Who else agrees? First Footfall should be something more?

Seriously how many folks are going to actually take the time to land to look at someones flag? Soon as i see a first footfall im out of that system and moving on.

O7
Design meeting at FD around 2013-2014:

Some guy: Seriously, how many folks are going to actually take the time to check all the star system maps and look for someone's first explored tag?

FD: OK, let's not bother then.

Let's brainstorm this,

It's just more fluff, like the fact we have our names recorded already. No need for us to get into this much detail over it.

I think it's a neat idea. I also want other things done before this, even if it was to be done, which I don't think it will. I'm able to think all of those things simultaneously, so my first instinct is to think about how cool things might be rather than shoot them down because I personally wouldn't interact with it (which I wouldn't, probably). When all is said and done, I've invested an extremely small amount of time in the "first" anything in the game yet here we have it.
 
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Design meeting at FD around 2013-2014:

Some guy: Seriously, how many folks are going to actually take the time to check all the star system maps and look for someone's first explored tag?

FD: OK, let's not bother then.



My point was your objection lacked any form of self-critical assessment by just stating "Your proposal has no point because I see no point in it because I wouldn't see/visit it" without actually thinking about how it might work nor weighing up whether your personal desire to actually use the proposed mechanic is actually important to anyone else. I then step in and suggest a way it might work and your response is to call a standup so we can discuss the workload this might require for FD, as if that's relevant.

The fact that any new addtion to the game would require an amount of work for FD is obvious. Just like when they decided to add first explored, first mapped and first footfall, all features I personally have invested very little of my thought/interest in, if I actually think about it. All that's being suggested is something additional along those lines that might be neat and I think it would be neat (despite probably never intending to go visit anyone's flag myself). If you don't think it's neat, cool. Explain why in ways other than "I wouldn't be able to find it/I wouldn't use it, so why bother?". Obviously, if this were implemented then the "issue" you raised (not being able to find the location" is something FD might need to consider. Does it invalidate the suggestion in any way though? Does your lack of interest in it do the same?

Our jobs are not to estimate the workload for FD. If you dislike the idea, explain why it would lessen your experience; as you might were the OP suggesting Glaives be nerfed, as an example (a proposal that directly impacts anyone who encounters Glaives, which would be a group of players who have a stake in said conversation). If you think FD should work on other stuff and think this is low priority enough to have "no point"? Yeh great, join the club. I'd love it if they fixed everything before adding new stuff, or added new stuff I personally want. This doesn't mean I'm opposed to people proposing stuff like this and discussing how it could work or additional ideas around the subject. That's not the same as coming in and going "No, I disagree with the suggestion because I can see a problem with how it'll work and so what's the point?" when you could just be talking about how it might work instead. If you're interested in the idea. Obviously, your position is that you are not. See my point? What is your stake in opposing the suggestion?

I don't think it'll ever happen and I would love a whole bunch of other things to happen first even if it did. I also think it's a nice idea and would be a neat addition to the game with lots of potential to add to it. I don't need to step in and proclaim my negative opposition to the suggestion becacuse I can think both of those things at the same time.
I thought I had explained it. Let me try again.

