Allow players to augment system security forces

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

When the rate of illegal CMDR murder in a non-anarchy star system is high, allow CMDRs to sign up to be deputised by system security there. Basically, Pilots' Federation CMDRs are causing problems in the system, interfering with the conduction of normal business, and the system authority agrees to deputise other PF members to combat this lawlessness, in a process subsidised by the PF itself. The basic concept isn't original but I'll flesh it out a bit.


A signed-up CMDR is given a stock ship with free rebuys, and no loss of data or other things normally lost on rebuy.

They can pay to use their own ship but it costs more for more powerful ships (e.g. use the price of one rebuy), and no free rebuys, which also have all the normal effects on data, etc.

The CMDR is paid a basic hourly stipend, and a bonus (the main source of pay) for every wanted CMDR instanced with with whom they enter the interdiction minigame, which increases with that CMDR's bounty and notoriety (diminishing returns for instancing interdiction repeatedly with the same CMDR, to prevent exploit). Pay also increases with system murder rate. Cap the rate of earning at some cr/hr value to further prevent exploit. Bounty vouchers are earned as normal.

The contract ends on leaving the system, collect payment whenever.

If the CMDR uses the supplied ship for CZs or combat missions, they're hunted by ATR.

If they become wanted, they're kicked from the deputisation for the day on next ship destruction.

If they get notoriety 1, hunted by ATR until destroyed, respawn in their own ship, not possible to sign up again for 1 week.

Notoriety 2 and above, earnings are voided, they're hunted harder by ATR, and last used owned ship impounded.

The stock ship supplied has a 1e fsd and cannot be upgraded in any way.

Deputised CMDRs are marked in other CMDRs' info panel as "pilot's federation deputy" or similar

In terms of FF colouring, they appear the same as system security in the info panel and HUD radar to other CMDRs. After scanning them, deputised CMDRs see other CMDRs with red colouring if notorious, green if clean and yellow otherwise.

Limit the number of signed-up CMDRs per instance to distribute defence when instances are stacked.


Why:

Imagine if a large percentage of hollow squares at a freight CG were green, there to defend your T-whatever by interdicting and harrying the people trying to murder you - a persistent, pro-active add-on to system security. And you had the option to jump in too for a lark.

It offers a CQC-like, no-stakes toe-dip into full scale PvP. CMDRs who don't normally relish flying in open in these locations may choose to on these terms, giving a boost to those clean CMDRs already in open.

No organisation is needed, the deputy force emerges spontaneously where murder rate is high, waxing and waning around the clock with overall player numbers. Organisation does however become easy since other deputies are easily identifiable and confined to a small number of systems.

Lawless CMDRs potentially get a consistent force of opponents to play against. Some experienced PvPers may enjoy the reverse-gank possibilities of being deputised, where lawless CMDRs don't know if they are facing a stock ship with a newbie in it, or an experienced CMDR who paid to use their own ship, or anything in between.

 

[Vadim Kleitsin]

Wait, so you want to be paid just for entering the same instance as another player with a bounty?

And if you can pay in to use your own ship, I imagine most people would take that option rather than use the freebie one since the most CMDR kills will likely be racked up by FDL pilots.

That said, the deputies could take their own ships, fit cargo racks and then take bribes from pirates in the form of stolen cargo.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

Wait, so you want to be paid just for entering the same instance as another player with a bounty?

And if you can pay in to use your own ship, I imagine most people would take that option rather than use the freebie one since the most CMDR kills will likely be racked up by FDL pilots.

That said, the deputies could take their own ships, fit cargo racks and then take bribes from pirates in the form of stolen cargo.

What I kind of want really is to have friendlies in SC/stations while hauling for a CG, that aren't just lamely reactive like NPC security.

This would be in systems where you can expect to be attacked by players in powerful ships, and take rebuys, so it's not free credits. Though you could limit it to instancing with notorious CMDRs, for instance. The idea too is that you'd be prevented from doing other activities that would be more lucrative. So it's a subsidy for patrolling the system, really. The rewards can be scaled or capped to make the credits come no quicker than bounty hunting in a haz res, say. You could also have rewards only realise on the completion of each hour since sign-up to stop things like instance-flipping a few times then cash in.

As for the ship used, it depends what you seek to achieve. No-stakes is only possible with the stock ship. Using your own ship is paying to receive a subsidy while doing bounty hunting that you might otherwise do anyway (and which is super inefficient against players).

