[DW2] Fleet Mechanic Role Discussion & Idea Melting Pot

[Alex Brentnall]

Hello Everyone!

For anyone that doesn't know I'm helping out to try and organise the fleet mechanic side of the DW2 expedition. This thread is going to hopefully be a good discussion about any ideas and plans for the just under 500 people that have this as their primary or secondary roles.
Long and short you need a Repair Limpet controller and a cargo rack for limpets.


Ideas/Suggestions list:

1) Emergency Callout - Fleet member requires repairs urgently due to rough landing, star impact or whatever. They call in via the official Discord channel or Teamspeak channel, nearest mechanics fly over and heal up.
Note: I have considered asking to use the Fuel Rats IRC for this but honestly I think since repairs are non-time critical and we can manage fine without. It also stops the mess of trying to get 500 people + customers onto and using the IRC without disrupting their day-day operations.

2) Non-Emergency Repair meet - At each waypoint we gather on all platforms at a known time for a formation cruise near a POI like a star or above a planet. We all just form up and chat on all 3 platforms, probably multiple instances if required. People needing repairs get winged in, match speed and then get limpets sent across before breaking formation and leaving. Like air to air refuelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0GYfgoQEIg
Could also be done in conjunction with the Fighter Escort Roles run by Cmdr Grnbrg.

3) Limpet tag / Chinese whispers - As we all fly the route there is one limpet that is "it" on all platforms. If you spot someone with the fleet mechanic role you message them in game and pass along the sacred limpet. The passer then messages me so I can keep track of who has it on all platforms.
I'm betting we will end up with about 5 sacred limpets by the end and it'll be interesting to see where it breaks down, if it does. I'll not tell anyone until the end and we can have fun guessing how far we got/didn't get before it all went wrong! Bit of fun really if people want it.

4) Logistics tie-in - Floating this as an idea for people to decide if they want it or not but - Nobody can use limpet synthesis (this not enforced and no repercussions but for the fun of the roleplay I'd ask everyone to take part). Instead we meet up with logistics carriers to restock if our initial reserves are used up. This also relies on Olivia Vespera agreeing as she is running the logistics side of things.
This won't work for anyone dual running as Fuel Rats and Fleet Mechanics since the Fuel is often a time critical emergency type deal.



Other notes:

There will be no competitions or official record keeping of who has the most repairs. There will be kudos for any epic saves like repairing someone who's hull is at 0% or whatever! I don't want everyone and their cat swarming to be the one that gets the repair limpet away. As with the Fuel Rats I'd like to keep the tone fun but professional and I can imagine that will be difficult if we start score-keeping and racing as people will inevitably start trying to block others out so they can get there first.

I also don't want to be too prescriptive, some of you will welcome ideas and a planned role, others will appreciate a more free-flowing atmosphere. There will never be anyone made to feel that they are forced to go repair anyone or forced to be in a certain place at a certain time. It's all voluntary and all as people want, we are all here for fun at the end of the day.

Translators - If you speak multiple languages then please keep an eye on the discord. Any assistance will be appreciated to help us operate smoothly. This is also a reason for idea #2 as anyone from anywhere can come and get help at that time if they can get a wing into the instance.

Have an idea? Post it here, I'll add it to the list.
Dislike an idea? Post here saying why and we can discuss about removing it.
Like an idea? Post here and as people agree we can move it from Idea to "happening".
Have questions? Post here and I promise I will get back to you even if it takes a week!

 

[Olivia Vespera]

1) Emergency Callout - Fleet member requires repairs urgently due to rough landing, star impact or whatever. They call in via the official Discord channel or Teamspeak channel, nearest mechanics fly over and heal up.
Note: I have considered asking to use the Fuel Rats IRC for this but honestly I think since repairs are non-time critical and we can manage fine without. It also stops the mess of trying to get 500 people + customers onto and using the IRC without disrupting their day-day operations.

I think the way folks connect and use fuel rats isn't too difficult. their website is pretty streamlined. That said, if the rats can work out of our discord for the expedition through fleet mechanics, I don't see why not. I can't wait to see how this goes.

