Elite Dangerous - Thargoids declare WAR!

[monkeydog]

Some people like the hotas x. Personally I was put off by talk of it having quite a large dead zone.

The t16000m seems to rate highly as a stick only. I'm going to pair one with keyboard and maybe get a ch throttle or another t16000m at a later point.

[Masu]

Yeah I use the Thrustmaster above, and it does the job with surprising elegance considering its price point. If it had two HATs I would be much less inclined to upgrade..

As it is, I have dropped the Christmas hints to the family. X52, Pur-lease!

[Scribblor]

My friend's got that, and says it's good. But then he had a go on my X45 and says he wishes he'd picked up a second hand one off eBay. If you can afford the price, and to wait for stock, the X55 Rhino (or whatever the deluxe version of that is called) is surely the way to go. If not, I'd definitely try to pick a second hand Saitek X something off eBay. The X45 seems to go for £30-£40 and it's a steal at thst price.

[Mortis]

Yeah but that would break the galaxy size for sure (in the same way distances in Everquest were made trivial by Knowledge portals).

As long as it wasn't a fast travel to anywhere system I wouldn't have an issue - few jump points that link the universe but with a decent travel time between them would be OK. Especially as they would soon become a challenge in themselves with pirates looking to pick off incoming ships.

[mrpranny]

I think people here are being a bit too defensive of the game here. I personally haven't even looked at the tutorial as I'm a veteran of the previous 3 Elite games and have been playing this one since Premium Beta. But if someone is coming to this totally fresh and is left confused and unable to play the game despite the tutorials, then that's unquestionably a failure on the part of Frontier Developments.

Those of us who are into the game should really be helping those struggling with it, rather than just criticising them. I, for one, would be happy to help anyone as much as I can (haven't done any mining yet - mostly just exploring, courier missions and odd bits of combat so far).

I totally agree and totally disagree. There is helping someone and then there's telling them what to do and then they repeat the same complaint. There absolutely could be, and likely will be, better tutorials in the final release. For now we've all had to help each other and use youtube for help. When someone is just saying " I dont like it what do I do what is going on this is crap!" and then doesnt even seem to be trying to help themselves, well then they are kind of beyond help. Besides actually physically sitting them down and helping face to face.

[Fry Crayola]

I opted for the T-Flight in the end (as posted by Vespa Alex above) because I couldn't quite justify the outlay on an X55 for a single game just yet. I'm also keenly aware that if I want something more in a couple of months I can upgrade. If I want more money in a couple of months, it'd be too hard to give up a really good stick.

It should arrive in the next couple of days so I'll be sure to post up some thoughts on it from the perspective of someone who's been using a pad until now.

[Scribblor]

Okay, something weird is going on with my install. I've just updated the bindings for my X45 to use the pinkie switch and fire buttons for landing gear and frame shift, and then the next time I tried to take off I got the pre flight checks. But that was the fourth or fifth time I've played it since plugging the x45 in.

(Oh, and my updated bindings don't work, but I think that's my fault...)

[milko]

I got my edtracker and it confused the heck out of my joystick settings. You have to keep your head very still while assigning axis bindings, and it doesn't visibly specify which joystick it's used to assign, led to some mighty confusing manuevers in my first test. Once I had it figured out its pretty nifty, need to do some more combat testing to be sure it's actually worth having.

[Zio]

I totally agree and totally disagree. There is helping someone and then there's telling them what to do and then they repeat the same complaint. There absolutely could be, and likely will be, better tutorials in the final release.

Yeah, but we're at Gamma now. Surely this is meant to be the release game now with just some clearing up of bugs?

I've got to be honest, Gamma has disappointed me a little, because there's stuff still not implemented that was supposed to be in the final release - plus the whole dropping of the Offline mode at the final hour. It all strikes me as a bit of a rush to hit a 2014 release date, when clearly some of it still needs work.

I don't want to be too critical, because it's an amazing game just as it is. I was just expecting a little bit more for the release version, especially after reading through the Design Discussion forums.

[DocG]

Yeah, but we're at Gamma now. Surely this is meant to be the release game now with just some clearing up of bugs?

