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

[FuzzySpider]

ah no worries some days i'm like an pet wolf with trigger words.. one minute im chewing through my latest toy, then the next....... lol

Try this. It's helped me out of a dark mood a few times.

[video=youtube;qkpyd2lr4dI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkpyd2lr4dI[/video]

Indeed, I've moved my position on this.

First, no longer cloning. Just increasing the % chance of encounter.
Secondly, no mode considerations. Solo Players would increase the % chance of Open NPC spawns just as much as Open players would increase % chance spawn of Solo NPCs.

Would the type of ships and the build of those ships affect the % chance of spawn of Solo NPCs of the faction? For example, if a lot of PC vultures were flying in the system would that cause an increase of NPC vultures?

Also, would this only work in contested systems or any system? If any system this would lead to an increase in faction PCs in systems that are controlled by that power. For example there would be more NPCs for Winters in Rhea, that would increase immersion. But if this was the case certain systems would have to be excluded - notably Founders World and maybe the Empire and Federation capitals (unless those systems had an absolute strictly enforced ceasefire between imperial and federal factions.)

 

[TruffleSnout]

I would wait for some on the other side of the fence to pitch in, as it might satisfy those that think the current set up is unfair on Open players. An increase in NPC's number and ability should then quieten down some of the more vocal proponents of deleting solo/separate servers/separate save slots.

Agreed, I would like to hear some of the thoughts of the Open crowd on this.

This idea would partially address pirate concerns (regardless of their mode) in that they would start seeing more NPCs with decent cargo. It would also partially address Open concerns that their actions don't have effects on Solo players. In fact, not only would a high Open presence increase NPC presence for Solo players, but a high Solo presence would also affect other Solo players (as well as Open).

At the end of the day, this doesn't address the issue of the number of players in Open, which for some Open players is the only thing they want: more humans to interact with (regardless of the type of interactions). But being the personality type that I am, I'm probably the least qualified to come up with ideas for how to get humans to interact with each other more often.

 

[TruffleSnout]

Would the type of ships and the build of those ships affect the % chance of spawn of Solo NPCs of the faction? For example, if a lot of PC vultures were flying in the system would that cause an increase of NPC vultures?

Also, would this only work in contested systems or any system? If any system this would lead to an increase in faction PCs in systems that are controlled by that power. For example there would be more NPCs for Winters in Rhea, that would increase immersion. But if this was the case certain systems would have to be excluded - notably Founders World and maybe the Empire and Federation capitals (unless those systems had an absolute strictly enforced ceasefire between imperial and federal factions.)

In my mind, it would affect any system. Preferably in the galaxy. Might be nice as an explorer to drop into a system 10,000 Ly away and see an NPC Asp flying around in SC. Though that might have to be balanced in favor of performance, so it may need to be limited to populated systems.

As far as what would affect the spawn rate, at the very least it would be type of ship and type of cargo (if any), and faction - if enrolled in PP. Nice to have would be weapon/equipment loadout as well.

And you're right there would need to be a few special cases like Founder's World that would need to be dealt with.

 

[QziQza]

Try this. It's helped me out of a dark mood a few times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkpyd2lr4dI

im from Glasgow.. there was no doubt in my mind he was telling the truth lol

 

[Spook]

Domination/Dictation/control of space across all modes, instigated and controlled from one mode.

It need to be tied into the PP mechanic or it's a non-starter, if somebody's partaking in PP then fine. If not, there's a reason people choose solo. Personally I'm happy to deal with whatever the system security level throws my way, happy to handle whatever FD decides is a challenging NPC commensurate with my rank. I'm not here to put up having system xyz blocked in game because some random peeps from an out of game forum decide it was out of bounds and they "own" it.

 

[Cody]

I know Cody likes to keep a list of insults thrown at the solo/group crowd, but in all honesty do those insults really bother you?

Jockey has answered that perfectly, but for the record: those insults do not bother me in the slightest!
Mocking such insults is simply my way of saying 'Grow up!' to the jerks that use them. <spits>

 

[CMDR Malkov]

Agreed, I would like to hear some of the thoughts of the Open crowd on this.

I tentatively suggested something very similar a few days ago in this thread and it was shot down in flames..
It's kinda odd how people now seem to think it might be a reasonable idea.

Unless I am completely misunderstanding what is being suggested, of course.

 

[Belzmort]

Jockey has answered that perfectly, but for the record: those insults do not bother me in the slightest!
Mocking such insults is simply my way of saying 'Grow up!' to the jerks that use them. <spits>

To be fair I didn't think anyone was truly bothered about the name calling. I just find it amusing that some within this thread moan about name-calling then go ahead and name call. "Grow up" how very dare you, I am clinging on to my youth as best a 40 something person can.

 

[TruffleSnout]

Domination/Dictation/control of space across all modes, instigated and controlled from one mode.

Nope. No control involved. Only a possible increase in NPC spawn rates based on player presence, and it happens from all modes to all modes, so is actually completely mode-agnostic.

 

[Cody]

"Grow up" how very dare you, I am clinging on to my youth as best a 40 something person can.

<grins> What I'd give to be a forty-something again - now get off my lawn!

 

[Dave1235]

No, you're still dealing with NPCs/AI in Solo, not other Players. That is the very definition of PvE. PvP means you would be dealing with other Humans.

And what are the chances of 12 Elite players (that all own Anacondas) all logging in at the same time as you? My example was hyperbolic for illustration purposes. During Lembava the biggest PvP force seen in system was a trio of guys, biggest one in a Clipper, iirc. It would have been nice to see a hostile NPC Clipper when I went there in Solo to reflect that.