2) Non-Emergency Repair meet - At each waypoint we gather on all platforms at a known time for a formation cruise near a POI like a star or above a planet. We all just form up and chat on all 3 platforms, probably multiple instances if required. People needing repairs get winged in, match speed and then get limpets sent across before breaking formation and leaving. Like air to air refuelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0GYfgoQEIg
Could also be done in conjunction with the Fighter Escort Roles run by Cmdr Grnbrg.

This will be fun. Would love to see a test of theese ideas.

3) Limpet tag / Chinese whispers - As we all fly the route there is one limpet that is "it" on all platforms. If you spot someone with the fleet mechanic role you message them in game and pass along the sacred limpet. The passer then messages me so I can keep track of who has it on all platforms.
I'm betting we will end up with about 5 sacred limpets by the end and it'll be interesting to see where it breaks down, if it does. I'll not tell anyone until the end and we can have fun guessing how far we got/didn't get before it all went wrong! Bit of fun really if people want it.

This is cool. How do you imagine identifying Fleet mechanics? I think it could eithe rbe part of their name of their ID as the first two letters or the dash in the middle.

4) Logistics tie-in - Floating this as an idea for people to decide if they want it or not but - Nobody can use limpet synthesis (this not enforced and no repercussions but for the fun of the roleplay I'd ask everyone to take part). Instead we meet up with logistics carriers to restock if our initial reserves are used up. This also relies on Olivia Vespera agreeing as she is running the logistics side of things.
This won't work for anyone dual running as Fuel Rats and Fleet Mechanics since the Fuel is often a time critical emergency type deal.

This is something I'll need to discuss with others. I like the idea of added restrictions to add "fun" to our game. I'll point a couple truckers to this and ask them. I think we should have more than enough truckers to spare space for limpets, the question is how many limpets do you need per platform?

 

[Valen Zendaris]

I think we should have more than enough truckers to spare space for limpets, the question is how many limpets do you need per platform?

While I too like the idea of having truckers supply limpets to the fleet, I don't think it necessary to go with a strict "no synthesis" rule. Instead, we could tie in another role into this "supply chain" of sorts: Miners.

Assuming we're getting a fleet carrier that acts as a command/mother ship, this could look something like this:

1. Fleet Mechanic acquires limpets from Fleet Logistics
2. Fleet Logistics notifies Command
3. Command notifies Miners to gather materials
4. Miners restock Fleet Logistics

That way we're not limited to a preset amount of limpets. Considering "a miners primary role will be to scout for and mine the essential ice-based minerals needed to refuel the flagship" as per the Fleet Roster role description, this wouldn't be far fetched IMO.

Regardless, interactions with the rest of the fleet roles is certainly something I'd like to see (whether miners get involved or not), so I'm up for this.

P.S.: Signed up as trucker and mechanic.

 

[CMDR pollycough]

^^^^^This I like.
Synthesis will add more layers to the expedition and give the miners a purpose. Imagine miners being asked to *forget the Painite* just get iron & nickel and synthesis limpets.

And besides, Who will carry all the food and medicines needed for such a trip.

 

[Scytale]

I, Trucker, second this. The more interactions inside the Fleet, the better. Best way to prevent space madness.

 

[Dr. Nagi]

Cool ideas, this makes me wanna do fleet mechanic as a secondary role

 

[Repairman Patch]

1) Emergency Callout - Fleet member requires repairs urgently due to rough landing, star impact or whatever. They call in via the official Discord channel or Teamspeak channel, nearest mechanics fly over and heal up.
Note: I have considered asking to use the Fuel Rats IRC for this but honestly I think since repairs are non-time critical and we can manage fine without. It also stops the mess of trying to get 500 people + customers onto and using the IRC without disrupting their day-day operations.

Love this idea - absolutely vital for this, considering the distances involved. I would personally prefer Discord to the Fuel Rats IRC - I'm on PS4 and have limited access to off-platform communications.

2) Non-Emergency Repair meet - At each waypoint we gather on all platforms at a known time for a formation cruise near a POI like a star or above a planet. We all just form up and chat on all 3 platforms, probably multiple instances if required. People needing repairs get winged in, match speed and then get limpets sent across before breaking formation and leaving. Like air to air refuelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0GYfgoQEIg
Could also be done in conjunction with the Fighter Escort Roles run by Cmdr Grnbrg.

I'm currently doing a dry run for this with Small Worlds Expedition 3, and it works really well, even outside instancing or wings, so long as there is direct comms.

