Notice ARX FAQ

[Rubbernuke]

Whatever it will be in the end, I wholeheartedly hope it's not that nonsense. In these times it would be a horrible and totally ignorant signal to encourage to keep thousands of PCs online 24-7.

This is my problem. When I read people fitting a giant fuel tank and flying in system overnight to lower notoriety (2 hours for -1 point) I just see what a lot of people will do to get Arx. If anything, Arx should be gained as you gain credits- maybe 1 million made in game = 1 Arx. You can't tie Arx to some activities (like Powerplay) because that screws incentives, and you can't earn it directly as an option because of RNG.

I really want more detail from FD because this is a minefield if done wrong.

 

[aRJay]

Because it actually fits-its a fast competition giving you actual proper prizes in game rewarding skill. You then actually directly earn it rather than passively soak it up.

But it would benefit so few of the community.

Bribing Incentivising people to take part in CQC this way tells me that as it stands CQC of itself isn't generally interesting.

 

[Speedcuffs]

But it would benefit so few of the community.

Bribing Incentivising people to take part in CQC this way tells me that as it stands CQC of itself isn't generally interesting.

Well said.

 

[aRJay]

This is my problem. When I read people fitting a giant fuel tank and flying in system overnight to lower notoriety (2 hours for -1 point) I just see what a lot of people will do to get Arx. If anything, Arx should be gained as you gain credits- maybe 1 million made in game = 1 Arx. You can't tie Arx to some activities (like Powerplay) because that screws incentives, and you can't earn it directly as an option because of RNG.

I really want more detail from FD because this is a minefield if done wrong.

The trouble with limiting it to credits earned is miners can earn fortunes per hour with core mining while explorers won't earn anything for weeks or months of pay until they get back to the bubble which makes it as bad as linking it to PP.

It would be fairly simple if everyone was trustworthy but unfortunately someone will try and cheat so they can have everything in the store for free, almost as pointless a use of cheating as anything else in a game like this where there is nothing to win.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I really want more detail from FD because this is a minefield if done wrong.

Vila Restal: Avon, this is stupid!
Kerr Avon: When has that ever stopped us?

 

[Vasious]

This FAQ does nothing to assuage my concerns...

Not adjusting mission rewards to account for Arx sounds like we won't be able to earn them by doing actual activities. It kind of implies to me that they'll be earned by simply logging in.

I took that to mean ARX wont be one of the Rewards that is an option with Mission rewards like Credits REP INF Commodities and Materials, but not that Missions wont be an award for doing missions.

Just like Elite Rank points/xp isnt an explicit Mission award you chose on the mission hand in screen but a consequence of doing missions and other stuff.

 

[Atol]

Sounds cool

 

[Rubbernuke]

But it would benefit so few of the community.

Bribing Incentivising people to take part in CQC this way tells me that as it stands CQC of itself isn't generally interesting.

CQC being an ingame sport, which rewards you how? Generally in sports you get some sort of prize, so Arx would cover that really well.

As I explained before, making Arx passive is bribery, because then its a case of simply logging in and plumping up numbers which is a terrible waste.

 

[Slàine Sìdh]

Of course, if this had been a single-player, offline game like games used to be, instead of a Live Service with Recurrent User Spending (thanks, Jim), we could've had a thriving modding community making all manner of custom setups, paint jobs, ship modifications and such, which we could've plugged into it and enjoyed without having to worry about 'balance' and 'fairness' (thanks, Fox).

And there'd be no need for freemium mechanics, premium currencies, microtransactions or any of that nonsense and we could just buy the game and play the game like with every Elite game previously.

I am old. My lawn: get off it, etc.

 

[Factabulous]

Of course, if this had been a single-player, offline game like games used to be, instead of a Live Service with Recurrent User Spending (thanks, Jim), we could've had a thriving modding community making all manner of custom setups, paint jobs, ship modifications and such, which we could've plugged into it and enjoyed without having to worry about 'balance' and 'fairness' (thanks, Fox).

And there'd be no need for freemium mechanics, premium currencies, microtransactions or any of that nonsense and we could just buy the game and play the game like with every Elite game previously.

I am old. My lawn: get off it, etc.

So - what mods do you recommend for Elite '84? or was one of the later ones moddable?

 

[Rubbernuke]

The trouble with limiting it to credits earned is miners can earn fortunes per hour with core mining while explorers won't earn anything for weeks or months of pay until they get back to the bubble which makes it as bad as linking it to PP.

