We need a solution to extremely long flights between the stars in binary+ systems

[ReeceSpencer]

I'm currently flying passenger missions and two of them are taking me to one port in a binary star system, the port is orbiting the OTHER star from the one you arrive at and I don't believe there is currently a way to quickly make this journey. My best guess is that it'll take me a fair few minutes of just staring at a circle waiting for the timer to go down. Supercruise in-system is fun but between stars in the same system is boring. I think there needs to be something added like the ability to do a hyperspace jump to another star in the same system if it's over a certain number of lightseconds away. Perhaps through "secondary/tertiary star nav beacon" or something you'd lock on to before making another hyperspace jump that brings you next to the other star in the system.

I know that journey time factors into stuff like trade efficiency and stuff so this is part of the game but there has to be a line drawn between that and things stopping the game being fun for about 5-10 minutes.

your thoughts?

 

[Gunnet]

I'm personally fine with the longer SC flights, but I can see how many people would find them a bit over the top.

Is there a lore reason we can't select which star our FSD locks onto when there is more than one in a system? Maybe it has to be the most massive? I have to admit I've never noticed whether the others are always smaller than the jump target.

 

[gravedodger]

I sincerely hope they never introduce such measures, some systems are bigger than others so it should take longer to travel and explore.

 

[Leo Sagan]

OP, while I can see where you're coming from, this is definitely not a priority IMHO : far more urgent things to deal with.

Furthermore, while vast in-system distances should be taken into account while designing missions (too large sc distances make some missions utterly stupid, I concur), the distances should remain (vast, space is vast) and missions should change (more time = more money).

My two cents anyway.

 

[bendover]

If you start this then some players will ask why can we not just jump Right to the planet,Why do we need SC it just takes time,I don't want space travel to feel like jumping from room to room,I want it to have a sense of scale and be an activity in itself

My point is in Spacesim/game the space in the game should be significant not just black stuff you need to get through to Do you next activity

 

[SpeakerToAliens]

OP: Make the 0.22ly journey to Hutton Orbital, Alpha Centauri, then join the proud ranks of the Hutton Orbital Truckers http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Hutton_Orbital_Truckers

Hutton Orbital sells two rares, Centauri Mega Gin and The Hutton Mug http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/The_Hutton_Mug

During your 90 minute trek to get there you can listen to Hutton Orbital Radio http://huttonorbital.com/

#ForTheMUG!

 

[Mephane]

I suggested just tonight that the supercruise top end speed and acceleration should be increased.

It's been brought up again on Reddit, so I will quote myself from that thread:

I have been thinking about this topic recently and imo instead of in-system jumps, supercruise speed scaling should be adjusted. Both the maximum speed and the acceleration rate far away from gravity wells should be increased. I am thinking of maximum speeds of 10000c or higher, reached at a distance of 100000Ls from any astronomical body. That would cut down flight times to faraway places like Hutton Orbital to a about fifth of what it is now.

 

[CmdMarty]

If you start this then some players will ask why can we not just jump Right to the planet,Why do we need SC it just takes time,I don't want space travel to feel like jumping from room to room,I want it to have a sense of scale and be an activity in itself

My point is in Spacesim/game the space in the game should be significant not just black stuff you need to get through to Do you next activity

It already does jumping from star to star fuel scooping, lol fuel scooping is not fun after the umpteathtime. There is so much time doing nothing in this game 50-75% and that is why people put so many hours into it and my time is more valuable than doing nothing anymore.

 

[Adhock]

Is there a lore reason we can't select which star our FSD locks onto when there is more than one in a system? Maybe it has to be the most massive?

That is correct. The FSD must lock onto the largest mass in the system in order to navigate the distances properly.

Which happens to be the largest star in the system.

 

[Siranui]

your thoughts?

Avoid long SC flights.

Short of being caught out rookie-error style ['Sure, I'll take the stuff to that Hutton Orbital place...'], it is usually in our hands whether we go somewhere that involves 10 mins of Supercruise.

Personally, I update my materials spreadsheet, read the forums, make tea, have a ciggie, read, put the TV on, talk to someone...

 

[Gunnet]

That is correct. The FSD must lock onto the largest mass in the system in order to navigate the distances properly.

Which happens to be the largest star in the system.

Thanks. That makes sense.

Unfortunate from the point of view of players who don't enjoy SC. But from my own selfish perspective I'm glad to know that opportunities for nice long space trucking trips aren't going anywhere.

 

[SaliVader]

The huge amount of time wasted in supercruise is the main reason I wouldn't recommend this game. I have 1123h according to Steam, but I bet I spent an important portion of those in SC, staring at the screen and doing absolutely nothing (or alt-tabbing). I would love to see some kind of "micro-jump" system for objects further than 500 or 1000 ls from entry point. It would have to leave you close to the body but not on top of it so that interdictions can still happen, of course.

 

[CMDR Tom D]

Micro Jumps have been on the agenda for a while now.

While I would personally like this, I think it will upset a few other players who enjoy the long flight times across Binaries. Hutton Orbital Truckers would be peeved.

However if you made it so cruising vs micro jumps had a massive fuel cost you could solve that issue.

Elite is known for the long transit times though so it wouldn't be high on the priority list.

 

[Lucian667]

I would have thought the solution to this was pretty simple. You drop into a multi-star system at the normal point, select the other STAR, not any of the planets that orbit it, and if the distance is more than "X" amount of light seconds, pushing the J button high-wakes you to that star instead of taking 20+ minutes to low-wake you. Then when you get to the other star you just low wake to the planet/base you want.

Lore-wise there would seem to be zero reason why this could not be done.
Game-play wise it would cut out enormous amounts of time staring at the screen, twiddling your thumbs and wondering if its possible to die of boredom.
Implementation -wise it sounds extremely easy to do, just high wake instead of low wake if you have a star selected and the distance is greater than X.

 

[defekt]

Wasted time in SC is one of the reasons a couple of my mates stopped playing. It's not the only reason but it did contribute.

A simple(?) fix, at least from where I'm sitting, is to remove the ceiling on SC speed; let it just keep on accelerating using the same acceleration curve vs gravity well proximity formula that's in place now.

EDIT: My prefered fix would be micro-jumps between stars but the above sounds simpler.

 

[SaliVader]

Elite is known for the long transit times

Are you saying this is a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[viper666]

Try flying a 747 in FSX from London to Sydney and then get back to me. Elite Dangerous already features crazy speeds in supercruise mode. If it stuck to Einsteins law of relativity we wouldn't be going anywhere in a hurry.

 

[CMDR Tom D]

Are you saying this is a good thing or a bad thing?

Dependent on the player.

I personally like it because depending on activity you can either sit back and watch some videos or get some work done, or put all your attention into blowing someone to pieces etc.

- - - Updated - - -

If it stuck to Einsteins law of relativity we wouldn't be going anywhere in a hurry.

It does. The FSD moves through dimensions higher than our simple 4 by bending space time.

 

[joshman72nd]

i say bring on the micro jumps..... BUT you have to have had to either scan the star your jumping to or buy the explore data for the system.

 

[Ozram]

I don't do them often, but every once in a while I enjoy a long trip in supercruise. I usually make a cup of coffee, read some articles, post here and look around from time to time. Sometimes I'll even go outside and pretend my house is a holodeck and reality is in that cockpit.