Rank lock the 'Conda to expert or master?!

[DarkPaladin]

When I started playing I tried exploration, trading and combat. I realized I enjoyed exploration the most, trading was making me the most credits and I totally sucked at combat. I worked my way up from Sidewinder to an Asp doing exploration and trading. I reached Elite in exploration first, and then worked my way from the Asp up to my first Anaconda. I used the Anaconda to reach Elite in trading next.

So here I was flying an Anaconda with a harmless rating in combat but Elite in exploration and trading. I flew nearly every non combat ship available in the game to get to that point ( I started playing just after release). Did I not pay my dues? Did I not deserve to be in the Anaconda?

 

[Ian Skippy]

That rather describes a different game - this game and its predecessors do not gate progress achievements in that manner.

That isnt much of an argument. Being able to change ships at some point was 'a different game'. Or being able to ferry passengers. Or land on planets. Or any other of the thousands of things that changed as the series moved on. Things should be in a certain way because its the most fun, not because that is how it 'always used to be'. So unless 'endless grind' is considered the most fun, I think change should be considered.

 

[verminstar]

I just had a horrible thought...Im building an exploration T9, so hopefully it wont get locked behind elite trader or Im back to the drawing board.

pff city folk...Im gonna blow meself up with a hold full of passengers in silent protest ^

 

[Deleted member 110222]

You know... And this isn't like me... But I do believe that the developer's original intention was for ships like the Ananconda, Type-9, Beluga, etc., to be a rare achievement for players.

I can actually get behind this in a way, assuming the developer originally wanted these ships to be rare.

I know that this is very out of character for me.

 

[GG7]

Another 'you need to play the game as I envision' thread. *sigh*

Yep.

You know its a slow news day when a thread like this is actually one of the more active. [rolleyes]

 

[Robert Maynard]

That isnt much of an argument.

It is what it is.

Being able to change ships at some point was 'a different game'. Or being able to ferry passengers. Or land on planets.

Possible in the sequels, from what I understand.

Or any other of the thousands of things that changed as the series moved on.

Some things do get added to. Some things get changed fundamentally (i.e. the changes to the flight model / long distance between the original and its sequels and between the sequels and E: D)

Things should be in a certain way because its the most fun, not because that is how it 'always used to be'. So unless 'endless grind' is considered the most fun, I think change should be considered.

Indeed - and it is entirely possible that, in Frontier's opinion, what we have is most fun (i.e. players cannot become stuck at a particular rank forever because they can't overcome a particular skill test).

This is not a competitive game where only the very best can achieve (and maintain) the highest ranks - everyone has the possibility to achieve them, eventually.

 

[verminstar]

Yep.

You know its a slow news day when a thread like this is actually one of the more active. [rolleyes]

Not much else to talk about...forums getting slower because of it. Cause and effect ^

 

[DefiledDragon]

You know... And this isn't like me... But I do believe that the developer's original intention was for ships like the Ananconda, Type-9, Beluga, etc., to be a rare achievement for players.

I can actually get behind this in a way, assuming the developer originally wanted these ships to be rare.

I know that this is very out of character for me.

I could buy into the rarity of the ship slant if it weren't for the fact that every assassination mission I took just after release saw me facing down endless swarms of Elite Anaconda's in my Cobra MkIII. It seemed like every pirate and his dog was flying one so they're clearly not particularly rare and were never meant to be.

 

[Cageman]

Elite: Dangerous would be a very dull game for me, if Combat rank would become a thing to unlock ships. It is a bad idea, OP.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

I could buy into the rarity of the ship slant if it weren't for the fact that every assassination mission I took just after release saw me facing down endless swarms of Elite Anaconda's in my Cobra MkIII. It seemed like every pirate and his dog was flying one so they're clearly not particularly rare and were never meant to be.

Fair enough. As you can tell, I don't do assassination missions.

 

[Han_Zen]

I think the Asp needs to be locked behind Elite Exploration rank. I'm getting real tired of 9 out of 10 CMDRs flying them.

Now if you'll excuse me, the Python fan club is ringing again.








CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

FdL should be Elite in exploration.
Asp is more CQC Elite, in my opinion.

All Falcon deLacy, Lacoon and Zorgon ships should be anti-rank locked, so you can't buy them If you have navy rank.

Anaconda should be only for those who reach triple Elite, in the Sidewinder.

The dropship series should requre a RL bus licence and Gutamaya ships a documended career in the adult entertainment industry.

