Will we have the jumpdrive in X4?

[razor202]

Did Egosoft once say that the jumpdrive was removed in X4 to balance player's power? I don't hope so, because without the jumpdrive, we will have to place our ships everywhere in the X universe to make sure we can react to any incidence immediately. And the L/XL ships really need it, as they moves too slow!

[Arvel]

They've said no.

I feel it's a good change in theory, as it adds a layer of strategy to the game, while being able to teleport into your own ships lets you still be present no matter where an event is taking place. If I was attacking or being attacked in X3 I always threw my entire armada at it, and there was little incentive for setting up patrol routes, etc. because I could have my entire fleet be nearly anywhere, nearly instantly. There was no reason to use strategy for deploying assets, as opposed to forming a giant murder ball.

However, I did notice in one of the most recent videos that the ship deployables menu lists "Nav Beacons" which were used as jump points in past games. If they aren't for jump drives anymore my only guess is they somehow extend the range of the HQ's player teleporter.

[DavidGW]

It's unlikely, but I would not be entirely surprised if it was added in later. Like they did with the Skunk JD in X Rebirth.

But really, we need to actually play X4 to get an idea of whether the lack of JD is a bad thing. Right now, we JUST DON'T KNOW.

[nemesis1982]

There's a very long thread and many rants about this to be found on the forum. Jump drive will not be in.

[DaMuncha]

thats what they said about XR, then after many people demanded it they had to stick it in. The same with SETA.

[lplates]

From what we know so far I like the direction they are going with the strategic play and the jump drive definitely bypasses all of that, so for now I think it is the right move.
Obviously taking away features is always going to bite but in this case I'm ready to embrace it and see how it works.

Teleporting in the mid/late game is something we will have to plan for and control with ship placement and I like that we have to continually work for it to make it effective. The X3 universe became so small when you could jump any ship to any gate at any moment. In the early game having to get hold of fast ships and doing the long haul made the universe seem so much bigger.

I think setting up a perimiter defence around 'my space' and defending that line is going to more than make up for the loss of the jump.

@Egosoft: just don't spawn anything my side of the line, if it wants in it goes the long way

[Spero]

I feel like being able to jump into any ship is a better alternative to the jumpdrive anyway. Besides, someone is absolutely going to mod it in anyway.

[Tomonor]

However, I did notice in one of the most recent videos that the ship deployables menu lists "Nav Beacons" which were used as jump points in past games. If they aren't for jump drives anymore my only guess is they somehow extend the range of the HQ's player teleporter.

Nah, you are thinking of Jump Beacons. Nav beacons simply light up, they are extremely appearent in XR and X2's Loomankstrat's Legacy.

[Arvel]

Nah, you are thinking of Jump Beacons. Nav beacons simply light up, they are extremely appearent in XR and X2's Loomankstrat's Legacy.

Ah, I see. Thanks, my memory must be going in my old age.

[LittleBird]

Did Egosoft once say that the jumpdrive was removed in X4 to balance player's power? I don't hope so, because without the jumpdrive, we will have to place our ships everywhere in the X universe to make sure we can react to any incidence immediately. And the L/XL ships really need it, as they moves too slow!

What about just let it happen?
I mean if you perfectly can react to any incident... it is not an incident I would say.
Financial loss, risks, control loss are things the X-series lacks. What did we do in the past? We had one playership that could jump immediately to every corner of the X-Universe and clear every thread. Later on we did it with fleets.

Well I can understand if people do not like the concept of controll loss but I like it. This could push the game dynamic and open new ways to play.

[Vandragorax]

Well I can understand if people do not like the concept of controll loss but I like it. This could push the game dynamic and open new ways to play.

Yep, as it should be. If you build a station somewhere in the outskirts and leave it undefended, expect that it will be targeted by Xenon or Pirates and blown up

Likewise, it would pay to thoroughly scout an area of uncharted space in a small fast ship before sending a fleet through just in case you stumble upon something bigger and hostile that you can't handle.

I think OP is worrying too much, at the start of the game we will be able to 'work' with already established territories which need little in the way of defending or "incident control" and we just need to be careful about how we expand and explore. Biting off more than we can chew is going to be more detrimental in X4 than it was in X3, and I like that idea.

[LameFox]

I kind of like the idea of missing jump drives, given that I shouldn't need to personally fly laps around the universe to keep up with things. The fact that the AI didn't put them to such extensive use as the player always seemed a bit odd, but at the same time a relief because if they were jumping everywhere it would be a nightmare to defend against. Kind of like how I was inexplicably the only person in the known universe who ever wondered what would happen if a bunch of factories were physically linked together into a complex.

[Triaxx2]

No worries, I'm sure there will be a mod for that.

[sd_jasper]

Did Egosoft once say that the jumpdrive was removed in X4 to balance player's power? I don't hope so, because without the jumpdrive, we will have to place our ships everywhere in the X universe to make sure we can react to any incidence immediately. And the L/XL ships really need it, as they moves too slow!

Yeah, and your example is a great reason as to why. You now need to think strategically about ship placement. Spread yourself too thin and risk losses, cluster up and limit your area of coverage/control.

Also, they are adding a long range teleporter (it might have to be unlocked via research or mission line), that will let you (the player) jump to your ships and take control of them, so you can assist ships that get into trouble.

[Perkel]

I agree with EGOSOFT here.
Jumpdrive basically dissallows any strategy. You always have your whole fleet at your fingertip.
Without jumpdrive you need to strategize, you can't just jump into middle of someone core system and destroy everyone etc.

Does anyone know if SETA was in ? I always like SETA because it solved issue of vastness of universe.

[CBJ]

Yes, SETA is in.

[lplates]

I agree with EGOSOFT here.
Jumpdrive basically dissallows any strategy. You always have your whole fleet at your fingertip.
Without jumpdrive you need to strategize, you can't just jump into middle of someone core system and destroy everyone etc.

Does anyone know if SETA was in ? I always like SETA because it solved issue of vastness of universe.

I don't recall seeing confirmation that SETA was in but I have seen ES talk about how much they hate it and how it was a fudge to get around design issues.

Personally I only ever used SETA to sit back watch my Empire/Factories/Patrols etc go about their business. I never really used it for Travel, so I suspect I won't miss it.
Time will tell.

Edit: Ninja'd by CBJ

[StoneLegionYT]

Was not a fan of the Jump Drive in X3 I mean it was awesome in some ways but it made trading feel meh in the long run. All the missions seem to be based more on jump drives as well making the timers near impossible a lot of the times. I think Jump drive me a great modding option and even then I think it should be something special maybe like part of the HQ upgrade where it's sort of a 1 time use with a massive resource cost if material or power for emergencies, etc. But I don't want to see all the traders blinking all over the map I think be nice to actually see things done based on full out flying there, etc.

Teleporter sounds like it be a great gap measure almost near what I said for the mod idea but it teleports your character not your ship / fleet

This my 3 cents but it's how I feel about it.

[Falcrack]

I loved SETA in X3...

[Matterom]

While i don't necessarily agree with the lack of a jump drive, Not without a valid reason in story anyway. (How does any civilization just "Forget" FTL). I can believe it if the regions were separate from Teracorp, Albion, Or any of the other Jumpdrive Manufacturers, however you would think that any intelligent civilization would have data backups on every planet before the gates went down in any eventuality. I do agree that they've implemented enough features to placate most fans of FTL.