Modes The Solo vs Open vs Groups Thread - Mk III

Do you want a Open PvE

  • Yes, I want a Open PvE

    Votes: 54 51.4%
  • No, I don't want a Open PvE

    Votes: 49 46.7%
  • I want only Open PvE and PvP only in groups

    Votes: 2 1.9%

  • Total voters
    105
  • Poll closed .
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Thread Closed: Not open for further replies.
It is amazing how many people don't get this and think that loss to someone is "funny" and quipped that it is "Just a game."

And it's quite amazing to me how the proponents of mode locking quite often ignore how much "work" it is required to rank up just one commander slot, not to mention one commander slot for each mode! They probably play only one mode so it does not affect them at all. Typical Seattle driver mentality -- for their convinience at others' expenses.

If ED is boring as is, how much more boring it would be to rank up 3 commander slots?

I have both Combat and Trade Elite. Anybody knows how much more work it is required to get another pair of Open Combat and Trade Elite? I still have a callus on my right thumb a month later just for pressing the secondary fire button for getting my Combat Elite. That's how much work!

The folx at ViperPit will be surprised to learn that the real reason I did not publish any F16 parts 3D model for 7 months was because I was playing ED.
 
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Well, I didn't actually say which tweaks FD would (could) take on board. :)

I can't really see how mode locking would really help the situation.
That's true :). Apolgies if my post implied that you did as it was aimed at the people wanting mode locking.
 
They should just delete PVP or delete Open.

Then the game can be truly about who can grind the most or whose faction grinds the most NPC's wins.

It's not a sandbox, but a Skinner's box. But a very short one as people run out of stuff to do after getting purdy ships.

Escorts, finding friends, cooperative CZ/CG/NAV/RES or PVP CZ/CG/NAV/RES, meaningful PVP, PowerPlay wars (not Undermining spam), bounty hunting, fun groups - who needs them?

All we need is a good NO PVP Solo/Open mode that we can grind in peace! and grind WE WILL LIKE GOD DAMN IT! Sandboxes and player interaction, who cares! NPC grinding will pave my way.

Don't even have to fix the unbalanced Ganker/Griefer crime system, because there will be no PVP in the first place! muhahahahaha yes yes yes yes yes!

The 2 biggest problems. Crime system that drives people FROM open and Solo > open removing interaction, will be no longer! Huzzah!


I can see it now, 2 years.

Oh no, our territory is put into turmoil. I better log on and kill 2000 NPC's in Supercruise to fix this! and get my rank 5!


-------------

But seriously, it reminds me of all those people in UO, EVE and RS who ask for the best minerals and resources to be put in safe areas - but don't realize if the devs put them there, the market will completely tank because everyone can do it with zero risk.

Or the same people who say the crafting or economy sucks in x,y,z games, but as soon as you tell them to get a good economy/crafting there needs to be a dying penalty, they reel back.

Same thing here, thnx meta-gaming and human psychology. Best way to do PowerPlay is the most grindy way.
 
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Just my thoughts here, but isn't Open technically more... you know... realistic?....

No, and I'll tell you why.

I've spent the last 20 years;
Walking around Coventry City Center, didn't talk to anyone and not been murdered once,
Walking around Coventry City Center, didn't talk to anyone and not been randomly attacked once,
I've Walked around London City Center more than once, without ever responding to random strangers and never been murdered once,
I've Walked around London City Center more than once, without ever responding to random strangers and never been attacked once.

Now try that with Lave and the surrounding areas in Open - for the next 20 years. If you can repeat the above, then you're right.
If not, then no - it is not "realistic". As random gangs of thugs and criminals don't walk the streets in busy areas lulz killing everyone they see, mainly due to that thing we call, "The Police".

They should just delete PVP or delete Open.

No open = No problems
Glad to see someone else on board with it. :)

Then no more argument with people trying to force themselves on unwilling victims.
 
They should just delete PVP or delete Open.

