Forums » Suggestions
Semi-Automatic Pickup of Nearby Cargo Crates
This is something that has been requested a lot, particularly by Mobile and VR players..
Newer players have a hell of a time running over crates/drops in the right way to pick them up. On mobile in particular, it's always been a bit of a challenge.
And yet, because of the diverse complexity of drops, and veteran players carefully determining what they want, I've been reluctant to mess with the status-quo. But, I really need to make this on-ramp a bit easier for new people, it's a big source of frustration for them, and likely causes a drop in early retention.
I've had a number of different ideas over the years, but a popular one these days is to basically have a "near-object tractor beam" or.. uhh.. Crate Vacuum, if you will, that sucks crates into your ship, that are within a certain distance.
This could have adjustable optional parameters (perhaps available on the Jettison menu), where it could:
- Draw in crates only by specified class (coloration), which would make it easier to exclude obvious things like Scrap. It would only be for Class-type and not actual item-type; there are too many items.
- Limit the tractor only to currently-selected crates within the specified distance range. So you'd have to select the object first, but then it would draw it in.
- Disable the system entirely and use it the way it works currently.
- Vary the distance at which it would activate, to reduce it to less than the default (which would be fairly small, just enough to pick something up easier, not to drag it from far away).
Thoughts?
Newer players have a hell of a time running over crates/drops in the right way to pick them up. On mobile in particular, it's always been a bit of a challenge.
And yet, because of the diverse complexity of drops, and veteran players carefully determining what they want, I've been reluctant to mess with the status-quo. But, I really need to make this on-ramp a bit easier for new people, it's a big source of frustration for them, and likely causes a drop in early retention.
I've had a number of different ideas over the years, but a popular one these days is to basically have a "near-object tractor beam" or.. uhh.. Crate Vacuum, if you will, that sucks crates into your ship, that are within a certain distance.
This could have adjustable optional parameters (perhaps available on the Jettison menu), where it could:
- Draw in crates only by specified class (coloration), which would make it easier to exclude obvious things like Scrap. It would only be for Class-type and not actual item-type; there are too many items.
- Limit the tractor only to currently-selected crates within the specified distance range. So you'd have to select the object first, but then it would draw it in.
- Disable the system entirely and use it the way it works currently.
- Vary the distance at which it would activate, to reduce it to less than the default (which would be fairly small, just enough to pick something up easier, not to drag it from far away).
Thoughts?
I've seen and answered my fair share of questions about "tractor beams" in VO, and agree some kind of functionality would be preffered. those i've talked with usually assume they can target an item and then use a button or something to grab it, but a range-based collection system also sounds pretty neat.
+1, but not too far of a proximty for the draw in of cargo. Maybe 100m? I was going to -1 this, but then I remembered how frustrating mobile controls are.
If this is for new players I don't see the point in adding all the customization. Just give ships a 25m magnetic pull range, with an on/off switch of the feature.
If this is for new players I don't see the point in adding all the customization.
Because, it's a lot more useful feature if it isn't filling your cargo hold with scrap all the time.
Yes, it's for newbies, but we can still make the feature as valuable as possible, since we're implementing it anyway.
Because, it's a lot more useful feature if it isn't filling your cargo hold with scrap all the time.
Yes, it's for newbies, but we can still make the feature as valuable as possible, since we're implementing it anyway.
+1 to suggestion of a tractor beam activated with a hot key on targetted crates within 100m range.
Automatically take all specific cargoes in the range following a list could be made with a plugin.
Automatically take all specific cargoes in the range following a list could be made with a plugin.
+1 to the idea
but why make it easier for free players
its one more reason not to pay a sub
but why make it easier for free players
its one more reason not to pay a sub
Drevent, if this were implemented, it wouldnt be mobile or f2p only I bet, but for everyone. Honestly, I'd like this functionality even if I don't neccesarily need it.
Oh, yeah, sorry if I was unclear about that.. this would be a universal feature for everyone, not just for mobile or "free" or whatever.
That's a big part of why I wanted to add the various options for selection criteria, so it would be more useful for non-newbies.
That's a big part of why I wanted to add the various options for selection criteria, so it would be more useful for non-newbies.
