Modes The Solo vs Open vs Groups Thread - Part the Second [Now With Added Platforms].

[DarkWalker]

This game just needs a separate online only server.

I think you mean open-only server.

As long as the current one, with all its modes isn't changed, and all content is released to both servers without any mode-based or server-based discrimination, I'm not against this. I just think it won't attract enough players to have the intensity of player contact, and conflict, that those proposing this change want.

 

[Aimeryan]

What if some Open players don't care about that? What if some Solo players do? What about people who play in different modes at different times? They have to do everything twice. The game is designed for people to switch, not for people to self-lock to one mode.

If Solo players cared about being able to interact with other players participating in an interactive competition where two or more sides are in direct confrontation (Powerplay) they wouldn't be playing Solo... it is sort of the point. If you are in Open, regardless of whether you want others to interact with you or not they are going to do so - they aren't simply going to let you "arm the enemy" if they can stop it - even FD have said this is fair game.

You wouldn't be locked. I have said multiple times that under my suggestion you could switch as you could now, with your commander, ship, balance, coming with you.

 

[Jordan Cobalt]

i wasn't argumenting (this time).
just telling in simple words how things most likely work. i can't tell for sure because i'm not working for Frontier.

working with multi server environments was part of my job for more than 20 years...

I wasn't arguing either, sorry if it seemed like it.

 

[FuzzySpider]

I think you are misunderstanding. Simply being, the Open universe would be for those that want to ensure everyone involved in affecting the universe is capable of being affected by players in response (not that they necessarily will), while the Solo/Private universe would be essentially for those that don't care about that. It means both playstyles are catered for.

But you are not and never will be capable of being affected by all players in Open. There is instancing. There are timezones. There is work or tidying up or taking the dog for a walk while someone else plays. You can't affect everyone playing no matter what mode.

Secondly, what's all this obsession with blockading all of a sudden? It's not only pointless to contemplate for technical reasons but it wouldn't work in the Elite universe either. If a station was being blockaded they'd send security forces out to deal with the blockaders, then a conflict zone would develop where your blockade was. It really sounds to me as though a lot of people here want to play an entirely different game. I myself loved that game...

[video=youtube;deSBJZXkH2w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deSBJZXkH2w[/video]

...the epic battles of Colony Wars and all. But Elite isn't that game. Elite takes place in a lonesome, deep, isolated, cold and solitary place. Encounters with others are supposed to be rare and sometimes deadly. It has never been a glorious space battle game a-la Colony Wars, Wing Commander, or some Star Wars derivative.

 

[Aimeryan]

You have no idea what would need to be multiplied / copied / shared or anything else.
FD have never told anyone how this service is set up, so this speculation is pointless and a dead end, as FD want everyone together with the same BGS (try reading the OP and post 3).

I love how people suddenly know everything there is to know about how a game works despite not working for the games company
We know, what they tell us - which... is in post 1 and post 3 of this thread, page 1.... go for gold.

Yes, we do. There is going to be data that is specific to Powerplay. It isn't going to be somehow "glued" to the Galaxy assets. That is what would need to be copied. I don't think anyone has suggested a separate "Galaxy" (i.e., different stars, planets, etc.).

 

[SteveLaw]

You wouldn't be locked. I have said multiple times that under my suggestion you could switch as you could now, with your commander, ship, balance, coming with you.

What about the influence of the factions in the systems which I spent weeks and months affecting? What about the influence I put into the Powers that I've been working for? If I bring my credits with me, what about the influence to the factions where I earned those credits? Does that also come with me?

 

[Herik]

Losing out on fun interaction.

Which won't bother them, and if it does they'll go to Mobius.

 

[Aimeryan]

But you are not and never will be capable of being affected by all players in Open. There is instancing. There are timezones. There is work or tidying up or taking the dog for a walk while someone else plays. You can't affect everyone playing no matter what mode.

Yeah, I have mentioned before that I am not serious about any suggestion because there are so many other issues that it wouldn't work anyway. Instancing is probably the major one. Then there is network configuration, combat logging, cheating, probably numerous other issues with a peer-to-peer network.

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Which won't bother them, and if it does they'll go to Mobius.

If you want to understand the comment you'll need to read the posts that follow it. The basic just is that people don't know what they are missing when they choose the easy immediate gratification option. But please, read the other posts.

 

[Jockey79]

Yes, we do. There is going to be data that is specific to Powerplay. It isn't going to be somehow "glued" to the Galaxy assets. That is what would need to be copied. I don't think anyone has suggested a separate "Galaxy" (i.e., different stars, planets, etc.).

Did you even read why Offline was cancelled - here is a clue, the BGS "is too large"
If you want a server for just Open players... newsflash, you need a separate BGS so Solo/Groups don't have any impact on it, and FD are not willing to have 2 "massive" databases to keep updated.

This was stated by FD a long time ago - you are speculating and know nothing of what needs to be done to have a second service set up just for Open players.