The bribe angle is interesting but I'm not sure that would work any different to normal play trying to extort a pirate. Which I'm not sure happens much.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

Wait, so you want to be paid just for entering the same instance as another player with a bounty?

And if you can pay in to use your own ship, I imagine most people would take that option rather than use the freebie one since the most CMDR kills will likely be racked up by FDL pilots.

That said, the deputies could take their own ships, fit cargo racks and then take bribes from pirates in the form of stolen cargo.

On balance I think pay for instancing is too easy to exploit, so it'd have to be for entering interdiction minigame with said CMDRs. Will edit.

 

[CMDR Von Abrahart]

When the rate of illegal CMDR murder in a non-anarchy star system is high, allow CMDRs to sign up to be deputised by system security there. Basically, Pilots' Federation CMDRs are causing problems in the system, interfering with the conduction of normal business, and the system authority agrees to deputise other PF members to combat this lawlessness, in a process subsidised by the PF itself. The basic concept isn't original but I'll flesh it out a bit.


A signed-up CMDR is given a stock ship with free rebuys, and no loss of data or other things normally lost on rebuy.

They can pay to use their own ship but it costs more for more powerful ships (e.g. use the price of one rebuy), and no free rebuys, which also have all the normal effects on data, etc.

The CMDR is paid a basic hourly stipend, and a bonus (the main source of pay) for every wanted CMDR instanced with, which increases with the latter's bounty and notoriety (diminishing returns for instancing repeatedly with the same CMDR, to prevent exploit). Pay also increases with system murder rate. Cap the rate of earning at some cr/hr value to further prevent exploit. Bounty vouchers are earned as normal.

The contract ends on leaving the system, collect payment whenever.

If the CMDR uses the supplied ship for CZs or combat missions, they're hunted by ATR.

If they become wanted, they're kicked from the deputisation for the day on next ship destruction.

If they get notoriety 1, hunted by ATR until destroyed, respawn in their own ship, not possible to sign up again for 1 week.

Notoriety 2 and above, earnings are voided, they're hunted harder by ATR, and last used owned ship impounded.

The stock ship supplied has a 1e fsd and cannot be upgraded in any way.

Deputised CMDRs are marked in other CMDRs' info panel as "pilot's federation deputy" or similar

In terms of FF colouring, they appear the same as system security in the info panel and HUD radar to other CMDRs. After scanning them, deputised CMDRs see other CMDRs with red colouring if notorious, green if clean and yellow otherwise.

Limit the number of signed-up CMDRs per instance to distribute defence when instances are stacked.


Why:

Imagine if a large percentage of hollow squares at a freight CG were green, there to defend your T-whatever by interdicting and harrying the people trying to murder you - a persistent, pro-active add-on to system security. And you had the option to jump in too for a lark.

It offers a CQC-like, no-stakes toe-dip into full scale PvP. CMDRs who don't normally relish flying in open in these locations may choose to on these terms, giving a boost to those clean CMDRs already in open.

No organisation is needed, the deputy force emerges spontaneously where murder rate is high, waxing and waning around the clock with overall player numbers. Organisation does however become easy since other deputies are easily identifiable and confined to a small number of systems.

Lawless CMDRs potentially get a consistent force of opponents to play against. Some experienced PvPers may enjoy the reverse-gank possibilities of being deputised, where lawless CMDRs don't know if they are facing a stock ship with a newbie in it, or an experienced CMDR who paid to use their own ship, or anything in between.

To have a policeman job would be cool

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

To have a policeman job would be cool

Lore wise I actually think there ought to be some separation between system government and Pilots' Fed members (being "independent pilots" as they are described by Galnet). I'd see this more as the system authority saying "PF members made this mess, and now they can help clear it up if you please". But anyone could play it how they want. There'd likely be communities that grew around it that were interested in "policing". They'd either sit alongside the current vigilante groups, or the latter would join the party. Others would use it casually or opportunistically and might switch role when they find they can't get through SC in open to do what they intended, but don't want to switch to closed modes.

 

[Elliot Coleman]

They have that already. It's called SPEAR. Their effectiveness is up for debate, depending on who you ask. Assuming they didn't all join the Odyssey Exodus, mind you.

Would share their discord, but I'm not on it anymore. Their honor system was a bit much for my tastes.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

They have that already. It's called SPEAR. Their effectiveness is up for debate, depending on who you ask. Assuming they didn't all join the Odyssey Exodus, mind you.

Would share their discord, but I'm not on it anymore. Their honor system was a bit much for my tastes.

