CG predictions...

[Rubbernuke]

Yeah - we didn't learn a lot here other than how to tier a data mat collection CG with no real reward. Hopefully that's something we shouldn't really need to use again any time soon because the gameplay is dull. It could have been more interesting if they'd differentiated the different outcomes at least, but nope. It seemed like a "Pick A or B. We don't really care which." CG.

I'm hoping that the devs see this as the failure it was and learn from it. After it was clear that Sirius would win, there wasn't even a competitive element to hold the interest.

I've been a big fan of the new CGs - yes, even the cargo hauling ones - when they've been accompanied by some nuggets of lore, but this one was the first one I gave up on.

I don't really get why suddenly its gone so monotone. As Ian points out they started strongly but seem to have forgotten what killed CGs for people in The Dark Times™.

I really feel a large suggestion thread coming on, but it would make no difference.

sigh

 

[CMDR Serra]

I don't really get why suddenly its gone so monotone. As Ian points out they started strongly but seem to have forgotten what killed CGs for people in The Dark Times™.

I really feel a large suggestion thread coming on, but it would make no difference.

sigh

I'm getting out my "open letter" pen right now... Not really. That would be a terrible idea... After all - that was the harbinger of The Dark Times™.

 

[Rubbernuke]

I'm getting out my "open letter" pen right now... Not really. That would be a terrible idea...

I get armchair deving is a foolish thing, but dear lord I'd be better at it.

 

[CMDR Serra]

I get armchair deving is a foolish thing, but dear lord I'd be better at it.

It's more frustrating because they have occasionally got it so right.

 

[Rubbernuke]

It's more frustrating because they have occasionally got it so right.

Yes- you see it across the game so much. Just like Fat Elvis you can see the talent occasionally shine through but quite often the flab just blocks the sunshine.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

I don't really get why suddenly its gone so monotone. As Ian points out they started strongly but seem to have forgotten what killed CGs for people in The Dark Times™.

I think the problem they have is that there's two very distinct groups of people turning up to CGs and they can't really please both of them with the same CG.

One group really likes the "standard" trade+bounty combination, the more straightforward (readily available goods, short supercruise, local HazRES) the better.

The other (numerically smaller) group will do those if they're available but is looking for something more varied and interesting. Obviously this thread is basically entirely inhabited by this group, because there's not much predicting to do over "where should the trade+bounty combo be this time?"


And they have done quite a bit of interesting stuff with the non-competitive CGs recently:
- the Colonia CG had a lot of new stuff in many respects
- the Exploration CG requiring a specific type of data was very new
- Coalsack trade CGs with a bit more of a challenge
- even the routine trade/bounty pairs have at least had "partial success" options on the trade tiers to make the distinctions between T1 and T5 meaningful.

Even this one is a type of CG they haven't used for a very long time - it just doesn't work for this event.

 

[Factabulous]

Jasmina Halsey Provides Testimony about Starship One
27 JAN 3307
Former President Jasmina Halsey has taken the witness stand during the trial of Fleet Admiral Lucas Vincent at the Federal High Court.

Crime correspondent Ethan Takahashi reported the details for The Federal Times:

“Jasmina Halsey confirmed that the orders for Starship One’s unscheduled stopover in the Azaleach system came directly from Fleet Admiral Vincent. She added that the presidential itinerary was often altered for various mundane reasons, and at the time this seemed routine.”

“Halsey also provided an account of the vessel’s destruction, describing the chaos and panic onboard as the hyperspace misjump caused rapid structural disintegration. She praised her security detail for getting her into a cryogenic stasis pod and launching it moments before Starship One exploded.”

“During cross-examination, the defence counsel quoted her reported visions after being rescued, when Halsey described meeting the ‘caretakers of our galaxy’ and experiencing the ‘infinities of the cosmos’. It was suggested that the testimony of someone suffering from such obvious delusions should be discounted.”

“Halsey admitted that she no longer has any memory of making those statements, and may have been suffering from post-traumatic shock. She then provided the court with psychological reports and neural scans from the Alliance’s finest doctors, medically confirming that she is of sound state of mind.”

 

[Rubbernuke]

Jasmina Halsey Provides Testimony about Starship One
27 JAN 3307
Former President Jasmina Halsey has taken the witness stand during the trial of Fleet Admiral Lucas Vincent at the Federal High Court.

Crime correspondent Ethan Takahashi reported the details for The Federal Times:

“Jasmina Halsey confirmed that the orders for Starship One’s unscheduled stopover in the Azaleach system came directly from Fleet Admiral Vincent. She added that the presidential itinerary was often altered for various mundane reasons, and at the time this seemed routine.”

