Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I propose D-scan should be changed to function like the overview with automatic updating at discrete time points. This could be achieved with a switch that allow auto repeat of D-scan. If necessary this interval could be less than the current one, allowing optimal gameplay to be manually spam the button if desired.

Many people will say, dumbing down or making Eve too easy, buff to bears etc. I will try to address some of these issues, but first I’d like to explain why I think this should be changed.

Current design leads to optimal game play of button mashing. That is right it is currently optimal to click the damn scan button every 5 (8?) seconds. This is terrible from a game design point of view. Players rightly complained about PI being a clickfest in its original incarnation. Why is constantly clicking on a button good game design? It isn’t like there is any choice or decision making involved, it is always a good idea to click that button. Secondly from a game fictional point of view it is simply bonkers. This is a universe where capsuleers can control entire ships with their thoughts, yet they can't dedicate a fraction of their brain resources to auto running a tiny subroutine? (scan, wait til scan is ready, repeat). I know there are other logical insanities in the universe but I think this one is also bad from a gameplay point of view.

Now to address the complaints of too easy/dumbing down etc. Firstly I’d point out that you still have to be paying attention to D-scan. You have to have taken the time to set up appropriate filters have the scan window open and know what you are looking for. Secondly from my reading of a W-space literature (the area most likely to be effected by these changes as local makes this have much less effect in k-space) most hunters work on the principle that their targets are using Dscan constantly and thus utilise cloaks and hide their probes as much as possible.

much worse than this is the annoying text that comes up when the mouse goes over a probe on the solar system map.

There is no doubt in my mind that the current d-scan system needs to be evolved and changed. It is clunky and rather "stupid" from a technology perspective, not to mention lore.

Having said that, I'm not sure what to replace it with. The key to the system is the word "directional" and a auto-updating radar system eliminates my control of where I point the darn thing. This is something I've given thought to over the years and I've been unable to come up with anything better that works as well. Or as easy. A auto-updating radar that I then need to compare to the solar system map to generally determine the aprox location of a target is only trading button mashing for window opening.

The simple version is to leave it alone and remove the button. Let your ship emit a signal every 5 seconds and you simply control how wide or narrow that emission is. At least that would remove the button.

Conceptually, I agree with this idea. This is sci-fi, and we are piloting complex ships no doubt stuffed with computing power. It should be possible to give the ship computer a set of commands such as, 'keep d-scan updated, and if an unknown ship or scanning probes are detected then initiate an emergency warp back to the tower'.

Practically, however, I do not agree with such a change. EVE Online is not just a sci-fi environment, it is also and primarily a game. The interest and entertainment comes from player skill, and the progression of that skill. If you take away the skill from the game, by placing control in the hands of a computer, you are taking away the reason to play the game. This, I would argue, is one reason why AFK-[anything] is considered wrong, or at least unsporting. You play a game to be involved, and removing that involvement is seen to be detrimental to enjoyment.

Automated updates to d-scan should be possible. Computers can do this easily. And there perhaps seems little reason to object to it. After all, the player still needs to analyse the results, and ephemeral ships or probes can still be missed if a capsuleer takes a drink or is otherwise distracted. But this isn't futuristic spaceship life, this is a game. Player interaction needs to be rewarded over player non-interaction. Automated d-scanning, if it happens, would need to update slowly, and significantly slowly than is possible manually.

A thirty-second automatic update of d-scan may be acceptable to consider. Any less and d-scan would come close to being the w-space version of a populated local channel, negating the base concept behind w-space. You could argue that this period is too long, and a pilot would be better off updating d-scan manually. Well, that is pretty much my point. An automated d-scan updating every thirty seconds is better than nothing, but updating it manually is better still. There needs to be risk, but specifically risk that can be mitigated by players being alert to those risks.

[An extended version of this reply will shortly be posted to Tiger Ears.]

I like it. To add a bit of 'realism' I'd have the interval be dependant on the VOLUME of space scanned. So reducing the angle decreases the time between scans. Increasing the range increases the time between scans.

I think it'd be relatively easy to implement and would add an interesting mechanic to the game.

+1

This really needs an update. The slider is too finicky to change quickly. And it's even worse now, as the selected angle no longer displays unless you hover the pointer over it. That's pretty bad design.

I support the idea of updating the directional scanner interface. It is clunky to use and needs a bit of love to make it easier to use and more importantly quicker to get data from. I also support the idea of automated scans that auto repeat. I think a cycle of one auto repeat per ten seconds is fair (although a new skill could reduce this). If you are really anxious you can always push the button yourself and get quicker results, thus easy manual override is essential.

The one thing I don't like about Null sec is that I show up on local. Whilst I can understand the justification behind this in high or low sec (i.e every ship has a transponder that is ordered to broadcast by empire facilities in system etc) we really shouldn't have this in null. Null sec is supposed to be lawless and unclaimed territory that is fought over by competing non empire power blocs. Thus having a mandatory broadcast identifying yourself, your corporation and other useful details makes no sense tactically. Neither do we go to null to chat, so a local chat window seems strange.

As a halfway house I wouldn't mind a readout showing the number of capsuleers in system, but no other identities or information unless I scan them down to get fleet composition etc.

It would make life in Intel more interesting I think.

This detail has a logical self defining limit.

A cone of narrow range should refresh far more often than a complete 360 by 360 sphere.
For actual range of distance, I would refer to the ships sensor attributes, and the pilots skill.

A) Why are you running Dscan in Jita?
B) How do you know this would cause lag? I'd like to hear about that from one of the server devs.

clickfest! \o/