PvE Groups; are they just a fad?

[lysan]

No, I play PvE in many games, games like Arma where we are 50 - 70 players sometimes.

Normally it's around 4 - 8 players and we do have a lot of fun (PvE)

AI are still not perfect, but they are getting better and better.


"Supervised Learning" for the NPC should be used in my opinion, I talked with an IT guy in our company, who also like games, and he explained to me that AI to day learn from how the players play the game. I really like that, because that will make the NPC more "combat" ready, not only in flight sims but also in MIL SIM like DCS / ArmA, I don't see why ED can't use these tools to "train"the NPC.

 

[Marra Morgan]

One of the many PvE private groups has now climbed above 36.500 commanders.

How many are active? As in, have logged in to play in the last 3 months?

I know that we players don't have access to the numbers, so that figure is only accurate in terms of players who have historically signed up to that private group and is no way an indicator of its current activity level.

But then again, accuracy never got in the way of good promo gimmick

 

[lysan]

How many are active? As in, have logged in to play in the last 3 months?

I know that we players don't have access to the numbers, so that figure is only accurate in terms of players who have historically signed up to that private group and is no way an indicator of its current activity level.

But then again, accuracy never got in the way of good promo gimmick

Don't know but Mobius is always crowded with commanders.

 

[StiTch]

As with all things, this is of course a subjective opinion. If you're out exploring on your own, you're not cooperating with anyone directly. Which also makes the "I only play in Open mode, oh and I'm out exploring light years from the bubble" equally silly. What's the point? There is no point.

What on Earth are you taking right now?

"If you're doing something that doesn't involve co-operation, then you aren't co-operating".

Thankyou Sherlock, I know who to call next time my biscuits go missing.

I have PvE friends who all state Mobius is just the odd polite greeting and the removed fear of conflict. What happened to that actual co-operation eh? Even in Open I make a bigger effort to assist a certain few in need.

 

[Globusdiablo]

Just where does this statistic of an "ever growing part of the playerbase is moving" come from..? This comment I have heard repeated since I first came to the boards, if it were ever true Open would be devoid of players 18 months ago..

I would argue that the Elite: Dangerous community is ever growing, because of new content and new players on new platforms.

And I would argue that a quick visit to the Elite: Dangerous groups sub forum, and the sheer size of just one of the PvE groups confirms that players are indeed moving to PvE groups. I am not privy to the Open/Private/Solo ratio.

You'd revisit but not in a knee jerk response I'd suggest. I think the other philosphy Frontier are also having to (and do) hold true to, is 'play your way'. Ideally that would be in open but the legal versus illegal careers balance needs a light touch. So I'd suggest you prefer people (let's say hopefully temporarily) move to solo, than find there's no way to be a trader or no way to be pirate in the game, because losing either one is not allowing one side or the other to play their way.

Fair enough. Here's hoping. (and mud in your eye )

 

[samuelb]

No, I consider them a necessity. A PvP-Only Elite Dangerous would not have received me as a customer; this applies to all games ( I bought Battlefield 4 for the campaign, I'm not joking... )

Absolutely.. and let us not forget that a great deal of the initial capital raised for this game was on the strength of there being an offline, solo experience.

Not whinging or mud throwing, just saying (and, yes I know most of the disgruntled got their money back but hey, it shows the desire for this style of play).

And CMDR S. Russell, you are not alone, I refuse to buy any game that forgoes single player campaigns for multi-player pew pew. Just sayin....

 

[S3B4ST13N]

Thankyou Sherlock, I know who to call next time my biscuits go missing.

I know who to call next time my biscuits go missing.

next time my biscuits go missing.

next time my biscuits

next time

... An explanation, please.

 

[Globusdiablo]

How many are active? As in, have logged in to play in the last 3 months?...

I would love to know those numbers as well. For Open, Groups and Solo. FD have answered long ago, that this information will not be made public, making your argument that the numbers can't be taken at face value just as void.

 

[Marra Morgan]

I would love to know those numbers as well. For Open, Groups and Solo. FD have answered long ago, that this information will not be made publicc, making your argument that the numbers can't be taken at face value just as void.

That wasn't my argument.

My point was that inaccurate numbers make for a great promo gimmick.

 

[Globusdiablo]

...I have PvE friends who all state Mobius is just the odd polite greeting and the removed fear of conflict. What happened to that actual co-operation eh?..

And I in turn have PvP (Open mode) friends who all state that Open mode is just an empty sandbox with no fear of conflict. What happened to that actual cooperation?

So what is your argument?

 

[Sugarat]

I would argue that the Elite: Dangerous community is ever growing, because of new content and new players on new platforms.