“Halsey also provided an account of the vessel’s destruction, describing the chaos and panic onboard as the hyperspace misjump caused rapid structural disintegration. She praised her security detail for getting her into a cryogenic stasis pod and launching it moments before Starship One exploded.”

“During cross-examination, the defence counsel quoted her reported visions after being rescued, when Halsey described meeting the ‘caretakers of our galaxy’ and experiencing the ‘infinities of the cosmos’. It was suggested that the testimony of someone suffering from such obvious delusions should be discounted.”

“Halsey admitted that she no longer has any memory of making those statements, and may have been suffering from post-traumatic shock. She then provided the court with psychological reports and neural scans from the Alliance’s finest doctors, medically confirming that she is of sound state of mind.”

"Jasmina Halsey, do you now enjoy kale in Alliance territory?"

"Yes I do, your honour".

"Jury, I put to you Halsey is insane. No person likes kale and her testimony is bonkers. I rest my case".

 

[Factabulous]

I don't really get why suddenly its gone so monotone. As Ian points out they started strongly but seem to have forgotten what killed CGs for people in The Dark Times™.

I don't think it has particularly. CGs seemed more interesting when re-introduced .. because we hadn't had anything for so long. They are still better than they were, because there is some story behind them, but anyone expecting them to magic up a load of developers and refresh the whole thing while simultaneously trying to push out the increasingly late EDO was always going to be disappointed.

And they're still mixing in other stuff like the AX CZ / station repairs / (slightly) new Explo CGs / modules etc. This week has been a bit boring because this type of CG is boring. Especially having followed close on a Colonia CG that was very inventive, it was always going to struggle. And the failure to adjust the totals (which were always too high) didn't help

 

[Rubbernuke]

I don't think it has particularly. CGs seemed more interesting when re-introduced .. because we hadn't had anything for so long. They are still better than they were, because there is some story behind them, but anyone expecting them to magic up a load of developers and refresh the whole thing while simultaneously trying to push out the increasingly late EDO was always going to be disappointed.

And they're still mixing in other stuff like the AX CZ / station repairs / (slightly) new Explo CGs / modules etc. This week has been a bit boring because this type of CG is boring. Especially having followed close on a Colonia CG that was very inventive, it was always going to struggle. And the failure to adjust the totals (which were always too high) didn't help

They started very strongly with less symmetrical CGs, but seem to have run out of ideas. I mean why not try:

Have CGs affect each other- if one is slow, it throws spanners at the other

Have time constraints on each tier being met (otherwise a set event happens)

Tell us (via Galnet) exactly what the character / Tier one expects to happen if they win

Make better use of megaships that can move in and out of systems during the CG

(Partly done via Colonia) make better use of range. I did this which is an attempt at bringing it all together: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threa...alactica-meets-aliens-megaship-action.510639/

This does not even go into (if FD actually fixed it) having CGs based on piracy. I once submitted a perfect competitive CG set near Kumo Tribute Day, where two rival pirate lords want to be favoured by Archon Delaine- this is done by a pirate competition to see who can steal the most in value. Have two megaships parked up and go for it.

 

[Factabulous]

They started very strongly with less symmetrical CGs, but seem to have run out of ideas. I mean why not try:

Have CGs affect each other- if one is slow, it throws spanners at the other

Have time constraints on each tier being met (otherwise a set event happens)

Tell us (via Galnet) exactly what the character / Tier one expects to happen if they win

Make better use of megaships that can move in and out of systems during the CG

(Partly done via Colonia) make better use of range. I did this which is an attempt at bringing it all together: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threa...alactica-meets-aliens-megaship-action.510639/

This does not even go into (if FD actually fixed it) having CGs based on piracy. I once submitted a perfect competitive CG set near Kumo Tribute Day, where two rival pirate lords want to be favoured by Archon Delaine- this is done by a pirate competition to see who can steal the most in value. Have two megaships parked up and go for it.

Yeah, so like I said - you expect them to write a whole new CG system. Good luck with that - you can add it to your demands they re-write PP, because that's going so well ...

 

[CMDR Serra]

...
This week has been a bit boring because this type of CG is boring. Especially having followed close on a Colonia CG that was very inventive, it was always going to struggle. And the failure to adjust the totals (which were always too high) didn't help

This type of CG is boring, so if any CG should have been invigorated by extra "stuff" - lore, module, decal... - then this was it.

On a competitive CG I guess they didn't need it to reach T1, but when one is miles ahead by saturday afternoon and there's no reward of any meaningful kind (and no distinction between either side winning), you get this drift of players away from the CG and it tapers off with a wimper.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Yeah, so like I said - you expect them to write a whole new CG system. Good luck with that - you can add it to your demands they re-write PP, because that's going so well ...

