Open mode isn't the pirate fest people are fearing it is. I've got a cosy little corner in space I haul in and I come across a few players, happy to say hi but I've never had trouble with anyone. The contact with human players is a nice touch in this game and it makes open engaging, given the loneliness that can occur if you are solo.
- Status
Posts like your make me glad my keyboard is liquid resistant. Coz I just spewed my beverage all over it,,,,
But thanks for the guffaw, it was worth the subsequent clean up.
There is only one way to have Open play that is fun for everyone, and that is to decide that the game is an MMO - as opposed to solo with an non-commited online option. But this isn't the direction FD wants to go. So no matter what changes are made to Open, it won't matter because ED will always be split into two games, each one preventing the other from reaching any meaningful potential. In order to have community-driven gameplay you need a healthy community and a coherent game world where the community can be creative in.
For some, it already is. I have a friend who began at more or less the same time as me. I've now obtained an Asp. Him? He's still in Sidewinder/Eagle. Why? Because, even though we've been doing the same trading route, for some reason he's almost constantly being interdicted by NPCs with ranking of at least 'Dangerous', who destroy him almost every single time, forcing him right back to square one. He, on the other hand, has yet to even get his first kill, because he's been avoiding combat (for very obvious reasons). Don't know why this happens. It doesn't occur to me, nearly so much and we've been doing the same routes. But for some reason, the AI is hyper-aggressive towards him and he's literally done nothing to deserve it. He can be carrying cargo or not. Makes absolutely no difference. Hasn't been going around anarchy systems or anything like that. It just randomly happens for no apparent reason. Even when I've tried supercruising with him at short range, they target him, not me.
Your experiences have been easy? Thank your lucky stars! Some people, clearly, are having an incredibly frustrating time and I have no desire to wish even worse luck upon them.
The issue, as with many things in life, is a few malcontents are ruining it for the majority. Using game exploits and outright cheats, they can kill a ship with a few shots. Their shields never fail, unlimited ammo, never take any damage, etc.
I have no issue with piracy, I have no issue with PVP as long as the rules are applied equally to both parties. That's the issue, today it isn't and Solo and Groups are a safe harbour from that mess. Take that away and the vast majority will simply quit instead of being forced to play in Open. How long will Elite last with a steadily decreasing user base?
This is typically the cue for the hairy chested brigade to start calling me a carebear or telling me to grow a pair. Well, I do care about this game and I want to see it succeed. I don't think I'm alone either.
I think the target demographic is anyone with $50 who wants to play a trading/fighting/exploring game that is set in space.
With or WITHOUT other people in that game.
Hence the multiple playing (open/solo/group) options.
I don't like the fact that you can get a great ship/loads of cash /whatever in SOLO mode and then come to OPEN with all that stuff.
Why? People in Solo / Groups are not in competition with you. And vice - versa. Why does it bother you? I'm interested in your real thoughts.
Guys, the point that I wanted to make is that Open, can be entertaining, that's entertaining and not necessarily fun. I do not advocate closing off of or loosing either Closed or Group play. Each to their own, and if a guy enjoys playing in Solo, just grinding out the trade runs and building up his credits then great, all that matters is that he enjoys the game.
Except for the first few days I have always stayed in Open. Granted I am working towards being a serious explorer type, so generally hang on the edge of civilized space and am lucky to see one other player a week. Today was different, I headed right through the middle of civilized space. But what did make it so 'entertaining' was the potential for trouble. The first example I gave, was in all probability just some hard working trader who just happened to be running along the same route as me and with no intent to do anything but make an honest profit. But for me, the effect was the same as hearing footsteps behind me as I walk down a dark street at night. And then thinking that I had been interdicted by another player really kicked off the 'twitch' meter.
I think that FD have had a great idea for making the game as accessible as possible for the widest range of players, but it's just not hanging together right. The idea is good, the implementation needs to be much better.
One of the things people like me who have played on-line games for years needs to take on board. Is the probability that Elite Dangerous possibly has a much larger number of players who have never done on-line gaming before. I also suspect that Elite Dangerous also has a much larger 'older player' demographic them most games. Eve is renowned for having a big percentage of 'Grey Wolves' in it's numbers, I suspect that will be more so with Elite. Do the maths, somebody who played the original Elite and was in their early twenties at the time will probably be looking at their fiftieth birthday from the wrong side now.
I myself an closer to my sixtieth birthday them I am my fiftieth. I know that my reactions are shot, compared to the younger players.
I do not get at all the allegations that Solo or Group play is cheating somehow. Come on, be honest, how many of you hardened PvP types can in all truth say that you have never popped back into Solo to rebuild your credits after a bad run of ship losses. It doesn't matter how good you are at the old pewpew, sometimes the dice just roll wrong for you to often. Hell, I will admit that had today been the real thing, and had things gone totally bad on me, I would have considered going Solo for a few days to get the old credits rolling in again.
The whole premise of this thread is about making Open more appealing to none PvP players, not forcing them into it.
