Question about the multiplayer and solo online

[WiseDuck]

That has quashed some of my fears Erimus so thankyou +1

 

[Patrick_68000]

Braben seems very passionate about multiplayer Elite I don't think he'll allow game mechanics to make it an unattractive and less lucrative aspect of the game due to the existence of solo sub-groups.

Absolutely and besides, Frontier said they would do everything to ensure that the players play in the group "All"

 

[CaptGrumpyPants]

I'd bet there are patterns to NPC AI and I bet that people work them out. When that happens they will make strategies to beat the AI and then farming will commence.

Look at the vids people have posted from Alpha (I know they will plug the exploits) so far. People have finished the entire run of missions in less than a day - they will farm credits and kit out their ships offline where the progress is more predictable.

I can't argue with that. (don't faint!)

I'm hoping the patterns are not overly predictable. If they are, maybe the player will start getting matched with tougher AIs? I would hope there are levels of AI pilots that match our ratings progression from harmless to Elite:S

I certainly am enjoying the Alpha vids but it's only a test. I hope it is a little harder to take down an Anaconda in the full game and that having your ship blown up is more than just a little inconvenient...

 

[Caribou]

The solo-trader thing doesn't really effect me truth be told as I plan to be an explorer in ED, in the All group. And I would hate to be in an All group that is massively populated by pirates and bounty hunters. I'd want to see prospectors, travelers, fellow explorers, adventurers, and traders on my journeys too - real people you can converse with. So hopefully these untested game mechanics FD are piloting will give everyone what they want to some extent.

I wanted a PvE style world in which co-op is the main aim, but that isn't going to happen so I am now content that it will have to be PvP based. I'll never move from the All group and I intend to Mine/Explore/Trade. I was going to pirate, but I don't like the mechanics currently so I will try it out and see...

I have played all sorts of games with PvP and I enjoy TF2/WoT where there is nothing at stake. I don't like relying on others when there are things at stake, and the problem with this game is that there are few mechanisms that enable longer term relationships (another conversation that I am not getting into here) But I will see how Friends Lists go, and how things hang together, and I will try this game in Multi player mode because thats the game I wanted.

As far as farming is concerned - let people do it, it will drive the player base to demand a bar on moving groups which furthers the goal of persistent groups...

I was never in any doubt that they would create pretty elite (which is in evidence in the alpha) but the MP side of things - we'll see....

 

[CaptGrumpyPants]

I wanted a PvE style world in which co-op is the main aim, but that isn't going to happen so I am now content that it will have to be PvP based. I'll never move from the All group and I intend to Mine/Explore/Trade. I was going to pirate, but I don't like the mechanics currently so I will try it out and see...

My intent is to base my gameplay on providing services to other players. As they have a system in place that is not overly restrictive (same as the prior games) on what players can do I think (edit -I HOPE--)that after a few months of chaos, players will find interesting ways to play within the system that they hadn't thought of before.

Quite frankly, a lot of game players today are not used to imagining anything as the rules are clearly defined, the sandboxes are small and everything is very clearly illustrated and cut-scened out for them. I can't get my daughter to read anything truly unique as she will only follow the other teens and read what everyone else is reading.

 

[Warbrand]

If hopping SP MP is possible I see a bountyhunter problem:
You charge in MP a PC pirate near a station, shooting him quite to ground. He manages to land and switches do SP. While You are waiting for him he escapes in his SP universe.

Same situation with traders and pirates.

Is this possible?

 

[Seonid]

They could also just logout and switch to another Commander, same effect. They will still be the target of Bounty Hunters, just NPC ones which will likely be more prolific.

 

[Hamerstein]

If hopping SP MP is possible I see a bountyhunter problem:
You charge in MP a PC pirate near a station, shooting him quite to ground. He manages to land and switches do SP. While You are waiting for him he escapes in his SP universe.

Same situation with traders and pirates.

Is this possible?

With the session arrangements for MP, it's possible even if you haven't docked. If you got away from your bounty hunter (out of session with them) there is no guarantee they'll be matched with you again the next time you're in proximity.

Specifically on switching, if a player has a bounty that's generated from attacking another player they are forced into the "all" group for a period of time. So depending on circumstances a Pirate may or may not be able to escape in this fashion. Really though, if you've escaped onto a station, there would be nothing to stop you from logging off and watching some telly, so it's not quite the exploit it appears.

 

[Warbrand]

But You will loose Your bounty, and the character will reappear in the next system again.... that woud make the game not as seemless as proposed.

 

[Seonid]

I don't understand how you think the bounty on a player would be lost? Or do you mean your ability to collect it?

 

[Caribou]

I can't argue with that. (don't faint!)

I'm hoping the patterns are not overly predictable. If they are, maybe the player will start getting matched with tougher AIs? I would hope there are levels of AI pilots that match our ratings progression from harmless to Elite:S

I certainly am enjoying the Alpha vids but it's only a test. I hope it is a little harder to take down an Anaconda in the full game and that having your ship blown up is more than just a little inconvenient...

