Money and ships - got to be more to it.

[vjek]

People claim E|D is a sandbox, but I've never found anything resembling 'sand'. Really? Yes, really. We can't build anything, we can't create our own stations. We can't build our own ships, or upgrades, or anything at all.

To everyone claiming: this is a sandbox, it's different.. where is the 'sand', then? What makes this a game where the player can do whatever they want?

I mean, we can't even make our own ammunition from metals we collect via mining. We can't even repair our ships from metals we collect via mining. Those two things would be the first two grains of 'sand' letting players play as they wish. Never mind things like atmosphere collection/replenishment and similar which, combined with the first two, might actually let a pilot live on their own, or wherever they wanted to.

Dwarf Fortress does completely procedural everything, including history, quests/missions, landscape, politics, jobs, preferences, and more. Even 10% of the procedural storytelling, per system, would be so much better than what there is now.

Finally, hiring NPC's to do what you want is the way you create the first tier of PvP interaction. You make direct player interaction rare, special, and consensual. Player->NPC->Player? No-one cares if NPC's interact with them. You could have that in the game, with appropriate limits, for everyone, no more solo/open. But FDEV is still living in the 80's. So much lost potential, it's sad.

 

[Hawkmoon]

I think that there is a game play mode that more people need to have a go at to make the game less of a grind, space bum. Basically you travel from one system to another doing the odd mission, trade a bit if you find something cheap and take the odd bounty. The whole ethos is to earn enough to keep moving rather than just grinding to the next ship. It can be quite fun as every so often your cash drops down below the replacement cost and you jet that squeaky bum feeling as you head out knowing you are only one accidental boost from a sidewinder.

 

[yul7896]

Personally, I enjoy the ride more than the destination.

 

[bossbrigand]

I feel like first and foremost FD wanted to build an Elite '84 clone as a template, which they've done very well. Now they're fleshing it out slowly but surely.

 

[Hawkmoon]

People claim E|D is a sandbox, but I've never found anything resembling 'sand'. Really? Yes, really. We can't build anything, we can't create our own stations. We can't build our own ships, or upgrades, or anything at all.

To everyone claiming: this is a sandbox, it's different.. where is the 'sand', then? What makes this a game where the player can do whatever they want?

I mean, we can't even make our own ammunition from metals we collect via mining. We can't even repair our ships from metals we collect via mining. Those two things would be the first two grains of 'sand' letting players play as they wish. Never mind things like atmosphere collection/replenishment and similar which, combined with the first two, might actually let a pilot live on their own, or wherever they wanted to.

Dwarf Fortress does completely procedural everything, including history, quests/missions, landscape, politics, jobs, preferences, and more. Even 10% of the procedural storytelling, per system, would be so much better than what there is now.

Finally, hiring NPC's to do what you want is the way you create the first tier of PvP interaction. You make direct player interaction rare, special, and consensual. Player->NPC->Player? No-one cares if NPC's interact with them. You could have that in the game, with appropriate limits, for everyone, no more solo/open. But FDEV is still living in the 80's. So much lost potential, it's sad.

The original Elite was the game was the first game to be called a "sandbox game" because it was the first time you did not follow a predefined course through the game, lots of modern sandbox game allow you to do a lot more but that does not mean that the original concept is not still valid. A sandbox game is not about making sandcastles it is about being able to reach the same place through any number of routes.

 

[smiths121]

Hi OP,

I reset my save when 1.1 came out. I had just traded in a type 6 to get an Asp (I was worth about 10Mcr at the time). I was determined not to get into the trading grind the 2nd time round.
I have managed to avoid it. My last major trading was a community goal in open play, it was very good fun - I managed to blockade run for a week - there is a skill and ship load out for that! I have flipped systems and pursued my Federal rank.

We will see what PP brings, but I am not sure I am even going to join a faction to start with, still much I want to do, fairly happy with the Vulture and Asp I have at the moment (although the Asp needs a bit of work).

Simon

Simon

 

[Radicus]

I know what they can do... make some World of Warcraft style PvP arenas (systems).
-
1) We'll need some tank ships up front.. heavy weapons, lost of damage but slow and clunky.
2) Some healers aka hospital ships up back.. they can heal and send out repair drones.
3) Maybe some Rangers... shoot some long range arrows... I mean particle weapons.
-
Yes, I know.. it was a silly idea to begin with.

 

[Radicus]

Actually,
I do like the idea of commanders joining different factions, ie. Federation, Empire, etc and fighting for territorial control. We can have skirmish zones where people can come and compete for a territory, expanding or conceding territory.
.
I'd like to see some reward system for winning or losing territory and competing in skirmishes. Either monetary or rare weapons or goods, a title perhaps.
.
The only downside I can see is the sheer size of the galaxy, there could be a huge distance between conflict zones, people would be spread out too far apart.
.
Just thinking out loud.

 

[Whiterose]

Heck I made it to the highest rank in the Empire by mostly delivering cargo.

.

Yes, ranking up to Baron was an immersion breaker when all I had to do was deliver two tonnes of food catridges. Hopefully 1.3 will address the missions issue. I still have plenty to do to keep me busy, but missions at the moment isnt one of them. Also being in the Empire means nothing at the moment, hopefully again 1.3 will address this. I sense that a lot of people will be relying on 1.3 to sort a lot of the lack of depth, I just get the feeling that some will be disappointed.