More so than any other bit of the game, tutorials need to be calibrated against the expectations of new players, so you need a lot of feedback on them. Holding back amazing tutorials for the final release doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me. And that final release is less than two weeks away, now.

I've got to be honest, Gamma has disappointed me a little, because there's stuff still not implemented that was supposed to be in the final release - plus the whole dropping of the Offline mode at the final hour. It all strikes me as a bit of a rush to hit a 2014 release date, when clearly some of it still needs work.

I think it's quite likely that Frontier are coming in extremely hot on this release. One hopes they will iterate aggressively post-launch; the only problem that might happen with that is that with a one-off purchase fee, rather than an MMO-style monthly fees structure, the economics might not support it. Still, there's no reason to be gloomy. Frontier isn't run by fools and they appear to have thought this through.

[Mr Cochese]

Frontier isn't run by fools and they appear to have thought this through.

It's run by David Braben, isn't it?

[Blu3Flame]

One hopes they will iterate aggressively post-launch.

That's exactly their plan for the game. It's a shame a lot of people seem to be under the impression that release means game development is finished.

[DocG]

It's a shame a lot of people seem to be under the impression that release means game development is finished.

To be fair, whilst that view might be a little old-fashioned in today's never-out-of-beta world, that is exactly what it's supposed to mean...

[mrpranny]

They've said all along they'll be adding things post release. Small and large. Absolutely agree it shouldnt be released until quite fundamental things are fairly finalised/ functioning. Absolutely reaks of getting it out in time for chrimbo. Hopefully theyre on track nevertheless.

[Mortis]

Wow this feels like a completely different game with the flightstick - more how I played Frontier on the PC many moons ago. Can't wait till the 16th - the combat demo is just a big tease

[Padaxes]

found myself a lovely anarchy system with a platform that has a black market, happy days

[fasteasyfree]

So I think I'll be buying this on release and asking for a flight stick off the wife as a Christmas present.

[Talk Show Host]

All my posts have been positive about this game - and have been my genuine opinion- but its not without its worries.

For example, I have been in Empire space a couple of hundred light years from the Federation and someone at work has indicated he would like some coop shenanigans. Now, it will be difficult to meet up as it would take me (or him) at best a couple of hours to get to some midway point to actually get together...

How will this work if you are thousands of light years away? Without destroying the authenticity on the galactic size and distances.. a difficult problem.

Surely you would only make the trip once and then play together in the same systems? It is space after all.

[Scribblor]

I don't understand - Masu is saying it'll take forever to make that trip. That's what he's complaining about, I think. Or am I mistaken?

I've been playing in Solo play. My PC (which doesn't reach the recommended minimum specs) handles it okay, but not brilliantly. Will trying Open play (presumably that's the multiplayer version?) make it run abysmally? I have a couple of friends I'd like to meet up with after the 16th.

I've been trying my hand at trading tonight, but finding it much more profitable just to take quick jobs to deliver scrap or food from one station to another, often within the same system. It doesn't really seem like I should be able to make more profit doing that than by jumping between systems and trading 'properly'. Maybe I'm just in a rubbish backwater at the moment though...

[Blu3Flame]

It should handle about the same. In Open Play you'll just see other players going about their business as well as NPCs.

[milko]

I'm still doing a lot of that, around Thiin and LHS1914 and a few other shitholes nearby. Took on a mission offering the chance for bounty taking on WARZONE ships in the system but don't really know how to find them. Then (while looking) I went and investigated one of those unidentified signal sources which turns out to be some wanted ships and some federation ones who I assume are after them. So I joined in, shot up one but someone else shot me a lot... I bugged out with 18% hull left and my 5min emergency oxygen ticking. Made it back to a station with 35s remaining! So that was exciting even though basically I just flew into something and got shot a lot, ho hum.

[Fry Crayola]

Got my T-Flight stick today. First impressions are that my arm hurts 'cos my desk is too high.

Second impression is that it feels completely different to using a pad, so I'm having to learn all-new muscle memory. Where once I could glide gracefully out of a Coriolis station without ever feeling I'm in danger, now I'm fighting against instincts that hurl my ship in hitherto undiscovered directions towards certain doom, at least until I wrest the thing under control.

