Squadrons and Proper colonization mechanics

[Vicktore Beskor]

Hmm... so basically pushing into a system with a directed colonization rather than an undirectable BGS push... that might be nice.

I see a problem though, almost all systems around us are already at max factions. So we wouldn't be able to get our faction in there without kicking an existing one out. That can be a major pain. So many things can block it happening and if the faction even pokes its head over the boundary, they escape the eviction. Hope FD look at that mechanic at some point.

What I agree with is that any PCM would have very strict criteria as well have a high cost. That being said one of the rewards for colonizing would be add Net Worth to the minor faction allowing that minor faction to grow and become more active in the Galaxy. That is why I feel it is important to have a blocking mechanism in place to give commanders a fighting and fare chance to stop any and all unfriendly and unwanted colonization attempt.
I would also like to add that any PCM would have to be into a unpopulated system.

 

[Cosmo]

The player base was supposed to be the Fleet Carrier. It acts as a mobile guild base. Without the Fleet Carrier I dunno what Squadrons can defend or conquer.

Would be cool to have a Squadron star system ownership feature. For example if the Squadron is active in a system for X amount of time and controls a certain key point, then the Squadron name will be shown in the system info.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

The player base was supposed to be the Fleet Carrier. It acts as a mobile guild base. Without the Fleet Carrier I dunno what Squadrons can defend or conquer.

Would be cool to have a Squadron star system ownership feature. For example if the Squadron is active in a system for X amount of time and controls a certain key point, then the Squadron name will be shown in the system info.

I am hopeful that the Squadron Carrier is a useful tool and not just a mobile station for the Squadron. If PCM is added to the game a Carrier could be used as a construction platform for Colonizing an unpopulated system.

 

[lenna]

...

What I see is some are wanting to turn ED into a player driven 4X type game, this I am diametrically opposed to - I think it is a horrendously bad idea. My objections have nothing to do with EvE/WoW being dated, but rather the objectionable player behaviour patterns that fall out from such gameplay. Nothing can be done to truly mitigate that issue.

I have no problem with players assisting the natural course of the BGS, I do have objections to players having too much direct influence over it though. That fundamentally means the reins on player agency where the BGS and direction of universe evolution needs to be tightly held by FD or their delegate indefinitely. Increasing player agency where the BGS and universe evolution is concerned should never be allowed in ED.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

What I see is some are wanting to turn ED into a player driven 4X type game, this I am diametrically opposed to - I think it is a horrendously bad idea. My objections have nothing to do with EvE/WoW being dated, but rather the objectionable player behaviour patterns that fall out from such gameplay. Nothing can be done to truly mitigate that issue.

I have no problem with players assisting the natural course of the BGS, I do have objections to players having too much direct influence over it though. That fundamentally means the reins on player agency where the BGS and direction of universe evolution needs to be tightly held by FD or their delegate indefinitely. Increasing player agency where the BGS and universe evolution is concerned should never be allowed in ED.

Adding PCM into the game could be a dynamic addition to the BGS system

 

[Tarman]

I just wish you'd stop calling things you want "proper", it's an assumptive framing of your concepts.

 

[BlackSpaceCowboy]

Hello commanders
Now that we are soon to have squadrons entered into the game many commanders are asking the questions what are they going to do and why do we need them. Well I would like to make a suggestion. Assuming That squadrons will be able to pledge to the minor factions that they support there is a lot that they can accomplish as a group. And one of those goals could be colonizing unpopulated systems with said minor faction. I am going to attempt to outline what I think would be interesting gameplay mechanics.

1-Squadron buys a colonization permit from universal cartography and or the superpower that they plan to colonize in
2-they buy a colonization module from an engineer
3- they use there Carrier to transport the module to the system they wish to Colonize
4- they place the module on a planet suitable for colonization
5- once this is done they can start to build the colony

Building the colony can take place in stages.

1- you start by building a simple land base.
2- as time goes by the land base can grow to a spaceport
3- once a spaceport has been built you can build an simple outpost in space
4- as time goes by the outpost grows into a space station
5- once the space station is completed the system enters into the greater BGS system wherein other minor factions can expand into.

