Why the new Exploration method is superior in my opinion.
1: It comes preinstalled into every ship without taking up a slot.
2: It includes the surface scanner (don't confuse with probes).
3: It affords anybody without having this gear previously fitted the means of revealing the system. And it takes up none of their space.
Why do I like the new system better? Because it awards the player the entirety of the previous Discovery Scanner and Surface Scanner work combined, without the need to travel ridiculous distances between each body. It effectively allows a skilled user of the FSS the means to make an informed decision on whether he/she considers any planet worth mapping with a probe without having to leave the point of entry in the system.
This means you can ignore probing and still make the full sum of money and put your name on any fresh discoveries within minutes per system without having to do all those timely trips to each body and await the surface scan completion.
So why the complaints when this new method both offers you a better means of interactivity and shaves off a lot of time? Remember, probing is a new feature. So engaging in that is entirely upto you. And if you enjoyed travelling to each body, you can still enjoy doing this in order to probe it.
If you do not like this change, then fair enough, but let's not pretend holding a button to charge up the infamous honk was something one could call Exploration before. And let's not forget the system map showed you all you needed to see before surface scanning anything anyway. So it left little room for surprises. This new method allows you to tune into various frequencies in order to triangulate the signal source and perform an adaptive zoom on it. Seeing a mighty Gas Giant come into focus and hearing the sound effects changing depending on what is focused on really adds a charming touch in my opinion and adds to the surprise of the discovery, not knowing what you'll be seeing precisely.
The very fact I can now enjoy having the option to do this in my combat ships alone gives it the thumbs up from me.
If going back to a one button press and long drawn process just to achieve the two functions awarded by the new method in seconds to minutes is your thing, then by all means fit the probes and still enjoy the long runs, because now you will at least be rewarded more for doing so.
What makes the FSS more interesting is that it displays a dynamic image of the body zoomed in on dependant on your position relative to it. This is why you are expected to slow your acceleration to minimal. What you are viewing is not a static picture.
Editing this in based on some of the arguments against.
If you preferred the old method of honking then travelling to the planet to do the surface scan, then by all means only honk then do it the old way. You needn't switch to the FSS if you dislike it since it isn't required. You can travel to the body the old way and enjoy the supercruising. The probing requires this anyway and since it's a new feature, again, if you don't like it, then only stick to the old method. Nothing is taken away by the FSS if you do not want it to.
Those hardcore crying out against it ignore this basic fact. It's the same with people who dislike ship insurance. They think Iron Man mode is the only way. For me, the FSS cuts time unless you wish to Probe and gives me something to interact with built into the ship as an option should I decide to discover bodies of interest in a system. To complain against that when the old method is there's should you choose, I just don't get it.
1: It comes preinstalled into every ship without taking up a slot.
2: It includes the surface scanner (don't confuse with probes).
3: It affords anybody without having this gear previously fitted the means of revealing the system. And it takes up none of their space.
Why do I like the new system better? Because it awards the player the entirety of the previous Discovery Scanner and Surface Scanner work combined, without the need to travel ridiculous distances between each body. It effectively allows a skilled user of the FSS the means to make an informed decision on whether he/she considers any planet worth mapping with a probe without having to leave the point of entry in the system.
This means you can ignore probing and still make the full sum of money and put your name on any fresh discoveries within minutes per system without having to do all those timely trips to each body and await the surface scan completion.
So why the complaints when this new method both offers you a better means of interactivity and shaves off a lot of time? Remember, probing is a new feature. So engaging in that is entirely upto you. And if you enjoyed travelling to each body, you can still enjoy doing this in order to probe it.
If you do not like this change, then fair enough, but let's not pretend holding a button to charge up the infamous honk was something one could call Exploration before. And let's not forget the system map showed you all you needed to see before surface scanning anything anyway. So it left little room for surprises. This new method allows you to tune into various frequencies in order to triangulate the signal source and perform an adaptive zoom on it. Seeing a mighty Gas Giant come into focus and hearing the sound effects changing depending on what is focused on really adds a charming touch in my opinion and adds to the surprise of the discovery, not knowing what you'll be seeing precisely.
The very fact I can now enjoy having the option to do this in my combat ships alone gives it the thumbs up from me.
If going back to a one button press and long drawn process just to achieve the two functions awarded by the new method in seconds to minutes is your thing, then by all means fit the probes and still enjoy the long runs, because now you will at least be rewarded more for doing so.
What makes the FSS more interesting is that it displays a dynamic image of the body zoomed in on dependant on your position relative to it. This is why you are expected to slow your acceleration to minimal. What you are viewing is not a static picture.
Editing this in based on some of the arguments against.
If you preferred the old method of honking then travelling to the planet to do the surface scan, then by all means only honk then do it the old way. You needn't switch to the FSS if you dislike it since it isn't required. You can travel to the body the old way and enjoy the supercruising. The probing requires this anyway and since it's a new feature, again, if you don't like it, then only stick to the old method. Nothing is taken away by the FSS if you do not want it to.
Those hardcore crying out against it ignore this basic fact. It's the same with people who dislike ship insurance. They think Iron Man mode is the only way. For me, the FSS cuts time unless you wish to Probe and gives me something to interact with built into the ship as an option should I decide to discover bodies of interest in a system. To complain against that when the old method is there's should you choose, I just don't get it.
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