3) Limpet tag / Chinese whispers - As we all fly the route there is one limpet that is "it" on all platforms. If you spot someone with the fleet mechanic role you message them in game and pass along the sacred limpet. The passer then messages me so I can keep track of who has it on all platforms.
I'm betting we will end up with about 5 sacred limpets by the end and it'll be interesting to see where it breaks down, if it does. I'll not tell anyone until the end and we can have fun guessing how far we got/didn't get before it all went wrong! Bit of fun really if people want it.

Interesting idea, not sure how that would work.

4) Logistics tie-in - Floating this as an idea for people to decide if they want it or not but - Nobody can use limpet synthesis (this not enforced and no repercussions but for the fun of the roleplay I'd ask everyone to take part). Instead we meet up with logistics carriers to restock if our initial reserves are used up. This also relies on Olivia Vespera agreeing as she is running the logistics side of things.
This won't work for anyone dual running as Fuel Rats and Fleet Mechanics since the Fuel is often a time critical emergency type deal.

I'm going to be carrying full materials for limpet synthesis, but depending on how many people may get banged up for this, having miners provide the limpets would be very useful as time goes on.

 

[Zephrow]

While I too like the idea of having truckers supply limpets to the fleet, I don't think it necessary to go with a strict "no synthesis" rule. Instead, we could tie in another role into this "supply chain" of sorts: Miners.

Assuming we're getting a fleet carrier that acts as a command/mother ship, this could look something like this:

1. Fleet Mechanic acquires limpets from Fleet Logistics
2. Fleet Logistics notifies Command
3. Command notifies Miners to gather materials
4. Miners restock Fleet Logistics

That way we're not limited to a preset amount of limpets. Considering "a miners primary role will be to scout for and mine the essential ice-based minerals needed to refuel the flagship" as per the Fleet Roster role description, this wouldn't be far fetched IMO.

Regardless, interactions with the rest of the fleet roles is certainly something I'd like to see (whether miners get involved or not), so I'm up for this.

P.S.: Signed up as trucker and mechanic.

I really like this idea! It matches with the roles and could serve for RP purposes as well. Even videos.

 

[PaleGringo]

1) Thinking Discord requests probably better in general - needs vary across platforms, and, more importantly, Time Zones. Fuel Rats are quite good at doing their thing and if we can avoid disrupting a well-oiled machine then better for all.

2) Time Zones are hard. I'm registered in DW2 as Media (Twitch Streamer) and Fleet Mechanic. Because I'm on the -end of the Pacific (UTC-8) I'll probably be more of a cleanup crew and I'm also going to be balancing covering the DW2 event on stream, helping commanders in need, and swapping to a second account to fight off space madness after I reach a checkpoint. Finding a time (or timeS) to do this will be tricky for those of us that are outliers, but I would not discourage others from trying to get some representation in these events.

3) Would need elaboration on this one. I'm guessing this is more symbolic than actual and I'm probably just not caffeinated enough for this at the moment.

4) I hadn't even thought of this; bringing 32 with me and a full stock to synth my own, but if it gives other roles more interaction with the technicians so much the better. Again, as an outlier, I'd be reliant on other commanders in similar time zones for the resupply. Interested in seeing where it goes, in any case.

At your service, commanders.

 

[VerticalBlank]

I think a no synthesis rule is a bit too prescriptive for my liking, but I really like the ideas above for increasing people’s interactions with suppliers and miners.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

So just to throw an update in after Lavecon. I'm putting this here partly for the record to remind myself later

From discussions here, on discord and on the day:

1) No big objections, fair bit of support. This will go ahead and Discord will be the way we operate.

2) Probably requires a trial run one weekend, probably do this one weekend in July/August
Assuming it works and is fun there is timezone issues noted. Probably worth doing a few meets at different hours each with a lead per group to organise, or we just get a list of who wants to join in and what their timezone is, maybe a quick straw poll or something. I'll have a think on this

3) Issues around keeping track. Issues around identifying other mechanics. <- Issue I thought of with limpets not changing timezones.

4) Everyone seems on board provided it's run as an additional challenge type deal rather than a mandatory or required thing. Olivia is discussing with logistics to see how they want to do it with miners and carriers.
Q4 Mining changes may make mining very risky. We may even be able to support the miners directly on site at the edge of RES sites should an asteroid explosion go wrong



Cheers

 

[Repairman Patch]

Pardon me for committing threadomancy!