T9 should require a master in argriculture and a plus 34 BMI.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

FdL should be Elite in exploration.
Asp is more CQC Elite, in my opinion.

All Falcon deLacy, Lacoon and Zorgon ships should be anti-rank locked, so you can't buy them If you have navy rank.

Anaconda should be only for those who reach triple Elite, in the Sidewinder.

The dropship series should requre a RL bus licence and Gutamaya ships a documended career in the adult entertainment industry.

T9 should require a master in argriculture and a plus 34 BMI.

No no, Gutamaya ships should only be available on the Mac version of Elite.

 

[Robert Maynard]

Elite: Dangerous would be a very dull game for me, if Combat rank would become a thing to unlock ships. It is a bad idea, OP.

Indeed - given that engaging in combat is optional in this game - two of the three Elite ranks can be achieved without firing a shot.

 

[metascrawl]

The logic is no different than not qualifying a divemaster with less than 60 logged dives or asking a heavy goods vehicle driver be 21 and have a valid drivers license before getting behind the wheel with an instructor.

"So, fresh out of Space Academy with two hours in a Sidewinder, here's the keys to a 400 ton Anaconda. We foresee nothing, but good things from this arrangement."

It's called common sense.

Actually, the real world analogy would be someone owning a Ferrari despite not being a good driver. Nobody finds that strange.

Also, you can't possibly earn 147m in a Sidewinder in 2 hours. Even if you used every guide and exploit possible you'd have to put in enough hours in enough ships to learn the basics of flying, at least.

 

[Han_Zen]

No no, Gutamaya ships should only be available on the Mac version of Elite.

That to.

 

[Bad_Wolf]

I personally think this is not a very good idea.

I've been playing since Beta and I'm not even close to dangerous in combat.
I didn't pay enough attention to the forums/reddit so I didn't benefit from any of the common get rich quick schemes. I made my cash old school trading or running some exploration. I got lucky a few times with good trade runs and saved up my cash. I have a good fit conda that can hold it's own in basic pvp, has a couple of fighters and an srv bay with some cargo room. I have a Python fit for trading and a fairly capable viper sitting in the hanger.

I understand that in many games (especially MMO's) people feel that some players get things "the easy" way and didn't truely "earn" them. The problem with that thinking in Elite Dangerous is that just because you have a conda it doesn't make you a better pilot. Trust me, I've had to hit the rebuy button a few times thinking I could handle something most people would consider easy. In this game, luckily, skill is not defined by which pixels you bring to the fight. It's mostly about the ability of the player on the other side of the keyboard. I know the engineer upgrades can make or break a close PvP fight but in the end a terrible pvp'er (like me) isn't going to win just because my ship cost more.

Of course, your mileage may vary...

 

[Troy_McClure]

Yeah that's great, until people start talking about virtual spaceships like they're real and demanding that players be forced to pass some kind of virtual space-HGV test before allowing them to fly one "weighing" more than x tons. At that point it becomes farcical.

Remember the umbrage about telepresence & instant transfers?

Hence, I think you might be on to a bit of a loser with the 'reality' angle on these forums!

 

[yodajedifishmaster]

I hope you're ranked sufficiently high, specifically in combat before you start earning those mega bucks. Can't have the non combat plebs flying ships they don't deserve now, can we?

if i get interdicted i normally throttle down to see what im up against. while im checking it out i decide if its anaconda corvette or python not to fight. if its anything else i have already targetted its powerplant and im using the kws on it to max the bounty. im competent still, because no hurry to rank up combat.

actually i think combat rank above competent should decay back down to competent slowly unless you keep engaging in combat. it strikes me as odd, kind of like a tennis player never losing world number one ranking even if they are injured and unable to play for a year.

 

[yolomcbobbinz]

This thread blew up quite quickly, I dont think it should be rank locked by combat only though since its a multipurpose ship, maybe a master equivalent of trading and exploration I see lots of low combat ranked commanders that trade

 

[House0fDerp]

You know... And this isn't like me... But I do believe that the developer's original intention was for ships like the Ananconda, Type-9, Beluga, etc., to be a rare achievement for players.

I can actually get behind this in a way, assuming the developer originally wanted these ships to be rare.

I know that this is very out of character for me.

Credits are only a time gate, nothing more. there is nothing about the system that tries to ensure rarity. It only delays the time it takes to initially get into a ship. Not a single mechanic in game tries to achieve scarcity save perhaps the argument that the grind walls are high enough that people won't bother, but that assumes Fdev wanted to create a terrible game. I'm not quite so jaded as to assume that's true.