Ship Control Suggestion - Please read! :)

Before going any further, Keen, if you guys are reading this - you guys ROCK and have done an amazing job with SE 2 so far. I'm thrilled to be along this journey as a player and fan!!

Now, with that aside, I have a suggestion I've been wanting to share in the hopes maybe someone will like it!

So, the flight system as it stands now is almost there. But it feels like a in-between of “WASD” movement (SE1) and a “WarThunder” style one. This is my proposal for a perfect median for everyone to enjoy.

In a Control Seat:

• There will b a new dropdown or option to configure
• Option 1: Flight Mode (SE 2 current version - on by default)
• Option 2: “Docking” Mode (SE 1 version)

“Docking mode” (WASD) Allows legacy players / new players straight from SE1 to use the old flight style if preferred. But they are encouraged to try the SE2 version as it is on by default,

Toggling Z still turns off dampening as normal..

Flight modes can be swapped on the fly with “Alt+Z” (or something like this).

…..

But to make this work even better, the current version (VS 1.5) needs a tweak. This is my thought:

Speed is adjusted with W and S (speed up and down respectively).

Your ship maintains its set speed in the current direction/vector it is facing - like a plane would.

Again, look at WarThunder as an example. The plane's speed tries to remain consistent until throttling back or flying straight up/down [on a planet].

This tweak will make fighters especially more fun to fly because they feel more familiar to flying in other games. This also would lead to more intense and fun dogfights!

This adds a further sense of accomplishment when building a well-balanced ship.

In conclusion,

Right now (VS 1.5) the flying feels like it wants to be a fluid movement system - but has a bit of awkwardness because it still relies on WASD controls.

I think having 2 Modes to switch between not only makes logical sense in a Near future sci-fi universe, but will allow our ships to fly as we imagine them to - cutting through space (and eventually) the atmosphere in a beautiful fluid way. The configurable options also allow that further step of customizability to set the default mode to your preference.

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Below is an additional idea that could be later implemented if the system above works:

Option to “match speed with locked target”.

When in flight mode, you can lock unto a target (right-click, as seen in SE1) Then press Alt+Z to go into “docking mode”. Since you are locked onto a target, your ship will try to match the locked target’s speed. Similar to how we see Relative dampeners work in SE1 when near a grid.

This time, it requires a target lock.

Sometimes the speed will be 0 (i.e a station), sometimes a moving mothership to land on. This system would allow a universal system of “docking” with more ease no matter the speed of where you want to land..

—Of course with this opens the door to future fun and mechanics:

“Targeting Computer” blocks.

A block with a large footprint that can speed up your lock on or slow down enemies locking onto you. You choose as a toggle option. (Lock/ Scramble)

The large footprint (and power requirement) would require typically larger vessels to be used effectively.

Big ships with many targeting computers set to “Slow Down Lock” can effectively make it so you can’t lock on (or it’ll take minutes) - so you have to dock the difficult way with WASD and no dampeners… or ram and board the old fashioned way.

You can think of this system as a tug of war too.

“large grid” Targeting Block : 10 second value + or - from the default lock on time

“small grid” Targeting Block : 2 second value + or - from the default lock on time

To have a null value (no increased lock speed):

5 “small grid” Targeting blocks would “tug” against 1 “large grid” Targeting Block.

-Add 1 more “small grid” block and the “small ship” would lock on 2 seconds faster than default lock time.

Besides matching docking speeds, this can be used with tracking missiles which require a lock. This keeps the value of dumbfire missiles like we see in SE1.

Tangents aside, I’d love some version of what I outlined above to be implemented - and Keen, feel free to take all the credit for this idea, I just want my ships to soar and feel epic! Keep up the great work you guys!!