Then the game can be truly about who can grind the most or whose faction grinds the most NPC's wins.

It's not a sandbox, but a Skinner's box. But a very short one as people run out of stuff to do after getting purdy ships.

Escorts, finding friends, cooperative CZ/CG/NAV/RES or PVP CZ/CG/NAV/RES, meaningful PVP, PowerPlay wars (not Undermining spam), bounty hunting, fun groups - who needs them?

All we need is a good NO PVP Solo/Open mode that we can grind in peace! and grind WE WILL LIKE GOD DAMN IT! Sandboxes and player interaction, who cares! NPC grinding will pave my way.

Don't even have to fix the unbalanced Ganker/Griefer crime system, because there will be no PVP in the first place! muhahahahaha yes yes yes yes yes!

The 2 biggest problems. Crime system that drives people FROM open and Solo > open removing interaction, will be no longer! Huzzah!


I can see it now, 2 years.

Oh no, our territory is put into turmoil. I better log on and kill 2000 NPC's in Supercruise to fix this! and get my rank 5!


-------------

But seriously, it reminds me of all those people in UO, EVE and RS who ask for the best minerals and resources to be put in safe areas - but don't realize if the devs put them there, the market will completely tank because everyone can do it with zero risk.

Or the same people who say the crafting or economy sucks in x,y,z games, but as soon as you tell them to get a good economy/crafting there needs to be a dying penalty, they reel back.

Same thing here, thnx meta-gaming and human psychology. Best way to do PowerPlay is the most grindy way.


Wow.. rarely do I see a written temper tantrum, thank you for the opportunity. You seem to think PVP is essential to the game, and because others don't this is how you reply?

I'm starting to think you do not know what a sandbox game is, nowhere in a sandbox game is PVP a requirement. Some have PVP some don't. And you use "meta-gaming", but again you are using words out of context. In truth if you have used any website to look for profitable trade routes, help build your ship, to find where a ship component is located, or looked for a route to a system than you are technically meta gaming. Playing a game without PVP is NOT in anyway metagaming. You think anyone not playing PVP is playing without risk, yet that is your opinion and has been proven false time and time again.

Your entire rant above is nothing more than that .. a rant..without merit or substance lambasting PVE just because you don't like it. PVP is a part of the game, be it CQC, in open, or even in private groups. The actions of some abusing the PVP system may be seen as Metagaming possibly.. so maybe your rant though directed at those of us who do not engage in PVP is more properly directed back at those who don't PVP, but instead abuse the PVP system to grief/gank.
 
But seriously, it reminds me of all those people in UO, EVE and RS who ask for the best minerals and resources to be put in safe areas - but don't realize if the devs put them there, the market will completely tank because everyone can do it with zero risk.

Or the same people who say the crafting or economy sucks in x,y,z games, but as soon as you tell them to get a good economy/crafting there needs to be a dying penalty, they reel back.

is good then that we dont have that type of economy here :D
 
No, and I'll tell you why.

I've spent the last 20 years;
Walking around Coventry City Center, didn't talk to anyone and not been murdered once,
Walking around Coventry City Center, didn't talk to anyone and not been randomly attacked once,
I've Walked around London City Center more than once, without ever responding to random strangers and never been murdered once,
I've Walked around London City Center more than once, without ever responding to random strangers and never been attacked once.

Now try that with Lave and the surrounding areas in Open - for the next 20 years. If you can repeat the above, then you're right.
If not, then no - it is not "realistic". As random gangs of thugs and criminals don't walk the streets in busy areas lulz killing everyone they see, mainly due to that thing we call, "The Police".

You could try walking around in San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Wikipedia said:
San Pedro Sula is one of the most violent places in the world. In 2013, the city had 187 homicides per 100,000 residents. This surpassed Ciudad Juarez, Mexico's rate of 148 killings per 100,000; Ciudad Juarez had previously topped the list for three consecutive years. Both cities are major operational and strategic distribution points in the illegal drug trade, particularly to the United States, and have significant gang activity. Meanwhile arms trafficking has flooded the country with just under 70% illegal firearms; 83% of homicides in the city are by firearm compared.