What's quickly apparent is that while the game can be almost entirely played with just a joypad, the stick and throttle combo suffers from axes being too dedicated, so you pretty much need some alternate control method handy, be it keyboard or joypad, for navigating the galaxy map.

All that said, I got interdicted and managed to win the ensuing dogfight in an experience even closer to what I was doing twenty years ago with my trusty Cheetah 125, so it's getting two thumbs up on the childhood regression scale.

[sdmilne]

Played a lot more today. I think it's all finally clicked. Might need to get a stick for Xmas...

[robdood]

\o/

[Masu]

Yeah I was really just worried that it would be overly difficult to meet up and play with someone ah-hoc, as it were. With the universe being so very very big, with the current structure you would have to really plan ahead to meet up with a specific person especially if you don't play together all the time.

Mortis' idea would work, thinking about it, have say a single wormhole located in each faction sector that would lead to a hub system. You would still have to make it to the wormhole (and it could be guarded or have aggressive AI or even needs the player to hit a specific speed* to make sure they cant use it from day 1 in their sidewinder or something) so the feeling of scale would still persist.

*88mph!

[spaceyjase]

I've been trying my hand at trading tonight, but finding it much more profitable just to take quick jobs to deliver scrap or food from one station to another, often within the same system. It doesn't really seem like I should be able to make more profit doing that than by jumping between systems and trading 'properly'. Maybe I'm just in a rubbish backwater at the moment though...

It's odd isn't it? I've been exploring (Ranked: Scout) but took a few jobs on, made about 100k in a few hours before trying then to fill the few bits of cargo space I had with commodities. The trade system states the place I'm in exports gold, for example, and all the other systems here import it from a few systems (including the one I'm at). Only it's higher than the galactic average and one of the systems importing gold actually sells it far, far cheaper than average - but only at a certain platform (and not even an industrial/refinery - it's a civilian platform, looks posh). The main station in the system buys at higher than average, so I don't even need to jump out to make a profit. Mostly Penniless. Thought about buying another ship here to move cargo around, but the Cobra I'm in is well equipped already - just need more cargo space rather than a new ship (actually, only the Hauler is available with a tiny default capacity - not enough for a Type 6 yet...).

I don't buy trade data - thought this would reveal a price list I could check ahead of time but if there's a system view available then a player can see import/exports anyway? Not that it seems to relate to actual prices or commodities available (export food, yeah? Oh, no food available!).

[fragglerock]

The trade info system seems well broken at the moment.

You can buy trade data, but not see the per tonne prices (as far as I can see) You can use a drop down at the top of the commodities screen which LOOKS like it should show prices but just shows import/export status (that you can also see with the coloured lines on the map) The coloured lines on the map seem to make little sense!

[RFT]

Yeah, some systems have both industrial and residential ports and you can quite happily earn cash flying back and forth between them.

the trade data does sort of work, It's just badly presented. If it says "Exported from" in the drop-down list, that's referring to the system you've chosen from the drop-down list, not the system you're in where you'll see stock.

In general, though, I don;t think you need to spend too much time on it. if I'm going cross-galaxy, I'll just buy the highest-value item in the commoties market that's marked with supply "HIGH". Make a note of the type of item it is, then look for a station further ahead along the route that will want it. if it's extractors or separators, I want a Mining/refining base (where I'll then likely pick up some minerals). if it's minerals, I need an industrial base. then take what they make to an agricultural one. pick up coffee/tea, and start looking for an industrial/mining one again.

[spaceyjase]

Oh, not noticed the drop down before. I thought it was to sort the grid. I've been reading the data on the right hand side instead. Here it is!

The data works, but I've noticed the outpost I'm Gold-grinding is independent. That's enough explanation for me - import/exports are strictly on the DL. There's a black market here too, also can't cash in bounties for the Empire.

Speaking of which! I'm now 'friendly' with a few local factions. Check this out!

Super green (also including feds)!

edit: the status also make me laugh - currently ranked 'Peddler' on trade

[simms]

So is the Thrustmaster the best low cost option for a dedicated HOTAS setup? Will keyboard still be required?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Joystick-PS3/dp/B001CXYMFS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

EDIT: I don't fancy a 2nd hand more expensive stick.