Why boarding of ships is unlikely to ever happen.

Witzo · Dec 9, 2014

It won't happen because we are flyboys, not shooterboys.

Myspace Kaitsu80 · Dec 9, 2014

I just dont understand people who buy EXPANSION BASED GAME and think they still can play withouth buying expansions...

Makes no sense.

YOU NEED TO BUY EXPANSIONS to keep playing the game, is my bet.

And yes, those promised expansions will come, sooner or later.

dannysquid · Dec 9, 2014

The same thing will presumably apply to landing on planets. Players with the expansion will probably get other advantages (otherwise, why take the risk, from a game mechanics point of view?)

The real issue with boarding is that if you make EVERYBODY do it, there will be a significant number of players so averse to FPS stuff that they'll feel hard done by. Personally, I can't wait! I think we're underestimating the potential a bit, particularly with regards to gravity and the need to hang on to things!

GIBSONJR · Dec 9, 2014

Arithon said:
My son asked David Braben about this (boarding ships) on 22nd November at the Premiere Party and he said they would like to do it, but the walking around ships needs to be done first and the boarding mechanic must be believable for it to happen or they won't do this.
Which I think boils down to "if we can't make it great, we won't make it".

In other words - this is the english way of saying no.

Cheers,
Robin

Joe Spivey · Dec 9, 2014

popuptoaster said:
You would probably have to shoot out the docking bay door to board a ship, those without the expansion could just not have a docking port that you can target.

What's to stop someone sneaking onto your ship while you are in dock?

CATPAIN KIRK · Dec 9, 2014

Zargor said:
Maybe players with expansion will not be matched with those without it? That would be an easy solution. Also, once the expansions hit, I'd expect those that do not get them to be a real minority.

This would be my preferred solution - I will receive the EVA expansion as part of the lifetime expansion pass, however I plan to disable it. Don't want to be forced to play an FPS all of a sudden.

Canaris · Dec 9, 2014

not impossible just not probable

Defacto · Dec 9, 2014

Why would you ever want to assault a ship by boarding anyway? Even if your victim's ship is completely unarmed, they can shoot you in the face with a pistol if you board. You can demand any cargo from outside at gunpoint. If stealing ships get implemented, you can force your victim to eject and then take their ship. If security forces arrive while your ships are tethered and you have a mexican standoff in the cargo bay, you're in for a lot of trouble.

Hawkmoon · Dec 9, 2014

It would be pretty simple, when the expansion is introduced all that happens is that people who buy it can walk around their ships and leave them to explore stations or board other ships. Players who do not have the expansion will only be able to walk around their own ship and not leave it. This would give two benefits, players without the expansion would get a taste and may be tempted to buy it and they would also be able to defend against boarding.

I also thing that there would only be a certain ships that you could board in space as several of them are just too small.

Hekantonkheries · Dec 9, 2014

orfeboy said:
It is my theory that we are never actually going to see the boarding of ships in this game. Unless FD create a new play mode for this game that includes this expansion and leaves the other mode for others to play with out the expansion as a seperate game I see no other way it could possibly happen.

My reasoning is that if you consider that another player decides to board your ship because he has bought the new expansion and decides for whatever reason this would be a good idea, he now needs to latch onto your ship, grab a gun and board your ship. Unfortunately his chosen target has not bought the said expansion and is incapable of getting out of his seat and repelling the boarder.

This means those who have bought the expansion by default will need to be playing a different mode on seperate islands from the rest of the players in the game. This is possible I suppose but still breeds food for thought all the same...

not every mechanic introduced HAS to be in a paid expansion, core mechanic changes would be given to EVERYONE

QuantumTron · Dec 9, 2014

Here's why boarding ships is a very good idea, and FDEV should make it their mission in life to enable this feature:

Imagine a swarm of Thargoids boarding your ship...

Binerexis · Dec 9, 2014

I'd rather not.

