Currently there are five in game mechanics to show us that we're moving and getting closer to objects:
- Nacelle / impulse trails
- The little white specks used to indicate movement in space since the very first wireframe space games.
- Asteroids / debris
- Reticules (for ships)
- The increasing size of planets and / or bases as we approach.
Of those five you could lose numbers 1, 3 and maybe even 4 and still safely convey motion and velocity; yet all many of us want is to remove #3.
Now before the form responses begin to rush to the fingertips as to why the asteroids and debris are intrinsically necessary to our space sim, I'd like to propose an alternative with bonuses.
More reticules:
Yes, I've read that Cryptic has an aversion to more HUD displays to keep from ruining immersion and cluttering up the screen; however, if that were the case, the rest of the HUD could stand to be streamlined and given more customisability, (Colour, size, shape, transparency) as well as multiple levels of HUD removal (Full HUD, No HUD, reticules only, reticules & map, etc)
The plan!
Remove the debris fields and add less obtrusive looking reticules to planets and stations.
Planet reticules would be invisible unless the planet is clicked. Once it is, the planet could be partially bracketed to indicate it is selected. The bracket would indicate range, time to intercept, and even the name of the planet. Right clicking it could give the option to establish standard orbit (or geostationary orbit in systems where orbiting is impossible due to the planet's vicinity to zone walls), attempt communications, bring up information about the planet (M class, higher than average nitrogen content, .85 standard gravity) or its inhabitants (example pic, name, info if applicable or available), etc.
Station / Base reticules could be visible up to a specific distance, whereupon the base could be clicked to bring it back with options to approach, orbit, attempt communication, station information, etc.
Both the station and planet reticules would grow with the object and the reticule could be dismissed by clicking elsewhere (your own ship, empty space) or tapping the ESC key. Perhaps an option could be selected to have them "Always on" for those who feel more comfortable seeing more evidence of their movement and velocity.
Options:
There will, of course, be those who would rather have the debris fields. Perhaps an option could be added to have the debris fields or use the reticules always or only when clicked as described before. The option would then function much like the difficulty selection in group missions where it is based upon the group leader's setting, and in PVP maps and fleet actions, debris fields could be set as "Always On"
Anyone have anything constructive they'd like to add to this that might enhance the suggestion?

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Another option that's been asked for, not only here but many times before, is the ability to disable the nacelle and impulse trails from standard space. They have been visible in warp in some of the early films, but never in standard space.
Comments
Every planet has rings, asteroid fields, debris of ships larger then my intakt ship etc.
I have flown mission areas, as I am sure you have, where the rocks were indeed removed. There is usually a couple of anomalies and the planet as the only indicators to movement. If you look anywhere but at the planet, you can't sense motion at all.
I wonder as I fly through these zones what the devs where thinking. Is this their solution? It can't be. It's worse than the problem. Is it this way to just glaringly show us how our wants will not work? I would certainly hope not as this is childish and self destructive.
So, why are those zones like that? Why didn't they add other indicators like you suggest when they removed the asteroids. I honestly don't know.
And the whole "player MUST see a horizon line" is just nonsense. Put an indicator on the HUD that is similar to aircraft gauges that show the the horizon and your ships tilt. Again, this has also been suggested over and over with no response.
The length and intensity of your warp and impulse contrails combined with the ever-present white specks flying past your ship depending upon its speed are excellent indicators of motion and velocity.
Thank you for reminding me. I've added that to the end.
Motion is referenced by near by objects, not flames shooting out or trails. They ADD to the illusion once it is established through comparison to other objects, but they do not provide a sense of motion in and of themselves imo.
And I guess I have video settings turned down on my machine as I don't have any little white specs flying around my ship in these zones either. Unless you mean the smaller specs in the omnipresent planet rings. There is nothing, not for me anyways, that shows forward movement in those zones if you look away from the approaching planet.
For me, the presence of the trails lets me know I'm moving. Their length indicates my speed / throttle setting (when I have the HUD turned off).
Funny story about the white specks. I never noticed them until one of the many times I accidentally broke through a zone wall. (Engines on full impulse, get called away from the computer, come back and I'm off the map). On one occasion, I returned to find my ship in a completely blue-green backdrop surrounded by these little specks rushing past. It looked a bit like I was travelling through a shallow sea. I took a few screens, but the rushing specks just look like spots. After that I always notice the specks. But, as you pointed out, perhaps they don't show up on some video settings.
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Would be great if I could utilise the click and roll function of my mouse wheel. (Holding down the wheel to click the 5th button and rolling while it's held) so I could use it for fine throttle control.
Are they like the ones in Eve, or are they more subtle? I would imagine they are more subtle if you didn't notice them before your "breakthrough".
Anyway, if they already have this, they could lose some rocks here and there imo.
Here is a screenshot I took.
http://i.imgur.com/SjBeH.jpg
All those white specks are not stars, they are the little white specks I mention whizzing past the ship when it's in motion.
Still, wish I could see them now.
Once you notice them, you'll always see them. They fade in ahead of your ship and out behind your ship, though this is mostly noticable only when you zoom out. They move very quickly around your ship and the star background remains stationary, as it should. Trust me on this, they don't get lost in the stars.
but I disagree.
I've seen this argument before, and I did a little personal test ingame.
the engine trails are a necessary option in my opinion. When I an flying, if there are asteroids, stations, planets, satellites, etc around....I have the feeling of motion to a certain extent.....but not after I got to a certain range..... then it looked like I was standing still....yet I was a t 3/4 impulse or what ever.....
same with trails..... if I didnt have them, and I only had space as a backdrop...... It looks like I am not moving at all.
so My vote is to keep all the debris, indicators, trails, whatever.
the ability to toggle them? OK, I'm for that for you guys...but I would never turn them off.......
as for the asteroids....I'm all for having different things... but I would not want a jsut empty black open area.....no way. That would be boring as hell.
sure real life space is empty and void .... but this is a game...I want cool visuals.... and the ability to feel like I am moving.
.(p.s. trails are also a great indicator of your opponents speed and direction..... if they are off...you put yourself at a tactical disadvantage IMO )
Because they act as obstacles, it's hard to on / off them, so they would have to be treated a bit like the mission difficulty: Only switched off outside of mission instances and dependent upon the team leader's selection or just set to always on when in groups.
RL asteroid fields are not that dense.
I don't remember seeing them in the show like that either.
This is not Star Wars and you are not piloting a Star Fighter.
I regularly have to do this mission where it looks like the Dev spewed crunch and munch all over everywhere and I have to find a little brown shriveled anchovie of a ship to scan in it?
or hide behind em while in a fight..... reeeeeaaally ****es of the Naussicans.
I wish the tractor beams could manipulate 'em.
throw 'em at the cubes..... oh ya.... "who's the baby now circuit-freak !!! "
:cool:
Oh God, how cool would that be? I think I love you, Gin.
Much love for the avatar of Frankie, too.