Would your suggestion work outside of CG's? lets look at Leesti for example, are people going to have to avoid it in solo and groups too, because the AI there replicate the players who decided to take over there in open?

 

[TruffleSnout]

Would your suggestion work outside of CG's? lets look at Leesti for example, are people going to have to avoid it in solo and groups too, because the AI there replicate the players who decided to take over there in open?

I've refined the idea a bit after that particular post, but no, nobody would have to avoid Leesti. Might need more care going in as there would likely be a higher than normal amount of NPC pirate traffic. How much "higher than normal" is still up for debate.

And just to be clear to everyone, I'm not saying that these spawns would somehow magically act like the players they are simulating. They're still NPCs governed by the behaviors programmed by she-who-shall-not-be-named.

 

[FuzzySpider]

Would your suggestion work outside of CG's? lets look at Leesti for example, are people going to have to avoid it in solo and groups too, because the AI there replicate the players who decided to take over there in open?

As I understand it this would only affect powerplay. Standard "vanilla" players wouldn't necessarily increase the presence of "vanilla" NPCs.

And even if they did, it doesn't mean that the NPC clones would behave as their PC counterparts do. This idea wasn't about blockading a system from normal player activity, just affecting the powerplay environment.

 

[Belzmort]

Would your suggestion work outside of CG's? lets look at Leesti for example, are people going to have to avoid it in solo and groups too, because the AI there replicate the players who decided to take over there in open?

I do think that there should be some thought in where you can and cannot go in solo mode due to a NPC presence. I am not talking blockades, but increases AI ability that a player in solo can't just take it for granted any system might get the odd interdiction. Admittedly things might have changed in the last few weeks as I got bored of trading, did a bit of RES hunting, but as soon as I got my X52 I decided on a trip to the core, so NPC interdictions might have increased. I don't think the devs have the technology to replicate the actions of individual players in any given system, but a broad brush stroke to increase NPC numbers to match the busier systems in open would be a welcome addition.

 

[TruffleSnout]

As I understand it this would only affect powerplay. Standard "vanilla" players wouldn't necessarily increase the presence of "vanilla" NPCs.

I would actually like to see the vanilla game impacted, too. Just for color. If I happen to drop into a system that has Paladium for cheap, might be cool to see a few NPC trade Conda's and T9s flying about. PP will see the biggest affect of this of course since PP folks can kill each other for "free", but I'd still like to see vanilla stuff being affected some.

 

[Spook]

As I understand it this would only affect powerplay. Standard "vanilla" players wouldn't necessarily increase the presence of "vanilla" NPCs.

And even if they did, it doesn't mean that the NPC clones would behave as their PC counterparts do. This idea wasn't about blockading a system from normal player activity, just affecting the powerplay environment.

If it's tied to powerplay, as in the solo player is pledged then fine, if not then it's pointless, a mechanic that messes with the solo player for no reason:

An oldie, and tangentally on the subject of guilds but the sentiment displayed in the bolded quote should IMHO still hold true:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-c...yer_embedded&x-yt-ts=1421914688&v=dJzizYUEF9c


Host - “Someone asks – Will there be a Corporation, Clan or Guild system in Elite Dangerous?”

DB - “Right, there is the sort of Friends Alliance, but at least to start with we’ve not got Guilds and Clans. I think what we don’t want is the whole game to become ossified very quickly. Where you have to join one or the other to have any kind of fun gameplay.

I do like that, essentially it’s the game of the freedom of the individual. The ability to just go out and do your own thing.

Guilds can very easily become almost like Mafiosi, saying don’t travel here or we’ll kill you.

So I think it’s something that we will look at, and are looking at, but Friends Groups, which are very much more constrained, I think are great. But then when it gets very much beyond that It becomes a bit… It doesn’t feel right."

If not carefully considered that's exactly what this mechanic could effectively grant.

 

[DarkWalker]

if you were in a station you would insta log.

If there was a setting to Real-Life® where you could only be interrupted in your game when it was safe to log off, there would be no need for this discussion

 

[relayer]

The main problem with voice attack as I see it is that with voice attack, your whole family know you're spending far too much time playing Elite; "All you ever do is play that damned game!"

And the neighbors...

 

[TruffleSnout]

If not carefully considered that's exactly what this mechanic could effectively grant.

I understand your concerns, and share them. I don't much care for Mafia-style player groups, either.

But what we're talking about here is an increase in NPC traffic, governed by NPC rules. If you are pledged to a Power, and the NPC is pledged to an opposing Power, then there are NPC rules about how they are going to behave (mostly by shooting you ). But if they are not aligned, or you are not aligned, then they are going to behave along the lines of existing vanilla NPCs. Some will try to pirate you because some NPCs try that. Some will ignore you because some NPCs will ignore you.

The only thing these player groups can influence is the spawn rate of NPCs, not the ruleset those NPCs use.

 

[Belzmort]

If it's tied to powerplay, as in the solo player is pledged then fine, if not then it's pointless, a mechanic that messes with the solo player for no reason:

Adding more NPC's to the busier systems, to CG's, more pirates in anarchy systems, more police in high-tech/security systems would add context and flavour to a somewhat bland solo experience. I play solo/group for mirade of reasons, but I really want to see some diversity in space. I don't do PP as I can't connect with any of the powers, nor see any reason to get involved, but I do want to see a vibrant galaxy.