Since you can't shoot crates, why not make it target and tractor on trigger within 25m?
I like the hotkey too... or a bindable /Hoover or /tractorbeam on targeted crates only.
I like the hotkey too... or a bindable /Hoover or /tractorbeam on targeted crates only.
"Since you can't shoot crates, why not make it target and tractor on trigger within 25m?"
No. Being able to fire my guns while cargo is targeted is extremely useful when recovering loot under hostile conditions since there isn't always time to keep switching targets. Plus, sometimes I specifically want to fire swarms at a crate. Sure, it won't hurt the crate, but it will hurt the asshole who's trying to guard or steal it, and the homing-missile-beep won't warn them if the missiles are locked onto the crate instead of their ship.
No. Being able to fire my guns while cargo is targeted is extremely useful when recovering loot under hostile conditions since there isn't always time to keep switching targets. Plus, sometimes I specifically want to fire swarms at a crate. Sure, it won't hurt the crate, but it will hurt the asshole who's trying to guard or steal it, and the homing-missile-beep won't warn them if the missiles are locked onto the crate instead of their ship.
Plus, sometimes I specifically want to fire swarms at a crate.
People only do this to make space flowers out of boredom.
Since you can't shoot crates, why not make it target and tractor on trigger within 25m?
Having the tractor / magnet tied to the targeting system will work against the idea of trying to help newbs.
People only do this to make space flowers out of boredom.
Since you can't shoot crates, why not make it target and tractor on trigger within 25m?
Having the tractor / magnet tied to the targeting system will work against the idea of trying to help newbs.
Having the tractor / magnet tied to the targeting system will work against the idea of trying to help newbs.
In my OP, I suggested it as an alternate possible configurable behaviour, to a system that defaulted to universally tractoring-in all crates within a given distance.
In my OP, I suggested it as an alternate possible configurable behaviour, to a system that defaulted to universally tractoring-in all crates within a given distance.
side suggestion thats maybe a little relevant, perhaps with this distanced pickup rework, however it is created, you could also add on the framework for using ship equipment to extend the range of the tractor system?
I'm actually most curious about whether or not the boxes will move towards your ship or if they will just disappear when picked up.
I would suggest increasing the capture distance, kinda.
It should be toggle-able, and it should be defaulted to be effective ONLY on the crates you actually target, unless you purposefully set it to Space Roomba mode, hoovering up everything you run over, or drive near.
This would actually help people trying to only pickup this or that widget, without getting a hold full of trash, especially in a large ship.
Also, you should be able to set your ship to only pick up targeted cargo.
You should try some time parking a ship with auto-jett turned on, on top of say 1000cu of scrap, pitching and yawing around as you sit there. You can make quite a mess that way.
It should be toggle-able, and it should be defaulted to be effective ONLY on the crates you actually target, unless you purposefully set it to Space Roomba mode, hoovering up everything you run over, or drive near.
This would actually help people trying to only pickup this or that widget, without getting a hold full of trash, especially in a large ship.
Also, you should be able to set your ship to only pick up targeted cargo.
You should try some time parking a ship with auto-jett turned on, on top of say 1000cu of scrap, pitching and yawing around as you sit there. You can make quite a mess that way.
lnh: All of those that was covered in the first post.
I'm actually most curious about whether or not the boxes will move towards your ship or if they will just disappear when picked up.
They'll probably visually be drawn into the ship on the client? I'm not sure if you'll see other people tractoring in cargo or not, depends on how we implement it.
I'm actually most curious about whether or not the boxes will move towards your ship or if they will just disappear when picked up.
They'll probably visually be drawn into the ship on the client? I'm not sure if you'll see other people tractoring in cargo or not, depends on how we implement it.
Can we get a nice vacuum sound when it's in play? You could probably sample someone's kirby or hoover vac.
... either that or the "empty cup slurping on a straw" noise... sluuuuurrpppp....
:-D
... either that or the "empty cup slurping on a straw" noise... sluuuuurrpppp....
:-D
Sure, I'll add that along with a vintage ahooga horn noise for "/me honks".
Have I mentioned that you are my hero?!