So we're clear now that we won't have fleet carriers with us on DW2. I'm not certain we won't have a FDev controlled megaships along the way, but I'm going to assume not. In which case making sure that there will be a steady stream of available limpets for repairs may get to be an issue later in the expedition, and managing those materials, sourcing them and working with mechanics to get to the people who need repairs is going to be important on each of the platforms.

I'd like to volunteer myself to act as lead fleet mechanic for the ps4 wing.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Pardon me for committing threadomancy!

So we're clear now that we won't have fleet carriers with us on DW2. I'm not certain we won't have a FDev controlled megaships along the way, but I'm going to assume not. In which case making sure that there will be a steady stream of available limpets for repairs may get to be an issue later in the expedition, and managing those materials, sourcing them and working with mechanics to get to the people who need repairs is going to be important on each of the platforms.

I'd like to volunteer myself to act as lead fleet mechanic for the ps4 wing.

Hi, no worries on the necromancy

Yeah I was just reading into that, it struck me as well that without carriers being in the Q4 update it may change things a bit.

To be honest until the Q4 beta comes out I don't think we can really assess whats going to happen, I mean the new mining could turn out to be super dangerous so we would have to re-organise to support them. Or it could turn out that there's a new all in one limpet controller so most people can now repair themselves and we are going to be in a much lowe demand.

Personally I think we will probably be best off assessing things once the beta comes out and adjusting on the fly (bad pun intended)!


Yes definitely, crows mentioned on discord that you would be volunteering. I'll send you a PM sometime over the weekend, maybe early next week when I get a bit of time

 

[The-DemonWolf]

Thin iced dw2

Greeting all,

Ok first thing I need to say, Dw2 is on thin ice in my opinion! Next I was advised to be as constructive as possible with my criticism by one of the dw2 Heads I pulled aside and asked questions to. This is an ideaspot, so I will post my ideas/ opinions. So here we go!

1) Emergency Callout - Fleet member requires repairs urgently due to rough landing, star impact or whatever. They call in via the official Discord channel or Teamspeak channel, nearest mechanics fly over and heal up.
Note: I have considered asking to use the Fuel Rats IRC for this but honestly I think since repairs are non-time critical and we can manage fine without. It also stops the mess of trying to get 500 people + customers onto and using the IRC without disrupting their day-day operations.

2) Non-Emergency Repair meet - At each waypoint we gather on all platforms at a known time for a formation cruise near a POI like a star or above a planet. We all just form up and chat on all 3 platforms, probably multiple instances if required. People needing repairs get winged in, match speed and then get limpets sent across before breaking formation and leaving. Like air to air refuelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0GYfgoQEIg
Could also be done in conjunction with the Fighter Escort Roles run by Cmdr Grnbrg.”

^ see all that? It come with an over developed monkey brain. look the first problem which I will get back to is the missing fleet carriers. but as you have said asking the fuel rats for help. That is all you need to do. That what the fuelrat irc is there for 1. Second many player/ fuelrats are coming on this trip as it was a job speciation. So why do we need fix it people ? You don’t, a lot of explorer carry a repair limpet. Fuelrats on standard builds try to Incude repair limpets. So your over complicated this. A repair met up is fine but remember conda need a lot of help if they get damaged. Also most player will get repaired by friends when they meet up long as some has a controller.

3) Limpet tag / Chinese whispers - As we all fly the route there is one limpet that is "it" on all platforms. If you spot someone with the fleet mechanic role you message them in game and pass along the sacred limpet. The passer then messages me so I can keep track of who has it on all platforms.
I'm betting we will end up with about 5 sacred limpets by the end and it'll be interesting to see where it breaks down, if it does. I'll not tell anyone until the end and we can have fun guessing how far we got/didn't get before it all went wrong! Bit of fun really if people want it.”

This is not limpet tag! I made limpet tag up and set up rules and offered it to several discord groups this is not it! your play a weird game of man hunt or hide and seek in the galaxy which I do not think will work except at meet ups. and then the limpet will be tossed around at the meet ups. Not only that but you can’t do it cross platform you need 3 serperate it’s. So I don’t think this will work. Also if I find a bunch of stuff or I need to use the limpet ? By by limpet you end with more or too few limpets. There no way to make a limpet special. So this idea no good.

