Fractal Softworks Forum

Starsector => Suggestions => Topic started by: AxleMC131 on March 16, 2018, 07:50:07 PM

Title: Coincident Debris Fields combine rather than overlapping
Post by: AxleMC131 on March 16, 2018, 07:50:07 PM
Sweet and simple, as all QoL suggestions should be.  ;)

In game I find a lot of instances where two or more debris fields overlap. This could be due to several battles in succession occurring in the same place (whether the player is involved or not); procedurally-generated fields overlapping with one created after salvaging a mining station or research station; or even when a player is unable to properly salvage a "ship graveyard" and simply blows several of the derelict ships comprising it apart to pick through the debris.

A brief aside:
Spoiler

In such cases, it isn't always clear which debris field you are picking through if you attempt to salvage one of them. Is it the most recent one? The biggest one? The one spatially nearest the center of the star system? The map clearly shows there are more than one debris field in the location, but I am concerned that players may be missing out on potential salvage in a debris field by another one "blocking" it.

... Say, Devs, I don't suppose you'd mind sharing how the game actually picks a debris field in this situation?  8)

[close]

My idea is that in such situations, where two or more debris fields coincide in the same location, the game should combine them together into one. I feel this would make "stacking" of debris fields far more understandable to the player, and perhaps also help performance by cleaning up memory losses from large numbers of debris fields around the same general location (say, in a star system inhabited by two warring factions). Fair enough?
Title: Re: Coincident Debris Fields combine rather than overlapping
Post by: Midnight Kitsune on March 16, 2018, 09:48:30 PM
Yes please to this!
Title: Re: Coincident Debris Fields combine rather than overlapping
Post by: xenoargh on March 17, 2018, 01:55:24 PM
+1000.  Good QoL improvement, probably pretty easy to code in, would improve efficiency in long games.
Title: Re: Coincident Debris Fields combine rather than overlapping
Post by: Dark.Revenant on March 20, 2018, 12:02:47 PM
They already do combine in most cases.
Title: Re: Coincident Debris Fields combine rather than overlapping
Post by: Goumindong on March 20, 2018, 03:23:16 PM
Also fighting in debris fields should have random broken up ships in it like fighting in asteroid fields has more rocks