On Improving The Safety of Commanders In Game

[Feros-da-Grundig]

ie: The game/BGS actually trying to orchestrate PvP (piracy) gameplay...

Nothing about this game orchestrates player interaction. This suggestion is another flavor of open-only PP/CG/whatever. While I would welcome any game change that encourages CMDR encounters - especially if they weren't limited to seal clubbing, dogfighting, or wingfighting which can already be easily found - FDev's actions have spoken larger than their words on this sort of change.

So again, consider if the game orchestrated scenarios where cargo WAS of worth to you? eg: An OPEN only CG where a number of specific locations were wanting Void Opals. And these were more frequent in a couple of newly discovered regions. Pirating those mining ships would not be worthwhile... Or where missions could pop up at pirate bases in conjuction with this giving the added bonus of covering up the crime etc.

The only real currency in this game is time. If there are tokens of some sort that somehow convince other commanders to come near my ship of depraved piracy I'm all for it. Sure if they throw in money fine but for me the interaction is what matters, adding a few opals is like throwing a few pennies on a pot of gold.

As far as missions, I consider the mission board to be almost as poorly implemented as PP so short of a complete redesign nothing on the mission board could possibly matter to me.

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

...and here lies a clear example of one of the core issues with piracy... [...] where cargo WAS of worth to you?

To explain it differently:

You seem to think the problem is that the cargo is worthless to me. However, it is inevitable the cargo is worthless to me, given how much time I have invested into this game and the current forms of cargo/currencies.

Unless they invented some sort of currency based around player interactions, instead of mindless grinding, none of the currencies will ever matter to me.

Only fun gameplay mechanics / flight dynamics and CMDR interactions matter to me, really. ED does at least get a lot of it right on the former.

And if they had VR on PS4, that would matter to me I think.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

We would have honestly preferred that, but apparently there aren't any good guys out there willing to step up. So, instead, we're just dunking on people that can't help themselves. Feel free to try and organize a counter-ganker wing. I'd love to add some high rebuy ships to the kill list.

And now I fully understand. The giveaway was the use of the phrase “dunking on”. Explains everything.

You just gave ryan_m space wood.

With any luck it will turn into a space priapism.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

To explain it differently:

You seem to think the problem is that the cargo is worthless to me. However, it is inevitable the cargo is worthless to me, given how much time I have invested into this game and the current forms of cargo/currencies.

Unless they invented some sort of currency based around player interactions, instead of mindless grinding, none of the currencies will ever matter to me.

Only fun gameplay mechanics / flight dynamics and CMDR interactions matter to me, really. ED does at least get a lot of it right on the former.

And if they had VR on PS4, that would matter to me I think.

I know that some pirates out there really care about cargo value. But I agree with you - for me it is simple the act of piracy that I find enjoyable.

If the victim is carrying something of relative value in-game, it's just a bonus.

 

[jasonbarron]

What amazes me is the sheer number of cmdrs taken out in open play vs the number of aggressors in open play. If each cmdr in open simply equipped two G5 cascade/deepcut launchers (and kept an eye on scanners) The number of rebuys would be very different. Hit on jump range is minimal.

Still I don't see what the big deal is about anyone getting shot in the bubble, you'll get sent to the nearest port, worst case scenario you miss the launch timer/lose an NPC crew member.

It is the part about gankers flying 20,000Ly just to shoot pixels, just seems like a very strange thing to invest time in.

I've read variations on this comment several times now, and I'm left wondering why you think that someone flying long distance to snap selfies is so much better or "less pathetic" than someone flying 20,000 ly to blow someone up. News flash guys: it's all a huge waste of time, regardless of which team you're playing for. Anyone with more than two iq points to rub together is going to be spending the same amount of time playing with their kids, romancing their wife or simply learning Photoshop. Explorers don't get special unicorn status just because they exist, and the activities that they engage in are no more nor less special than anyone else's. In fact, it's probably the lowest skill activity in the game, so let's drop the glamorizing.

 

[Unknown Zombie]

I've read variations on this comment several times now, and I'm left wondering why you think that someone flying long distance to snap selfies is so much better or "less pathetic" than someone flying 20,000 ly to blow someone up. News flash guys: it's all a huge waste of time, regardless of which team you're playing for. Anyone with more than two iq points to rub together is going to be spending the same amount of time playing with their kids, romancing their wife or simply learning Photoshop. Explorers don't get special unicorn status just because they exist, and the activities that they engage in are no more nor less special than anyone else's. In fact, it's probably the lowest skill activity in the game, so let's drop the glamorizing.

There is a difference in the decision to travel 20,000 LY to take a picture of a planet and the decision to travel 20,000 for the sake of taking a dump in someone else's cereal. The selfie-taker has decided to only waste his own time, while the dump-taker has decided to waste both his time and someone else's. I'm not going to preach about which one is "less pathetic," but there is an important difference there.

 

[Rat Catcher]

it's probably the lowest skill activity in the game, so let's drop the glamorizing.

