Elite: Game talk

DiQueue
21 May 2024, 10:40am
Janos Koplos
If only the Python mk II would be a better ship, I mean not having less optional internal slots. I would love to buy a better ship and don't mind in the mean time supporting further Elite development.


True. The good old MK1 is much more versatile. Speed and the SCO drives are the only aspects where the MK2 really shines for me. I have not done any PVP yet but I am having a good time using the Pee 2 for station based AX.
Thinder
21 May 2024, 10:49am
Kasumi GotoCounterpoint - Frontier are struggling due to their own misdirection and things like the complete and total disaster of the Odyssey launch which violently crashes without notice just because you dared to hit the ‘Disembark’ button(or god forbid, tried to get back in your ship/SRV), or gets you stuck in an eternal black screen in that same action, to this day.

Should players have to cover for that? I’m not so sure… but without a doubt that total failure and technical debacle still has effects today(plus the general issues in the game ‘industry’ which are becoming very apparent the last 2-3 years).


Yeah, there were issues, but if you tried to play DCS in VR when they first implemented multi-threading, it wasn't so bad in comparison.

Just ask yourself, could they finance development (including fixing bugs) with just selling suites or rifles or stuff that doesn't always suit players?

I don't think so, with all the ARX I was given for free since I started, I might have been able to buy this ship, their commercial policies have been a disaster, and before thinking of sorting out the game, you need to think about having the budget for it.

As an ex-CG Techie (3D Modelling and Mapping) I can appreciate the amount of work involved in developing the Python MK II, at my prime, I could do the simplest DCS F-15 C which cost <> the same than the Python (No knobs, switches or handles) in just about 12 weeks, including mapping, the Python MK II, because it is a non-existing conceptual design, would take me <> 8 to 12 month, working 8/10h a day.

Although at the end of the day it is simpler than one of the best DCS modules, for equivalent number of polygons, developing an aircraft takes several years to a small team, it should logically be the same for E.D developer teams.

I don't know how much they pay their techies but wages of my time were around 25K/year for a newbie, 35/40 K for a pro, add to that multiple textures, flight envelop to program etc, just for ONE ship.

During this time I was playing and getting free ARX every single week, almost didn't spend a dime on the game since I got it, so from my PoV, the issue was mostly bad management, especially if they have launched the game with its bugs and a smaller team of technicians to sort it out.

SakashiroI'd spend more ARX if there was something to spend them on. I'd love to customize my suit, but Frontier keeps peddling suit cosmetics that just don't appeal to me. So I'm still using the Pioneer skins that came with the Odyssey pre-order. Paying ARX for a ship that's going to be available for free anyway doesn't make much sense to me.

It doesn't if you don't want to get into the developers and teams issues. As I said, 6 month ago, we had videos about how it was dead, now we have new ships, so the effort have to be rewarded, and seriously we can't keep it alive playing it for free with free ARX on top.

You don't have to buy Premium, it's perfectly OK but it has to be made possible for those who want to.

The availability (or lack of) of some items or features is also part of management, I am still waiting for the full implementation of VR when playing on foot, eventually it will come, then I'll be able to start enjoying this aspect of the game too...

Last edit: 21 May 2024, 10:57am
Thinder
21 May 2024, 11:02am
For the time being...

In LOS, Tritium Hotspot, 1 hour mining for enough fuel to make ONE jump is.... Errrr, a bit much if you plan to go back to the bubble from Colonia on mined Tritium only, for me that's 45 jumps and 3,166 t of Tritium.

Just as well I never leave A to B without having enough fuel to go back to A in the first place...

DiQueue
Janos Koplos
If only the Python mk II would be a better ship, I mean not having less optional internal slots. I would love to buy a better ship and don't mind in the mean time supporting further Elite development.



True. The good old MK1 is much more versatile. Speed and the SCO drives are the only aspects where the MK2 really shines for me. I have not done any PVP yet but I am having a good time using the Pee 2 for station based AX.


