Proposal Discussion Shipping lanes (visual) exposition in SC

[rootsrat]

I would love to have shipping lanes exposed more in SC (visually). Some kind of indication where they are, maybe as subtle lines of a different colour to other HUD elements, just linking the bodies that the shipping lanes run between.

It would make finding them much easier when in deep space in a system. It's easy to find them right after you drop in to the system, but once you're away from the drop in point it can be difficult to locate them...

Thoughts, ideas?

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

It has to be asked... WHY?

 

[Bzek]

There should be a toggle, but I think this is a really cool idea. It would make a lot of sense too.

 

[Stealthie]

I tend to think the current overlays already ruin the look of "space".

I wish there was an option to leave the "sphere of influence" circles on but get rid of the rest of the junk.

 

[Mendaharin Tusca]

there are lots of things that could be done to enhance gameplay aye, a visual filter for the shippinglanes? sure I could roll with that.

Other things I'd like to see, colorcodes on the shipmodels showing status/damage (in your targettinghud)
Visual representations of scanning progress of ships, stars, planets show up data as it comes in
customization of the hud like placement of windows, differently shaped and colored targetting crosshairs, more options for orbinlines than just on/off
etc etc etc

But yes, shippinglanes isn't a bad idea as long as you can toggle it.

 

[AgamemnonWhen]

It has to be asked... WHY?

Good point. Is there an actual advantage to cruising the space lanes as opposed to non-space-lane space?

What I would prefer is a (toggled) planetary trajectory approach suite like this (from Aliens)!

 

[edgar]

+1

I'd like this too! Sure, make it have a toggle like the orbit lines.

Maybe they could look a bit like the trade route lines in the Galaxy Map. Give them some visual feedback to indicate how busy different shipping lanes are too.

 

[rootsrat]

It has to be asked... WHY?

For better orientation within the system and better visibility of where they are. For example pirates/security often patrol shipping lanes and trading ships use them as "motorways".

 

[babelfisch]

Good point. Is there an actual advantage to cruising the space lanes as opposed to non-space-lane space?

- faster security response
- more USS/special USS types
- more ships
- usually the shortest way between two objects

 

[Stealthie]

- faster security response
- more USS/special USS types
- more ships
- usually the shortest way between two objects

Interesting ideas, which could add to the gameplay.

Do you stay "on the road", where the cops can come to your assistance quicker, but the pirates know there'll be more potential victims, or do you go "off road" where you might get left alone by the bandits but also ignored by the cops?

Yeah, if it did actually work like that, I think it'd be a good idea.[up]

 

[babelfisch]

Interesting ideas, which could add to the gameplay.

Do you stay "on the road", where the cops can come to your assistance quicker, but the pirates know there'll be more potential victims, or do you go "off road" where you might get left alone by the bandits but also ignored by the cops?

Yeah, if it did actually work like that, I think it'd be a good idea.[up]

Lol, these aren't ideas, that's already in the game

 

[rootsrat]

Yes, that's already in the game. Watch the bottom left small info panel (where it shows the current location and jurisdiction). Once you're on a shipping lane it will display that. But currently that is the only way of identifying a shipping lane, there are no other indicators where they are. My suggestion is to indicate their location on HUD as subtle lines

 

[bootsam]

There are shipping lanes?

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

For better orientation within the system and better visibility of where they are. For example pirates/security often patrol shipping lanes and trading ships use them as "motorways".

Makes sense, as long as it could be toggled then I think it's a good idea

 

[Titus Balls]

Have to agree, to me it seems like it was the missing piece of Shipping Lanes

I always imagined something like this indicating you were in it:



Maybe not a busy, but certainly a line of Port/Starboard lights - but can be turned on and off.

 

[DialBforBiscuit]

I want to support this idea, even if its a simple curved line between points. It can show the optimal path to stations, going over/under the gravity brakes. Would also make busy systems look less empty space.

 

[h347h]

- usually the shortest way between two objects

Yeah and this is most likely the reason they are not shown via a line or something, they are painfully obvious.

 

[Winterwalker]

There are shipping lanes?

Yep. You'll see on bottom left of HUD where your target destination is. If you head directly to the station from arrival point, chances are you'll be in the lane, veer off and you'll soon be in 'deep space'. Not a bad idea to do it either; if working as intended, being in the shipping lane increases your chances of pirate interdiction.

 

[Andovar]

Not against it, but I can't imagine how they could do it without making it look too gamey and arcadeish.
I already keep orbit lines off, because I don't like the way they clutter up the view. So if they did add something, I'd like the option to be able to turn it off.

 

[rootsrat]

Yeah and this is most likely the reason they are not shown via a line or something, they are painfully obvious.

Not when you're somewhere random in deep space and you want to get in to a shipping lane between planets that are on the opposite sides of the main star for example. It's fairly easy to find them from the main star, but otherwise it can be a pain to find them. And when you do find one, there is no way of telling which way it goes or which 2 bodies it connects.

Maybe you have an amazing space orientation, I don't unfortunately and I can imagine many players are in the same situation.