News Development Update - 8th Jan

[ape808]

I'd like to see more player based events in the newsfeed.

Michael

Michael, can you maybe take a look at the "Mercs of Mikunn" results thread (sorry, can't post link, thread id: ?t=97577) as the organiser seems to have run into issues with faction expansion. I understand that you may want to keep some elements of the faction system a 'black box' to be figured out by players, but it would be very helpful to understand if/where bugs still exist in the system.

Many thanks for the team's hard work to date, and the increased communications via the server status posts and this development update thread are much appreciated.

 

[Acario]

...its difficult to know when it will be fixed as we don't know what needs fixing yet.

Michael

Read your tickets. I've had a ticket in since Gamma about that fact that most of the Class 3 guns aren't even in the game yet! Where are my C3 Gimballed Canons and Plasma Accelerators? Both of these are Class 2 + 4 but not 3? lolwut?

~Steve

 

[rdizz]

i still wonder if overthrowing a system works, like i see in Lugh, that the system faction is still federation faction even though crimson got like 65percent influence in that system.

I have been working hard to help lugh declare it's independence. Doesn't seem to be working. Would love a dev comment on this.

 

[nicomak]

Absolutely disagree with this idea. One of the things I like the most about ED is that there is no "levelling up" like most other games, no perks, no achievements...just the player against the universe.

Well it would make sense if your reputation was good to get a 'small' discount on things you buy at a system. It doesnt have to be a large variation in prices.
For the rank though i dont know, it could be that people or factions wont trust you unless you have such or such rank. Reputation at least can be lost, not rank. So perhaps there's a middle ground to find there. Small advantages based on reputation, but not on rank.
And it could be temporary as well, like if you participated in war efforts in system X you get 5% discount on everything you buy from that faction for a set amount of time as a reward. though if you fought on the loosing side, well you might have to actually pay some tax as retribution to the wining faction, local or major.

 

[Hawkmoon]

I know what you mean I would like those features as well.

In Solo mode they could give you a pause as you are not in a shared instance. Pausing would however mean the markets still change while pause, but it could suspend you and the npc's attacking you. It would allow mums and dads to attend to family life while still having a few ten minutes play here and there...

You would also have to stop the motion of all the planets in all the systems and in effect have your own server to keep your version of the galaxy, that is why there was no offline mode in the end FD just could not find a way to make it work.

 

[Cosmo]

The keyword is "soon"

 

[talharbash]

Missions is due for a major update which I'll go into more detail in a dev update soon.

Michael

Thanks.

One thing I'd appreciate, and I'm sure others, is less one liners, and more beefy discussion on what we're getting. Even the last dev update did not address the biggest complaint: very limited content right now to consume.

 

[Michael Brookes]

Thanks.

One thing I'd appreciate, and I'm sure others, is less one liners, and more beefy discussion on what we're getting. Even the last dev update did not address the biggest complaint: very limited content right now to consume.

I intend to provide more details as they are firmed up - we're currently in a big planning phase and until we're certain of what and when it's difficult to talk in anything other than generalities.

Michael

 

[Nikonthenet]

Dang, this sounds good -new missions and wings!

I have a question for Michael!
-Are the various special weapons, such as 'Overcharged Multicannons' actually still in the game? If so perhaps there distribution could be checked. A number of players, myself included, have been searching for these weapons since release, and it looks like there nolonger available, as not a single person has seen a single one of them. Players who purchased them before release still have them tho.

Would be good to simply know if they're out there to be found!? I spent quite a while searching large pop' Industrial and High Tech systems, and had to give up in the end, totally baffled and confused.

 

[rolek]

I intend to provide more details as they are firmed up - we're currently in a big planning phase and until we're certain of what and when it's difficult to talk in anything other than generalities.

Michael

Any chance for an update on all feature requests somewhere ? Do you guys track them ? Could you update on any consideration? The community has a lot of ideas in the Features and Gameplay forum.

 

[Sloma]

Absolutely disagree with this idea. One of the things I like the most about ED is that there is no "levelling up" like most other games, no perks, no achievements...just the player against the universe.

This is not entirely true... You do have ranks and reputation in game that work in a sense as "levelling up", however you're not forced to climb through the ranks, you're not forced to do anything specific and this it beautiful in Elite series.

But... What is the purpose of increasing your reputation or a rank if there is nothing to earn from it? What is the point in putting that mechanic if you're not getting any rewards or achievements IF you do decide to follow this path? There has to be something... I'd love to see more logical and slower progression through the ranks which opens up more complex and even more specialised missions especially if you want to gain higher rank, it too easy and shallow atm.

I have faith that with time we will get it eventually there.

 

[rdizz]

This is not entirely true... You do have ranks and reputation in game that work in a sense as "levelling up", however you're not forced to climb through the ranks, you're not forced to do anything specific and this it beautiful in Elite series.

But... What is the purpose of increasing your reputation or a rank if there is nothing to earn from it? What is the point in putting that mechanic if you're not getting any rewards or achievements IF you do decide to follow this path? There has to be something... I'd love to see more logical and slower progression through the ranks which opens up more complex and even more specialised missions especially if you want to gain higher rank, it too easy and shallow atm.

