Blackout Maps

[Kresr0ck]

There are so many flaws in the aspect of exploration in Starfield, and in my opinion; one contributing factor in this flaw is the ability to see pretty much every locations through maps.

I think having blackout maps can drastically improve exploration. Having no knowledge of any POIs whereabouts and accidentally discovering an POI while exploring the biome, I think that would be a much more rewarding experience.

I don't know if the 'old maps' (the blue maps with no detailed surface landscapes) are still somewhere in the Starfield root folder files. If those old map files are still in the Starfield folder, please somebody bring them back to the game!

Expanding on this mod idea:

Use outpost Scan Boosters to restore the "new map" (vanilla detailed surface maps).

Something like:

Building a Scan Booster will restore 25% of the new map (25% of the surrounding area where the Scan Booster was built will now have detailed surface map)

Building an Advanced Scan Booster will restore 50% of the new map

Building a Military Grade Scan Booster will restore 100% of the new map

Btw, I'm nearing 1000 hours playing Starfield and I still have no idea what those Scan Boosters are for...   Like what are they supposed to do?? 

 

[aurreth]

Um, you have a spaceship, but you want to land it without doing a full survey of the area from orbit first?

[Kresr0ck]

I mean if we could manually survey the biome from our ships that would be cool I guess, but there's no such a system. I just think it would be nice to give those useless Scan Boosters some purpose. Plus exploration will actually feel more like an EXPLORATION without the map, no?

[HeyYou]

1 hour ago, Kresr0ck said:

I mean if we could manually survey the biome from our ships that would be cool I guess, but there's no such a system. I just think it would be nice to give those useless Scan Boosters some purpose. Plus exploration will actually feel more like an EXPLORATION without the map, no?

The logic isn't there though. You are coming in from orbit, so, mapping the landing area is likely a matter of course, and may even be completely automated.... I.E. It just 'happens' every time you land.

[Kresr0ck]

2 hours ago, HeyYou said:

The logic isn't there though. You are coming in from orbit, so, mapping the landing area is likely a matter of course, and may even be completely automated.... I.E. It just 'happens' every time you land.

Yeah the problem in this: it's automated.. The game pretty much already "surveys" the maps. I just wish we had a little bit more complex survey system in the game, where we have to survey the maps manually, or semi-manually through Scan Boosters.

Edited November 14 by Kresr0ck

[Kresr0ck]

And I get you guys. Yes, it makes sense that because we come from space to planet that we should have surveyed maps, that we should have a clear picture of where every POIs should be in the biome. But we, the players don't actually see the close-up surface of the entire biome from the sky during the entrance to the atmosphere. All we see is the landing. Now, I wouldn't mind the fully detailed maps if we actually have full control of our spaceship during the entrance to the atmosphere. Where we can fly around in the atmosphere in our spaceship and actually see the biome's surface from the sky, but yeah, we can't do that.. Yeah.. I just think having fully detailed maps right from the get-go just diminishes exploration

Edited November 14 by Kresr0ck

[HeyYou]

8 hours ago, Kresr0ck said:

Yeah the problem in this: it's automated.. The game pretty much already "surveys" the maps. I just wished we had a little bit more complex survey system in the game, where we have to do it manually, or semi-manually through Scan Boosters.

Because of the way planets work, we 'can't' fly in the atmosphere. It's a game limitation. Considering this is several hundred years into the future, the thought that it could be an automated process, is not far out of the realm of possibility.

[Kresr0ck]

2 hours ago, HeyYou said:

Because of the way planets work, we 'can't' fly in the atmosphere. It's a game limitation. Considering this is several hundred years into the future, the thought that it could be an automated process, is not far out of the realm of possibility.

Yes, I know, having an automated survey system makes more sense in a sci-fi game. But man.. I just wish it is a manual or semi-manual survey system, rather than fully automated one, you know. Having to do anything manually in a game is always a pro for me, and anything fully automated stuff just automatically becomes cons. 

Edited November 15 by Kresr0ck

[FALCmods4all]

So, I do like the general idea of more blind explorations, with cause. (As a side note, I think scan boosters increase visor scanner range?)

Subsurface Blackout
Say randomly generated massive subterranean areas, within low g bodies with high tectonic activity where astonishingly large scale spaces could exist composed of metals that disrupt conventional scans. Similarly, if we get underwater mods, those areas may be harder to scan before landing.

Where blackout type exploration POI can truly shine is in expanded space exploration where objects can be cloaked, disguised as other objects, or in large armadas of space stations and ships to sneak past  or make peace with.

As far as finding POIs
I think having some variety if tools and ranges used to find different things. Tuning a frequency to triangulate human structures, using infrared to spot large biomasses, using sonar/radar to spot unique geological structural structures, researching advanced scanner types to detect potentially alien or AI objects (that may often just be corporate toxic waste or other red herrings.

Mods that have also started clustering POI are on the right track I think. Vast empty space with clusters of interest.