“4) Logistics tie-in - Floating this as an idea for people to decide if they want it or not but - Nobody can use limpet synthesis (this not enforced and no repercussions but for the fun of the roleplay I'd ask everyone to take part). Instead we meet up with logistics carriers to restock if our initial reserves are used up. This also relies on Olivia Vespera agreeing as she is running the logistics side of things.
This won't work for anyone dual running as Fuel Rats and Fleet Mechanics since the Fuel is often a time critical emergency type deal.”

This sounds crazy dumb, who going to carry limpet 50,000ly in a cargo ship ? I can make them you can make them it’s a really really stupid idea. This where I now start talking about the dw2 on thin ice. We have surmised we are not getting fleet carriers. You have just lost tons of interest with jobs and stuff. There a huge chuck of dw2 gone. Look at it, your jobs have just dried up right now. For example fuelrats can make their own limpets. The rock rats could go have a group instant where they collect the oh so rare nickel and iron party. o.o oh wait it’s not rare and we can’t all group on a planet surface still! So I don’t see any need for “limpet runner “ since the game let us make them, it ruins no role play by doing something already in game.on top of it all of miner come, they will chew through all available limpets in Hours. You need a fleet dedicated just to moving limpets. and how lame would that sound, “I went on dw2, and all I did was haul limpet the whole trip for everyone else so I couldn’t do anything fun” yup make so much sense.

Next We lost all other miners coming on trip now. Who going to come mine at the edge of space ? No one why cause we have no reason to. the fleet carriers won’t be there to need stocking. No miner no need for escorts, no fleet carrier no need for protection. so now we hav lost a major part of the escort duty group players. there nothing to protect. I heard you wanted to bring ten tons or rares of everything? Why? To make those poor players pirate bait? seriously we have no fleet carriers why would you need anyone to bring rares? no fleet carrier no need for the rock rat to work hard to find material for everyone to got get to move them. so now the poor rock rats lose out on a major job.

so what is next? well let’s look at the job that are pretty much left. You can be an explorer, a fuelrat or an explorer. The fleet carrier are vita to this event. You guys may not have realized how important they are to your role play jobs but they are they are super important and we are not getting them. What logistics do you speak of ? There not nearly that kind of conten now with the loss of fleet carriers, you don’t need to keep track of any material or needs now because we don’t need them. Plain and simple.

you want cg I heard at the Beagle and the sag. Your going to end up with the explorer or brave hauler moving form colonia to sag A for a cg sure. But without fleet carriers or something similar. You are not going to succeed at beagle at all. It’s way to far to move cutter and t9 type cargo haulers to make it worth it other that to say you did it. The money in it will not make up time spent doing it. It will take far too long, player will make one haul. If really stuborn they might make two. They won’t work out there, they just won’t see success unless canonn, and other player group does a rally to the point.

The only reason I still want to be in dw2, is because one I want to go to beagle and not do it alone. 2 I’m a fuelrat, and it was going to be my main job on this trip. But if you don’t want to explore (like me) and you don’t want to be a fuel rat. You just want to got to point fine, but there are no long any other jobs to do for dw2 anymore. This is why I feel dw2 is on thin ice

P.s ships changes in next update may not let ships do more than one job in some people’s design. So people may lose heart in ship build prep to go. People like to be helpful overall. so doing a few different jobs is a nice break from monotonous repeated jobs.

 

[Valen Zendaris]

To be honest until the Q4 beta comes out I don't think we can really assess whats going to happen, I mean the new mining could turn out to be super dangerous so we would have to re-organise to support them. Or it could turn out that there's a new all in one limpet controller so most people can now repair themselves and we are going to be in a much lowe demand.

Personally I think we will probably be best off assessing things once the beta comes out and adjusting on the fly (bad pun intended)!

Agree that at this point no one really knows what Q4 is going to change regarding ship builds and how various mechanics like mining and exploration are going to work in the future. That's rather unfortunate when it comes to "planning"anything ahead of time. The lack of confirmation on whether we will get a megaship and the refueling scenario is also a bit frustrating, but that's just my opinion as I would quite enjoy a thorough supply chain incorporating fleet logistics, mechanics and miners to work in co-op.

