States

[Vex]

Maybe this has been suggested before (couldnt find it here), but it would be useful to have a short description in-game of what a "State" of a system means. For example what boom, drought, famine, blight etc means. You could get a pop-up text when hovering above the icon and text for a system on the galaxy map in-game for example.
You have no idea what it means today, unless you go to an external site and look it up (maybe it's in the pilot's handbook somewhere as well).

[Sighman]

When you dock, the NPC who is your contact with the faction has some flavour text under their portrait. (The name and portrait and rank of the NPC changes as you gain rep with the factions.)

It will say something like 'This famine is really hurting us and it would be great if you can bring in some food and supplies'

Plus the mission board will be filled with specific missions like 'Donate medicines to end the outbreak' or 'Urgent poll data courier mission' for an election state.

And yes, the pilots handbook or Codex will have info on it.

[Vex]

Thanks, I'll have to check that. But I still think it would be useful to have some info what it is about when hovering over it with the mouse or similar on the galaxy map etc. Would make it easier.

[CoffeeBean]

I suggest reading this BGS guide, it's pretty much straight to the point, as you scroll down you'll see the states, the positive and negative actions you can do to help or distrub etc..

https://novaforce.com/guides/bgs/

[Hootman]

Here is a thing I'm going to start doing in my spare time. Requires Voiceattack though, BTW, if you don't have it I highly recommend it, think it's still $10 bucks, best bang for your buck utility out there. And if you purchase an HCS Voicepack (at least 1) it will also build a custom set of controller profiles in VoiceAttack that works seamlessly with the Voicepack.

Anyhoo, what I plan on doing is creating a standalone Voiceattack profile called "Elite Dangerous Codex", and using the Windows text to speech function, create voice commands that, when uttered, would read back to me in text to speech whatever I tell it to. That standalone "Codex" profile will be linked to my HCS created Voiceattack profile.

For instance, I will have a voice command "Civil Unrest". Voiceattack will then read back to me (in text to speech):

"Civil Unrest state decreases both the security level of a system and standard of living, and also amplifies the effect of combat for your faction in that system. Smuggling and Trade of Weapons, murder, and other crimes will extend the duration of Civil Unrest. Redeeming Bounties and Redeeming Combat Bonds will reduce the duration of Civil Unrest."

Voiceattack commands like that can be set up pretty quickly, since much of it can be cut/copy/pasted from various websites that already have the descriptions of events, conditions, etc.

Once I get a fairly populated Voiceattack profile, I might upload it and keep it updated for download if any else is interested in having something like that. All one has to do is import the profile, and then in whatever VA profile they are using for ED just add that Codex profile in the "include commands from other profiles" setting.

[loandreu]

Originally posted by Vex:

Maybe this has been suggested before (couldnt find it here), but it would be useful to have a short description in-game of what a "State" of a system means. For example what boom, drought, famine, blight etc means. You could get a pop-up text when hovering above the icon and text for a system on the galaxy map in-game for example.
You have no idea what it means today, unless you go to an external site and look it up (maybe it's in the pilot's handbook somewhere as well).

Unfortunately, UI design is neither FD's priority nor forte. It's a good idea what you're proposing, tho.