So true...

And that point alone makes it perfectly fine for 'highly skilled' players to have some fun, well I guess it does because the other players are so unskilled as to be worthless.

The game rules permit this style of gameplay so have a ball

 

[Vedmo]

I've read variations on this comment several times now, and I'm left wondering why you think that someone flying long distance to snap selfies is so much better or "less pathetic" than someone flying 20,000 ly to blow someone up. News flash guys: it's all a huge waste of time, regardless of which team you're playing for. Anyone with more than two iq points to rub together is going to be spending the same amount of time playing with their kids, romancing their wife or simply learning Photoshop. Explorers don't get special unicorn status just because they exist, and the activities that they engage in are no more nor less special than anyone else's. In fact, it's probably the lowest skill activity in the game, so let's drop the glamorizing.

I'd argue using a pvp ship to blow up an unarmed exploration ship with crap defenses is about as low skill as you can get. Does it really get anymore in depth than target and fire? I am in total agreement with you that if that's what someone enjoys in this game, they have every right to pursue it, but lets drop any pretenses of superior skill. I'm sure in many cases the pvper going after the 80 shield 400 hull Asp X actually has a far higher level of pvp skill, sadly though, they need display none of it to get the kill. Think Lebron James dunking on child then boasting about it.

As for why some would think it pathetic, the entire point of the game play when one is hunting down people with no ability or chance to offer a meaningful fight back, especially if they are pursuing them into the depths of the galaxy, is to ruin someone else's gaming experience, not to hone player vs player combat skills. I am of the opinion, you have every right to assume they want such an experience if they are playing in open, and the ganker is justified in their actions, but that doesn't mean it doesn't look infantile.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

1. The day FD changed hatch limpets to ignore shields was a bad one. It removed depth and gameplay. IMHO? A pirate should have to reduce shields down to say 50% or 25% before a hatch breaker can lock on.

I disagree with this, given that a single point defense module equipped in the right slot can shoot down hatchbreakers almost indefinitely. ECM is also an option, or so I've been told.

 

[Phisto Sobanii]

Good luck with that though. After Operation tinman my impression is that 95% of the top Elite pilots are playing bad guys and the level of Organisation is astounding. That is my biggest gripe with the current community, way too many good or superb pilots play the bad ones. We need a chosen one to bring balance to the galaxy.

This is a friendly reminder that notions of ‘good and bad’ are for children bedtimes stories.

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

We need a chosen one to bring balance to the galaxy.

If only there was some strong authority figure who could keep things in check.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

If only there was some strong authority figure who could keep things in check.

Say it with me people...

"ZO"

You can subvocalize and draw it out, like a Theravada chant.

ZO..........

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

[*]The day FD changed hatch limpets to ignore shields was a bad one. It removed depth and gameplay. IMHO? A pirate should have to reduce shields down to say 50% or 25% before a hatch breaker can lock on.

How can I reduce shields when they comms log on me.

Yes, comms log.

 

[Rat Catcher]

This is a friendly reminder that notions of ‘good and bad’ are for children bedtimes stories.

No, no... Bacon and Brie rolls are GOOD! Sprouts are bad!

And not a bedtime story told at all

 

[Rat Catcher]

How can I reduce shields when they comms log on me.

Yes, comms log.

I don't even know what that is - (no PvP experience(nor any desire to change it)) could you explain, please?

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

I don't even know what that is - (no PvP experience(nor any desire to change it)) could you explain, please?

I literally type something vaguely pirate-y into communication panel DM to them, or even ask them which side they are fighting for at a combat CG, and they immediately log out of the game.

Like combat logging, except the combat part hasn't even started yet. In some cases, they may have been interdicted, but pretty sure I've also had it from just comms in SC.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I've read variations on this comment several times now, and I'm left wondering why you think that someone flying long distance to snap selfies is so much better or "less pathetic" than someone flying 20,000 ly to blow someone up. News flash guys: it's all a huge waste of time, regardless of which team you're playing for.

Neither is a level of pathetic. The difference is, the explorer doesn't waste anyone elses time, nor does the explorer wipe out the efforts of weeks/months of another CMDR.

And if you're going to argue that this invested effort is worth nothing, you can prove that by wiping your save now.

 

[Phisto Sobanii]

If only there was some strong authority figure who could keep things in check.

We outgrew those centuries ago.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

Say it with me people...

"ZO"

You can subvocalize and draw it out, like a Theravada chant.

ZO..........

P.S. It's a little known fact that performing this meditational chant whilst firing your weapons at exploration ships gives you a 15% premium damage boost.

Try it out.

 

[Rat Catcher]

I literally type something vaguely pirate-y into communication panel DM to them, or even ask them which side they are fighting for at a combat CG, and they immediately log out of the game.

Like combat logging, except the combat part hasn't even started yet. In some cases, they may have been interdicted, but pretty sure I've also had it from just comms in SC.

Thanks - and for making me chuckle too