Modes The Solo vs Open vs Groups Thread - Mk III

[EdzUp]

Well, that's me done with Open.

I started playing this game in solo. It made no sense to me why I would offer myself up as laserbait for disgruntled tweeners, so I never bothered. Over time, though, I began to wonder... am I missing out?

So sometime after pledging, I start playing in open. I see a lot of different commanders, but rarely do they ever talk to me, or reply when I talk to them. It doesn't feel much less lonely than it did before, but, ah, well.

Except today. I'm in my power's home system, and I'm running a mission. Bang, interdicted... by someone ALSO PLEDGED TO MY POWER! Why? I'm not wanted. I'm not carrying anything.

I'm inderdicted and I find myself surrounded by four of them. I say "Hello." They immediately open fire. I manage to jump out, but they just interdict me again.

They, once again, immediately open fire. I call out, Why?? We're allies! No response.

I explode. $3.5million hit to the wallet. For NO REASON. And the kicker is, I can't even message them to ask them why, because ​the game won't let me.

So, you open players can kiss my . You can shove your emergent content right where it doesn't shine. This was in the heart of my power's strength, in what should be the most secure region of space for hundreds of lightyears, and these four clowns are just murdering people out in the open. This is like a gang of serial killers standing at a toll booth on Interstate 95 just stabbing motorists with impunity. It makes NO sense and adds ZERO value to my gaming experience.

Hello to solo, and goodbye to the rest of you.

It's this sort of thing that needs a FUGITIVE status that cannot be paid off and is only ever removed from the player account when the time runs out, having to play nice for a week might help or either that or they get killed. Also it gets extended for each new kill at least then FDEV can spot the problems easier as those with the status for more than a week are killing people just for kicks, yes its a game choice but when it starts impacting the game in a big way then something needs sorting.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Well, that's me done with Open.

like a gang of serial killers standing at a toll booth on Interstate 95 just stabbing motorists with impunity. It makes NO sense and adds ZERO value to my gaming experience..

Edited as now on keyboard!.

Hi cmdr. As already said there is another way. A lot on here hate mentioning it but if you are going to solo anyway try mobius it is much closer to the original vision of the game with a much more co-operative focus outside of a few designated areas.... It does not quite offer the original vision as there is NO player piracy etc but if you are going to solo anyway this offers some interaction without the backstabbing and psychpathy for lolz..

The repercussions or lack therein is my issue with open too. Not that this is possible as this was always to be the case but that there are not any lasting consequences for it. Back in the day we were told that players COULD kill for no reason at all but that the game would push back to minimise. I agree with the poster who suggested a fugative status for those blowing up clean pilots federation members....... As I understood it, pilots federation members were like made men in the mafia. Killing made men in the mafia is generally not a good idea unless you have a damn good reason to.

 

[MegaJohnny]

Sure, there are... like i play with my thousand organised friends in solo and screw your trade route into the ground, in your territory, behind your back, in a private group.

Enjoy.

I don't see the problem. Trade routes get exhausted over time, and you've got real problems if you organised a thousand people to get a trader to think "blimey, that went quick, time to reassess the local economy"

 

[relayer]

Except today. I'm in my power's home system, and I'm running a mission. Bang, interdicted... by someone ALSO PLEDGED TO MY POWER! Why? I'm not wanted. I'm not carrying anything.

I'm inderdicted and I find myself surrounded by four of them. I say "Hello." They immediately open fire. I manage to jump out, but they just interdict me again.

What you have to do in that position is to high-wake out; that is, jump to another system, not somewhere in the same system. Jump twice and you'll leave them behind.

Sorry you had to experience that, and thanks for your post. As you can imagine, these stories come up fairly often and are brushed away by a segment of players who try to explain away such stories as either exaggerations or wild one-off happenings because they reflect badly on open.

There's a lot of open players who are not like that. Some post here. It is a small minority of players who use tactics like that. Some things have been proposed in this thread to deal with such: 'sticky' bounties on the player, not the ship comes to mind. Until then, unfortunately, open is where you will encounter this small minority of players.

I third (or fourth) the suggestion that you try the Mobius group if you are considering going into solo.

- - - Updated - - -

It's this sort of thing that needs a FUGITIVE status that cannot be paid off and is only ever removed from the player account when the time runs out, having to play nice for a week might help or either that or they get killed. Also it gets extended for each new kill at least then FDEV can spot the problems easier as those with the status for more than a week are killing people just for kicks, yes its a game choice but when it starts impacting the game in a big way then something needs sorting.