Shoklar · Dec 9, 2014

All this mode needs is a capital ship you can dock with. Friends, and the ability to walk around the ship, possibly even with side arms. The two capitals could then lock horns or it interdicts something else. You then board a ship which instances you and friends over to the other ship (cutscene here). Then the fighting for the other ship or arrest can begin in ernest with all the rest of the gubins required.

It's not impossible and can be done, given the time and resources.

Shok.

Alymon · Dec 9, 2014

Robert Maynard said:
As boarding of ships would be a small portion of the EVA expansion, I would expect that, when the EVA expansion is released, all players will be able to be boarded - it would give every player the experience of the expansion. To do anything else would create a split in the user-base every time an expansion is released.

This seems more likely. It's a great way to keep the player base together and encourage sales of the expansion by offering a small taste.

Hexen · Dec 9, 2014

orfeboy said:
It is my theory that we are never actually going to see the boarding of ships in this game. Unless FD create a new play mode for this game that includes this expansion and leaves the other mode for others to play with out the expansion as a seperate game I see no other way it could possibly happen.

My reasoning is that if you consider that another player decides to board your ship because he has bought the new expansion and decides for whatever reason this would be a good idea, he now needs to latch onto your ship, grab a gun and board your ship. Unfortunately his chosen target has not bought the said expansion and is incapable of getting out of his seat and repelling the boarder.

This means those who have bought the expansion by default will need to be playing a different mode on seperate islands from the rest of the players in the game. This is possible I suppose but still breeds food for thought all the same...

Why would your risk your life for some mundane boarding? Send a drone or fill enemy ship with toxic waste and wait till other pilot melt away. Manually boarding ship with a gun by your side seems like a last resort when you have advanced computers and spaceships. Same goes for defending the ship.

zynaps · Dec 9, 2014

Useless mechanic. If someone boards your ship, simply self-destruct it. Sci-Fi literature is littered with that exact "mechanic" because it's the sensible thing to do. When everyone knows what will happen if they attempt to board another ship they will not do it.

KING5TON · Dec 9, 2014

gary.brain said:
Expansion :
player can board any ship and the player in the ship can defend.

Without Expansion :
Player cannot board a ship but can repel boarders.

This is what I thought would be what happens.
It would IMO be a great idea as it resolves the issue of some people not having the expansion and also is a great advert for the expansions, a taster of what fun you could be having if you buy the expansion.

Hexen · Dec 9, 2014

zynaps said:
Useless mechanic. If someone boards your ship, simply self-destruct it. Sci-Fi literature is littered with that exact "mechanic" because it's the sensible thing to do. When everyone knows what will happen if they attempt to board another ship they will not do it.

Good idea. That means that boarding will require to disable self-destruct somehow. But then again it might lead to abuse when you just can't destroy your ship and have to close process manually to exit the game. It might lead to disconnect = forfeit. And that will cause even more grief.

orfeboy · Dec 9, 2014

zynaps said:
Useless mechanic. If someone boards your ship, simply self-destruct it. Sci-Fi literature is littered with that exact "mechanic" because it's the sensible thing to do. When everyone knows what will happen if they attempt to board another ship they will not do it.

You have a point but when you are dealing with small ships and small crews being boarded is not essentially a self destruct situation. You might well decide to take their ship if you repel the baorders... WHat would worry me more is how do you stop exploits?

For example, if I steal your ship and shoot you or kick you out in an escape pod when you respawn do you get your ship back? Are you back in a sidey? I have your ship. If you get another one that would create a very big exploit right there if we were actually friends and made a habit of it!

Darth Sidious · Dec 9, 2014

Arithon said:
My son (12) was suggesting the idea of salvaging ships left after battle or run-ins with the feds, or piracy where you target life support and take the ship when the pilot is dead.

This was what i was thinking too plus salvage parts from an exploded ship.
This would make ED live up too its name too "DANGEROUS".
I don't believe in pvp boarding its probably too hairy but npc boarding should be quite do-able.