I believe that whilst a first footfall needs enhancing for those achieving it for the first time. I don't believe that it will have any lasting impact on the game because:
  • Nobody will want to visit a simple flag, except for the initial "I wonder what it looks like".
  • Anyone who wants to achieve their own first footfall will see a body flagged as "First footfall achieved" and head further into the black too look for an undiscovered system.
  • Those that visit similar POIs, like crash sites and impact sites, do so because there is something of interest on the ground next to it. This flag suggestion offers none of that. Why would someone want to visit a flag? They already know whose name is on it, its on the system map panel. Knowing FDev the only variation will be a slight colour change.
  • There is no financial incentive for discovering a flag.
  • The originator of the flag will not know you have visited their flag.
  • It is just a gimmick.
  • I don't see the point and you have not made me change my mind.
So the scenario I see, even for the most avid flag enthusiast is:
  1. Discover a body that has a first foot fall.
  2. Go down to the flag POI. Take a snapshot of it.
  3. Discover another first footfall.
  4. Fly down and discover that it looks the same as the previous one, but a slightly different shade of green. Don't bother landing.
  5. Discover another first footfall.
  6. Ignore it.
  7. Repeat steps 5 to 7.
So how could your idea be improved:
  • The layer of the flag has to leave something of value beside it.
  • The flag has a long range transmitter on it that allows you to communicate with the person who laid the flag. Allows a simple text message to be sent and gets us to bond with other players.
  • There is a reward for spotting a flag of every colour.
  • FDev allow us to download an image that is printed on the flag. Would need some form of moderations to counteract the silly three year old brains.
  • There is a league table for the most "First footfall" flags that have not been discovered by another player.
Sorry running out of ideas. It is just a flag after all. Even if FDev read this suggestion then they will be asking themselves?
  • What appeal to the player base is this? Not a lot, a minimal enhancement that will become boring quickly.
  • What will it cost us? Storage and development.
  • Will it bring in more player or entice current players to stay longer? Nope.
  • Will it make player buy something with ARKs? Possibly.
  • Are they better activities we could be spending or dwindling efforts on? Yes. There are a shed load of bugs that need fixing and the AX storyline is bring back players.
So any addition made by FDev had to have some monetary value in return. They are a business after all. Would it appeal to players? About as much as adding blue chairs to the bar. Is it a cool idea? At first glance, but once you think about it, it would be cool once and lame from then on. So my vote is for the blue chairs.
 
Some guy: Seriously, how many folks are going to actually take the time to check all the star system maps and look for someone's first explored tag?
More than you think, after scanning thousands of systems, out in the Black, i now only concentrate on the unexplored.
In the bubble and surrounding areas however im interested in missed planets, so yes i also check each body.
I still cant imagine anyone thinking 'ooh lets waste time by going down to that planet and looking at the pretty flag'.

O7
 
I like the idea maube on acanning the beacon we could see a small message from the cmdr that left it. This alone would open up anothe avenue of black box data on wrecks that we could scan and get manifests and last moments. These last moments could allow "easter eggs" and plot data ro be added quietly to the game too :)
 
I like the idea maube on acanning the beacon we could see a small message from the cmdr that left it. This alone would open up anothe avenue of black box data on wrecks that we could scan and get manifests and last moments. These last moments could allow "easter eggs" and plot data ro be added quietly to the game too :)
So your saying the commander gets first footfall, plants a flag, writes a note then commits suicide?
Not sure where the eggs will come from, that's a lot of cargo on one of my trips.
Mind you if im dead after the first footfall 🤷‍♂️

O7
 
Not sure where the eggs will come from
Synthesized from Carbon, Sulphur and, uhh, Tellurium. No mats, no eggs. Maybe those materials are a bit legacy.
Flags are more complex and need a whole range from the Odyssey materials table.

Edit: the flag-planting suit mod is only available from a single engineer and you don't even want to know their unlock requirements. :D
 
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I say, we pick a flag…to represent the individual, their super power, or player faction. Personally? I’d roll with Aryssa’s flag, since I like role playing for the empire. Plant that baby, somewhere memorable. It could be a real flag, it could be a holographic one…a laser beacon that shines into space, or contain both functionalities, for other passerby’s to come visit…

What would a first footfall flag look like in the future anyway? Probably the above: a solar powered, holographic flag with a laser that beams into space lol …Or? A shark with a freakin laser beam strapped to its head…something.
It is too easy to move around in space for footfall to mean much. So it is fine as is.

:D S
 
Perhaps a beacon stating who, when and what ship made first footfall? Or just add that info to the orbital body description.

:D S
 
So your saying the commander gets first footfall, plants a flag, writes a note then commits suicide?
Not sure where the eggs will come from, that's a lot of cargo on one of my trips.
Mind you if im dead after the first footfall 🤷‍♂️

O7
No first foot fall can leave a message, but fdev can leave logs etc for things like crashed ships etc the beacons could be a good source of information 😉
 
How starved of exploration gameplay are we that we think visiting a flag would be 'cool'?

I'm not and i don't

There are other things that bugs me related to First Footfall.
For example: I get instant recognition by doing the First Footfall with No Need to go and sell the data to UC, but if i die i lose all my exploration data, visited star info, tags, anything exploration related that was "discovered" but not sold to UC before my death...

Compared to this, the "flag" issue looks like a false flag operation
 
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