What surprised me most about super cruise

TheMarshall · Apr 25, 2015

Read a few threads recently regarding the automation of super cruise, which is an idea that I find ridiculous if I am being honest.

One of the things that struck me most when I started playing the game was the lack of something I suppose I just assumed would be there. I had imagined that once I had locked in my destination for exiting super cruise, that there would be a recommended/optimum approach guide pop up on the HUD to guide me in.

You must know what I mean, a sequence of oblong boxes to pass through that bring you in to orbit/out of super cruise at your selected destination such as a planet or a station. Failing to navigate them properly would drop you out of SC off course or prematurely, possibly send me hurtling off in the wrong direction. I expected it to be difficult and require concentration.

Of course that isnt a feature of the game, I know that now but its one of those little things I feel would have added something interesting and 'challenging' to exiting SC.

It's early days for this game, who knows what lay ahead, maybe something like this is planned.

777Driver · Apr 25, 2015

Since early beta I was hoping they would add SIDS & STARS for stations, basically arrival and departure paths that traffic follow. Wouldn't be hard to implement, and it would add a bit more depth to the SC mechanic

CmdrDaymian · Apr 25, 2015

Why the hell are people so concerned about supercruise all of a sudden? There's nothing wrong with it the way it is now.

Radicus · Apr 25, 2015

CmdrDaymian said:
Why the hell are people so concerned about supercruise all of a sudden? There's nothing wrong with it the way it is now.

The only bit I don't like is getting damage to my ship when I interdict another ship... cant seem to find the correct exit speed... faster... slower... in the middle... annoying.

777Driver · Apr 25, 2015

CmdrDaymian said:
Why the hell are people so concerned about supercruise all of a sudden? There's nothing wrong with it the way it is now.

At what point did the OP say anything is wrong with SC? I'm a big fan of the SC mechanic, but it would be nice to have some depth to the arrival/departure paths. SIDS & Stars have been around for decades, am sure Ocean going vessels have a similar navigation system.

Lobstris · Apr 25, 2015

TheMarshall said:
Read a few threads recently regarding the automation of super cruise, which is an idea that I find ridiculous if I am being honest.

One of the things that struck me most when I started playing the game was the lack of something I suppose I just assumed would be there. I had imagined that once I had locked in my destination for exiting super cruise, that there would be a recommended/optimum approach guide pop up on the HUD to guide me in.

You must know what I mean, a sequence of oblong boxes to pass through that bring you in to orbit/out of super cruise at your selected destination such as a planet or a station. Failing to navigate them properly would drop you out of SC off course or prematurely, possibly send me hurtling off in the wrong direction. I expected it to be difficult and require concentration.

Of course that isnt a feature of the game, I know that now but its one of those little things I feel would have added something interesting and 'challenging' to exiting SC.

It's early days for this game, who knows what lay ahead, maybe something like this is planned.

Both this, and ILS type approaches to the station were asked for during alpha and beta (I know, I asked

). The devs and the design vision, plus quite a lot of the forumites were against 'additional clutter' on the HUD.

Smugallo · Apr 25, 2015

Yeah, still not a fan of how supercruise is implemented, it's too clumsy when entering/exiting. I expected something a little more seamless. This is what has me a wee bit worried about the planetary landings thing (which is why I backed the game in the first place, I'm a huge FE2 fan) hopefully they can nail that without any obvious masking. That said I'd like SC to get a little bit of love/polish from FD. I hate all the pausing and jerking when you exit SC.

jpaulwilson1982 · Apr 25, 2015

CmdrDaymian said:
Why the hell are people so concerned about supercruise all of a sudden? There's nothing wrong with it the way it is now.

People have been discussing Supercruise in the forums for as long as I've been around, and according to other posters in this thread, it was discussed many times pre-launch. But like 777Driver pointed out, the OP wasn't saying the SC is the problem. He was merely pointing out that you can't lock into a planet's orbit through SC. And I agree with his point. Why do so many space games not have the option of entering an orbit? As a community film maker, being able to orbit a planet would be very helpful, and as a player it just makes sense.

Only two space games I recall had orbits- Starflight on Sega Genesis, and Starfleet Command III. As amazing as Evochron Mercenary is, guess what? No orbiting! And that game gave planet's and other object a gravitational pull. But no orbiting.

It's not game breaking, and I'll love the game if orbiting is never introducted to ED. But I think its something FD should consider in the future.

Commander Dini · Apr 25, 2015

Just cruise at 75% when you get to about 10 seconds away (if you were to continue at current speed - there is an indication of this). At 75% you will go as fast as you can without overshooting.

Smugallo · Apr 25, 2015

jpaulwilson1982 said:
People have been discussing Supercruise in the forums for as long as I've been around, and according to other posters in this thread, it was discussed many times pre-launch. But like 777Driver pointed out, the OP wasn't saying the SC is the problem. He was merely pointing out that you can't lock into a planet's orbit through SC. And I agree with his point. Why do so many space games not have the option of entering an orbit. As a community film maker, being able to orbit a planet would be very helpful, and as a player it just makes sense.

Only two space games I recall had orbits- Starflight on Sega Genesis, and Starfleet Command III. As amazing as Evochron Mercenary is, guess what? No orbiting! And that game gave planet's and other object a gravitational pull. But no orbiting.

It's not game breaking, and I'll love the game if orbiting is never introducted to ED. But I think its something FD should consider in the future.

Had to post twice.

YES! I love Kerbal Space Program so I'd love to see some sort of orbital entry mechanic introduced. I'm surprised they didn't do it to be honest. I'd love to see some sort of orbital insertion 'mini-game' (sorry folks).

TheMarshall · Apr 25, 2015

CmdrDaymian said:
Why the hell are people so concerned about supercruise all of a sudden? There's nothing wrong with it the way it is now.

Its a forum for discussing the game.
People have discussed super cruise.
I wanted to discuss it too.
Simply talking about my experience and how one aspect of it wasn't as I imagined it before I actually played the game.

If you have a list of pre-approved topics I may discuss please forward them and I will be sure not to deviate again.

Daffan · Apr 25, 2015

its funny how planes now have a better HUD

CMDR Memphis · Apr 25, 2015

Smugallo said:
Had to post twice.

YES! I love Kerbal Space Program so I'd love to see some sort of orbital entry mechanic introduced. I'm surprised they didn't do it to be honest. I'd love to see some sort of orbital insertion 'mini-game' (sorry folks).

We have super efficient drives with TWRs of several ten to hundred and ISPs in the 10^6 or so. The orbital insertion happens for free when we slow down to match the station speed.