Switching modes. I still don't get it.

Starjammer

Starjammer
I am an alpha member of the game, and it has been a while since I have posted here, but I have been reading forums every now and then. Sadly, busy life has kept me away from Elite Dangerous more than I would like, but I am looking forward to seeing the final release (gamma?). I posted concerns months ago about modes of play. I would like to revisit this.

I heard people will be able to switch from online to not online. Is this really true? Will people be able to jump back and forth between modes? Can anyone please help me understand the concept of having people able to jump from online to not online modes of play? Seriously, what is the point of it? I have the upmost respect for Frontier, and the crew behind the game, but I just cannot grasp why this is. I was actually starting to think, OK great idea, have two modes of play, but being able to jump back and forth is a total immersion killer in my opinion. Does anyone else think this is not right? I think two modes is good, but not being able to switch back and forth.

I look at the board polls also, and noticed how many people are wanting to start in Ironman(open), which appear to have some good numbers. Does Frontier actually see the polls? Do they care about them? I think this shows strong desire from the gamer base to be in total immersion, despite the risks involved.

Am I wrong? Am I missing something? How can there be two modes coexisting? Any constructive comments appreciated. :S
 
Last edited:

ZenSpider

ZenSpider
Sorry to say that I'm happy with the direction that FD have chosen and the only constructive comment I can make is to suggest you read any of the many threads there are on the topic already.
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
Robert Maynard
Starjammer said:
Am I wrong? Am I missing something? How can there be two modes coexisting? Any constructive comments appreciated. :S
Click to expand...

The mode switching is between the three online modes: solo-online; private groups and open-online (the "All Group").

I do not expect commanders to be able to switch between offline and online play.
 

Darth Krayt

Darth Krayt
There is a third mode that is not available yet: offline solo - you won't be able to transfer your player character to online.
 

norty303

norty303
Out of interest, what is the purpose of 'Online - Solo' mode?

I understand how people may use it (to avoid encounters for instance), but it sounds like an oxymoron to me. 'Online' suggests multiplayer, so if you want to play solo, why would you need to be online, if not for multiplayer interaction?

If it is to ensure you get world/galaxy events as for the MMO players, surely offline content downloads would deal with that?
 

Starjammer

Starjammer
Robert Maynard said:
The mode switching is between the three online modes: solo-online; private groups and open-online (the "All Group").

I do not expect commanders to be able to switch between offline and online play.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks for clearing this up for me. So can you tell me, what would be the incentive for anyone to go into open-online, knowing that their ship could be blown up by an actual human (non-AI) commander? I would think the open-online is more dangerous. But what is the incentive to be in that mode?
 

Carcharodon

Carcharodon
I'm really looking forward to the new insights that are bound to come from going over all this again when nothing has changed or is slated to change...
 

hydraSlav

hydraSlav
Jorlin said:
not offline to online.

"online solo" to "oline open".

And this horse is dead, resurrected, dead again, rotten, reincarnated, dead...
You're trying to beat something that doesn't even look like a zombie-horse anymore...
Click to expand...

Tell me again, what's the different between "online solo" and "offline" from an interaction/risk perspective?
 

Ozric

Volunteer Moderator
Ozric
norty303 said:
Out of interest, what is the purpose of 'Online - Solo' mode?

I understand how people may use it (to avoid encounters for instance), but it sounds like an oxymoron to me. 'Online' suggests multiplayer, so if you want to play solo, why would you need to be online, if not for multiplayer interaction?

If it is to ensure you get world/galaxy events as for the MMO players, surely offline content downloads would deal with that?
Click to expand...

Because all of the markets are linked and so you need to be online in order to see them, plus I'm sure once the Galnet alerts go ingame you will need to be able to receive them too.

As far as I'm aware there's not been any final details released about offline mode and I'm not expecting it to ship with release, but the consensus I have read is that you will need to connect to the main client on first log in, to receive all of the current data, but from that moment on your market data will be totally unique to your game. I'm guessing you won't be able to receive Galnet alerts unless you choose to log in to the online client to update them (don't hold me to that though :D)
 

Ozric

Volunteer Moderator
Ozric
Starjammer said:
OK, thanks for clearing this up for me. So can you tell me, what would be the incentive for anyone to go into open-online, knowing that their ship could be blown up by an actual human (non-AI) commander? I would think the open-online is more dangerous. But what is the incentive to be in that mode?
Click to expand...

The fun of it and the chance to meet other players. Not everyone will be aiming to kill you.
 

Carradin

Carradin
norty303 said:
Out of interest, what is the purpose of 'Online - Solo' mode?

I understand how people may use it (to avoid encounters for instance), but it sounds like an oxymoron to me. 'Online' suggests multiplayer, so if you want to play solo, why would you need to be online, if not for multiplayer interaction?

If it is to ensure you get world/galaxy events as for the MMO players, surely offline content downloads would deal with that?
Click to expand...
It also affects things on a much smaller scale than world/galaxy events. Basically, it is the exact same galaxy that online open play happens in, which means that markets fluctuate as other commanders haul goods, missions might be snapped up by someone else if you take too long in deciding if they're worth the effort, the side you pick in a conflict might not win as the efforts of other commanders in open and solo play also count, and so on. In offline mode, the world will largely revolve around you as the efforts of other commanders are no longer factored in, though presumably world and galaxy events are indeed still carried over.
 

777Driver

777Driver
norty303 said:
Out of interest, what is the purpose of 'Online - Solo' mode?

I understand how people may use it (to avoid encounters for instance), but it sounds like an oxymoron to me. 'Online' suggests multiplayer, so if you want to play solo, why would you need to be online, if not for multiplayer interaction?

If it is to ensure you get world/galaxy events as for the MMO players, surely offline content downloads would deal with that?
Click to expand...

If you have ever played in the open world of GTAV online you would understand the need for Solo online/Private sessions/Open online.

When starting out you definitely want to spend time in Solo online until you get some cash and vehicles, you are still online so receiving the dynamic missions etc just like everyone else.

Once you get into open play you will still occasionally want to get back into solo online, for me it's just to get a breather from the craziness (You can never fully relax unless in your apartment) Even if you are chilling by a quiet mountain roadside miles from the city some human passer by can spot you and blow up your vehicle resulting in a heavy insurance payment.

It's good to have options. In Elite I will mix it up with solo online & open play depending on my mood and what I plan to do in the game on the day. Either way I am contributing to the dynamic universe.

Also, just like GTA solo online, I'm sure Elite solo online will be more stable and less prone to being booted off the server.
 

Starjammer

Starjammer
Carradin said:
It also affects things on a much smaller scale than world/galaxy events. Basically, it is the exact same galaxy that online open play happens in, which means that markets fluctuate as other commanders haul goods, missions might be snapped up by someone else if you take too long in deciding if they're worth the effort, the side you pick in a conflict might not win as the efforts of other commanders in open and solo play also count, and so on. In offline mode, the world will largely revolve around you as the efforts of other commanders are no longer factored in, though presumably world and galaxy events are indeed still carried over.
Click to expand...

That is great and all, but can anyone tell me one single incentive besides "meeting people" that would make we want to play in open-online?
 

norty303

norty303
Ok, thanks for explaining the nuances. I'm an old Elite gamer, and not much of a 'new breed' of gamer, so the nuances of online-solo styles was lost on me. I played the offline GTAV story but never went online.

It'll be online-open for me anyway, the solo jumping seems a bit like cheat mode to me, but I don't begrudge anyone else using it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom