The Change to Scanning Stations

[djxavier13]

It's been a few years since I played X:Rebirth, so if I'm mis-remembering details here, please feel free to correct me.

I see that flying around and scanning stations is a carry-over from X:Rebirth. In Rebirth, it had a purpose (although, I can't remember what, exactly). Sure, I do need to scan to look for signal anomalies in X4, but I'm talking about trying to get to "100% information unlocked" (what actual information?). Although it was time-consuming and annoying in Rebirth, at least I could tell which sections I already scanned either in cockpit view or on the map.

Unlike Rebirth, the frustration I'm having is that scanning stations in X4 doesn't seem to have a way to tell me which modules were already scanned and which still need to be scanned. I'll find myself flying around in circles, trying to see if I missed any modules. So far, I've never scanned over 85% of any station. Are there hidden things that need to be scanned? Why can't I have a filter in the map view that highlights scanned modules?

When the big bugs get fixed, I'd like to suggest another look at the mechanics of station scans, because I think station-scanning needs a little TLC to make it easier(less tedious) for players.

Also, please take this as constructive feedback! Beyond the handful of gripes I share with other players, I'm actually loving the heck out of this game. There are so few truly open-world games that don't railroad you on a path to complete some major narrative. I love games like this, where I can lose hours to it (53 as of this writing) and do whatever I want. Thank you!

[Alci]

if you turn on short scanner (shift+2) the scanned modules will have different color, mostly. Some don't (or the color is way too similar to unscanned, especially the connection parts). It's really hard to see but at least noticeable. I would appreciate better distinguish as well. The short range scanner in general is not that much useful. It's just very little difference against no scanner at all.

[djxavier13]

if you turn on short scanner (shift+2) the scanned modules will have different color, mostly. Some don't (or the color is way too similar to unscanned, especially the connection parts). It's really hard to see but at least noticeable. I would appreciate better distinguish as well. The short range scanner in general is not that much useful. It's just very little difference against no scanner at all.

Yeah, they do highlight different colors when I turn on scan mode, but once a module is scanned, it only highlights bluish-white briefly, then goes back to the original highlighted color. That's the problem. I can't tell which ones I've already scanned.

[Spiralrazor]

There is a mod up on nexus that really helps this...changes the colors to clearly differentiate things.

[argon_emperor]

IIRC, scanning stations in X:R tended to give you discounts, as well as sometimes (?) unlocking extra trades and stuff like that.

In Foundations, it basically does nothing. Discounts, commissions, and missions are unlocked through either the data leaks (which give discount, commission, or module blueprint), or comm sparks, which give missions.

The only "useful" part for scanning is when it comes to the missions that ask you to either scan a specific module, or scan x% of a station.

And in regards to the 85% scan rate issue, you can't scan 100% in your ship, you have to get out and space walk to scan for the last little bit. But I've 100% quite a few stations, and never gotten anything for it, so up to you if you want to bother going all the way for (currently) nothing. Definitely agree that a bit of TLC is needed to make it feel as though it's a feature that exists for a reason.

But definitely get the mod on nexus that's been mentioned, started using it today and it makes it heaps clearer which modules have and haven't been scanned.

https://www.nexusmods.com/x4foundations/mods/38

[djxavier13]

There is a mod up on nexus that really helps this...changes the colors to clearly differentiate things.

Oh, I didn't realize there was a Nexus page already, and I see there's already 31 mods for it.

[Legionnaire]

Unfortunately as per usual using any mods marks your game as modified, which provides a cop out when youre reporting bugs as they have to be reproduced on an unmodded save.

Legionnaire

[radcapricorn]

Shows that people haven't actually played Rebirth. The most important part of scanning was accessing production and storage information. For trade planning, or piracy purposes. Supposedly that remained in X4 as well.