And I would argue that a quick visit to the Elite: Dangerous groups sub forum, and the sheer size of just one of the PvE groups confirms that players are indeed moving to PvE groups. I am not privy to the Open/Private/Solo ratio.

Ah, so you're not saying the increase is players moving from Open to group..?

Just that with the ever increasing overall playerbase the number of players in private groups is increasing too..?

 

[Winterwalker]

I would love to know those numbers as well. For Open, Groups and Solo. FD have answered long ago, that this information will not be made publicc, making your argument that the numbers can't be taken at face value just as void.

Yes this. Lack of that knowledge is really the achilles heel to basically any and all threads along the lines of 'design direction'. If only Frontier have the metric it's conjecture only, though of course, "I moved to solo because this" or "I play open because that" is valuable.

 

[verminstar]

Is this wishful thinking on part of the op? No, I dont think player groups are a fad...they here to stay and have been here a long time with their numbers increasing every day.

Anyway, I was informed by a particular player that open is doing great with its population increasing every day...so why should private player groups be of any concern? You play your game and everyone else plays theirs and everyones happy, right?

Apparently not...either way, groups like mobius continue to thrive whether open players like it or not...deal with it and move on ^

 

[Globusdiablo]

Ah, so you're not saying the increase is players moving from Open to group..?

Just that with the ever increasing overall playerbase the number of players in private groups is increasing too..?

Indeed. My initial argument had nothing to do with Open/Solo/Group ratio, but merely the "fact" that PvE Groups seem to be growing far beyond what FD had imagined.

But it quickly turns into a versus debate, sadly.

 

[Hexcaliber]

Playing cooperatively against the environment. Obviously FD never considered this a true contender to Open mode and Solo mode, or they would have incorporated management tools.

One of the many PvE private groups has now climbed above 36.500 commanders. I was just wondering if FD still considers PvE groups a fad?

Do you?

------

Edit for clarity: If a moderator would change the title to:

PvE groups; are they just a fad?

That would be dandy.

2. Edit: Thanks mods. What a lovely bunch they are.

Don't be daft, have you seen the fuss in the forums any time NPC's start to pose more of a threat, and the whine any time playing in open is mentioned. There are more people in private pve groups than other areas of the game. The prospect of a game that features any real danger scares many half to death.

 

[Iain M Norman]

The total number of Mobius members is not representative of how many people play there.

I'm a member and I've only played in it once.

There are probably many more.

Unfortunately there's no other figure Mobius can give us, it's the only metric we have. Would be interesting to know what the 'active player in last x days' count was. I'm sure Mobius would like to know himself even.

 

[Watcher]

Can't really see it disappearing any time soon.
Even if there were significant revisions to crime and punishment and the way insurance is handled and missions and exploration data are managed I can't really see it stopping - though it could certainly reduce it a lot.
It might be best to consider an Open PvE option at this point though I don't really see FD going for that at the moment. Perhaps better group management options with PvE flagging?
Be interesting to know how much they thought this would be a thing before launch and how things stand now compare to that expectation.

 

[Sugarat]

Indeed. My initial argument had nothing to do with Open/Solo/Group ratio, but merely the "fact" that PvE Groups seem to be growing far beyond what FD had imagined.

But it quickly turns into a versus debate, sadly.

Depends how it's worded I guess.. when you say someone is "moving to" it implies they are "moving from" something else imo..

I never understand the <mode> vs <mode> argument myself.. anyone can just play the one they want, from what I can tell (as stats aren't available) all have healthy populations..

Don't really see the problem other than the need for private group to have better admin tools possibly..

 

[StiTch]

... An explanation, please.

Hahaha!

True story - we have cleaners at work with an "overzealous" approach to the community spirit. If I leave my biscuits out (or indeed my coffee), it ends up in the communal kitchen for everyone to use.

And I in turn have PvP (Open mode) friends who all state that Open mode is just an empty sandbox with no fear of conflict. What happened to that actual cooperation?

So what is your argument?

I am going to brush aside the argument that even if that's true, that's not what Open players want and we would encourage more to play there, while Mobius players make the effort to be in a PG and then act like they're in solo...

Because instead I just want to know if this is how you always debate-by taking fragments of text, applying your own meaning to it and then going "so what are you arguing?"

You have an incredible lack of substance in anything you've said thus far. Have you considered a job in politics?

 

[Globusdiablo]

...Perhaps better group management options with PvE flagging?
Be interesting to know how much they thought this would be a thing before launch and how things stand now compare to that expectation.

Indeed.

I don't care which mode people fly in, and I fly in all 3 depending on my mood. I just think the sadly underwhelming management tools available in Group mode suggests that FD never thought that any private group would hit 20.000 players. And that maybe PvE groups isn't a fad.