Two reasons why single player is more attractive than multi-player to me

[Galantir]

I think this is a problem. The image being created by the beta is very negative for a lot of people (doesn't matter whether you agree with them - the mud still sticks). Given that the beta is in no way representative of the final game, I think that problem needs addressing. I guess it all depends on how quickly FD open up the galaxy and allow people to spread out.

Personally, I'm not really inclined to spend much time in the beta, because the experience is too unpleasant at the moment. I fully expect that to change once the player population thins out across more star systems.

Personally if i were FD i would change the bounty system.
KIlling aplayers should give you a high bounty let's say at least 10k.
That would at least attract a lot of bounty hunters.
But that's not it. The bounty should be paid out of the killers wallet.
This will make them either less likely to kill or if they do kill more likely to stay out of busy areas. It should in no way be possible to pay off the bounty like you can do with crimes atm.
I personally already find it a bit weird that the only punishment they get is the same as the victims, paying your insurance.

What i'm trying to say is killers don't really get punnished, not now not in the final game as it stands. The ones punnished the most are the victims.

 

[Globusdiablo]

What i'm trying to say is killers don't really get punnished, not now not in the final game as it stands. The ones punnished the most are the victims.

Just like real life...

 

[Juniper]

Reason 1: I'm not responsible for other players enjoyment of the game. NPCs are an easy going crew, whether they win or lose they don't really seem to mind.

Reason 2: As my playing time is generally going to be off the cuff, I can play the game when I fancy without having to organise 'grouping' with other players and therefore being subject to the time schedule that others need to impose.

I hope you enjoy the game however you play it.

Personally, I'll probably try multiplayer - get blown up by some testosterone filled raging teenager, and then retreat quietly to either online with my friends only or single player.

Thank you DB for giving me the option.

Edit: Nicked from another thread...

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Another day, another bunch of "griefers maaaaaaah" threads.

At least people could do a research, understand what's coming up for ED regarding this, you know, before starting posting nonsense. Like you know how ignore list will work, for example.

#1 No, you aren't responsible for entertaiment of others, but NPCs don't care about you either. They will shoot you down mercelessly. They won't argue with you. They won't rush towards you to help. They won't feel pitty. And they will be much harder in single player mode;

#2 True, playing with others takes something away. But it also gives a lot. I really see no point cruising around alone in universe anymore. What's the point. I have done this. Others? Hell yeah. They will grief me? So what. They will work with me? Damn right they will.

 

[noodle]

Another day, another bunch of "griefers maaaaaaah" threads.

Which suggests that there's an issue.

 

[CaptainSodom]

Personally if i were FD i would change the bounty system.
KIlling aplayers should give you a high bounty let's say at least 10k.
That would at least attract a lot of bounty hunters.
But that's not it. The bounty should be paid out of the killers wallet.
This will make them either less likely to kill or if they do kill more likely to stay out of busy areas. It should in no way be possible to pay off the bounty like you can do with crimes atm.
I personally already find it a bit weird that the only punishment they get is the same as the victims, paying your insurance.

What i'm trying to say is killers don't really get punnished, not now not in the final game as it stands. The ones punnished the most are the victims.

If what you suggest would be implemented, almost no one could afford to PvP.

This is exactly what I'm afraid of: FD taking the bounty system too far, and killing PvP and piracy in the process.

Not saying there shouldn't be any punishment in populated systems. In deep space there should be no punishment, as there is no one to witness a crime.

Which suggests that there's an issue.

No, it suggests that some forum posters have an issue.

There is very little reason for those who enjoy PvP to come to forums saying "wow what a great PvP match we had yesterday, E: D really caters to the PvP crowd!" Therefore the "OMG griefers!" and anti-PvP crowd will always be over-represented.

 

[Mephane]

But that's not it. The bounty should be paid out of the killers wallet.

This is the plan anyway. When a bounty on you gets collected, you will have to pay the bounty in addition to the excess fee.

 

[Juniper]

Not saying there shouldn't be any punishment in populated systems. In deep space there should be no punishment, as there is no one to witness a crime.

Pretty much what we have in the criminality rules. A crime has to be witnessed & reported to count as a crime.

 

[CaptainSodom]

Pretty much what we have in the criminality rules. A crime has to be witnessed & reported to count as a crime.

Thanks for the link, I've skimmed it before, but didn't notice that. Great suggestion, hope it stays intact in the launch version.

 

[Memnoch]

Not saying there shouldn't be any punishment in populated systems. In deep space there should be no punishment, as there is no one to witness a crime.

The player being attacked witnessed the attack and issued a distress call saying as much.

 

[Juniper]

Thanks for the link, I've skimmed it before, but didn't notice that. Great suggestion, hope it stays intact in the launch version.

As far as I'm aware, these have gone past the "proposal" stage and are now the "rules", subject to balancing changes in beta / gamma. You can treat them as being set in stone for now.

 

[Juniper]

The player being attacked witnessed the attack and issued a distress call saying as much.

This can also be turned off.

 

[CaptainSodom]

The player being attacked witnessed the attack and issued a distress call saying as much.

