back, then why not allow autopilot there? And the computer may as well choose the missions ;)

Elite has always been a minimally automated world - kinda ironic when you look at the real world where drivers and next pilots are being automated away... soon the only way we will do this will be in-games...
 

Myrm

Myrm
Seems to me somebody wants to notch up the hours playing the game but not actually play it. Set the auto pilot for a journey of 1000 Ly, set it in motion and then walk away from the game, and reaping the benefits. No. Bad idea.
 

Cmdr Nemo

Cmdr Nemo
Here in Mexico labor is cheap, I just pay a guy 250 peso's ($12.50 U.S) for a 12 hour day. To do the tedious drive to and or from. LOL
 

FrogsFriend

FrogsFriend
I think there's already a system like this in the game. If you really don't want to fly back, just a couple of key presses, pay 5% or so of your ship's value, and you're back at the last station you docked at, like you'd never been away :)
 

Devils_Demon

D
On Reddit I suggested that wormholes could teleport you to any previously visited system, or even just a teleport to any random system 1000k ly away, kinda like a fast travel mechanic. I got leeched in the comments for wanting the game to be easier and automated.
This suggestion is even worse.
 

Techup

Techup
I'd be happy if you could just have your pilot hop to a new ship. I'd love to visit sag a, colonial or some of the other big Richard explorer locations, but I'll be damn3d if I'm going to miss a cg or be forced to do nothing else for who knows how long. Plus if it were to actually take me a week or more, get set back on my power play module.. noty.

But, I'm not an explorer at heart. I prefer combat so it's a relatively easy choice for me. Realistically speaking... If anyone were to ever see me out near colonial or sag a... it's likely that I'd be getting close to quitting the game and that would just be part of my bucket list before I finally quit. Though I don't see that happening any time soon and least.
 

ZeroAi

ZeroAi
SpaceMachine said:
Background

I'm currently en route to Rhea, 16.75kLYs distant, and at just under 3kLYs into this return leg of my passenger/exploration mission, I've dropped any further exploration with the exception of honking. Things are getting a little repetitive now and I am entirely convinced that I could train a monkey to perform the task for me. If only I had a monkey...


Problem

Because I don't have a monkey, and because my DBX doesn't have a modded FSD, my ETA at Ito Orbital is 15hrs from now - provided I do nothing but ADS, Refuel, Jump and Repeat. Constantly. No comfort breaks.

All I want right now is to get home!


Reality Check

The decision to accept the passenger mission and go exploring was mine and mine alone. The provided time frame (4 weeks) was a clear indication that it would not be a casual undertaking. I also appreciate that my current plan to purely ADS, Refuel, Jump and Repeat hasn't been forced upon me - I am comfortably ahead of my schedule. But I do worry that best case scenario, I might soon develop RSI and at worst, a mild psychosis.


Proposal

Allow CMDRs to set a system as HOME - on the proviso they are presently docked in said system. Add this to the bookmark list and include a functionality restriction against activation to a specific distance from that system - somewhere outside of the 1kLY mark. Once in range, the HOME bookmark is added to the destinations panel and can be activated at any time, provided that the CMDR remains outside of this radius/distance from HOME.

Once activated (and confirmed) the navigation becomes automated and will jump all the way home in real time, locking the game to the CMDR until such time has elapsed. No scanning, no undo, just a countdown indicating when your destination will be reached and ship control relinquished.


Result

Those with limited time on their hands may be more inclined to venture out into the black, and I won't have to buy a monkey.


Aftermath

I'm guessing something similar may have already been suggested in QoL discussions, but in my defence I did perform a forum search before posting and found nothing. To be honest, I don't see why there would be any objections to this type of automated RTB system, as there would be no in-game benefits from using it.
Click to expand...

Great idea - Seconded!

I could have use this last week coming back from the Eagle Nebula!
 

SpaceMachine

SpaceMachine
It would seem that auto is very much a four letter word in these parts.

A docking computer was available back in 1984 and still exists in ED - personally I think its inclusion is an evocative nod to the original, but it remains a useful assist for those who may need it. I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole, as docking is one of my favourite parts of the game...

And flight assist? I guess that's comparable to a driving sim where TCS, ABS and ASC are all enabled.

Using a docking computer or flight assist is a user choice.

What if we have a new optional ship module? Let's call it RTB NavCom. Limit the functionality as described in my original post - retrace your outbound journey to a pre-selected HOME destination. For game balancing, the module could be 2 (or even 3) slots. Maybe include an additional time penalty for using the device to prevent abuse. The basic mechanics for this already exist with ship delivery.

I've recently reached Rhea following a 39kLY round trip. The return leg was particularly hard going, exacerbated by my eagerness to be back home. I wasn't forced to complete the final 14kLY in one sitting, but I did so because I can - I am not working due to illness, so have quite a bit of time on my hands and ED provides the perfect distraction.

I'm pretty sure there are many others from the Class of '84 who simply cannot invest this amount of time into a game due to their life commitments and responsibilities. I think it's a shame they're missing out.

RTB NavCom - who wants one?
 

Jintosh

Jintosh
Whilst I can understand it, after all who doesn't get a little ansty on the last leg of the journey home, I'm very much of the opinion it's not a good idea or something that should be added. (even in RL I don't stop manually riding my bike and go to sleep, just because it's a road I've been down before) . In some ways I've foudn the last K LY of an explration trip the hardest, not because it's boring, but because I'm hitting inhabited space again, and that's terrifying after months alone in the black (let alone 'how do I dock again'?) :)
 
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