Now this is the most simplest explanation of the mechanics I am suggesting I wanted to leave it open for debate. That being said in my humble opinion this is the type of gameplay that gives squadrons a lot of options. And if done right it dose not have to be gated off from solo commanders. If a solo commander wants to put the time and hard work it would take to accomplish this type of goal it should be open to them as well.

Thank you
Sky Marshal Vicktore Beskor (EDF)
Fly Strong

I think it would be an awesome idea. You should put it into the Frontier suggestion box for gameplay improvements.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

This guy, again.

The BGS needs pushed further into the Background. All player efforts need to have their effects reduced by a factor of 10,164. I didn't buy Elite: Background Simulation. I didn't buy Elite: Politics. But I suppose there IS at least one other person out there who bought Windows 10 for the current version of Solitaire.

There's just far too much emphasis on the least important aspect of the game, that needs to remain the least important aspect of the game. Makes me feel great I've never even seen an EDF NPC ship in three years.

And it's nothing personal at all, just a matter of perspectives.

 

[kofeyh]

I didnt buy let's bag out a person on the internet for having the temerity of suggesting some mechanics, either. But here we are.

I think the OP raises some I interesting suggestions. It's an open forum for dialog. My word people have gotten nasty of late.

 

[lenna]

Adding PCM into the game could be a dynamic addition to the BGS system

You still don't get it, and probably never will given your apparent blindness to the issues with your idea.

You want 4X type mechanics, go play a game designed for it and please stop trying to mutate ED into something many of us do not want it to become.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

This guy, again.

The BGS needs pushed further into the Background. All player efforts need to have their effects reduced by a factor of 10,164. I didn't buy Elite: Background Simulation. I didn't buy Elite: Politics. But I suppose there IS at least one other person out there who bought Windows 10 for the current version of Solitaire.

There's just far too much emphasis on the least important aspect of the game, that needs to remain the least important aspect of the game. Makes me feel great I've never even seen an EDF NPC ship in three years.

And it's nothing personal at all, just a matter of perspectives.

I respectfully disagree with you,I feel that the BGS is the backbone of elite dangerous.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

You still don't get it, and probably never will given your apparent blindness to the issues with your idea.

You want 4X type mechanics, go play a game designed for it and please stop trying to mutate ED into something many of us do not want it to become.

It is not blindness that drives my advocacy for gameplay that takes advantage of group gameplay. As I stated in my OP Squadrons is coming to elite dangerous if you like it or not my suggestions are only intended to show the possibilities for meaningful gameplay relationship between the BGS and Squadron gameplay and to be honest I have heard arguments like yours against Squadrons ever being introduced into elite dangerous and as far as I can see we are getting squadrons in the game anyway. So I will continue to advocate gameplay mechanics that build on that type of gaming style whether you like it or not.

 

[Mohrgan]

The moment you allow players to tinker, directly, with the BGS, it ceases to be in the background. Ask for the BGS to allow expansions into unpopulated systems. You're in good shape. Ask for mechanics where players put down markers, or direct the BGS, everything goes amiss.

I think there should be movement towards completely separating the BGS from PP, not intertwining them more. Or, at least, give supremacy to the faction's over jurisdiction, leaving PP, as an overlay and without influence over system arfairs.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

The moment you allow players to tinker, directly, with the BGS, it ceases to be in the background. Ask for the BGS to allow expansions into unpopulated systems. You're in good shape. Ask for mechanics where players put down markers, or direct the BGS, everything goes amiss.

I think there should be movement towards completely separating the BGS from PP, not intertwining them more. Or, at least, give supremacy to the faction's over jurisdiction, leaving PP, as an overlay and without influence over system arfairs.

The ability to manipulate and Direct the BGS already exist in the game and to be honest I am not going to make a wall of text explaining how existing PMF already take advantage of the BGS. Just know that though it may take a lot of work PMF target the movement minor factions all the time.
All I am suggesting is the ability to colonize unpopulated star systems. And these suggestions are made with the best intentions to add depth and more meaningful relationship with the minor factions we already support.
I understand that a solo commander would rather step out on a planet surface and stand there and do nothing but take pretty screenshots. But I assure you there those of us who would rather have something more to do than just take pictures.
With Squadrons at our doorstep it seems to me that PCM would not only be the next logical step for elite dangerous I feel that a great many commanders who take the time to learn and manipulate the BGS would take full advantage of this type of gameplay mechanics.

