This is wierd.
#You dont have a scoop wich u can use retrieve this drone
full lotus
shut rampart
It's to stop you deploying drones you can't then scoop in locations where you wouldn't be easily be able to get a scoop.
full lotus
i have starting scoop and can scoop it, but cant scoop it with better scoop
Vulcanox scoop for example. Does it bug?
shut rampart
No, not all scoops are drone scoops.
It says in the description if it can scoop drones.
coral verge
What's the point in still having this?
shut rampart
In having the check?
zealous crow
as an engi I carry 2 scoops, one that can scoop drones and one that can't
I switch to the non-drone scoop to scoop loot without having to faff around and without risking scooping drones accidentally in the process
zealous crow
Vulcanox scoop for example. Does it bug?
As Bobbo said, if the scoop doesnt specifically say "can scoop drones" in the description, it can't scoop them
full lotus
I understand that basicly scoop can do it, but better scoop cant xD
Thats why its look wierd.
Its feedback how it look for me as player.
zealous crow
gotcha
if you want an equivalent scoop which can grab drones, try the lavrite scoop - it drops in the same area
full lotus
I don’t quite understand the developers' logic—one scoop can lift drones, while another can't. Does it have a hole in it? If so, why can it still lift everything else? It almost feels like a joke from the devs.
🤣
coral verge
In having the check?
Yeah what's the point from a design perspective, and from a gameplay perspective to segregate what can and cannot be scooped.
full lotus
In some games, you have to visually catch objects in space with a scoop, making sure they land inside. But here, you just fly up and press a button. Maybe the logic is that drones are larger in size. If I misunderstood, my apologies.
shut rampart
Yeah what's the point from a design perspective, and from a gameplay perspective...
I can't answer the design decision, that was long before my time. But the message is there to prevent players from deploying drones with a scoop which they can scoop them with, which could be bad if they've just dropped drones in some boss gal somewhere or something.
abstract vapor
We wanted to make all scoops drone scoops but players pushed back during a meeting and said they like the ability to use non drone scoop loot and swap on engineers. A special drone only scoop hotkey was also turned down. So status quo has persisted.
I am open to making a change but we would have to ensure we re adding value and not making things more difficult. I need to look at scoop logic probably as if the loot is too far away it'll just scoop a drone if nothing is selected. There's definitely options but nothing seemed worth the turmoil at the time.
zealous crow
I would be happy with all scoops being drone scoops if there was a means to differentiate
such as auto-scoop not scooping drones
abstract vapor
Yeah a hot key/toggle isn't really on the table
It works fine if you select loot - the issue is more or less for unselected situations
shut rampart
Yeah a hot key/toggle isn't really on the table
Well, it could be. We could have drone mode and loot mode, ofc, in that moment of panic before drones blow up it'll always be on the wrong mode, so just having two keys would probably be better. 😅
abstract vapor
Or you can click the right thing
I don't have any issues playing with strictly a drone scoop
zealous crow
this is why I suggested just having drones be excluded from autoscoop
coral verge
We wanted to make all scoops drone scoops but players pushed back during a meeti...
So make all scoops drone scoops. Then give engi a class item they can equip/unequip (a hotkey/toggle with more steps) to only scoop regular loot. All classes and characters don't need to worry about scoops anymore and engi can have their niche.
abstract vapor
this is why I suggested just having drones be excluded from autoscoop
Players use it
We removed it and people got mad
I had to recode it back in.
coral verge
Can have an engi-only bonus of increased scoop range or scoop speed or something to go with the class item.
abstract vapor
We will continue to look for a way that provides clear value in an elegant way. I have scoop code in the back log to look into for other reasons already. I think a lot of the issues revolve around long distance vac scoops
There's a distance check that creates weird scenarios and excessive error beeps
full lotus
I suggest checking out how it works in the game Rings of Saturn (Delta V). Although it's a single-player game, it might provide developers with fresh ideas and new perspectives.
gleaming rock
Interesting game, but they literally have a hole at one end and treat ships like a bottle moving through space. Our loot spreads a lot more than stuff in that game.
full lotus
I get that, but it's worth giving it another shot—you might discover fresh experiences along the way. Who knows? It could even inspire the developers to come up with exciting new ideas and innovations.
Beyond the basic mechanic of catching objects with a scoop, there are plenty of unique ideas I haven't seen in other space games. For example, the way the player dives hundreds of kilometers into space within planetary rings or the deep customization of ships—similar to Need for Speed—where every detail can be modified, from pitch control and fuel consumption to damage mechanics. There's also the ability to hire crews with unique skills and attributes, adding even more depth to the experience.
This game (Star Sonata 2) needs a full overhaul to attract more players and stay competitive with titles like EVE Online and other space MMO simulators.
I didn’t recommend it just for the scoop mechanics—there’s actually a lot of interesting content that could inspire fresh ideas for improving the game. Star Sonata 2 has the potential to thrive for decades, not just by adding more content but by refining and expanding its core mechanics. There's room to make the gameplay deeper and more immersive, turning it into a true next-generation space MMO.
Even though it already has a classic, old-school feel, a major overhaul could make it far more engaging and competitive in today's gaming market. I’m not sure how complex these changes would be from a coding perspective, but if the developers are interested, some of these ideas could possibly be implemented in the near future.
gleaming rock
Oh granted, there's a lot that could be done. But this is basically an indi game with no other support. Most of the developers are players who donate their time. A full reboot is probably not in the cards.
Drone scooping and mobility is an issue. I love stationary drones because of the variety and utility they represent. Mobile drones are sorely lacking in that, all are exceedingly squishy and I don't like how easily automated they are. I prefer having to strategically place drones, it adds a more human component than the automated turrets mobiles represent.
full lotus
I get it. If I understood correctly, the game is quite old and originally didn’t have the "2" in its name. However, it has already seen some improvements over time. Maybe one day, the developers will decide to give it an overhaul to refine and enhance the experience even further.
gleaming rock
Possibly? You are likely seeing only the very early content too. There's been a lot more work further on in the game that's pretty interesting. There are pretty frequent updates, changes and fixes too.
abstract vapor
EVE and other space mmos are tripple A titles with hundreds if not thousands of employees with millions of dollars. For context, we have maybe 2-3 paid employees and the rest are volunteer so we move a bit.. slower but yeah I agree there's a lot of core friction points that need polish.
If only you could see how far we've come
full lotus
I believe the tutorial should start, as I mentioned in another topic, and then you could follow up with a few videos featuring gameplay. To make this work, the tutorial needs to be more engaging and informative, showcasing exciting battles and highlighting the differences between the various classes early on in the game.
You could run a promotional campaign encouraging players to create short videos about the game for social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and others. Offering a reward, like a decorative ship item (similar to the reward for linking the game to Steam), could motivate players to share the game and spread the word. This could bring in new players, and maybe even some who would be interested in supporting the developers.
full lotus
I want to believe that you will succeed. I love the game. I wish you success.
abstract vapor
bold flower
What if all are made drone scoops and have the flexibility of choosing how to swap modes as either 2 different command keys, or choosing to do so via hotkeys.
That way there won't be a practical difference in usage and you can just use a singe scoop and set things up as you'd like to use it.
gleaming rock
What if all are made drone scoops and have the flexibility of choosing how to sw...
pointless to continue this topic. Drone recovery is changing more than likely.
waxen robin
I have a long range vacuum scoop and a wide-reach non-vacuum scoop, both can scoop drones and they each serve a purpose. If I accidentally scoop a drone I'll just lay a new one!
bold flower
My issue is when I can't recharge them fast enough to keep redeploying