Travel Methods

[Spacegamejunkie]

Currently when you use super cruise assist targeting a planet, it automatically puts you into orbit around the planet.
Auto pilot could do the same around the Star you have jumped to, and the scoop would do it's thing as normal,
just add a Tic when your next system comes into clear view, and your off. The time during orbit could do a Honk,
and if anything interesting pops up, you could pause to investigate, failing anything interesting, or just continuing
the travel, allows you the options of doing whatever else you want, while making the jumps.

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

Currently when you use super cruise assist targeting a planet, it automatically puts you into orbit around the planet.
Auto pilot could do the same around the Star you have jumped to, and the scoop would do it's thing as normal,
just add a Tic when your next system comes into clear view, and your off. The time during orbit could do a Honk,
and if anything interesting pops up, you could pause to investigate, failing anything interesting, or just continuing
the travel, allows you the options of doing whatever else you want, while making the jumps.

I'm not saying it can't be done, just that I imagine it would be easier from a programming perspective to add a long jump module or something like that, and given the several different sources that I've heard say the developers aren't particularly interested in fully automating flight, it seems a reasonable compromise between what we have now and full on autopilot.

Make no mistake: I think your idea should definitely be added. I'm just saying that if they're going to change anything at all, it's probably going to be the solution that requires the least amount of work to satisfy the highest number of players. In the end, they're probably going to just ignore it entirely because enough people are willing to put up with the existing tedious jump mechanic because it doesn't bother them enough to walk away, and those of us who can't stand it don't make up enough of a percentage to force their hand. It's all about the effort to reward ratio.

So for myself, while I would love to have a totally hands off flight option, I'd be satisfied with a long jump module. It just seems more likely to happen, if anything does.

 

[Spacegamejunkie]

To add a long jump module, would take away another slot,
which is already tight due to the way they used the FSD booster,
I would like to see it being part of the SC assist module, becoming the Advanced SC/FSD assist module.

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

To add a long jump module, would take away another slot,
which is already tight due to the way they used the FSD booster,
I would like to see it being part of the SC assist module, becoming the Advanced SC/FSD assist module.

I totally understand and agree, but like I said I'm just not sure they'd be open to doing that. I could definitely be wrong, but nothing I've seen makes me think they would.

Not that they're much more likely to go with my idea, of course, but since I'm fairly sure they aren't open to any real sort of automation, it seems like it might be more realistic to hope for a more streamlined manual solution. And if that means I have to give up a slot to get it, I can live with that as long as it's only like a size 1 or 2 module.

 

[Spacegamejunkie]

Understand I am not looking for a Auto Pilot to fly the ship in normal space, where combat, and other actions take place.
Only give a option to automate the Jump-de-jump travel loop. Allowing wasted time be channeled into more interesting actions.

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

Understand I am not looking for a Auto Pilot to fly the ship in normal space, where combat, and other actions take place.
Only give a option to automate the Jump-de-jump travel loop. Allowing wasted time be channeled into more interesting actions.

Oh I definitely get you. I'm just saying I've heard reasons that the developer might not want to implement something like that. I totally agree that some version of autopilot should be a thing in an advanced spacecraft, but I know that might be a lost cause if they have written in stone reasons to say no.

I think that's one of the things I hope to get out of this conversation. Compiling a list of ideas they can look at and maybe choose from. We've talked about hyper cruise, long jumps, autopilot, wormholes, etc. It would be nice if one of these got picked up as an option.

 

[Kelster87]

Personally, I really don't see a long jump module happening, nor do I want it. Full autopilot is out for lore reasons. I haven't seen one justification in this thread that has swayed me to the idea. Those aiming to save 'time' in travel might need to look at their priorities - and come back when they've flown an Orbiter mission to Luna or Mars, in real time. Gotta love drifting through space for hours with no input needed. Yes, Orbiter has time acceleration, but the simulation degrades when in use, so it's actually useless.

 

[avarusbrightfyre]

Personally, I really don't see a long jump module happening, nor do I want it. Full autopilot is out for lore reasons. I haven't seen one justification in this thread that has swayed me to the idea. Those aiming to save 'time' in travel might need to look at their priorities - and come back when they've flown an Orbiter mission to Luna or Mars, in real time. Gotta love drifting through space for hours with no input needed. Yes, Orbiter has time acceleration, but the simulation degrades when in use, so it's actually useless.

Your opinion is noted.