But its not though- those ideas work within the abilities of CGs now. The only difference is that there is more hands on co-ordination with it.

 

[Factabulous]

But its not though- those ideas work within the abilities of CGs now. The only difference is that there is more hands on co-ordination with it.

So they work within the constraints, but require more work. C'mon - you can work this out

Plus - I don't even think they're all good ideas. CGs are spread over a week to allow people to participate. That is the time constraint. If you start changing stuff like that it isn't a CG.

And the 'tell us what will happen' .. I though we were happy yesterday because fdev weren't laying out exactly what the future held.

Anyway, apparently they have the next year or so planned out - so you have that long to try and influence what happens then

 

[Rubbernuke]

So they work within the constraints, but require more work. C'mon - you can work this out

They require more DMing- i.e. if condition A is met, then total goes up or down, asset is moved etc. Its gives amount changes context.

Plus - I don't even think they're all good ideas. CGs are spread over a week to allow people to participate. That is the time constraint. If you start changing stuff like that it isn't a CG.

As long as the ramp up got people to speed then why not? Each day you need X otherwise Y will happen. Not enough scans? Station X goes boom, or the next story 'chapter' is less rosy.

And the 'tell us what will happen' .. I though we were happy yesterday because fdev weren't laying out exactly what the future held.

You misunderstand. Why should someone pick Antal over Sirius? What do the leaders hope to achieve? If the only difference between them is lore, then players need some lore direction to begin with, or fed it as the CG hits targets / time progresses. All it takes is to feed a Galnet story in (which can be a challenge I admit, but lets shoot for the stars).

Anyway, apparently they have the next year or so planned out - so you have that long to try and influence what happens then

Its why I'm not bothering to write my ideas out, because I know its pointless beyond illustrating what is possible.

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

You misunderstand. Why should someone pick Antal over Sirius? What do the leaders hope to achieve? If the only difference between them is lore, then players need some lore direction to begin with, or fed it as the CG hits targets / time progresses. All it takes is to feed a Galnet story in (which can be a challenge I admit, but lets shoot for the stars).

Why did people pick Sirius over Antal? I assume it's purely because of brand recognition from being involved in recent galnet stuff with coalsack and marlinists and there being very little stuff involving Utopia even if you go back.

Could they have chosen another faction to put up against Sirius that would've resulted in a more even fight despite the mechanics of the CG being so boring?

 

[Factabulous]

You misunderstand. Why should someone pick Antal over Sirius? What do the leaders hope to achieve? If the only difference between them is lore, then players need some lore direction to begin with, or fed it as the CG hits targets / time progresses. All it takes is to feed a Galnet story in (which can be a challenge I admit, but lets shoot for the stars).

Hmm yeah - an additional Galnet between Sirius / Pranav coming up with their ideas and the CGs starting would have sufficed for those following the story.

But do you think it would have changed a Sirius supporter to get behind Pranav (or vice versa)? And anyone else would care even less, IMHO. Unless Sirius said, with a wink, of course I plan to kill them all. And Pranav promised assimilation. I can't think of anything they could have said that would make me care either way (but then again I don't follow the lore closely).

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Why did people pick Sirius over Antal? I assume it's purely because of brand recognition from being involved in recent galnet stuff with coalsack and marlinists and there being very little stuff involving Utopia even if you go back.

Could be that - although the Coalsack involvement is as much a negative as a positive for their brand, potentially.

Could also be that Lembava is marginally closer to Sol (and therefore more likely to be the closer system to anyone) than Polevnic is.

Could be that LYR is much more popular than Antal in Powerplay (because packhounds, because 200% explorer bonus) and that's providing some more 'tie-break' loyalty even for those who don't really care that much.

 

[Factabulous]

Why did people pick Sirius over Antal? I assume it's purely because of brand recognition from being involved in recent galnet stuff with coalsack and marlinists and there being very little stuff involving Utopia even if you go back.

Ian has good points - also could just be inertia: Sirius was ahead by hour 3, so anyone choosing based on 'who is ahead' will go with them.

(I had a quick look at Controlled & Exploited systems and they look similar, so I don't see any inherent advantage for Sirius there - in fact I think Praav has slightly more exploited systems).

 

[CMDR Serra]

...
Could be that LYR is much more popular than Antal in Powerplay (because packhounds, because 200% explorer bonus) and that's providing some more 'tie-break' loyalty even for those who don't really care that much.

Sirius sells cheap ships.
Antal is a hippie space-communist.
Choice made.