Hello Commanders!
This is a quick update to let you guys know what we’re looking at regarding the issue of “combat logging”.
For clarity’s sake, “combat logging” is when a Commander ungracefully exits the game (e.g. using ALT + F4 then shutting down the game process) to avoid defeat, destruction and damage.
Commanders might use this exploit the moment they are interdicted or the moment before they are about to be destroyed.
Although this is flagged primarily as a multiplayer concern, the issues (and solutions) apply equally to the single player game.
First things first: we do consider this an undesirable exploit. It’s not “part of the game”.
Because we don’t have an all powerful server running the moment-to-moment game play simulation, there is no infallible arbiter to take control of a player’s ship when they ungracefully exit.
So what we’re doing is logging telemetry that will help us detect when this exploit is explicitly being used.
Right now, all we’re doing (and have already started doing) is looking at and implementing methods of collecting and analysing data.
At some point, however, we will start to take action against Commanders using this exploit. I can only suggest that you should avoid using this exploit if you want to avoid any penalties issued for its use. I'll just repeat: please avoid combat logging - we're taking this issue very seriously.
On a related, but separate track, we’re looking at introducing benefits to Commanders that persevere and stick it out through dangerous encounters, as well as general credit costs and rewards balancing.
I’m not quite ready to talk about these in more detail just now. Obviously though, they can never counter the potential costs of ship destruction, but we want to look at a range of disincentives and incentives both to counter this issue.
I hope this helps clarify our position a little.