The city's growing role as a hub for cocaine trafficking has led to a surge in homicides in recent years. For the second year in a row, San Pedro Sula had the highest murder rate in the world, surpassing Mexico's Ciudad Juárez. San Pedro Sula topped the list of violent cities a second time with a rate of 169 intentional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, setting an average of more than three homicides a day. Authorities have launched Operation Lightning, saturating violence hotspots with police and soldiers.

In 2013, various sources labeled San Pedro Sula the "murder capital of the world".

What ED is missing is the "Authorities have launched Operation Lightning, saturating violence hotspots with police and soldiers" part.
 
You could try walking around in San Pedro Sula (Honduras).


Nobody would call the two cities you mentioned with that quote as "high security" areas. Leesti* is a high security system according to the galaxy map. Going into an anarchy system should be dangerous, going into a high security system should be very, very secure.

In my opinion a lot of the complains about open mode come form the complete randomness of the attacks. Players should be able to know why the got attacked and have a good way to avoid getting attacked by doing or not doing certain things. It would remove the feeling of complete helplessness that can be highly frustrating for players.

Currently PvP is not meaningful, but it has to be meaningful to be acceptable for a lot of players (in my opinion).

Making changes to the mode switching system or other not directly related aspects of the game won't help, it's just a band aid used to cover up the real problems.
 
Nobody would call the two cities you mentioned with that quote as "high security" areas. Leesti* is a high security system according to the galaxy map. Going into an anarchy system should be dangerous, going into a high security system should be very, very secure.

In my opinion a lot of the complains about open mode come form the complete randomness of the attacks. Players should be able to know why the got attacked and have a good way to avoid getting attacked by doing or not doing certain things. It would remove the feeling of complete helplessness that can be highly frustrating for players.

Currently PvP is not meaningful, but it has to be meaningful to be acceptable for a lot of players (in my opinion).

Making changes to the mode switching system or other not directly related aspects of the game won't help, it's just a band aid used to cover up the real problems.

exactly......!
 
You could try walking around in San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

I could, but that city does not even come close to what I said.

Lave is considered the equivalent of a capital city (if not "Thee" capital of Elite in general), not a back water city barely anyone globally has heard of.

Case in point, the top 30 crime cities listed on Wikipedia;

crime.jpg

I do not see;

London, UK
Tokyo, JPN
Washington DC, USA
Paris, FR
Berlin, GER

And so on.

None of the worlds well known capital cities are in the top 50 list.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate)

Even the most well known secondary and tertiary cities are not on that list.
Even the 4 USA cities listed are not major areas in the USA, you have New York, San Francisco and L.A. are more well known than those on that list.

If you go by what is considered "First World" and "Developed areas", none of those places make the cut (no one has ever accused Detroit of being developed :p ).

So my point stands, thug groups or pirate groups should not be able to claim the areas is theirs and freely commit crimes in well known, high population areas that should be safe to visitors.

[Footnote: No offence is intended to anyone who lives in any of the areas mentioned above, that I have referred to as not being "First World" and "Developed areas" - every city is a beautiful and a wonderful place to live in its own unique way.]
 
In Open Play, you would expect a significant amount of PvP encounters. If you want to be a pirate you should expect to be able to go from star system to star system and find traders to plunder from. If you want to be a bounty hunter or mercenary, you should expect to find pirates to destroy and collect the bounties on their head. But this isn't really the case. Why is that? I'll tell you exactly why, it's because of solo play.

Because of solo play, players can play by themselves without having to worry about other players trying to steal their stuff, and why wouldn't they? Although some may enjoy the rush of trying to evade a pirate, most will not find the risk to be worth it and in the end the vast majority of traders will play solo mode. Even those who enjoy PvP will resort to solo when trading. There is absolutely no reason to not play in solo if you're a trader.

