General Unpopular Opinion - Make 5 Module part of a menu and not modules.

[Yotan]

Preface this, as this isn't about being lazy or, "Oh you just want to let the ship fly itself." "Get gud ship noob!" No that isn't what this is about at all. Also I am probably not the first on this but, what the hell? Might as well speak up.

Actually what this is about:

• Making good Quality of Life (QoL) improvements for pilots
• Giving pilots options both new and odd.
• Keeping the systems that are already in place

First off, let's ask the questions.

"What modules specifically are you talking about?"
Good question. Well as the title said it is about five module as the following:

• Standard Docking Computer
• Advanced Docking Computer
• Planetary Approach Suite
• Advanced Planetary Approach Suite
• Supercruise Assist

Why these ones?
Well they take up unneeded space most specifically the Advance variant and the assist. As well as the standards are well stands on every ship, which is fine but this is the future. Most of these modules are basically software. Sure the docking computers are computers but I will go into that later. However, moving on!


Planetary Approach Suite -
Let's talk Planetary Approach Suite. Both are Class 1, Rating 1, Mass (T) 0.00, and 500cr in cost. Neither the Planetary approach suite have a zero draw, why? Because it is software. That is what a suite is. So what is the difference? Only one thing and you tell me if you spot it from the in-game descriptions.

Planetary Approach Suite - A series of thruster modifications, sensor calibrations and avionics that allow a ship to fly effectively while close to a planetary body. Required to land on planets without atmospheres. — in-game description
Advanced Planetary Approach Suite - A series of thruster modifications, sensor calibrations and avionics that allow a ship to fly effectively while close to a planetary body. Required to land on planets with zero or tenuous atmospheres <<-. — in-game description

TENUOUS ATMOSPHERE!!! That is it. Tenuous Atmosphere. Two words separate these two module. One will allow you on land on a planet with tenuous atmospheres. That is it. What is worse is that both of these use module up a optional internal class 1 module slot. YES all ships got that extra Class 1 for the Planetary Approach Suite from the Horizon update, but still.

Planetary Approach Suite Solution -
Take these two combine them or better yet just get rid of the standard Planetary Approach Suite, since both the advance and standard are basically the same. Add it as part of the HUD/Right - Flight Assistance with an option to turn the Planetary Approach Suite from standard to advance. Or instead of that the pilot selects what mode the Planetary Approach Suite is in. From;

• (NULL) - Meaning the Planetary Approach Suite is expecting flight operations in zero atmospheric conditions.
• (TENU) - Meaning the Planetary Approach Suite is expecting flight operations in a Tenuous Atmosphere requiring more computer power. fly in planets with an atmospheres like... earth.

Hell if the Devs want (and I suggest), add like a small power draw for the switch. Where the NULL adds nothing to the ships power draws and the TENU adds anywhere from a .02 to a .2mw power draw depending on atmosphere. And if the player tries to land/fly through a planet with a tenuous atmosphere and they have the system set to NULL well, guess the ship is taking some damage, or acts very very wild on the stick. I don't know, but the devs can make it a problem for the pilots. Which would be interesting.


Docking Computer -
Now let's talk Docking Computers. Both are Class 1, Rating E, Mass (T) 0.00, and Integrity 10. The difference in the two are basically the power draw, cost and minor operations.

• Standard Docking Computer - 0.39MW, Cost 4,500
• Advanced Docking Computer - 0.45MW, Cost 13,509

As far as operations go, the difference is the launch command. Standard is that the pilot has to guide the ship out of the docks, where ADC does it for the pilot. That is it. So what is the point of having these two being different. In my opinion nothing but the cost and the power draw and ,even then. Both are so minimal on the ships systems. Who cares? Also lets take about these being computers. No. They are more like software suites than computers. And you can't tell me the main computer core of the ships can't handle the extra data. Even in a sidewinder you can do data courier mission up to the limit (20) ranging from cheap 10k+ to expensive 10mill+ missions and that data core don't even have an issue. So no, these are not computers but software suites. So let's treat them as such.

Docking Computer Solution -
Like the Planetary Approach Suite, combine both the standard and advance docking computer in to a single HUD/Right - Flight Assistance option that gives the pilot an option select between to different docking modes at their discretion.