I hope so too, I've been pleasantly surprised by the alpha play so far

My intent is to base my gameplay on providing services to other players. As they have a system in place that is not overly restrictive (same as the prior games) on what players can do I think that after a few months of chaos, players will find interesting ways to play within the system that they hadn't thought of before.

Again I think you are right - the gameplay will evolve as the players get used to the system. Ideally if groups form they can cooperate and help each other as well. I'll help when I meet people in need as thats what I want - despite being a "grumpy" myself a while back and saying that no one will play altruistically I don't really believe that

Quite frankly, a lot of game players today are not used to imagining anything as the rules are clearly defined, the sandboxes are small and everything is very clearly illustrated and cut-scened out for them. I can't get my daughter to read anything truly unique as she will only follow the other teens and read what everyone else is reading.

I actually think that it isn't the case, my son is completely hooked on E: D now. He has no preconceptions and wants a sandbox galaxy - he like me wants some controversial additions, but he's willing to try new things. He's tempered my own responses to the direction this game is taking.

The Minecraft generation like to make their own rules, create their own galaxies, but he also wants realistic (allowing game play) environments.

As far as reading - I hear you there ! I can't get him to read at all. We plug away but he's resisted all attempts - I guess he is reading something somewhere because he's doing well at school, but I know what you mean.

Individuality is hard though and I think girls have it harder than boys especially in their teens - I'm sure she'll make her own way and do well in the long term

 

[tooterfish]

Quite frankly, a lot of game players today are not used to imagining anything as the rules are clearly defined, the sandboxes are small and everything is very clearly illustrated and cut-scened out for them.

I think you're painting with an overly broad brush here.

There's a renaissance of sandbox building games at the moment. In Minecraft alone there are millions upon millions of gamers out there creating entire worlds for themselves, and the demographic is overwhelmingly children and young teens.

edit: ^^ what he said ^^

 

[CaptGrumpyPants]

I think you're painting with an overly broad brush here.

There's a renaissance of sandbox building games at the moment. In Minecraft alone there are millions upon millions of gamers out there creating entire worlds for themselves, and the demographic is overwhelmingly children and young teens.

edit: ^^ what he said ^^

I did say 'lots' and not all; not even 'most'. But, in a reality where teen athletes play games as much as(if not more than) the brainy kids, I have noticed a lot of copy catting being done inside MineCraft. They can build whatever they want but the vast majority tend to mime things they have already seen before. There are the inspirational few that have truly created something new or different within MineCraft but they are not the majority of players. For example some few players create working machines and computers or new games within the game-- most recreate games/movies/places they've already played or seen; I don't find that very encouraging.

This is just my experience; your universal experience may differ

 

[Thygrrr]

Insightful... and Minecraft itself has spawned so many copycat games, it's not funny anymore. But you could also say it created a new Genre, which is probably more appropriate.

 

[tooterfish]

So if you give a kid a load of generic Lego bricks and he builds an X-Wing, he's not being creative?

Copying is one of the ways we learn. They're still creating and shaping their environment, even if they're taking inspiration from other things.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

I'd bet there are patterns to NPC AI and I bet that people work them out. When that happens they will make strategies to beat the AI and then farming will commence.

Look at the vids people have posted from Alpha (I know they will plug the exploits) so far. People have finished the entire run of missions in less than a day - they will farm credits and kit out their ships offline where the progress is more predictable.

Alpha AI is quite early in development (and what's good that it can very much improved during all development cycle, so they can work independently), and those people are mostly good at space gaming. Usually those who farm aren't that skillful - that's whole reason, well, why they farm.

Also scenarios repeat same setup over and over again. In ED if you fail in one case, you are not given to try it again. Next time there will be different ship, different scene, different setup for your ship, etc.

 

[Thygrrr]

So if you give a kid a load of generic Lego bricks and he builds an X-Wing, he's not being creative?

I'd say not entirely as creative as designing and building his own spaceships would make him.

The problem solving involved is very different though; as a kid I always wanted to build the Scorpion Tanks from Battle Isle (I) and just never got them right, so I have a lot of respect for people who replicate things in Lego, assuming they don't use pre-made Lego sets made for that purpose (like the Millenium Falcon set). Then it's only as creative as solving a jigsaw puzzle.

 

[Memnoch]

Since every one is seeming ignoring you again I'll take a stab.

People believe players will build up resources in single player mode to build up their ship, weapons and credits... Then they will switch to MP and gank everyone (Remember I'm just the messenger )

Imagine their shock when they lose all their stuff to players who are just better pilots than them. All that farming for nothing. <shakes head>

 

[Memnoch]

I won't run away from such people, I will train my combat skills against NPCs to whoop their sorry asses. I really hope people will use call for help in such scenarios so I can teach some of them a lesson.

I think that is one of the main things I am looking forward to, helping others in tight situations. Hopefully FD will design things to that if one player is being attacked by another player and they call for help, my assistance doesn't attract the attention of the Police.

 

[CaptGrumpyPants]

Also scenarios repeat same setup over and over again. In ED if you fail in one case, you are not given to try it again. Next time there will be different ship, different scene, different setup for your ship, etc.

Isn't that one of the greatest things about Elite? The experience is never exactly the same thing twice.