Without traders the rock, paper, scissors of Elite Dangerous PvP completely breaks down. Without traders there are no pirates and without pirates there are no bounty hunters. Because of this, I don't think PvP in Elite Dangerous is ever going to be what it could be.

With that said, I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who say, "Who cares? I don't want to PvP." I'm not suggesting we remove solo mode. Obviously that is something that cannot be undone at this point. There may be other solutions, however.

One possible solution is to give traders incentive to play in open play. This could be created a number of different ways.

- Increase the profits that traders make in open play making it just as profitable or maybe even more profitable than solo play.

- Increase the NPC pirates in solo mode to more closely match what traders might experience in open play.

- Increase NPC security in open play to make it more difficult for pirates to steal from traders.

Another way of doing it would be to change the way solo play and open play work. Perhaps after a certain patch, players would have to choose between three different modes which their CMDR would be permanently bound to. These would be the modes:

- Open Play PvP, which would work exactly the same as current open play.

- Open Play PvE, which would be like open play except real players would not be able to attack each other.

- Solo Play, which would work exactly the same as the current solo play.

If you wanted to play on multiple modes, you would have to create separate CMDRs. You could have one CMDR in each mode, and anything and everything those CMDRs earn would only be accessible to themselves. So you COULD NOT earn 200 million credits on one CMDR and spend it with another CMDR.

In my opinion, the easiest and best solution is to just give traders enough incentive to play in open play mode. I think this would solve the problem. But other solutions may work as well.

What do you guys think?

I'm experiencing deja vu again
edit- I probably should have looked at the date above was posted this thread moves so quickly when a "NEW idea" is posted
 
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Nobody would call the two cities you mentioned with that quote as "high security" areas. Leesti* is a high security system according to the galaxy map. Going into an anarchy system should be dangerous, going into a high security system should be very, very secure.

In my opinion a lot of the complains about open mode come form the complete randomness of the attacks. Players should be able to know why the got attacked and have a good way to avoid getting attacked by doing or not doing certain things. It would remove the feeling of complete helplessness that can be highly frustrating for players.

exactly......!

Sorry. I hadn't really factored in system security. I was just looking at the example of walking around London as not being overly comparable to the dangerous "cut-throat" galaxy of ED. But really, the same still applies...

What ED is missing is the "Authorities have launched Operation Lightning, saturating violence hotspots with police and soldiers" part.

This may not be the response you would expect from an anarchy system. But if a heap of murder was going on in a high security system, you would expect the area to be swamped with authorities. The problem would be stamped out by force.

And even walking around London... I would say the great majority of inhabitants have been able to walk around without getting attacked. That doesn't mean that violence doesn't happen. Even London has crime statistics. But if someone did get randomly murdered, you can bet that the response won't be a couple of police vehicles turning up, see that the perpetrator has already left, and then shrug and forget about it.

All this comes down to the crime and punishment fixes.

Making changes to the mode switching system or other not directly related aspects of the game won't help, it's just a band aid used to cover up the real problems.

This thread seems to get quite confused. I think mainly because any thread that starts carelessly using words like "Solo" and "Open" end up here. :)

According to the OP, the thread is supposed to be about the different modes (with effectively different rules) and being able to switch between them while affecting the same BGS. I think that sort of morphs into the dump-Open! or dump-Solo! arguments. That leads to suggestions of how a particular mode (Open usually) can be fixed - which generally involves crime/punishment improvements, but also ventures into mode-locking and the like. That, in turn, leads back to the dump-Open! and dump-Solo! arguments.

I think the modes affecting the same BGS is unfair. But I can't think of a good way to fix that. Every "solution" that I can think of has just as many drawbacks. So I think the unfairness is just going to have to be a necessary evil.

The crime and punishment changes I believe are well worth pursuing (and I think changes have already been made in this area). I think it would encourage a few more players to venture into Open. But the main thing to me that it would add to the realism of the galaxy.
 
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