So there is instantanous communication link with no range limit to the authorities the millisecond a crime is witnessed by the victim? If that's the case, the "crimes must be witnessed in order to count as a crime" in the DDF document amounts to nothing as far as I can tell.

Me no like. Not at all.

What would be the benefit of turning it off?

 

[OldSalt]

This seems to be the big issue for ED and I suspect it will remain so up to release and tbh likely beyond.

I can remember playing the original game on a BBC B and talking to friend on a CB radio (them were the days) who liived up the road who was playing at the same time. We would tell each other where we were and often went to the same places and at that point only imagine how cool it would be to see each others ship, run trade routes together, team up when intercepted by pirates etc, etc.

At a point in time where all that we dreamed about is common as mud on top of voice coms and other cooperative functions that the game will provide a growing proportion of players want to go back to that BBC B experience. The reason for it is simple, as I was back then I could not comprehend the possibility that everyone with a computer and a copy of Elite could join in too ! That brings in people who in the ordinary course of events you wouldn't choose to spend your time with (and of course those that you would) and all the varying sorts of behaviour currently lighting fires in these forums being played out in the beta.

I am a strong believer that the 'human element' adds a degree of uncertainty and edge to a game that AI cannot provide, and in ED that isn't just combat, there are going to be many differing ways in which the players will either interact with each other or 'bots' for want of a better word.

I really do hope that for those who are having such a hard time in the beta to the point that they look forward to turning their back on the multiplayer game will at least try it when FD have completed their work on discouraging those whos only way to enjoy the game is ruin someone elses experience.

For me I think I have said all I want to on the 'Griefing etc' threads.

 

[Memnoch]

So there is instantanous communication link with no range limit to the authorities the millisecond a crime is witnessed by the victim? If that's the case, the "crimes must be witnessed in order to count as a crime" in the DDF document amounts to nothing as far as I can tell.

Me no like. Not at all.

What would be the benefit of turning it off?

<hands back rattle> Well, in a world with instantaneous travel between stars, is this surprising?

It's probably buried in the DDA somewhere but I remember that other players could witness crimes and report them as well as crimes against yourself. If not, since most of us are likely to be in deep space most of the time, the majority of crimes would go unreported.

Turning what off, the Ident transmitter? If you and another player have it turned on you will see each other as players. If only one party has it turned on then neither can see each other as players, IIRC. Both parties have to agree to "out" themselves as it were.

Those who want to travel without being constantly attacked by other players can leave this off and the other player has to make more of an effort to discern whether that ship is flow by a player or not. Meanwhile, the person with the transmitter off already knows something is up based on how the other ship is flying i.e. it is likely headed straight for them. So either its an NPC ship coming to have a look and possibly attack, or its a player. In either case, fire up the FSD or hyperdrive.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Turning what off, the Ident transmitter? If you and another player have it turned on you will see each other as players. If only one party has it turned on then neither can see each other as players, IIRC. Both parties have to agree to "out" themselves as it were.

I think he meant reporting witnessed crimes.

 

[Memnoch]

Ah, I see. None that I can think of. You would always want to report crimes. For one, there might end up being some additional reward if you were the one you witnessed it and did something about it. Who knows at this point.

 

[Juniper]

So there is instantanous communication link with no range limit to the authorities the millisecond a crime is witnessed by the victim? If that's the case, the "crimes must be witnessed in order to count as a crime" in the DDF document amounts to nothing as far as I can tell.

Me no like. Not at all.

In a jurisdiction, this is the case, and it only counts for that jurisdiction / faction. So not so much instant no-range limit, as within that system.

Once you get out into unregulated space, there is no such thing as a crime. Anarchy is... anarchy.

 

[Memnoch]

Yeah, so this "crime" would earn you a bounty in that system. But jump away and you are no longer wanted, unless the other ship has a kill warrant scanner and can then see any bounties you have accrued elsewhere.

 

[CaptainSodom]

<hands back rattle> Well, in a world with instantaneous travel between stars, is this surprising?

Realism is a poor game designer. What is fun should take precedence.

It's probably buried in the DDA somewhere but I remember that other players could witness crimes and report them as well as crimes against yourself. If not, since most of us are likely to be in deep space most of the time, the majority of crimes would go unreported.

But above posts say that the victim can and does auto-report crimes. Therefore in deep space all crimes would be reported, no?

edit: see at bottom of this post.

Turning what off, the Ident transmitter?

Turning off auto-instant-reporting of crimes mentioned by Juniper above.

Thanks for the info on ident. That sounds like PvP flag "lite." Not sure what exactly it is supposed to encourage/discourage, other than being a way for those who don't want to PvP to try to hide in the crowd.

In a jurisdiction, this is the case, and it only counts for that jurisdiction / faction. So not so much instant no-range limit, as within that system.

Once you get out into unregulated space, there is no such thing as a crime. Anarchy is... anarchy.

Thanks, that clarifies it for the 100k or so systems which are inhabited. Deep space doesn't have stations or factions though, so how and to whom are crimes reported to, and will there be bounties in deep space?