Why isn't this in the game?

[Ragnvald]

I play a lot of games that have an in-game economy. Some of those are computer generated economies but most are controlled by the players. I thought at first that Elite would have this same concept. Of players controlling the prices but I guess I'm wrong. And not only wrong but really disappointed by that. Creating a team of mining vessels with security is not really an option since you can't even trade credits with each other. Prices are different per person on the same station and gathering ore is becoming a tedious task with that cargo scoop making it the main reason to team up in the first place.

So what I really am wondering is this:

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?
Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?
Why are prices in the same station different for each player?
Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

I've played Freelancer and EVE for the majority of my Space games and I kinda thought and hoped Elite would be the perfect mix. It looked like it, but the more I play the more it looks like a single player game with random people in it that only affect you in combat rather than anything else.

Of course I too want to walk around in my ship, on planets or on a station. Much rather than just stare at a monitor in my ship to do business I walk around the station looking for vendors but to me that's not even on the priority list of what's above. Looting, trading and economy is much more important in creating an active community right now

 

[beelbeebub]

Get your flame proof hat on!
Credit transfers - much debated, the primary fear seems to be this would open the door to gold farmers.
Cargo transfers - this can happen now
Tractor beam - mining is a bit underserved at the moment, improvements probably won't happen for a while, the devs want to wait until planetary landings are a thing.
Different prices - afaik this is a bug, report it. Bear in mind the prices fluctuate and i think you only get the price on docking, someone later than you might get different prices
Docking queue - would be nice

 

[HardstyleFlavor]

I agree with being able to trade credits with other players, and trading cargo/credits with NPCs in order to accomplish a mission or something. You can already kind of trade cargo with other players though. You just need to jettison (abandon) cargo near another player, preferably in isolation not near a starport, and hope that they will do the same. Although an actual trading system with other players would be nice. Maybe it's in the works as we speak

 

[Whiterose]

Why cant we ride horses through the station?
Why cant we cast spells?
Where is the master chief?
Where are the Bentusi?
Where is Lara Tsoni?

More importantly, why should your suggestions be in the game?

 

[HipToss]

I tried out the docking computer and noticed that a docking queue appears, but only for a moment. Perhaps this is in game but not implemented?

 

[Varrag]

You said it yourself, OP. Because it is essentially a single player game. And a half-baked one.

 

[777Driver]

I play a lot of games that have an in-game economy. Some of those are computer generated economies but most are controlled by the players. I thought at first that Elite would have this same concept. Of players controlling the prices but I guess I'm wrong. And not only wrong but really disappointed by that. Creating a team of mining vessels with security is not really an option since you can't even trade credits with each other. Prices are different per person on the same station and gathering ore is becoming a tedious task with that cargo scoop making it the main reason to team up in the first place.

So what I really am wondering is this:

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?
Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?
Why are prices in the same station different for each player?
Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

I've played Freelancer and EVE for the majority of my Space games and I kinda thought and hoped Elite would be the perfect mix. It looked like it, but the more I play the more it looks like a single player game with random people in it that only affect you in combat rather than anything else.

Of course I too want to walk around in my ship, on planets or on a station. Much rather than just stare at a monitor in my ship to do business I walk around the station looking for vendors but to me that's not even on the priority list of what's above. Looting, trading and economy is much more important in creating an active community right now

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?

Exploits would be my guess, they do plan to add it, but it needs to be done right. We have been asking for this in GTA online for a while,problem is it invites people to abuse the system


Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?

Good question, at least make it an expensive module


Why are prices in the same station different for each player?

I trade in wings sometimes, prices are the same for me and my buddy's.. Although some have reported 'slightly' Different prices in old topics


Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

Large ships get priority, otherwise it is first come fist serve. Works fine for me, a queue does exists, NPC's and docking computers use it.

 

[Seonid]

I tried out the docking computer and noticed that a docking queue appears, but only for a moment. Perhaps this is in game but not implemented?

It is implemented, though I've not seen it wait longer than 15-20 seconds as I see an NPC also docking.

 

[SlickReed]

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?
Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?
Why are prices in the same station different for each player?
Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

1. Gold farmers would ruin the game
2. Prices are the same for me and all in my wing at our station so IDK
3. With a cargo scoop why do yo need a tractor beam?
4. You have to wait your turn to dock and you get 10 mins to do so, what more do you need?

 

[jamotide]

Why cant we ride horses through the station?
Why cant we cast spells?
Where is the master chief?
Where are the Bentusi?
Where is Lara Tsoni?

More importantly, why should your suggestions be in the game?

Most importantly, why are you answering a reasonable post with a bunch of strawmen?

1. Gold farmers would ruin the game

How so?

 

[Simi Kusoni]

I play a lot of games that have an in-game economy. Some of those are computer generated economies but most are controlled by the players. I thought at first that Elite would have this same concept. Of players controlling the prices but I guess I'm wrong. And not only wrong but really disappointed by that. Creating a team of mining vessels with security is not really an option since you can't even trade credits with each other. Prices are different per person on the same station and gathering ore is becoming a tedious task with that cargo scoop making it the main reason to team up in the first place.

So what I really am wondering is this:

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?
Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?
Why are prices in the same station different for each player?
Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

I've played Freelancer and EVE for the majority of my Space games and I kinda thought and hoped Elite would be the perfect mix. It looked like it, but the more I play the more it looks like a single player game with random people in it that only affect you in combat rather than anything else.

