These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

The new forums are live and can be found at https://forums.eveonline.com/

EVE General Discussion

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
12Next page
 

Are CCP Going To Be Changing The Probing Mechanics?
Author
Previous Topic Next Topic
Rebecha Pucontis
Doomheim
#1 - 2013-03-29 09:50:22 UTC
The new feature page from Odyssy has alarmed me somewhat regarding the vague details given that something is being done with exploration.

I essence I welcome any improvement to this aspect of the game and look forward to seeing it. But what worries me is that players like myself and others have spent a lot of time mastering the current scan probe mechanics, and spend a lot of time training new players up in these techniques. This is specifically important for wormhole corporations were some basic knowledge of these techniques is required to survive.

It would be good of CCP if they could indicate whether the actual scan probe mechanics are going to be drastically altered in any way, as two months is little notice to prepare for such a massive change to the way a lot of players currently play.

Specifically I need to know if it is worth still training up new players with the current mechanics, and also if it is worth telling them to continue training on their current paths if the skills are going to be affected in any way.
Mortimer Blaze
Blaze Industries Inter Galactic
#2 - 2013-03-29 10:03:29 UTC
From what I've read the change is going to be to the interface. I didn't see anything about skills or equipment being changed.
Wacktopia
Fleet-Up.com
Keep It Simple Software Group
#3 - 2013-03-29 13:06:07 UTC
I kind of get your drift OP. Probing has always been one of those mini-game aspects that takes real skill to do well, quickly.

That said I really welcomed the last set of changes they made regarding the ability to move all the probes in and out of a central point together rather than having to move each one individually.

I actually don't think it would be a big deal if they introduced something like a default deployment formation to save you having to set it up manually every time you launch them.

The real skill in probing is deciding how many, where, what size and how quickly to try and zero in. Some interface improvements to save repetitive clicks that helps everyone but does not take away from the core knowledge and skills would be ok for me.

Kitchen sink? Seriousy, get your ship together -  Fleet-Up.com
Mr Kidd
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#4 - 2013-03-29 13:16:04 UTC  |  Edited by: Mr Kidd
They haven't mentioned anything about skills so I would assume that there aren't any changes in skills. From what I've seen it's only the way we scan, not how we scan.

Relax.

Don't ban me, bro!
Rebecha Pucontis
Doomheim
#5 - 2013-03-29 13:23:03 UTC
If it is just interface changes and perhaps adding a few automations, such as making default configurations to set up probes automatically then that'll be pretty nice. I got the impression they were completely overhauling it though, perhaps just an over reaction though on my part there.
Arronicus
State War Academy
Caldari State
#6 - 2013-03-29 13:30:59 UTC
Rebecha Pucontis wrote:
The new feature page from Odyssy has alarmed me somewhat regarding the vague details


Welcome to patch feature pages. Where inspecific details are given specifically to generate speculation and get everyone upset.
Krixtal Icefluxor
INLAND EMPIRE Galactic
#7 - 2013-03-29 13:42:46 UTC
NOTHING HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED YET.

I'd like to introduce this new friend to you.

His name is PATIENCE.

"He has mounted his hind-legs, and blown crass vapidities through the bowel of his neck."  - Ambrose Bierce on Oscar Wilde's Lecture in San Francisco 1882
Xindi Kraid
Itsukame-Zainou Hyperspatial Inquiries Ltd.
Arataka Research Consortium
#8 - 2013-03-29 13:43:35 UTC
I hope they add the ability to save probe formations and quickly set them to that formation.

Learning to probe is learning what works and why. Once you have that down, you waste most of your time putting out probes in the same few formations by hand.
Rebecha Pucontis
Doomheim
#9 - 2013-03-29 13:45:50 UTC
Xindi Kraid wrote:
I hope they add the ability to save probe formations and quickly set them to that formation.

Learning to probe is learning what works and why. Once you have that down, you waste most of your time putting out probes in the same few formations by hand.


I'd like to see this also. But I still want the ability to customise my own formation too.
Yaboo Sux
Doomheim
#10 - 2013-03-29 13:47:03 UTC
Personally i used to be into exploration before the changes (dumbing down for the unthinking masses) and was disappointed at how easy it became as eve should have some skill /intelligence requirement, its not angry birds after all.

Instant gratification is probably where the money men are heading, its in their short term interests, its not actually in the unique selling point of eve, its complexity, its harshness and its required level of thought to get the best out of for years long enjoyment.

An easier game means more people playing, but as most will be risk adverse, they will stay in high sec which will increase competition and actually drive people away from the game as some will never find anything and bemoan the waste of time gaining the useless to them skills.
Xindi Kraid
Itsukame-Zainou Hyperspatial Inquiries Ltd.
Arataka Research Consortium
#11 - 2013-03-29 13:57:31 UTC
Rebecha Pucontis wrote:
Xindi Kraid wrote:
I hope they add the ability to save probe formations and quickly set them to that formation.

Learning to probe is learning what works and why. Once you have that down, you waste most of your time putting out probes in the same few formations by hand.


I'd like to see this also. But I still want the ability to customise my own formation too.

Well I phrased that as such to suggest ALL of our formations would be made by us.