To be honest, I still prefer the Krait MK II to it, I'm happy I have one, I'll get the "Red Baron" version, but here what matters to me when bounty hunting:

1) Having a Fighter, my pilot is Elite (Expert), she nearly never miss, her XG-9 Lance munches chunks of shield like mad, I trained her from Harmless so she still is on 10% wage.

2) With all PIP on weapons the Krait can boost all day (Class 7 Power Distributor, I use a 6A and it's enough), her lasers won't cut off running out of juice, the Python does with the exact same engineering and and extra HD where I fitted a Beam Laser.

After a few seconds, I'm in the exact same configuration that the Krait because the 3C BEAM LASER is off.

>>>>

That's what I figured engineering the Python and re-engineering the Krait MK II... And I love my NPC pilot.


Last edit: 21 May 2024, 11:29am
Thinder
21 May 2024, 11:14am
DiQueue
Janos Koplos
If only the Python mk II would be a better ship, I mean not having less optional internal slots. I would love to buy a better ship and don't mind in the mean time supporting further Elite development.



True. The good old MK1 is much more versatile. Speed and the SCO drives are the only aspects where the MK2 really shines for me. I have not done any PVP yet but I am having a good time using the Pee 2 for station based AX.
Goff
21 May 2024, 11:43am
Janos Koplos
21 May 2024, 12:41pm
Thinder To be honest, I still prefer the Krait MK II to it, I'm happy I have one, I'll get the "Red Baron" version, but here what matters to me when bounty hunting


You like fighting it seems. I am more the explorer type. So when are they going to offer an prebuild, super-explorer ship with 200 LY jump range?
DingBatDave
21 May 2024, 12:48pm
Scenario for discussion:
New player A and New Player B Buy the game today.
Player A starts off their journey in the noob zone. learning the ropes etc.
Player B starts in much the same way but B comes across the shop where they pay real world money 25-30$ to buy a pre built combat ship.

A and B meet at some point and B decimates Player A having skipped a large chunk of the game using real world money.

This is the very definition of a "Pay 2 Win" mechanic.

The reason i choose new players in the scenario is because for the most part i doubt established players need to buy pre built ships. Nor would they even want them. But from a new player perspective its 100% pay to win. It is a real world money way to skip ahead with an advantage.

Discuss.
Silver Taffer
21 May 2024, 1:26pm
So, if a new player invests in a pre-built combat ship for Arx (the Python MkII being the only such option as it stands) it would clearly be overpowered for the newb zone, true.
But only one PvP victory would be sufficient to raise them above Harmless. As I understand it any rank increase is enough to disqualify a player from the zone? If that is so I wonder how many folks would pay Arx for such a fleeting advantage? And once out of the safety of the newb zone that Python MkII would be easy fodder for the specialized, engineered ships flown by experienced Cmdrs.

I wouldn't entirely rule out your concerns but I suspect they may not prove to be that big an issue.

Last edit: 21 May 2024, 3:11pm
Kasumi Goto
21 May 2024, 2:18pm
Newbie zone is “dead” anyway because one of Odyssey’s genius “features” is that it does not start you out there but “random surface station in the ass end of nowhere” at the edge of the Bubble. Because that is where the ground tutorial ends.

… yes, it’s dumb, and they have shown no inclination to change it.
Thinder
21 May 2024, 2:26pm
DingBatDave

The reason i choose new players in the scenario is because for the most part i doubt established players need to buy pre built ships. Nor would they even want them. But from a new player perspective its 100% pay to win. It is a real world money way to skip ahead with an advantage.

Discuss.

Except that Gankers have fast seen all the advantages of this ship over other of the same class...


Janos Koplos
Thinder To be honest, I still prefer the Krait MK II to it, I'm happy I have one, I'll get the "Red Baron" version, but here what matters to me when bounty hunting



You like fighting it seems. I am more the explorer type. So when are they going to offer an prebuild, super-explorer ship with 200 LY jump range?

