Game loses something by not forcing Open play

[Vandyl]

To be quite honest, it doesn't matter either way. Whether you are looking for player targets are trying to avoid player interaction all together, the P2P instancing, islands, whatever you want to call them, will always limit the possibilities for meeting another player.

The 31 other players that you are matched up with could all be 100 light years away. Of course there will be hot spots, such as the Capitol systems and some of the traditional old worlds, but if you think about the odds of having a target rich environment or needing to be worried about being griefed, it's highly unlikely in either case.

 

[{SAS}Stalker]

I used to be in the "don't care" camp, each to their own and that I would be in the all open group and all that jazz. To be honest though now, I think if I was to be pressed into getting rid of anything I would say I would favor getting rid of the "open all" mode. Sure there are sporadic sensible people playing open but if the forum is anything to go by its populated by gits! It seems like everyone with half a brain is playing either solo or in a large private group.

 

[StayFrosty]

I had a post yesterday asking why use open play, and it turns out the only reason is to gank or be ganked.

Only from people who believe open play is a cutthroat mode where everyone is "griefed", and would rather sacrifice all online interactions, from cooperation to making friends, for the sake of one aspect that's grossly exagerated and pretty much a myth.

I can only agree with you myself, especially seeing as avoiding "griefing" is the best way to make it worse. Griefers need to be dealt with, not avoided, and that won't happen if half the playerbase is playing solo. And then, they still think "griefing" is worse than "ignoring others"- while I can agree one is more annoying, the other is much more insulting.

Now that we have the full galaxy, people are all asking "where is everyone", griefing is pretty much impossible by design, but no, they'll remain in their groups thinking it serves any purpose and doesn't hurt the community as a whole. Fortunately, they're a minority, but still, I'd be better for everyone and on all points if they simply switched to open play.

 

[FX2K]

... risk vs reward.

Exaaaaaactly! This really does seem like a problem the market would solve.

What additional risk?
I play in open, I see nobody... 400 billion systems... Enough said!

 

[Zenicetus]

sigh...but you see, the opposite is also true. It means that sociopaths can spend their time in solo, building ships beyond their skills, which they can then take into open play to cause their supposed grief. How can there be balance there? Why should I be forced into playing two types of game, just to keep up?

That's an old argument about Solo Online being "safer" somehow for earning credits. It's easily refuted by the fact that anyone in Solo Online can never group with other friends as wingmen. The way combat balance works in this game, any two PC ships are more than a match for any solo ship, given roughly the same ship type. There is strength and safety in numbers, which is only available in the All Online side of the game.

The fact that we're missing some of the tools needed for flying together (the Alliance/Wing mechanic) doesn't change the argument. You can still group up in a more limited way, and be essentially unbeatable against NPC's or any solo ship. No player in Solo Online has that advantage.

Aside from that, necro'ing this topic is pointless. We're very close to the official release date, and there has never been any indication from FD that the game will work any other way. This is like going onto a WoW forum and suggesting that Blizzard really needs to make all their servers PvP only. Good luck with that.

 

[Clifford]

... gets those who abuse the switch over system affecting their game whether they like it or not....

Youre trying to attach a false negative connotation to the mode-switching, which is a designed feature of the game starting back from the DDA.
The developers gave you a choice, using that choice is not "abuse".

 

[Amaze]

I agree with the OP, open play and solo/grouped only should have their own databases regarding player money, ships etc.

Right now it's just like: "Yeah why would I risk my Type-6 (9) full of (insert high value stuff here) in open play when I can farm money absolutely safe in solo mode. Then, when my gear etc. is sufficient to bash people in the face, I will go online."

I'm ok with that if they give us 2 or 3 commander saves to play with, otherwise I guess you will never see me in online open.

There is just nothing there for me in open except more lag, more bugs/server disconnects, jumping stations more stutter in SC and I don't even get to
form wings, group up for co-op play, chat with other players or even see more then one or two of them every few weeks.

 

[WeirdCulture]

ohh look... a dead horse..

View attachment 3234

 

[Joe Spivey]

What additional risk?
I play in open, I see nobody... 400 billion systems... Enough said!

Exactly this ^^^. All this nonsense about 'risk v reward' ONLY makes sense in a much smaller sandpit where everyone is in close proximity. Wake-up call to all those guys. This isn't a sandpit... it's a beach. I might as well be in solo because, unless I'm playing pre-arranged with friends or sticking to the core worlds sandpit on purpose, my chances of meeting another player are tiny.

 

[Vandyl]

I actually have no problem forcing everyone into Open Play, just as long as the "CMDR" is removed from player handles.

Edit: ..and eliminating the "open square" target designator for players.

 

[StayFrosty]

Youre trying to attach a false negative connotation to the mode-switching, which is a designed feature of the game starting back from the DDA.
The developers gave you a choice, using that choice is not "abuse".

That was an early design idea that had never been tried nor tested. Many things changed compared with what can be read on the Kickstarter page and on the DDF, because they simply weren't good and/or viable.

Sticking to the original idea as much as possible isn't a concern for many, it's whether it makes the game enjoyable or not.