• STD - Standard Docking mode make it to where the pilot can launch the ship as they see fit.
• ADC - Advance Docking mode make it to where the ship auto launches it self.
• OFF - Shuts off the docking computer and the pilots has to dock the ship and launch the ship. (Advance player mode)

Like the Planetary Approach Suite, have it to where the Standard doesn't draw anything off the systems as it is standard setting. The advance mode adds a 0.06mw draw on the systems as it requires more calculations from the ship. As fair as the cost simple take the average cost of the two. Which is 9,004.5cr and at it to the ships over all purchase cost. Which really isn't much at all. Also, also, this give the ability for new pilots to get to learn docking when they feel ready to launch a ship on their own and eventually they can learn to dock a ship like advance, veteran players.


Supercruise Assist -
Moving on to the last module Supercruise Assist. Like the docking computers this module is an optional internal module. Over all and like the docking computers it is Class 1, Rating E, Mass 0, Integrity 10, with a Power draw of .3MW and a cost of 9,121cr

There isn't much to say on this module and that the solution for it is going to be roughly the same as what is mentioned above.

Supercruise Assist Solution -
Turn it in to a HUD/Right - Flight Assistance option that gives the pilot modes discretion they desire.

• OFF - Simply like if the module was never installed. Ships after jumps don't stop, so flying into sun are still a thing and pilot fly the ship as they see fit to destinations. Generally this is advance player mode.
• ON - Ship systems do the work auto-course flight to destinations and stops immediate once jumped.

This allow players to do as they see fit and how they want to pilot their ship. Also if Supercruise Assist is on, then the ship systems take a .3Mw draw, if off than no draw. As far as cost. Well add it to the overall initial purchase cost of the ships.


Pros and Cons sections -

Pros:

• Gives new and old pilots options.
• Cost are minimal and doesn't add much to ships.
• Pilots gain any where from 1-3 Class 1 optional internal slots to their ship. Which is much in the grand scheme of things.
• Pilots can control a bit the ships power draws with options.
• Would free up some codes for the devs.
• Systems would still be in place and accessed for all pilots.
• Minor quality of life improvement.
• Keeps systems pilot are use to in place.

Cons:

• Does add a slight addition cost to initial ship purchase.
• Ships systems have additional power draws not from modules.
• Devs will have work removes and changing in grain systems to an option menu.
• Adds more things to the pilots already taxed options rotation.
• Isn't a major quality of life improvement.
• Changes systems pilots were use too.

Conclusion -
Simply put, if Elite Dangerous is such a futuristic game, than why in the nine hells is none of what I mentioned above standard packages to the ships? Sure there is pros and cons to keeping the old or going with the new. But it quality of life improvement and all in all the pros outweigh way the cons.

Frankly it just boggle the mind that in such a futuristic game. You as a person(new or old commander) go to buy a ship and the sales person is like, "Nah the ship can't launch itself from dock but can land by itself. Oh also, can't fly in planets with an atmosphere... like Earth. Now thinking about any plant that has life and is hospitable for humans. Oh and no. Doesn't help with destination flying. So you better watch when you frameshift and and not fly into no stars. End your day REALLY quick. So still want to buy?"

Most people would look at the guy and nope the hell out to go look for a ship with those as standard options and not optional options.

 

[HappyMoonMonkey]

Because it's a game and putting the docking computer and supercruise assist as modules encourages players to learn how to do these manually to free up space.

Plus the planetary approach suite can't be replaced with anything else so there's no real reason to hide it as a module.

 

[Factabulous]

PAS and APAS are there to lock you to a specific set of planets to land on, i.e. EDH or EDO, so that's a no.
As is always stated when this is suggested - we were given extra slots when the ADC / SCA modules were added - so those would need removing again if the modules were removed, so that would be bad. So no.

looking forward to the next iteration of this thread in a month - hope they make the thread title better that this month's version

 

[varonica]

Well they take up unneeded space most specifically the Advance variant and the assist.

Well they don't really because ships were given extra module slots to accommodate them, if they combine them they should take away the two extra module slots small ships were given.