It would be fairly simple if everyone was trustworthy but unfortunately someone will try and cheat so they can have everything in the store for free, almost as pointless a use of cheating as anything else in a game like this where there is nothing to win.

Arx has to be pinned to something that is simply not just logging on, this is why I'd like more detail on the topic. From what I've read so far what will happen is you passively soak up a small set quantity each week for free for logging in.

 

[Slàine Sìdh]

So - what mods do you recommend for Elite '84? or was one of the later ones moddable?

Really?

Come on.

 

[Arioch]

So - what mods do you recommend for Elite '84? or was one of the later ones moddable?

I recommend the “control mod” for Frontier Elite 2 - it adds up/down/left/right thrusters which I think really adds to Engines Off flight. Combined with Isinona’s combat tutorial vid, it makes things much less jousty.

Frontierverse > Patches

sharoma.com

As for the original Elite, there are plenty of total conversions, shall we say? You can even fly ships other than the Cobra 3 in some of them

 

[Factabulous]

Really?

Come on.

Well, you said they were moddable? Links to mods please Or were you just - filling the thread with hyperbolae

Edit: Ah, turns out there are mods, just the poster was being unhelpful

 

[Factabulous]

I recommend the “control mod” for Frontier Elite 2 - it adds up/down/left/right thrusters which I think really adds to Engines Off flight. Combined with Isinona’s combat tutorial vid, it makes things much less jousty.

Frontierverse > Patches

sharoma.com

As for the original Elite, there are plenty of total conversions, shall we say? You can even fly ships other than the Cobra 3 in some of them

ah so there are mods - thanks! A useful post

 

[Northpin]

Arx has to be pinned to something that is simply not just logging on, this is why I'd like more detail on the topic. From what I've read so far what will happen is you passively soak up a small set quantity each week for free for logging in.

I would say that the free Arx should not be pinned under yet another grind.

 

[Slàine Sìdh]

I recommend the “control mod” for Frontier Elite 2 - it adds up/down/left/right thrusters which I think really adds to Engines Off flight. Combined with Isinona’s combat tutorial vid, it makes things much less jousty.

Frontierverse > Patches

sharoma.com

As for the original Elite, there are plenty of total conversions, shall we say? You can even fly ships other than the Cobra 3 in some of them

Thanks for that, Arioch. I had no idea there were mods for previous Elite games.

Well, you said they were moddable? Links to mods please Or were you just - filling the thread with hyperbolae

Edit: Ah, turns out there are mods, just the poster was being unhelpful

Unhelpful is my usual response to sarcastic. And I inferred sarcasm because it seemed obvious to me that you'd know Elite 84 had no mods, but were apparently aiming to pick an entirely unnecessary argument. I have several single-player games famous for large and dedicated modding communities, including Skyrim, Orbiter and Microsoft FSX, so it didn't seem controversial to me to suggest that single-player games can be modded, and that a single-player ED could have been as well.

The point being that a single-player game can be modded whereas a multiplayer-only game cannot - at least to anything like the same extent.

If I misjudged the intent of your post, and you were simply asking, sincerely, whether the previous Elite games were modded, then I apologise for assuming bad faith.

 

[Rubbernuke]

I would say that the free Arx should not be pinned under yet another grind.

I will be interested in reading in September about how Arx is generated. If its tied to credits (but has a low upper limit for the free Arx) it favours more people (and is activity agnostic) but annoys established players. If its tied to missions (as a fourth reward type) people will hate its tied to RNG, and you'll wind up with Sothis style edge case rushes. You can't tie it to merits because it would be insane...just logging in to get them seems safe but does not properly reward since its all passive (and people can macro Arx mining but keeps EDs numbers looking good). This is not even thinking about a 'fair' level of Arx per hour (or the free upper limit).

 

[Factabulous]

If its tied to missions (as a fourth reward type) people will hate its tied to RNG, and you'll wind up with Sothis style edge case rushes.

Seems unlikely, unless Paige is being very obscure:

Will the rewards for missions change because of Arx?
No, rewards from missions will not be adjusted with the introduction of Arx.

I still think it might be a CR reward - covers the whole 'limited number per week' and allow different Arx for different contributions. Of course would lead to complaints from explorers and those who don't like "this week's CG flavour", but would be attractive to fdev as a way to get more involved with CGs.

 

[cmdr akerstache]

How about earning some Arx every time leveling up your rank? This would be fine for those already progressing in the game. Triple eliters would not like it...