Are wing missions just a way to sned players free money?

[clinton]

(*send, I can't edit titles it seems).

From what I understood from the livestream, all members of the "captains" wing (the person who took the mission) will get full rewards upon completion of a wing mission. These will not be split, you'll get the same rewards whether you complete a wing mission solo or with three other players.

Also, people can share wing missions with players who are lower than their rank.

This just seems like an exploit waiting to happen. I can just wing up with my friend at the other side of the galaxy (or someone who just started the game) and effectively send them cash when I complete the wing mission even though they've done nothing to contribute.

Also, if you're mean and boot someone from your wing before you complete the mission, they receive nothing, even if they've done most the work.

Is this understanding of the system correct?

If so, may I suggest the two following changes:

1. Full rewards are given (and only given) to a player who completes at least 20% of the mission. A player who completes 10% of the mission only gets 50% of the reward. This is still fairly generous (you can get the full reward for by only completing 20% of the mission) but it ensures players have to do something towards a wing mission to get the reward. Also with this system players who contribute but are then booted still get the reward if they contributed.

2. Whilst high ranked players can share missions with players of lower rank, the lower rank players payouts will be adjusted so that their pay rates are based on the maximum rank they could accept. This stops players from skipping straight to the highest rank rewards just by taking wing missions.

I think these changes will stop a number of future exploits and save a lot of trouble for FDev instead of trying to adjust this after it goes live.

 

[Shadowdancer]

If you decide to do up to four times the work for a bunch of freebooters in your wing, then yes, it's free¹ rewards. It's your choice.

———
¹ except you pay for them

 

[Aashenfox]

It's about time there was a way to give new starters a leg up. The early game is extremely painful. Also they won't get combat rank or even a share if they are not in the same instance as the kill (I believe), so it really is just money, which is not really that significant a resource compared to rank and reputation, or even engineering materials. I'm cool with this 'exploit' if it turns out to be doable.

 

[Muetdhiver]

The ability to give a hand to new players is really cool IMO. The time=skill grinder brigade will argue that it's an exploit and whatnot. I see it as a way to tutor and help new players and alleviate the grind gates barring the road to fun.

 

[CMDR Redcrest]

People only earn CR if they contributed.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

The ability to give a hand to new players is really cool IMO. The time=skill grinder brigade will argue that it's an exploit and whatnot. I see it as a way to tutor and help new players and alleviate the grind gates barring the road to fun.

If new players do something other than sit in hangar then no one will ever object to that

People only earn CR if they contributed.

Currently no, they will earn even if they do nothing.

 

[Pville_Piper]

This will likely be nurfed like it was with Multi-Crew.

 

[CMDR Redcrest]

If new players do something other than sit in hangar then no one will ever object to that



Currently no, they will earn even if they do nothing.

As for that last part I suppose that what beta is for. Also why Fdev don't balance rewards until release. Subject to later buffing/nerfing as deemed appropriate by Fdev.

 

[Drelthar]

I don't think this is a problem.

Mainly because, if you implement a system where you FORCE people to say, deliver cargo for the cargo delivery mission, then you have just completely ruined the ability for people to play as wingmen, who cover the trader in combat ships, and still get paid. Because, they DID contribute. They were the protection.

There is Zero way to detect this via scripts (because these protectors could be folloowing/chasing/hunting down another commander who is harrassing the group, in order to allow the mission to be completed - or perhaps, some cargo was stolen by another commande/NPC and they have to chase him to another system, and liberate the cargo, to get it back to the trader ship)

Basically, if you instate these rules, you make the game worse for people who just want to play, in order to stop a few divs from being divs about things.

 

[Lily from anim.o.v.e]

So how does that work if people wing up with a cargo ship for a cargo mission and 3 combat ships? They won't get full rewards because they didn't took cargo of at least 10%?

Sounds still broken to me. Sure some call it "free money" but dammit people, if you solo hard you are way more time efficient when it comes to money, so why not throw a bone for those playing together investing quite some time to meet and wing up. It's all about reward/time investment. and if that isn't at least higher than soloing it's not worth it, and will similar like Multicrew not even be done after a short time.

 

[CMDR Redcrest]

*snip*

A good point I hadn't considered.

 

[Ian Skippy]

I don't think this is a problem.

Mainly because, if you implement a system where you FORCE people to say, deliver cargo for the cargo delivery mission, then you have just completely ruined the ability for people to play as wingmen, who cover the trader in combat ships, and still get paid. Because, they DID contribute. They were the protection.

There is Zero way to detect this via scripts (because these protectors could be folloowing/chasing/hunting down another commander who is harrassing the group, in order to allow the mission to be completed - or perhaps, some cargo was stolen by another commande/NPC and they have to chase him to another system, and liberate the cargo, to get it back to the trader ship)

Basically, if you instate these rules, you make the game worse for people who just want to play, in order to stop a few divs from being divs about things.

Absolutely. And I personally rather keep the option of this type of gameplay open at the 'expense' of 'people exploiting the system'. As long as 'exploiting' means that someone can work for someone else voluntarily, there isnt much of an issue. The sensible thing would be to have divided rewards. That way a daring solo cmdr could earn a lot by tackling a tough wing-mission alone, or people can share the workload and rewards.

 

[Martian Successor]

I don't think this is a problem.

Mainly because, if you implement a system where you FORCE people to say, deliver cargo for the cargo delivery mission, then you have just completely ruined the ability for people to play as wingmen, who cover the trader in combat ships, and still get paid. Because, they DID contribute. They were the protection.

There is Zero way to detect this via scripts (because these protectors could be folloowing/chasing/hunting down another commander who is harrassing the group, in order to allow the mission to be completed - or perhaps, some cargo was stolen by another commande/NPC and they have to chase him to another system, and liberate the cargo, to get it back to the trader ship)

Basically, if you instate these rules, you make the game worse for people who just want to play, in order to stop a few divs from being divs about things.

^ Very much this.

Also, why is it a bad thing to help a lower ranked friend get some credits?

 

[GG7]

Pretty sure they are going to add something to detect whether you actually delivered any cargo/participated in the effort. If a player simply accepted the mission but did nothing to complete it, they won't get a penny.

Surprised this isn't already in the design, but trust me... It WILL BE before the final release.

 

[Vasco Sapien]

People only earn CR if they contributed.

I think thats not the case. To be honest a minimum share of the work should be conmpleted to get a pay share IMO.
Newbie players need to play in order to learn.

 

[Lily from anim.o.v.e]

^ Very much this.

Also, why is it a bad thing to help a lower ranked friend get some credits?

Because my grandmas grandmas grandmas grandmas grandmas grandmas grandmas grandmas.... grandmas husband had to go to the forest with a bow hunting meat, so we cannot allow others to simply go to the supermarket and get meat before they haven't hunt 3 deers.

It's all about "muah candy!!!!" crying.

Yes the grind was horrible, long and tideous, but just because I had to go through it doesn't mean I want this to be like that for other players too, because it was not fun nor has it been good for the game in general. Improving the game may mean improvements some of us won't benefit from anymore because we have been past that point. But it's very egoistic to prevent such improvements and let others go through the same tideous thing.