I have faith that with time we will get it eventually there.

Actually ranks seem totally random. As my rep goes down all of a sudden I have a naval progression opportunity. They hate me but promote me? And no one recognizes my rank status. If they went missing I don't think anyone would notice honestly.

 

[OriginalBadBoy]

This is not entirely true... You do have ranks and reputation in game that work in a sense as "levelling up", however you're not forced to climb through the ranks, you're not forced to do anything specific and this it beautiful in Elite series.

But... What is the purpose of increasing your reputation or a rank if there is nothing to earn from it? What is the point in putting that mechanic if you're not getting any rewards or achievements IF you do decide to follow this path? There has to be something... I'd love to see more logical and slower progression through the ranks which opens up more complex and even more specialised missions especially if you want to gain higher rank, it too easy and shallow atm.

I have faith that with time we will get it eventually there.

The issue with addiig content like this though is it wont interest people who already at their 'end game' as they see it. The only way to get that additional content would be to start over or roll a new commander.

Personally I don't see an issue with this myself, I have always assumed I would be starting from scratch at some point, but I can see a fair amount of the current player count being against doing something like that.

 

[DarthLuca]

Any word on planetary landings?

One word - Awesome!

 

[Hydrino]

I believe some of that exists, but only within the system it happens. There's no concept of local news for nearby systems which would be a good addition.

Michael

I have not noticed any local news except the traffic report in any system I have been in. I think this may need to be looked at if you think it exists already.

Many areas exist to make this bring the galaxy alive. New rank gains in Pilot's federation. For small systems any PC destroying Pirates or Wanted ships would be newsworthy and should gain rep on the side of law and negative rep with any local pirate group/ black market. Likewise any Pirating in local system; Cmdr John Doe has been pirating this system and gained 123 Cr bounty for his activity here. NPC action might be a bit more difficult but maybe anytime an NPC is promoted to Tier 2 it warrants some made up article to call that to attention.

Weekly reporting of player achievements galaxy wide like most systems explored, largest star discovered, system with most planets discovered, most bounties collected, longest trade run. Some of it might even seem boring but since it is the player community almost everyone will love to see their own name in the headlines.

All in all the news at the moment is nice to have on the major story-lines. But it could be so much more.

 

[orfeboy]

What I would like to see as an addition to the persistant universe is interdictions relating to ship activity. For example: if particular goods are selling in big numbers from one station to another this sort of news would get around. In the real world people would notice big money was being made. This would draw pirates and these routes should become more dangerous. In other words, if a player is flogging a particular trade route and making silly money it should become more dangerous for him/her. This sort of thing also plays into player co-op as a player will be more likely to ask another to fly escort to his trading vessel. If you tie the wings mechanics in with hiring bodygaurds (players) this would help to make these mechanics a big part of the game. No reward without risk!

 

[Hydrino]

The issue with addiig content like this though is it wont interest people who already at their 'end game' as they see it. The only way to get that additional content would be to start over or roll a new commander.

Personally I don't see an issue with this myself, I have always assumed I would be starting from scratch at some point, but I can see a fair amount of the current player count being against doing something like that.

I don't see this as an issue. If you are already rank Dangerous, for instance, any update should just recognize that and additional missions and benefits (like discounts or whatever) will be applied systematically.

If you are talking about earning badges or some such then maybe I can see a disruption. But we have to accept the game will be developed over time and to get the full experience from scratch will require starting over at some point or introducing the game to your kids or another player. "it is what it is".

 

[Michael Brookes]

Any chance for an update on all feature requests somewhere ? Do you guys track them ? Could you update on any consideration? The community has a lot of ideas in the Features and Gameplay forum.

That would be impractical - I only have so many hours in the day! I will be focusing on reporting what we have planned or are working on as we progress.

Michael

 

[Redan]

Any update on the Clipper Mass Lock issue?

 

[Hydrino]

What I would like to see as an addition to the persistant universe is interdictions relating to ship activity. For example: if particular goods are selling in big numbers from one station to another this sort of news would get around. In the real world people would notice big money was being made. This would draw pirates and these routes should become more dangerous. In other words, if a player is flogging a particular trade route and making silly money it should become more dangerous for him/her. This sort of thing also plays into player co-op as a player will be more likely to ask another to fly escort to his trading vessel. If you tie the wings mechanics in with hiring bodygaurds (players) this would help to make these mechanics a big part of the game. No reward without risk!

And when I am within 20 LY of that system a news article should appear if the background sim is doing as you say. Pilot's federation would propagate the news of the lucrative trade route. This was done manually during Beta as the markets were tinkered with and collapsed in the small area everyone was used to and FD tried to get folks to expand outward by indicating more profitable trade runs further away.

In this way the news is handled in game. Increases immersion and the feeling that the galaxy really is 'alive'. PG and code can be used to introduce news based on NPC activity if no players are around. Although I would say that is secondary to getting data from the player logs to start showing up as news items.