I figure having a button to save the current probe layout and another to move your probes to one of those layouts would be in order. I don't think there's a real need for default formations, and if we were restricted to those default layouts, they had better be perfect. I got a way of probing that works for me, and I would be a bit miffed if I were forced to use your method instead because CCP says so.


On a side note, something I just thought of: Sometimes I am getting reasonably strong results so I try to chase after two sigs at once, It would be nice to be able to split probes into two separate formations so using a modifier key (ALT, CTRL, SHIFT) only affects those probes without mauling the formation around the other sig.
Castor Narcissus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#12 - 2013-03-29 15:27:56 UTC
Yaboo Sux wrote:
Personally i used to be into exploration before the changes (dumbing down for the unthinking masses) and was disappointed at how easy it became as eve should have some skill /intelligence requirement, its not angry birds after all.

Instant gratification is probably where the money men are heading, its in their short term interests, its not actually in the unique selling point of eve, its complexity, its harshness and its required level of thought to get the best out of for years long enjoyment.

An easier game means more people playing, but as most will be risk adverse, they will stay in high sec which will increase competition and actually drive people away from the game as some will never find anything and bemoan the waste of time gaining the useless to them skills.



There is a big difference between easy and just plain dull.

Take chess for example, simple game, all you have to do is move the pieces, but it still is a complex and hard game to master.

And last, don't fool yourself with thinking that EVE is a hard game.
Sergeant Acht Scultz
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#13 - 2013-03-29 15:33:18 UTC
Xindi Kraid wrote:
I hope they add the ability to save probe formations and quickly set them to that formation.

Learning to probe is learning what works and why. Once you have that down, you waste most of your time putting out probes in the same few formations by hand.


This.

Back on topic:

Op, wait dev blog about this before stressing yourself about it, you're a bit hypochondriac right?
Watch yourself dude Lol

removed inappropriate ASCII art signature - CCP Eterne
Spurty
#14 - 2013-03-29 15:36:23 UTC
As long as there's a way to block selecting anything but the probe direction movers (So frustrating selecting some text or the resizer for a probe you've already setup!) I'm fine with the current method.

Adding more features to it is not an issue.

There are good ships,

And wood ships,

And ships that sail the sea

But the best ships are Spaceships

Built by CCP
Pyska Atruin
Pator Tech School
Minmatar Republic
#15 - 2013-03-29 16:23:11 UTC
What i want to see is anti probes.

Anyways making the game easier won't bring in more people , this game has already peaked. Only way they will bring in new people is making mission running actually interesting and fix sov mechanics but anyways that for a new thread.
CompleteFailure
DAWGS Corp.
Negative Feedback
#16 - 2013-03-29 17:06:32 UTC
OP, do you go to the doctor every time you hiccup as well? Way to overreact before there are even any details out there, HTFU
Rebecha Pucontis
Doomheim
#17 - 2013-03-29 17:37:02 UTC
Xindi Kraid wrote:

On a side note, something I just thought of: Sometimes I am getting reasonably strong results so I try to chase after two sigs at once, It would be nice to be able to split probes into two separate formations so using a modifier key (ALT, CTRL, SHIFT) only affects those probes without mauling the formation around the other sig.


Currently the method I use for this is to offline the probes which I do not want to be affected. Its a little annoying but currently the only method that I've found to work. If CCP could implement some way of grouping probes then that would be pretty nice.
Bizzaro Stormy MurphDog
B.L.U.E L.A.S.E.R.
#18 - 2013-03-29 19:42:10 UTC
CompleteFailure wrote:
OP, do you go to the doctor every time you hiccup as well? Way to overreact before there are even any details out there, HTFU


Between you and the OP, one person is overreacting, the other is not. You've got a 50-50 shot at selecting the correct answer, and I'll even give you a hint - your first guess was wrong!

OP - I had the same vaguely alarmed feeling as well, but this feels like quality of life adjustments + adding extra incentives to go out scanning more than dumbing down the process or removing skills. Or at least, I hope so - probes + dscan are a great combo tool that requires some skill and forethought and I'd hate to see that go away.

Also totally agree that being able to "bookmark" certain probe configurations would be fantastic, as would being able to launch probes much faster, or even launch a default amount of probes simultaneously.

I am not an alt of Chribba.
Bizzaro Stormy MurphDog
B.L.U.E L.A.S.E.R.
#19 - 2013-03-29 19:44:10 UTC
Pyska Atruin wrote:
What i want to see is anti probes.

Anyways making the game easier won't bring in more people , this game has already peaked. Only way they will bring in new people is making mission running actually interesting and fix sov mechanics but anyways that for a new thread.


Now that could be cool. Hunter-seeker probes that can only scan down other probes, and if you can scan 'em down faster than they can move 'em, you've got a chance to kill one or more of their probes. I'd love (or hate) to see a signature go from 95% to 30% when three scan probes suddenly get popped.

I am not an alt of Chribba.
Felicity Love
Doomheim
#20 - 2013-03-29 20:17:36 UTC
Mechanics, yes, but the stainless steel implements will still be icy cold...or colder. Blink

"EVE is dying." -- The Four Forum Trolls of the Apocalypse.   ( Pick four, any four. They all smell.  )
12Next page