New module suggestion

[alt3rn1ty]

Request could we have a new station module

Wide Area Resource Probe

Similar to the Wide Area Sensor Array which replaces using satellites, this probe could negate the use of Resource Probes in a wide area where you fit it to a station. Similar area coverage as the WASA.

[alt3rn1ty]

This request is in response to the v9 Beta changes.
I was hoping the devs might accept the idea as a good addition for those of us not wanting to babysit Resource probes in the v9 environment, so its relevant now, not some time in the future.
Oh well, I guess it is a suggestion, so it doesn't belong in among all the other suggestions to improve v9

[Worilio]

Why not?

Perhaps, also a mining drone bay module and long-range mining laser module.

[alt3rn1ty]

Why not?

I dont know, it was moved out of one of the beta forum topics where it was relevant (for my play style at least)

[Thesylance]

Since I cannot for some reason edit my own posts:

X4 is by far my most favorite game, but having 20 factories with 50+ Miners each makes the new mechanic a chore.
My idea:

Add a Station module like the Long Range Sensor array that can at least be used as a lets say 400km range probe so that we at least have the option of getting full Sector coverage without having to micromanage everything,
This will still seem much more "alive" then before and needs additional effort, but it does not screw over everyone who has a late game save.

[Worilio]

It's a question of tasks and priorities, effort, available resources, feasibilty, project planning and etc pp, I guess. Egosoft seems to add small features now and then, so no one can tell, what is on their TODO list.

[alt3rn1ty]

Someone else just made the same request I made in the same topic

[CBJ]

I've merged it in here.

[alt3rn1ty]

I've merged it in here.

Cool, you have to admit though the suggestion is a good one to the current discussion in the feedback topic regarding "well placed" resource probes (see reemccoy quoting DocAce). The need to have them is also my source of annoyance with the new system, which a station module would solve for those of us not wishing to micromanage resource probes.

Things have got much better with the beta, but this left-over of having to spam resource probes to find out which one would be "well placed" is super annoying.

I now do not deploy any resource probes, and just rely on less efficient miners, but it bugs me that they could be doing better if not for the new necessity of having a well placed probe, which will need re-doing as the area depletes .. and round the buoy we go again.

I just didn't want to post another "me too" post and rather have a solution to the problem.

[Ketraar]

Cool, you have to admit though the suggestion is a good one to the current discussion in the feedback topic regarding "well placed" resource probes (see reemccoy quoting DocAce). The need to have them is also my source of annoyance with the new system, which a station module would solve for those of us not wishing to micromanage resource probes.

I wont go too much on the portion that are just not really accurate and would address the suggestion as such.

Currently vision already shows you where resources are and the encyclopaedia shows the total amount. What would a wide range resource probe module do that the wise sensor array doesn't already do? If its wide range it wont indicate localised spots would it?

MFG

Ketraar

[alt3rn1ty]

Currently vision already shows you where resources are and the encyclopaedia shows the total amount. What would a wide range resource probe module do that the wise sensor array doesn't already do? If its wide range it wont indicate localised spots would it?

MFG

Ketraar

I was kind of hoping that a Wide Area Resource Probe would just give your miner pilots a better idea of where to concentrate their mining. I dont need a personal view on where the best resource fields are, just something that would guide miners to better yields (and replace the need to have to figure out where to drop a "Well Placed" Resource Probe).

How much of a localised spot it could reveal to miners .. I dont know, that would be down to you guys and how its made to work and communicate needed information to the NPC miners.

I'm not a hands on mining person, its good we have that for those that do, but to me its a very tedious aspect to the game I would much rather have automated as much as possible.

The only thing I do mine with hands on is the spacefly eggs, but only out of necessity for diplomacy needs.

[Ketraar]

Yes but my point is, it already works like that, miners go where they think its best based on the resources that are known. Making resources known only requires vision, or scan. Resource probes give ADDITIONAL special information such as gathering rates at location, but if that location is "wide" then the information is pointless. Point being you already have the tools you want, place satellites, use explorers, build a sensor array and you will know where resources are and the sector information tells you the total. For more detailed localised information you CAN use probes.

MFG

Ketraar

[CBJ]

Even if this were a good solution (and I'm not the right person to be the judge of that) the work involved in creating a whole new art asset and all the functionality behind it goes way beyond the scope of what is viable during a Public Beta. That's almost always the case with feature requests, and is one of the reasons those don't belong in the Public Beta Feedback forum.

[alt3rn1ty]

Yes but my point is, it already works like that, miners go where they think its best based on the resources that are known.

Oh, that I did not know, I was getting the impression from conversations in the beta topics that NPC miners could do much better with a well placed Resource Probe.
So if NPC miners will still do a reasonably good job of it themselves, then I agree a Wide Area Resource Probe is not needed, and all the bother with resource probes is similarly not needed.

Sorry for taking up your time guys.

[Ketraar]

Sorry for taking up your time guys.

Dont worry about it, time is a subjective construct anyway.

MFG

Ketraar