Hi there.

TL:DR: The idea of handing me planetary bound vehicles is great, I like that they're expensive to build, and I do like, that they do no turn exploration into a ride in the park. What I do not like, is that their current properties do not incentivize me to actually make use of them.

One of the more controversial topics of discussion in No Man's Skys playerbase always has been the usefullness and feasibility of Exocrafts. So I know, I'm probably opening a can of worms here :)

Letting matters of taste and immersion for looks and in-game animation aside, I feel they don't currently are more than either just mobile storage containers or more or less convenient mobile shelters from the elements, with the Colossus being a very useful and much appreaciated submarine (also adding a lot of storage), the Nomand being quite fun to ride (and being able to cross bodies of water), and the Roamer being about in the middle of the other two.

I've just tried the Colossus in 1.57 (aftter trying the other two Exos), and while it still is my favourite submarine, to my taste the balance between simply using your ship for exploring and using any of the Exos is off, because bringing in an Exo is expensive, but yields no advantage over simply bursting along with your Ship and using your Mining Laser / Terrain Manipulator, apart from having a more capable scanner (if you decide to build the tech in your Exocraft).

The yield of the Exocrafts Mining Beam, even with the single upgrade available installed, is not worth the effort of crafting an ExoBay to my mind. Not being able to hide away from the Sentinels in even the Colossus, much less being able to escape with it after being detected, additionally makes me rather not use any of them at all, except when going aquatic.

This is all not helped by the fact, that the Exocrafts Mining Beam is quite limited in angle of attack, ending me up in rather exiting it and using my Multitool, than trying to somehow move the vehicle into a position feasible for mining a Resource Deposit -- avoiding them alltogether by simply using my Explorer type ship for planetary travel and resource gathering.

Pre-NEXT, for example, there were resources not mineable without an Exocrafts Mining Laser. I remember using an Exocraft on an extreme planet for gathering large amounts of Fungal Mold (guess what farm I tried to build :) ), because that simply was the most effective (and fun) way to do it.

Now, since we thankfuly have more specialized ship types, I think the Exos should receive perk(s). They might be very expensive and hard to find / build, but they'd make the Exocrafts part of my gameplay again. E.g. the Exocraft Mining Laser being able to extract more resources from a Deposit than a Multitool. Especially considering the obscene fuel consumption of the Exo Laser.

Anyway, if you read up to this point in my semi-rant, I'd like to read about how you make use of the Exos in NEXT. I sure hope I missed out on some features or useful tricks :)

Interesting analysis, thanks for posting that. I've not gotten to the point of even thinking about building one (haven't even built up my base yet - although I just last night found a bountiful planet with 'blissful' conditions, so no storms. I think I may have found Base Alpha...)

Anyway, given what you've observed/noted, I'd say they definitely need a beef up in some manner. The laser getting a bigger percentage than the multitool from resource deposits would be a great start, I think. Maybe make it possible to add tech to turn them into a mobile refinery as well? So you don't have to use a slot for the portable refiner (or don't have to build a new one each time you want refine some resources)

Being able to refine material inside of e.g. the Colossus would almost turn it into a Mobile Base of sorts. I like the idea, especially since in the case of the Colossus, using the advantages of being able to use it as a mobile base would incurr quite a hit by means of fuel cost and rather slow movement, which has a nice touch of balancing things a little.

Only thing I'd then really feel would be required is, that, as stated, the Colossus also should provide for not being detected by the Sentinels. And if only by not moving it, until the bugger decided to sod off^W^W move along.

BTW: Congrats on finding a nice, calm island amidst all the stars :)

Thanks! Yeah, that sounds like a great idea for the Colossus. I wonder if HG would consider something like that?