I agree that, initially, the incentive should be to do something you like, otherwise, you might start to hate the game if you do things only for credits. Sorry if I misunderstood your point. But exploration has been the poor child of ED activities for a long time now.
Horizons What's The Incentive?
- Thread starter Perfect_Hand
- Start date
I agree that, initially, the incentive should be to do something you like, otherwise, you might start to hate the game if you do things only for credits. Sorry if I misunderstood your point. But exploration has been the poor child of ED activities for a long time now.
My issue is the constant adding of shiny new things to the game without substantially fleshing out what is already there. Should we really be at Horizons after a year when there is so much that needs doing with what we already have? It's almost as if a lot of the constructive criticism threads are given little to no attention by FD.
I could go on but, meh.
I could go on but, meh.
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Indeed. But the "uncharted" aspect ends when we scan the planet from several hundred thousand kilometres away, in space.
I totally agree with the op. It's not an issue about credits (but I still see zero reason against the idea that we should get more credits for exploring the planets properly), it's just about continuing to evolve the exploration career appropriately.
Increasing our rank when exploring in the SRV is the first step but isn't the last.
Basically, all careers need to evolve with the introduction of Horizons. And if I know FD well enough, I'd say I think they plan to do just that. Eventually.
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Like many other things missing, the big question is WHEN is eventually?
That is my point - landing on a planet does not advance your rep... it doesn't give you credits, it doesn't give you any new data or anything interesting to acquire other than materials to help you repeat the process further along the way.
The whole point of materials is to aid explorers continue their mundane unrewarding journey. When they return it doesn't pay well. Scanning planets from a distance is not rewarding enough.
I say let us scan planets and be notified if there is something of interest - then we know whether or not we should land. Like "We've detected artificial traces on this planet - you should investigate". Then its up to you to find it. When you find it - it should be rewarding. How about "materials" that are data to recover that does not take up cargo space? So when you return from deep space you sell your exploration data but you also sell data you've recovered.
I have no issue with the Advanced discovery scanner detecting all objects in the system.
That is realistic given the tech of yr 3K.
What is lacking in exploration is what comes after honking : investigation
That is realistic given the tech of yr 3K.
What is lacking in exploration is what comes after honking : investigation
- honk, detect bodies in the system.
- Tie the honk sound/ping to the content of the system, that is if there is strange stuff in the system, then strange echo signal. Have it work like the wave scanner, that is : the closer you get, the clearer the signal echo (here audio) (Or use the radar, or the signal thing above the fuel gauge, whatever)
- If you think there is a strange signal coming from something in the system, travel arround and ping several times to pin point the planet/moon/ring/belt its coming from.
- Scan said planet => get a region in which the signal source is coming from
- Go in orbital cruise to to a low altitude Survey (using the detailed surface scanner) (i.e. help you pinpoint the signal source via feedback)
- Land near the source / fly over / get in SRV and investigate, collect stuff.
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Agreed. And while I orient myself in that direction where it makes sense, the mission structure could, I think, support this notion a bit more.
Why do anything?
Eat one pizza, ate 'em all. Drink one cup of coffee; they're all gonna taste like that. Every day is going to be more or less the same except for minor details. Then you'll die. Even that'll be just like everyone else.
You're right: the galaxy is going to look amazingly self-similar. One star of a particular type is going to look pretty much like another. There are going to be some subtle differences in arrangement. Just like the subtle differences in the arrangement of pepperoni on any given pizza. Ah, life, so meaningless and pointless.
Eat one pizza, ate 'em all. Drink one cup of coffee; they're all gonna taste like that. Every day is going to be more or less the same except for minor details. Then you'll die. Even that'll be just like everyone else.
You're right: the galaxy is going to look amazingly self-similar. One star of a particular type is going to look pretty much like another. There are going to be some subtle differences in arrangement. Just like the subtle differences in the arrangement of pepperoni on any given pizza. Ah, life, so meaningless and pointless.
But then, mankind invented games !! Where we created notions of learning, challenge, fun, gameplay mechanics, rewards.
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I think that's an omission from Frontier. They didn't think about all the implications provided by planetary landings. Which tells you that they don't seriously play the game because they don't have the time and they don't think thoroughly about the stuff they put in because they're biting more than they can chew, so they cut corners. That seems to me the most plausible explanation, otherwise, I fail to see why they wouldn't provide you with experience (and credits) when exploring undiscovered planets. They could also add "First landed on by 'Cmdr X'" like they do when you're the first one to discover a celestial body. But I'm pretty sure that they didn't think about that or if they did, they didn't have the time to implement it. In other words, too much work on a crazy schedule and not enough time to do things properly...
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Well, No Man's Sky is out next year. I think its more focused on the discovery of new wild life, while upgrading your suit/ship with the tech you discover.
That's a potentially significant level of addictiveness right there. Far away from the standard: Trade to make money, then buy ship to land on planets and look at rocks.
I guess ED is going in that direction "eventually", but No Man's Sky appears to be sacrificing realism for enjoyment sooner, we'll see.
That's a potentially significant level of addictiveness right there. Far away from the standard: Trade to make money, then buy ship to land on planets and look at rocks.
I guess ED is going in that direction "eventually", but No Man's Sky appears to be sacrificing realism for enjoyment sooner, we'll see.
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