Has there been any mention of gimbal weapons that auto-track their target?

[Montoya]

It was mentioned a long time ago that gimbals could require a computer slot to give you an auto-tracking feature like Elite Dangerous.

Has there been anything new on this or did I just imagine that?

 

[Wolfy]

I don't think they have mentioned it recently but I vaguely recall it from awhile ago.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

I do recall that both NPCs and AI would be available to turrets so they will be capable when not manned, but that PC manned turrets would be designed to always be more effective.

My guess is if all you want is to make the turret functional, the NPC option will be more expensive over time and the AI option will be more expensive up front. Either way, PCs will probably cost more and be more effective, with the exception that PCs will sign on to ships like the Javeline and Bengal for free inside an org, just because they want that kind of group experience.

I think what player shwo buy very expensive ships but don;'t network and make friends wilol find is that it costs much more to man a Javeline than it does to purchase it, and as a consequence many of them will just sit.

 

[DarthMunkee]

I do recall that both NPCs and AI would be available to turrets so they will be capable when not manned, but that PC manned turrets would be designed to always be more effective.

My guess is if all you want is to make the turret functional, the NPC option will be more expensive over time and the AI option will be more expensive up front. Either way, PCs will probably cost more and be more effective, with the exception that PCs will sign on to ships like the Javeline and Bengal for free inside an org, just because they want that kind of group experience.

I think what player shwo buy very expensive ships but don;'t network and make friends wilol find is that it costs much more to man a Javeline than it does to purchase it, and as a consequence many of them will just sit.

I think he's talking about gimbaled weapons, not turrets, like on a fighter.

It would make sense to have an option for this, you install a targeting blade and you know have a point to gimbaled weapons when flying with a HOTAS. But I haven't heard or seen anything about it in a while.

 

[maynard]

sounds like feature creep to me

 

[Deroth]

I remember it being discussed for turrets, better blades would out perform inexperienced NPCs (and some players), but that NPCs (and hopefully players) would improve over time but blades would only be improved by replacing them with better blades. I don't remember gimbled weapons being mentioned but I would think it could be possible.

 

[Printimus]

Nothing of recent news. Last I heard of anything "remotely" close was mentioned at one of the cit-con panels.

 

[BUTUZ]

Yes for turrets, no for Pilot weapons.

 

[O-Lefty]

The Idris-P Kit comes with automated turrets that will follow missiles, torpedoes, and small ships.

 

[Hybus]

Those are designed as point defense weapons. I believe he's asking if there is an option where the gimbals will shift to auto track if within a certain radius. I think a couple versions of Wing Commander had that, at least as I remember. Course it could have been any number of the other space sims during the old days.

-edit-
In all honesty, if that was an option, I would find gimbals useful as a dual stick pilot.

 

[O-Lefty]

I'm that case isn't ESP what he's looking for? I think that's what it's called and it's in now, just busted.

 

[CosmicTrader]

This has not been discussed for a long time now but you are correst in that it has been mentioned.

 

[Montoya]

I am surprised they have not done this yet, but the current ESP system of guiding your entire ship is a really bad implantation of this very idea.

Instead of the entire ship being nudged to maintain target, only gimbal weapons should track the target. I would not be surprised to see them go this route eventually.

Its proven effective in Elite Dangerous, it will work here too.

 

[BUTUZ]

I suppose they could do it as turreted takes 2 sizes off the weapon like gimbal takes one size off?

Turreted laser beams in SC. OH YES!

 

[Deroth]

I suppose they could do it as turreted takes 2 sizes off the weapon like gimbal takes one size off?

Turreted laser beams in SC. OH YES!

Can we put them on sharks, space sharks?

 

[Bambooza]

only if they have laser beams.

 

[Hybus]

I think it should be the way to go to be honest. It doesnt even have to be a huge track maybe just 5-10 degrees. Even technically there is a functional example. Even fixed weapons move slightly so they meet at the point of impact.

 

[Montoya]

I think it should be the way to go to be honest. It doesnt even have to be a huge track maybe just 5-10 degrees. Even technically there is a functional example. Even fixed weapons move slightly so they meet at the point of impact.

Thats how it works in Elite Dangerous with the smaller fighters, the gimbal weapon lock is only 15-20 degrees from center. You still have to fly the ship and keep your target within that cone of acquisition or lose the lock.

 

[August]

Does that work well with a joystick, and does ED have a decoupled mode (I’ve obvuously never played it)?

 

[Shadow Reaper]

I'm pretty sure that is the problem with all ED, you're decoupled all the time. Is supposed to be easy to fix with Viagra though.