 

[Cody]

The basic just is that people don't know what they are missing when they choose the easy immediate gratification option.

<chortles>

 

[Asp Explorer]

This data is likely quite small (I wouldn't be surprise if any of our PCs could hold this data many many times over).

You can fill any hard drive with one number - pi.

 

[Aimeryan]

What about the influence of the factions in the systems which I spent weeks and months affecting? What about the influence I put into the Powers that I've been working for? If I bring my credits with me, what about the influence to the factions where I earned those credits? Does that also come with me?

That would be separate, for the reasons stated; indeed, you could argue most of the thread is meta-discussion on those reasons.

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You can fill any hard drive with one number - pi.

Thank you for that little bit of information.

 

[FuzzySpider]

I have to reiterate, again, that there is no such thing as "Open players" or "Solo players". There are "players", the vast majority of whom will alternate between solo, open, and group as they see fit.

Any talk of splitting the game modes* universe up between the three will massively inconvenience almost everyone playing for the dubious benefits of a few people posting here.

*strike that.

 

[Aimeryan]

Did you even read why Offline was cancelled - here is a clue, the BGS "is too large"
If you want a server for just Open players... newsflash, you need a separate BGS so Solo/Groups don't have any impact on it, and FD are not willing to have 2 "massive" databases to keep updated.

This was stated by FD a long time ago - you are speculating and know nothing of what needs to be done to have a second service set up just for Open players.

Which has no relevance here as that is not what is being discussed.

 

[SteveLaw]

That would be separate, for the reasons stated; indeed, you could argue most of the thread is meta-discussion on those reasons.

Which means that no-one will swap. I'm not going to abandon all the work I put into Powers or factions. You've made sure that any Solo/Group players who might have occasinally played Open, won't. You've just removed a little bit more of the potential interaction from your game. That's your fun you are reducing.

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Which has no relevance here as that is not what is being discussed.

It's exactly what is being discussed. Keeping separate copies of the BGS.

 

[FuzzySpider]

Which means that no-one will swap. I'm not going to abandon all the work I put into Powers or factions. You've made sure that any Solo/Group players who might have occasinally played Open, won't. You've just removed a little bit more of the potential interaction from your game. That's your fun you are reducing.

I've tried to explain that to him a few ways several times now. I am the exact demographic he wants to get into Open more. A player who is in Solo a lot, who likes interaction, and is willing to go to Open more.

Few people have addressed the things that keep me in Solo (pointless pew pew pew, unimmersive interactions and interdictions). All I see are fresh ideas to keep me away from Open.

 

[Aimeryan]

I have to reiterate, again, that there is no such thing as "Open players" or "Solo players". There are "players", the vast majority of whom will alternate between solo, open, and group as they see fit.

Any talk of splitting the game modes* universe up between the three will massively inconvenience almost everyone playing for the dubious benefits of a few people posting here.

*strike that.

Matter of meaning. When I mention "Open player" I merely mean a player in Open at that time. Similar for Solo player. I do not imply that these are isolated peoples. I can't say the same is necessarily true for other posters as well, but perhaps that is what they mean too.

As for the splitting up, my suggestion is for two universes (though I doubt you care about the number), and I see the benefit of additionally catering to a potentially large number of player's playstyle as outweighing the devastating loss of there being two, instead of one.

If you want to look at it another way, keep Solo, Private Group, and Open exactly as they are - all shared. Then add a Open-style mode that is separate, to cater for everyone that is arguing for this sort of thing.

 

[Jockey79]

You can fill any hard drive with one number - pi.

LOL

And someone I can +1 !!!!!

Not had that in days

Which has no relevance here as that is not what is being discussed.

So, the talk about splitting the service so Open have their own "server" isn't related at all to FD saying the BGS (which would be needed for another "server") is too large for them to maintain more than 1 version of it.
Plus, this is different to locking out the modes how exactly?

A shared BGS with mode swapping has been part of the plan for over 2 years now (really, read post 1 and post 3 and keep reading them until you get that).
If you don't like it, then, sorry - but this is how the game was designed (on purpose), take it or leave it are your choices (or keep moaning about it for no reason - it entertains folks at least).

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I've tried to explain that to him a few ways several times now. I am the exact demographic he wants to get into Open more. A player who is in Solo a lot, who likes interaction, and is willing to go to Open more.

Few people have addressed the things that keep me in Solo (pointless pew pew pew, unimmersive interactions and interdictions). All I see are fresh ideas to keep me away from Open.

Try Mobius, folks are so happy there - I cannot even get them to come here and tell these naysayers how happy they are - because they are too busy being happy

 

[Cody]

All I see are fresh ideas to keep me away from Open.

<grins> Strange that, ain't it? Yet they keep on coming!

 

[Aimeryan]

It's exactly what is being discussed. Keeping separate copies of the BGS.

No, because that poster is assuming that you have to copy all the galaxy assets data too, which you don't. Offline mode would need essentially the entire game stored locally, which would indeed likely be not possible (for anyone without a server!).