And remember, all you player pirate types, never forget. When you are lining up to attack a player trader, you are only doing so because of the goodwill of that player. We get absolutely nothing out of Open play, other then the satisfaction of doing a trade run without having our ships blasted from under us. Until that changes, you only get to be pirates because we facilitate that, so at least show a little respect for the guys who are going out of their way to make your game fun.
I do not advocate closing off of or loosing either Closed or Group play. Each to their own, and if a guy enjoys playing in Solo, just grinding out the trade runs and building up his credits then great, all that matters is that he enjoys the game.Except for the first few days I have always stayed in Open. Granted I am working towards being a serious explorer type, so generally hang on the edge of civilized space and am lucky to see one other player a week. Today was different, I headed right through the middle of civilized space. But what did make it so 'entertaining' was the potential for trouble. The first example I gave, was in all probability just some hard working trader who just happened to be running along the same route as me and with no intent to do anything but make an honest profit. But for me, the effect was the same as hearing footsteps behind me as I walk down a dark street at night. And then thinking that I had been interdicted by another player really kicked off the 'twitch' meter.
I think that FD have had a great idea for making the game as accessible as possible for the widest range of players, but it's just not hanging together right. The idea is good, the implementation needs to be much better.
One of the things people like me who have played on-line games for years needs to take on board. Is the probability that Elite Dangerous possibly has a much larger number of players who have never done on-line gaming before. I also suspect that Elite Dangerous also has a much larger 'older player' demographic them most games. Eve is renowned for having a big percentage of 'Grey Wolves' in it's numbers, I suspect that will be more so with Elite. Do the maths, somebody who played the original Elite and was in their early twenties at the time will probably be looking at their fiftieth birthday from the wrong side now.
I myself an closer to my sixtieth birthday them I am my fiftieth. I know that my reactions are shot, compared to the younger players.
I do not get at all the allegations that Solo or Group play is cheating somehow. Come on, be honest, how many of you hardened PvP types can in all truth say that you have never popped back into Solo to rebuild your credits after a bad run of ship losses. It doesn't matter how good you are at the old pewpew, sometimes the dice just roll wrong for you to often. Hell, I will admit that had today been the real thing, and had things gone totally bad on me, I would have considered going Solo for a few days to get the old credits rolling in again.
The whole premise of this thread is about making Open more appealing to none PvP players, not forcing them into it.
And remember, all you player pirate types, never forget. When you are lining up to attack a player trader, you are only doing so because of the goodwill of that player. We get absolutely nothing out of Open play, other then the satisfaction of doing a trade run without having our ships blasted from under us. Until that changes, you only get to be pirates because we facilitate that, so at least show a little respect for the guys who are going out of their way to make your game fun.
Tell you lads what. If my trades go well for the next couple days so that I get a nice comfortable cushion to replace my Cobra a couple times, I'll grab a bottle of Whiskey to calm the nerves and brave a run or 2 to Lave and back before venturing into no-man's land to do some explorin'. Would that satisfy some of you? XD
Choice. Choice. Choice.
All the guys n gals playing in solo or group or a bit of both dont give a hoots about what the pvpers are doing in open. Just getting on and playing the game with the choices that have been given to us. Its highly refreshing to be able to dip your toes in either/or.
+1 for FD for doing something different.
Solo/group mode isnt about players 'hiding' out from pvpers or 'cheating' to raise credits without pvper risk.
Hasnt it actually occured to the pvpers that players are selecting that type of game play because thats what they want to do. Its the typical I'm the centre of the universe nonsense and you all need to follow my lead.
Get over it.
What is really frustrating when the pvpers constantly whinging and whining and telling everyone else how to play the game. We're not telling you how to play your game so how about you leave us alone to play our game. Stop whinging about open play lack of opponents and boredom and start a pvp group.
Simple really isnt it.
Thats what its there for.
Choices.
(Apologies for sweeping generalisation coming up) -
I suspect that a lot of pvpers like open play because they cant actually get people together in a group for good pvp. Ultimately it might actually be challenging instead of picking targets that are less combat orientated and securing a guaranteed victory.
Aaaarrrr but I be a pirate I be... yeah whatever.
All the guys n gals playing in solo or group or a bit of both dont give a hoots about what the pvpers are doing in open. Just getting on and playing the game with the choices that have been given to us. Its highly refreshing to be able to dip your toes in either/or.
+1 for FD for doing something different.
Solo/group mode isnt about players 'hiding' out from pvpers or 'cheating' to raise credits without pvper risk.
Hasnt it actually occured to the pvpers that players are selecting that type of game play because thats what they want to do. Its the typical I'm the centre of the universe nonsense and you all need to follow my lead.
Get over it.
What is really frustrating when the pvpers constantly whinging and whining and telling everyone else how to play the game. We're not telling you how to play your game so how about you leave us alone to play our game. Stop whinging about open play lack of opponents and boredom and start a pvp group.
Simple really isnt it.
Thats what its there for.
Choices.
(Apologies for sweeping generalisation coming up) -
I suspect that a lot of pvpers like open play because they cant actually get people together in a group for good pvp. Ultimately it might actually be challenging instead of picking targets that are less combat orientated and securing a guaranteed victory.
Aaaarrrr but I be a pirate I be... yeah whatever.