SPEAR is a vigilante player initiative. Inevitably there are perks to being part of a group like that (organisation, financial support, third party out-of-game tools, etc.). But joining up involves subscribing to their MO and outlook. Which happens to conflict with my role as a Federal powerplayer, for instance. Even besides, I don't find them attractive to join either, and as for you, it's cultural. There is baggage that wouldn't be present for a neutral in-game system that suits someone trying to turn a buck just as much as it does an idealist, frustrated gankee, or self-styled white knight. The ease of engagement with such a system, and its focus on high murder rate systems funnels players to where they can make a difference, and in (hopefully) greater numbers.

 

[Cmdr Aos_Si]

I like the idea. it would probably need a bit of work to get it reasonably balanced but that true of any new gameplay loop. I don't see the point of having a loaned ship unless thats for Cmdrs who just don't have a combat ship so they can dip their toes so-to-speak. Overall, as an idea, I'd say its a good one.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

I like the idea. it would probably need a bit of work to get it reasonably balanced but that true of any new gameplay loop. I don't see the point of having a loaned ship unless thats for Cmdrs who just don't have a combat ship so they can dip their toes so-to-speak. Overall, as an idea, I'd say its a good one.

Re: the stock ship. Basically it means the pilot has literally nothing to lose. They could come back from exploration with 100s mil of data, etc., or stacks of bounty vouchers and take part with no risk (apart from the initial flight into the system, but then they could also apex in). Respawn any number of times with no detriment. Credits are free and all, but psychologically I think it makes a difference.

Also, you wouldn't expect to be destroying criminal players' ships in a stock ship. But clearing a path for other CMDRs the only crucial thing to do is take threats out of the SC instance. The stock ship is capable of interdicting or being interdicted, so it functions. This is also the primary way to earn credits from the role. Using an engineered ship would allow a player to tie up the threat for longer and potentially get kills, but they'd have to pay to do so and cover rebuys (so you've already lost some players). Stock ships could wing with engineered ships to chip away at targets too.

I've geared it to incentivise use of underpowered ships as, for instance, if I'm going to Farseer and happen to have forgotten to pay off that 400cr bounty from some planetary scan missions, I don't want to face more g5 murder boats than I have to. The existing vigilante forces aren't likely to chase that bounty, but the newcomers might. Also, nudging players to use underpowered ships lowers their liability and so the bar to engagement. And it focuses the role on defence (clearing a path) rather than attack (destroying criminal ships).

 

[Cmdr Aos_Si]

makes me wonder how good this game would be if 10% of player ideas were implimented...

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

makes me wonder how good this game would be if 10% of player ideas were implimented...

Careful what you wish for....! I wonder if FDev have ever implemented something from the forums. I think there may have been some examples, but probably only simple ones. I reckon if players weren't so frustrated at unrealised potential, the suggestions forum wouldn't be so popping with complete revamps and complex attempts to save the devs mental legwork by saying "just implement this!". Hopefully it at least gives them fodder for what players might be interested in.

 

[T200]

For some reason the first thought comes to mind are regiments and the like from the US civil war, the Spanish-American-War, and (to a lesser extent I think)WW1.

Where said regiments are basically Personally Financed and Equipped, by some wealthy benefactor..

ships like the USS NIAGRA, which was basically a gold-gilded, but ultimately useless ship designed to act as essentially a mobile desalination plant in case US troops in Cuba couldn't access fresh-water wells while fighting the Spanish.

really this is a place where I wish all the energy that had been directed into thargoids and guardians and engineers had instead gone into just making weapon systems unique and interesting in their own right, and feel like they have a place in the lore of the game world.

 

[CMD Worbly Blorble]

Careful what you wish for....! I wonder if FDev have ever implemented something from the forums. I think there may have been some examples, but probably only simple ones. I reckon if players weren't so frustrated at unrealised potential, the suggestions forum wouldn't be so popping with complete revamps and complex attempts to save the devs mental legwork by saying "just implement this!". Hopefully it at least gives them fodder for what players might be interested in.

I don't know... they got rid of the odyssey scanner super fast. I'm sure they probably catalog these things and weight them based on relevance and ease to implement. I'm sure something like this is probably on the bottom of the food chain as they have to keep each element of the game relevant.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

I don't know... they got rid of the odyssey scanner super fast. I'm sure they probably catalog these things and weight them based on relevance and ease to implement. I'm sure something like this is probably on the bottom of the food chain as they have to keep each element of the game relevant.

Exactly - "please get rid of this it's awful" will work. "Please implement this system I've devised thinking I'm cleverer than you" gets less traction... but it's hard to resist