Of course I too want to walk around in my ship, on planets or on a station. Much rather than just stare at a monitor in my ship to do business I walk around the station looking for vendors but to me that's not even on the priority list of what's above. Looting, trading and economy is much more important in creating an active community right now

I did make a post earlier about improving the looting system, but yeah a lot of people don't see it as an issue for some reason.

As for trading, the game was made in a short period of time on a limited budget. Real game economies are hard to balance, even adding something as simple as variable item weights (so not everything weighed exactly one tonne) would have required considerable extra effort to balance.

My concerns aren't that the game didn't launch with these features, but that I see no plans to improve them. Even simple issues like imbalances between all professions, lack of money sinks etc. have either been ignored or made worse since release*.

Truth is this is a single player game, it isn't balanced with longevity or multi-player in mind.

*effective removal of fuel/repair costs, buff to RES site income whilst trading remains a risk free money fountain, community goals handing out 20m at a time with multiple goals on each side...

 

[Kaeldian]

I play a lot of games that have an in-game economy. Some of those are computer generated economies but most are controlled by the players. I thought at first that Elite would have this same concept. Of players controlling the prices but I guess I'm wrong. And not only wrong but really disappointed by that. Creating a team of mining vessels with security is not really an option since you can't even trade credits with each other. Prices are different per person on the same station and gathering ore is becoming a tedious task with that cargo scoop making it the main reason to team up in the first place.

So what I really am wondering is this:

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?
Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?
Why are prices in the same station different for each player?
Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

I've played Freelancer and EVE for the majority of my Space games and I kinda thought and hoped Elite would be the perfect mix. It looked like it, but the more I play the more it looks like a single player game with random people in it that only affect you in combat rather than anything else.

Of course I too want to walk around in my ship, on planets or on a station. Much rather than just stare at a monitor in my ship to do business I walk around the station looking for vendors but to me that's not even on the priority list of what's above. Looting, trading and economy is much more important in creating an active community right now

On your first point, I ask the counterpoint..... DO YOU WANT GOLD FARMING SPAM BOTS IN YOUR GAME? Because that WILL happen your first point is added to the game,

 

[Jukelo]

On your first point, I ask the counterpoint..... DO YOU WANT GOLD FARMING SPAM BOTS IN YOUR GAME? Because that WILL happen your first point is added to the game,

The game doesn't have an economy that could be ruined by gold farmers, so that's moot.

 

[Sim Maker]

On the utterly broken mining side of the game.....why no tractor beam?.........LORE will come the cry..............because in the original Elite, they used Scoops.........so when you say why can't we have tractor beams that might make mining have a point, and rather than say "Yeah, good idea for these modern times".......the answer comes......"Because....LORE!.........".
.
But Jeeze......even the Bible was changed at the Council of Nicaea as the Old Testament was a bit spooky for the new church.....so they trimmed out the bits they didn't like for their new version. That whole "One and only god" had to be squared away with the father son and holy ghost........the holy trinity..............point being, if the Church can admit they got the Bible "wrong".....can't we suggest that the original Elite got it wrong.....and that making space stations with minerals from mining, using tea spoons and tweezers, is not ideal or even logical.................

 

[Whiterose]

Most importantly, why are you answering a reasonable post with a bunch of strawmen?




How so?

Its not a reasonable post. Its a post detailing what he thinks the game should be, my reply was merely pointing out that if we all documented what we thought the game would be then you would have some of my suggestions.

 

[Privata]

Why cant we ride horses through the station?
Why cant we cast spells?
Where is the master chief?
Where are the Bentusi?
Where is Lara Tsoni?

More importantly, why should your suggestions be in the game?

I agree with you and understand what you are saying , these questions are silly... but... its liara t'soni

 

[Witzo]

Why isn't there a credit or cargo trading system in Elite?
Why isn't the Tractor beam or a Cargo droid invented?
Why are prices in the same station different for each player?
Why isn't there a Docking QUEUE instead of the fastest clicker wins?

it looks like a single player game with random people in it

- Because the individual challenge would be seriously lowered. This is an individualistic game.
- Because that wouldn't be half as much fun as manoevring your own ship to pick up floating cargo.
- Didn't know this, interesting question.
- Jump to solo if second docking request doesn't work.

You found out the nature of the game. It is indeed one man against the elements, with the occasional passer by to break the loneliness of space.

 

[SlickReed]

How so?

Credits is the only currency in game, it drives everything you do in Elite. We can not build anything to sell to make cr only activities. What do you think would happen if you take away the purpose for everything you do in a game?

 

[Stormprooter]

On your first point, I ask the counterpoint..... DO YOU WANT GOLD FARMING SPAM BOTS IN YOUR GAME? Because that WILL happen your first point is added to the game,

There may be a way to implement it - that being a mechanic similar to wings, using 'contracts' so a group of players can pool money to purchase goods, go on a trade run, then split the profits at the end.

 

[Bortas]

My concerns aren't that the game didn't launch with these features, but that I see no plans to improve them. Even simple issues like imbalances between all professions, lack of money sinks etc. have either been ignored or made worse since release*.

A game without a inter-player economy doesn't need money sinks. All prices are fixed or fluctuate within fixed boundaries, set by the devs, so inflation will never be an issue. Wether you dump billions of credits into cash sinks or have them just lying around in your bank account makes no difference for the economy.