 

[Mohrgan]

The ability to manipulate and Direct the BGS already exist in the game and to be honest I am not going to make a wall of text explaining how existing PMF already take advantage of the BGS. Just know that though it may take a lot of work PMF target the movement minor factions all the time.
All I am suggesting is the ability to colonize unpopulated star systems. And these suggestions are made with the best intentions to add depth and more meaningful relationship with the minor factions we already support.
I understand that a solo commander would rather step out on a planet surface and stand there and do nothing but take pretty screenshots. But I assure you there those of us who would rather have something more to do than just take pictures.
With Squadrons at our doorstep it seems to me that PCM would not only be the next logical step for elite dangerous I feel that a great many commanders who take the time to learn and manipulate the BGS would take full advantage of this type of gameplay mechanics.

Alright. Just have it work where the players have to learn the 'Black Box' mechanics, and manipulate the BGS through missions and the economy. Ask for FD to introduce a layer of the BGS that allows for expansions into unpopulated systems. Simply have what ever addition to the BGS operate as the BGS does now. With no direct manipulation or direction from any player or group.

Leave the voting and tinkering to the PP mechanic. Just keep it away from the foundation of the game, the BGS.

For Squadrons, the next logical step has already been announced. Carriers. Let's see how those turn out in terms of game play, credit sink, and economic impact, before we drag the BGS into the foreground.

P.S. My use of 'Alright' shouldn't be taken as agreement. Take it as a sign of exasperation.

 

[Captain Willard]

Yes to carriers as a mobile base. No to colonizing any system in the bubbles.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

Alright. Just have it work where the players have to learn the 'Black Box' mechanics, and manipulate the BGS through missions and the economy. Ask for FD to introduce a layer of the BGS that allows for expansions into unpopulated systems. Simply have what ever addition to the BGS operate as the BGS does now. With no direct manipulation or direction from any player or group.

Leave the voting and tinkering to the PP mechanic. Just keep it away from the foundation of the game, the BGS.

For Squadrons, the next logical step has already been announced. Carriers. Let's see how those turn out in terms of game play, credit sink, and economic impact, before we drag the BGS into the foreground.

P.S. My use of 'Alright' shouldn't be taken as agreement. Take it as a sign of exasperation.

As I have said throughout this thread any PCM should come with a high cost, high risk, and a way to block the colonization mechanics. I like the idea that colonization be handed out as a Squadron size mission as welll as the distance of colonization be determined by a new stat “Net Worth “ that is determined by all of all the assets the minor faction controls.
Anything that is truly meaningful comes with challenges the gameplay mechanics I am suggesting will be and should be challenging but that is what will make it more rewarding and meaningful.

 

[Vicktore Beskor]

Yes to carriers as a mobile base. No to colonizing any system in the bubbles.

I have to say I like your approach to this debate Direct and short to the point. Even if I respectfully disagree with you.

 

[Asp Explorer]

As I have said throughout this thread any PCM should come with a high cost, high risk, and a way to block the colonization mechanics. I like the idea that colonization be handed out as a Squadron size mission as welll as the distance of colonization be determined by a new stat “Net Worth “ that is determined by all of all the assets the minor faction controls.
Anything that is truly meaningful comes with challenges the gameplay mechanics I am suggesting will be and should be challenging but that is what will make it more rewarding and meaningful.

Anything depending upon the "net worth" of a squadron/guild/lulzbunny collective will actively be abused

"Hey - Drunks of Sol have announced they are expanding! Let's all join up and prep the expansion, get them a Carrier and the group committed to Action X in System Y - and then immediately dump them for the lulz!"

 

[Quantis Trap]

When we had carriers in Q4, it was still questionable as to why squadrons was needed. Now that carriers are out, squadrons are even more pointless, UNLESS there is some new content we don't know about.