Curious though, what discord are you using?

 

[VerticalBlank]

FleetComm Discord. Link on this page https://eliteccn.com/colonia-life/fleetcomm/

 

[Repairman Patch]

Hi Demon.
I'm quite surprised at your opinion on this. Bearing in mind that this is the single largest endeavour in the history of the game, I would have thought that you might have been more on board than this, especially as you appeared to be interested in volunteering for the lead repair job on psn on Friday.


I agree that not having fleet carriers is a blow, but certainly not one that challenges the expedition, which can easily evolve to accommodate this situation.

Most of the expeditions I've been on (Which admittedly is fewer than I'd like at this time), have required a devision of roles. And having dedicated repair ships is important, just as it is with having fuel rats. To say that anyone can have a repair limpet is as accurate as saying anyone can have a fuel limpet. By that logic, why have fuel rats? I think you'll agree how difficult it would be not to have them.

Not having fleet carriers actually increases the need for such dedicated ships, as you won't have an opportunity to change modules or ships along the way.

Anyone can synthesize limpet. I 100% agree without there. Do you want to spend your days gathering 10 iron and 10 nickel for each set of 4 limpet, 3 of which are going to be spent on repairing one conda?
Are you sure we don't need logistics?

Regards,

 

[Valen Zendaris]

FleetComm Discord. Link on this page https://eliteccn.com/colonia-life/fleetcomm/

Thanks VerticalBlank. Already joined there a long time ago, so I guess you guys have just been discussing stuff in the general chat there then (and I missed it)?

@The-DemonWolf
As for the "need" to create a supply chain, I've crunched a few numbers:

Given that there are currently 3108 signups, with 204 primary and 380 secondary mechanics enlisted, that means at least 584 ships are capable of repairs. That leaves 2524 ships that might not be capable of repairs. That would theoretically equate to each Mechanic being responsible for 4-5 ships. Assuming the worst case scenario and each ship (excl. the mechanics themselves) had to be repaired with one limpet after each waypoint of ~5000 Ly during a ~200000 Ly journey, the total number of limpets used per mechanic would be a maximum of 200, or 1 limpet/1000 Ly.

The maximum storage capacity for iron and nickel is 300, which equates to 120 synthesized limpets. Assuming each mechanic maxed their storage prior to the journey, they would only have to gather a maximum of 200 iron and nickel respectively to make up for the remaining 80 limpets, or prospect a single ore of iron & nickel every 3000 Ly (as the yield is always 3 units).

When you look at it that way, of course there's no need for a supply chain to go gather materials for limpet synthesis, nor anyone to haul limpets throughout the expedition. That said, it's also very boring if every mechanic were to just do that. The entire point of the event is that it is eventful (excuse the pun). That requires some kind of (inter-)activity between players aside from just getting to the destination, because the game mechanics here are actually quite mundane and tedious tasks. Creating a supply chain counters that by giving people a purpose and working together along the journey.

Regarding Fleet Logistics, you're right, there's no actual need for us to gather every known rare in the galaxy and haul them out to BP. Yet it brought a whole range of players together to gather them, help manipulate the BGS to unlock the hidden ones, and coordinate storage until the expedition starts. It has been a lot of fun and I've enjoyed being a part of it thus far. You say the fighter escorts have no purpose without the miners taking part, but I say I'm certainly glad they're tagging along when my hold (and that of many other fellow truckers) is stuffed with several tons of valuables.

If we were to limit what we do based on what the game dictates is most efficient, then we'd all be doing the exact same. How uneventful.

 

[Whitmann]

DW2 is NOT on "thin ice". Frontier have been in touch with the DW2 organisers and will be discussing soon how to make the expedition as fab as possible. Obviously everyone is waiting for more info on the exploration changes due in Q.4 but DW2 will be different to originally conceived, not abandoned.

 

[marx]

DW2 is NOT on "thin ice". Frontier have been in touch with the DW2 organisers and will be discussing soon how to make the expedition as fab as possible.

Good to hear. If I remember correctly, last I heard - before their recent update on Q4 - was that they had yet to reply to the DW2 questions and plans, most importantly the megaship. So after the community update now, they've gotten in touch with the organisers then?