 

[brakaton]

You forgot to activate your Fanboi shield.
.
While I don't disagree, lets see what PP brings to the game, missions and factions wise

The Fanboi shield generates so much heat it's ridiculous.

 

[lilikin]

Really? No need for this sort of persistent petty abuse. Everybody has an opinion and they are entitled to air it without the name calling.

Didn't call him a name, please reread.

 

[Ancipital]

Yes, ranking up to Baron was an immersion breaker when all I had to do was deliver two tonnes of food catridges.

You had it easy- I had to carry THREE tonnes of grain a whole 8LY!

 

[bossbrigand]

All I had to do to hit Viscount was deliver a communique. For Baron I had to take 1 ton of grain 2 lightyears away. It should probably be a bit more work. But personally I just think the Empire likes me.

 

[Joe Spivey]

Didn't call him a name, please reread.

See, it's just this sort of low level abuse that makes people thing it is ok. You don't even seem to recognise the term as abusive.

 

[deckroid]

People claim E|D is a sandbox, but I've never found anything resembling 'sand'. Really? Yes, really. We can't build anything, we can't create our own stations. We can't build our own ships, or upgrades, or anything at all.

To everyone claiming: this is a sandbox, it's different.. where is the 'sand', then? What makes this a game where the player can do whatever they want?

I mean, we can't even make our own ammunition from metals we collect via mining. We can't even repair our ships from metals we collect via mining. Those two things would be the first two grains of 'sand' letting players play as they wish. Never mind things like atmosphere collection/replenishment and similar which, combined with the first two, might actually let a pilot live on their own, or wherever they wanted to.

Dwarf Fortress does completely procedural everything, including history, quests/missions, landscape, politics, jobs, preferences, and more. Even 10% of the procedural storytelling, per system, would be so much better than what there is now.

Finally, hiring NPC's to do what you want is the way you create the first tier of PvP interaction. You make direct player interaction rare, special, and consensual. Player->NPC->Player? No-one cares if NPC's interact with them. You could have that in the game, with appropriate limits, for everyone, no more solo/open. But FDEV is still living in the 80's. So much lost potential, it's sad.

First, it depends upon your definition of Sandbox. If you define it as Dwarf Fortress or Mindcraft ONLY then, yes, E is not a sandbox. But if you think of any of the Assassin's creed or GTA series as sandbox, then if very much is. And just FYI, I have not been on a station for a very long time. I am currently hitting stars, nebulae and whatever else I can find and am having fun doing so. I am not stuck in mission based gameplay ala Freelancer.

Second, there is already the game you are describing. X-Beyond the Frontier. Open play, build factories and what not. Buy a ship, set it to trade Y-Goods at a max distance of X, set the timeshift to max, goto bed, wake up a millionare. Rinse/repeat. Now, as for the build your own ships? What game has that? Let me amend that... what game that is THIS immersive has that? There are 400 Billion (Billion... with a B!) stars. There are weapon and gear choices galore.

Are there things that need tweaking? Sure. Hence the 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 updates. No game is immune from that. And like battle plans, no game survives first contact with the public without Things that could be tweaked. As for being stuck in the 80s? I was still playing the original Elite on my laptop last summer while waiting for Star Citizen to come out. Then I found Elite Dangerous. A game that offers MORE while costing a whole heckofalot LESS. SC looks to be all about combat. FPV in space. While that is cool and will get a lot of buzz, I will just keep on keeping on with my 'splorin' the galaxy, thank you very much.

.... Space Truckin'...

Deckroid

 

[Lestat]

See it depends on how you make the game. If you are the type that when the ship destroys. You start in the same ship due to credits you have. Or you can be a real risk and reward. Play Iron Man mode. When your ship Destroyed you restart the game.

 

[Borgkube]

There isn't anything you can do with bigger ships that you can't do with smaller ships.

Carry more cargo. Mount larger modules so you can make longer jumps, etc.

 

[deckroid]

Or you can be a real risk and reward. Play Iron Man mode. When your ship Destroyed you restart the game.

Sadist.

 

[Temple604]

Lol!
That sounds pretty awesome actually

I know what they can do... make some World of Warcraft style PvP arenas (systems).
-
1) We'll need some tank ships up front.. heavy weapons, lost of damage but slow and clunky.
2) Some healers aka hospital ships up back.. they can heal and send out repair drones.
3) Maybe some Rangers... shoot some long range arrows... I mean particle weapons.
-
Yes, I know.. it was a silly idea to begin with.

 

[CMDR MAIN SEQUENCE]

I think that there is a game play mode that more people need to have a go at to make the game less of a grind, space bum. Basically you travel from one system to another doing the odd mission, trade a bit if you find something cheap and take the odd bounty. The whole ethos is to earn enough to keep moving rather than just grinding to the next ship. It can be quite fun as every so often your cash drops down below the replacement cost and you jet that squeaky bum feeling as you head out knowing you are only one accidental boost from a sidewinder.

This is pretty much how I play. Not sure I'm comfortable talking about the 'squeaky bum feeling' though.