 

[Richard Voorhees]

Exactly this ^^^. All this nonsense about 'risk v reward' ONLY makes sense in a much smaller sandpit where everyone is in close proximity. Wake-up call to all those guys. This isn't a sandpit... it's a beach. I might as well be in solo because, unless I'm playing pre-arranged with friends or sticking to the core worlds sandpit on purpose, my chances of meeting another player are tiny.

Yes, but surely even if you never meet these players you will need to feel reassured that they're not gaining an unfair advantage over you by playing in easy mode?

 

[Graywolfe]

Seriously. Apart from "because i want to" I have yet to see a single valid reason for why it should be possible to jump between these game modes. There are loads of threads with valid reasons for why this should not be allowed. They all follow the same formula.

The only reason you see trawled up time and time again for not being able to transfer between solo & open basically boils down to 'because I don't want you to'.

This is why this entire discussion is completely pointless...

 

[Zenicetus]

The result of this three modes of play system will be a tragic dilution of the experience to the point of mediocrity.

Instead of a vibrant and exciting world of risk and reward, we'll have a fragmented, lifeless experience. Many competent and interesting players will abscond to their solo modes or their private group clique modes to farm and such, and the 'multiplayer' experience will inevitably devolve into a tiresome and simplistic PvP arena.

It doesn't have to go that way on the All Online side of the game. It's up to the players to establish the balance between co-op play, friendly PvP, and outright ganking in that mode. You have a very large pool of players in Solo Online that you could attract into All Online if the environment is conducive. Occasional interdictions by pirates where you can drop cargo without getting your ship killed can be fun. Hiring escorts can be fun.

It's up to you, to make All Online a place where Solo Online players might want to visit, or even decide to stay. If it turns into a constant kill-on-sight gankfest, then it won't be the fault of the players choosing to play in Solo Online.

 

[Vandyl]

it's whether it makes the game enjoyable or not.

Enjoyable is going to mean many different things to many different people...

 

[finchywinchy]

Youre trying to attach a false negative connotation to the mode-switching, which is a designed feature of the game starting back from the DDA.
The developers gave you a choice, using that choice is not "abuse".

Under the terms I set out describing what I mean by fairness, earlier in this thread, (not much earlier, just read back a bit more, you can do it!), it would, under that rationale, be abuse. Using a game mechanic to garner an advantage outside the arena in which the other player can also have an effect. Unfair. Unless, of course, the other player makes the same choice.

 

[Joe Spivey]

Sticking to the original idea as much as possible isn't a concern for many, it's whether it makes the game enjoyable or not.

Not even that. When all is said and done it is whether the devs and David Braben WANT it in THEIR game. let me repeat the mantra again. FD are building the game THEY want, we are along for the ride if WE want.

 

[SlickReed]

Right now, Open play and therefore PvP can only happen by consent of the player.
To take away Solo mode , or otherwise restrict the choice to switch modes, is forcing people into non-consensual PvP.
Basically, these arguments all resolve around one basic premise: "I'm bored so I want to reach into your computer and force you to be a target for my guns".

If we want people to play on Open mode, it's up to us to make it a welcoming community that people _chose_ to join, not forcing people to Open to be abused for the amusement of others.

+1 completely agree

 

[Clifford]

There is just nothing there for me in open except more lag, more bugs/server disconnects, jumping stations more stutter in SC and I don't even get to
form wings, group up for co-op play, chat with other players or even see more then one or two of them every few weeks.

you've hit on a great point and I've been feelign this too: Open doesn't give any features to allow figher-escort for transports, linked hyerperdrives, etc.
some claim that you can scan Wakes and follow hyperdrive/supercruise that way, but for a group of players trying to play together this is a hassle.
There's Just no features in Open that make it sociable, right now.

Also, even in "high security" space (e.g. Federation controlled) the police do not instant-appear when you are interdicted. as far as I can tell the "security" only applies around a few established nav-points and stations, once you go to supercruise you are on your own and police won't enter your instance if you are interdicted. And the crime & punishment system? seriously just pay a few credits if you want to beat someone up, or murder someone its just "the price of doing business" not any real burden to the greifers. C'mon, if you want more of us to play Open group these features need to be improved: group mechanics, and crime & punishment in goverened space needs to have more teeth.

Can you imagine if in real-life a notorious murderer and bank robber showed up at the police station and said "oh I'm just here to pay my fine for all the bad things I've done" the police take a wad of cash and then say "you are free to go have a nice day".. seriously its not really any disincentive to in-game crime.

 

[Joe Spivey]

Under the terms I set out describing what I mean by fairness, earlier in this thread, (not much earlier, just read back a bit more, you can do it!), it would, under that rationale, be abuse. Using a game mechanic to garner an advantage outside the arena in which the other player can also have an effect. Unfair. Unless, of course, the other player makes the same choice.

Before you get off onto that particular hobby horse, please explain how playing in Solo is ANY different from playing in Open but many systems away from the nearest other player? Anything like your unproven advantage can be gained under just those circumstances, playing Solo is not even needed.