This is another good mechanism proposed to deal with this kind of thing.
+rep

 

[Seonid]

what is most laughable is the idea that Mobius is some coordinated group of 10000 that are all for the same power..

But they are, they are playing for the power called "Choice", to play the game they paid for in the way that they want to play it. Scary concept I know...

 

[Scudmungus]

But they are, they are playing for the power called "Choice", to play the game they paid for in the way that they want to play it. Scary concept I know...

"Choice" soundin like dem purity/chastity groups.

Wonderin wot de Power weapons gonna be

 

[Mouse]

But they are, they are playing for the power called "Choice", to play the game they paid for in the way that they want to play it. Scary concept I know...

I meant PP power but I like the idea that we are all fighting for choice.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Reference: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=169932

To the OP's question: "is this fair?" the answer seems to be: no it isn't, but that's the way it is, deal with it.

Please continue to complain it's not fair there's a solo mode

 

[Tuub t Tute]

"Choice" soundin like dem purity/chastity groups.

Wonderin wot de Power weapons gonna be

A cloaking device that returns the message "Sorry, I'm washing my hair tonight" when you try and interdict them?

 

[Jockey79]

But they are, they are playing for the power called "Choice", to play the game they paid for in the way that they want to play it. Scary concept I know...

They could unite soon and play for the Mobius Faction there is talk of.
Even better, we could end up seeing the man himself - on the Power Play board.

How are the open(PvP) advocates going to feel then, knowing a PvE group, is playing the PvE game and getting results, while they ignore the PvE side of the game and get nowhere?

Mind you, I think CQC could be out by then, so the PvP career path should be up and running - so they may now care. Plus, you never know - if enough people play CQC, we could see another player faction emerge from it.

 

[Neminem]

I don't think so; FD has said they're commited to the three modes. It would be no skin off their back if only .00percentage of players play open; I believe "open" is just a flag switch. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I do not think you are wrong. In fact I think keeping the three modes as they are is the most probable reaction even if the numbers in the three modes would evolve as drastical as Jesse described in his post you answered to. I just wanted to "guess" the other extreme to Jesse's proposal of introducing open-only features if open would turn into a wasteland (what I do not think will happen).

Having said that, I have to admit my choice to quote and answer to you instead of Jesse's post was the second best of two possible choices.

 

[Nick S]

(NS:-There should be an incentive to stay in Open)

Why? All that says is that you consider anyone that does not play in one of the three legitimate (by design) games modes are inferior to you and should be punished because you personally don't like it.

I'm afraid I wasn't clear. You are right in saying there are three legitimate (by design) game modes. The problem is in balancing them. PowerPlay has made Open significantly more dangerous than Solo for any aligned player. As a result I have been forced against my instincts to go Solo after many months of Open flying. As this is mainly a PowerPlay problem I would suggest that a re-balancing solution could be implemented within the PowerPlay reward structure.

 

[Mouse]

I'm afraid I wasn't clear. You are right in saying there are three legitimate (by design) game modes. The problem is in balancing them. PowerPlay has made Open significantly more dangerous than Solo for any aligned player. As a result I have been forced against my instincts to go Solo after many months of Open flying. As this is mainly a PowerPlay problem I would suggest that a re-balancing solution could be implemented within the PowerPlay reward structure.

I'm not trying to be mean, but you went into open knowingly and prepared to be shot at, now your complaining that people are shooting at you so you were forced to solo?

 

[Nick S]

I'm not trying to be mean, but you went into open knowingly and prepared to be shot at, now your complaining that people are shooting at you so you were forced to solo?

No, I'm not complaining about being hunted down by battle-hardened wings, when I'm simply trading. I'm only saying the risk/reward ratio is now so heavily biased as to make me choose Solo, which is a shame, because I enjoyed meeting other players in space, friendly and not so friendly.

 

[Mohrgan]

I'm afraid I wasn't clear. You are right in saying there are three legitimate (by design) game modes. The problem is in balancing them. PowerPlay has made Open significantly more dangerous than Solo for any aligned player. As a result I have been forced against my instincts to go Solo after many months of Open flying. As this is mainly a PowerPlay problem I would suggest that a re-balancing solution could be implemented within the PowerPlay reward structure.