They evolved mid post.
It's just a game, but as many gamers are bad players, I really like this feature which allow me to choose with who I want to play this game.
To many online gamers don't understand a game is not about having fun against other players but sharing fun with other players, so it is not a question of being afraid but a question of common values when it comes to a recreational activity.
Last edited:
This again. I play solo because I don't want to see other humans. Why can't certain people seen to grasp that? Seeing other people breaks my immersion. I am not interested in talking to other people, I've got real life for that. I play games to get away from real life, I don't want you people stinking up my relaxation time.
I've spent a few hours in open trading with a 2nd wing man also in a T9 both with no weapons. The trade dividends now almost pay for our fuel costs so we don't need to scoop and can both haul 500t. We're now paying about 2000 in fuel per round trip instead of 30000 per round trip which makes it faster and more efficient than solo as you don't need to pay out large costs or stop to refuel.
If we added another couple of T9's to our wing we'd be making 714000 per jump instead of 640000 per jump which is a nice little boost in profits per trip.
If you're trading in pirate hotspots then things are going to be more dangerous. Find a route off the beaten path and it's the same as solo or group with the added bonus of being able to meet like minded people. If someone did come and pirate or grief you then have 4 of you instead of 1 to go grab your combat ships and go hunt the sucker down
If we added another couple of T9's to our wing we'd be making 714000 per jump instead of 640000 per jump which is a nice little boost in profits per trip.
If you're trading in pirate hotspots then things are going to be more dangerous. Find a route off the beaten path and it's the same as solo or group with the added bonus of being able to meet like minded people. If someone did come and pirate or grief you then have 4 of you instead of 1 to go grab your combat ships and go hunt the sucker down
BTW, open world, aka PvP, has a basic problem : other peoples decide how you should play.
PvP is a darwinian process and in order to play it, you need to become a good gamer and have a good equipment.
This can be fun if you like such kind of things, but it is not the only kind of fun which peoples want.
I have fun by being a decent player (I don't want to invest more in it cause IRL is my real challenge) and I don't want to burn out with the acquisition of my equipment (I already have the ship I wanted, it is not the TOP ship and I'm happy to be able to pay the reparations bills and not think about a better ship).
PvP is a darwinian process and in order to play it, you need to become a good gamer and have a good equipment.
This can be fun if you like such kind of things, but it is not the only kind of fun which peoples want.
I have fun by being a decent player (I don't want to invest more in it cause IRL is my real challenge) and I don't want to burn out with the acquisition of my equipment (I already have the ship I wanted, it is not the TOP ship and I'm happy to be able to pay the reparations bills and not think about a better ship).
Last edited:
It's great to have a choice, but I don't think forcing people into open by giving them extra resources would work.
I played Ultima Online for years, When I started playing there was one world with non-consensual PVP. People got fed up with this and asked the developers to give them a different option.
The developers created a new world with consensual PVP, and nearly everybody moved there. This left the PVP’ers with few victims and they asked for some way to bring their victims back. So the developers put double resources in PVP Land. It didn’t work and everybody stayed in Care-bear land.
People need to realise that some of us just want to play the game the way we want to play it.
I played Ultima Online for years, When I started playing there was one world with non-consensual PVP. People got fed up with this and asked the developers to give them a different option.
The developers created a new world with consensual PVP, and nearly everybody moved there. This left the PVP’ers with few victims and they asked for some way to bring their victims back. So the developers put double resources in PVP Land. It didn’t work and everybody stayed in Care-bear land.
People need to realise that some of us just want to play the game the way we want to play it.
Not at all. You decide. If you know that a game is open world, you decide if you want to play that game and how you want to play. The problem with ED is that the game itself is undecided - is it open world or not? Right now it tries to be both kinds and this is detrimental to both kinds, simple as that.
This is exactly right. +1 Sir.
Well policed 'safer' (but not completly safe) areas for those that want a more relaxed game and less safe areas for those that dont could be the way forward, just make sure that any real 'griefing' in the safe areas is hammered down on, this game does not lend itself to multiple-free-trial-accounts-running-on-the-same-comp-for-PK'ing (as for instance EVE online does) so a banned account would have a real and lasting impact.
We shall just have to see what may come. The wing system should help with escourting transports etal. though so thats a big bonus to co-op play.
I've spent a few hours in open trading with a 2nd wing man also in a T9 both with no weapons. The trade dividends now almost pay for our fuel costs so we don't need to scoop and can both haul 500t. We're now paying about 2000 in fuel per round trip instead of 30000 per round trip which makes it faster and more efficient than solo as you don't need to pay out large costs or stop to refuel.
If we added another couple of T9's to our wing we'd be making 714000 per jump instead of 640000 per jump which is a nice little boost in profits per trip.
If you're trading in pirate hotspots then things are going to be more dangerous. Find a route off the beaten path and it's the same as solo or group with the added bonus of being able to meet like minded people. If someone did come and pirate or grief you then have 4 of you instead of 1 to go grab your combat ships and go hunt the sucker down
Hmmmm, a "battle herd" of "battle cows". What a concept!!!!
Well that's an incomprehensible statement.
- Status