I do both (but I only play Solo), just went through <> 150 jumps in my Krait Phantom, went in a spiral-like route, discovered a new system, used the FSS only to figure I didn't fit the Advanced Surface Scanner...

I'm Triple Elite but my only Elite II ranking is Explorer...

EXPLORER Elite II + 75%. TRADE Elite + 90%. COMBAT Elite + 34%.



The only type of exploration I don't do is on foot because the POV in VR is cr@p...

They (Developers) already mentioned the need for new ships for exploration...

BTW Folks... I experienced 4 (FOUR) FSD (SCO) failures during my last trip, I might reverse to the standard one, the difference in Jump range is 1.70 LY.

Last edit: 21 May 2024, 2:59pm
Kasumi Goto
21 May 2024, 2:48pm
Thinder BTW Folks... I experienced 4 (FOUR) FSD (SCO) failures during my last trip, I might reverse to the standard one, the difference in Jump range is 1.70 LY.

Haven’t had any issues, did ~18kly(accounting for some up/down in galactic plane) with an SCO drive fitted while heading toward the core.

Whatever you’re encountering, I’m not having the same issue. Though I’ve also not let it drop below 90% integrity yet so if it has some kind of hidden drawback of experiencing malfunctions earlier than the standard FSD… not had the “opportunity” to see it myself.
Thinder
21 May 2024, 3:03pm
Kasumi Goto
Thinder BTW Folks... I experienced 4 (FOUR) FSD (SCO) failures during my last trip, I might reverse to the standard one, the difference in Jump range is 1.70 LY.


Haven’t had any issues, did ~18kly(accounting for some up/down in galactic plane) with an SCO drive fitted while heading toward the core.

Whatever you’re encountering, I’m not having the same issue. Though I’ve also not let it drop below 90% integrity yet so if it has some kind of hidden drawback of experiencing malfunctions earlier than the standard FSD… not had the “opportunity” to see it myself.

Never had any problem with the Standard FSD.

Having said that, I crashed out of Supercruise while using the boost and lost 10% integrity, I engaged the boost too close to the planet ring I was trying to leave faster, the ship trajectory went crazy and boom.
Kasumi Goto
21 May 2024, 3:05pm
Well, that isn’t exactly a case to be made against the drive itself. I’ve not crashed into anything with it myself… most planets I leave tend to not have rings though.

… would say it’s more of a lesson to just point away from the ring at a sufficient angle than a point against SCO.
Thinder
21 May 2024, 4:08pm
Kasumi GotoWell, that isn’t exactly a case to be made against the drive itself. I’ve not crashed into anything with it myself… most planets I leave tend to not have rings though.


I didn't crash into, but out of supercruise, plus it is certainly not the first time my ship integrity goes down, only then, 10% is very little and in the same situation, the Standard FSD stood rock solid...

… would say it’s more of a lesson to just point away from the ring at a sufficient angle than a point against SCO.

Not enough considering the change of trajectory, I was not parallel to the rings, I generally leave the rings vertically to do it faster. Best not engage this drive close to anything until well clear of it...
Sakashiro
21 May 2024, 5:51pm
DingBatDaveScenario for discussion:
New player A and New Player B Buy the game today.
Player A starts off their journey in the noob zone. learning the ropes etc.
Player B starts in much the same way but B comes across the shop where they pay real world money 25-30$ to buy a pre built combat ship.

A and B meet at some point and B decimates Player A having skipped a large chunk of the game using real world money.

This is the very definition of a "Pay 2 Win" mechanic.

The reason i choose new players in the scenario is because for the most part i doubt established players need to buy pre built ships. Nor would they even want them. But from a new player perspective its 100% pay to win. It is a real world money way to skip ahead with an advantage.

Discuss.

Does the noob zone even exist anymore? As far as I know the game now begins in HIP 97950 (Chamberlain's Rest).

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