This concept is brought up time and time again. But you have discovered the inherent balance. Everyone has access to any of the Modes. When you want the struggle, play in open. When you want to team up and get things done, try a private group. When you want to just hit the grindstone, log into solo. It is only your prejudice that makes you feel this way. You just have to apply the modes properly. Based on your goals.

The question is, why should the game be balanced around your (and I mean those with your opinion) gamer ethics? If all three modes are legitimate, why not use them? Open is just one of the available options, it is not the default setting. Use them as you would any of the ships that you fly. You wouldn't use a Vulture to grind a trade route, so why would you not jump into the most effective Mode?

 

[Neminem]

I'm afraid I wasn't clear. You are right in saying there are three legitimate (by design) game modes. The problem is in balancing them. PowerPlay has made Open significantly more dangerous than Solo for any aligned player. As a result I have been forced against my instincts to go Solo after many months of Open flying. As this is mainly a PowerPlay problem I would suggest that a re-balancing solution could be implemented within the PowerPlay reward structure.

Re-balancing could also mean implementing better (more realistic) crime punishment. The actual situation is like seeking out and destroying cars parked in no-parking-zones with Predator UAVs, while IS and Al-Qaida recieve kind letters, that ask them humbly to donate a three-digit amount of money to a NGO / non-profit-organisation of their choice.

 

[Nick S]

This concept is brought up time and time again. But you have discovered the inherent balance. Everyone has access to any of the Modes. When you want the struggle, play in open. When you want to team up and get things done, try a private group. When you want to just hit the grindstone, log into solo. It is only your prejudice that makes you feel this way. You just have to apply the modes properly. Based on your goals.

The question is, why should the game be balanced around your (and I mean those with your opinion) gamer ethics? If all three modes are legitimate, why not use them? Open is just one of the available options, it is not the default setting. Use them as you would any of the ships that you fly. You wouldn't use a Vulture to grind a trade route, so why would you not jump into the most effective Mode?

I understand your point and I guess it comes down to whether FD see decline (if any) in Open play as a problem.

I have to say, from my point of view, the idea of swapping modes like swapping ships is not how I envisaged entering an immersive galaxy.

 

[stripealipe]

No, I'm not complaining about being hunted down by battle-hardened wings, when I'm simply trading. I'm only saying the risk/reward ratio is now so heavily biased as to make me choose Solo, which is a shame, because I enjoyed meeting other players in space, friendly and not so friendly.

So, there you are now flying around in solo.. happily trading away and then you get interdicted. Wing of NPCs muttering the same old crap and trying to shoot you down. This happens again and again. Fairly consistently actually, with it's random and somewhat annoying slant.

Now where are you gonna go?
Open has danger and now you find out that solo has danger too. And in both examples you can get away almost as easy as each other if you're smart and ready for such encounters, but it's obviosuly the fact that someone or something along the way is going to try and stop you going about your business.

So i'm very interested about what you do next? You certainly won't find much gratification from this game by just sitting in dock...

 

[Nick S]

So, there you are now flying around in solo.. happily trading away and then you get interdicted. Wing of NPCs muttering the same old crap and trying to shoot you down. This happens again and again. Fairly consistently actually, with it's random and somewhat annoying slant.

Now where are you gonna go?
Open has danger and now you find out that solo has danger too. And in both examples you can get away almost as easy as each other if you're smart and ready for such encounters, but it's obviosuly the fact that someone or something along the way is going to try and stop you going about your business.

So i'm very interested about what you do next? You certainly won't find much gratification from this game by just sitting in dock...

I can see that you've not experienced the relentless battle-hardened wing hunting I'm talking about.

 

[Mohrgan]

I understand your point and I guess it comes down to whether FD see decline (if any) in Open play as a problem.

I have to say, from my point of view, the idea of swapping modes like swapping ships is not how I envisaged entering an immersive galaxy.

I can't see why FD would care what mode people play in, as long as they are playing, and enjoying. Immersion and Bug are two words that should be stricken from the dictionary, at least where the forums are concerned. I find immersion in the cockpit, not the mode. All three modes are the exact same galaxy, with the difference of who you chose to play with. You have a ethical need to play in open. That's commendable, but why should that be forced on others, or specifically rewarded? It's your decision after all. Rethink the way you look at the modes and much of your angst will recede.