Elite Dangerous need to get serious about Cross Platform.

One of the biggest ironies of those who want to PvP their way to BGS success is that they keep failing to realize that “defending” a controlling faction via PvP is functionally identical to attacking a controlling faction via PvP. The best they can hope for is to break even, BGS wise. Furthermore, if the opposition knows what they’re doing, they can arrange a “Heads I win, tails you lose worse” situation.

It’s why I prefer to do my BGS work in Open. Imagining local headlines like “Local hooligans attack ship carrying puppies and kittens destined for orphanage while the authorities watch helplessly,” or “Violent thugs in the employ of the authorities destroy relief supplies,” never gets old. :D
 
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I would have thought this would actively assist to improve the game but I see now that any positive feedback is discourged as it means work for Frontier.
You have some idea how to "improve" the game. At least it would improve it in you opinion.

But whatever anyone thinks about it, it's only an idea how things could've been if this wasn't the game it is.
It's like playing chess and thinking it would be cool if you could fight pawns in FPS mode after making a move - then going to the game forums and stating that anyone not wanting that from the chess game is stupid.

This game has been designed as something different to what you expect from it. It's basically a Single player game (remake of original `84 Elite) with optional multiplayer shenanigans. BGS has been designed to make the game feel alive even if you're playing solo - beautiful thing if you're not into being forced to endure all kinds of childish annoyances from other players, that other MMOs are infamous for. That's what sold me this game.

So, make a suggestion, please. In fact you're hardly the first to make this one. I think the number goes into three digits. Don't expect it to be treated as brilliant though and don't expect devs to fold and change the whole game, just because you think so.
It's so annoying when another self proclaimed savior of the Elite comes along and preaches how everyone else is stupid, because he want's to play this game differently than designed and is annoyed with results.
 
I'm not convinced that cross play would make a difference here, even if everything on both sides was done in Open. If this is where I think it is, it looks like you've got 12-14 supporters on your side vs 235? That's pretty much makes platform/mode irrelevant when it comes to the BGS.

We're up against something similar - a bigger invisible PC faction (who reputedly play in PG). What I'd like to see from FDev is an in game cross-platform/mode Cmdr/Faction/Squadron search function. One that allows me to enter a name (Cmdr, faction, squadron) and pull up Pilot Federation details - platform, mode preference, Cmdr numbers, recent activity level, etc. so at least I can make an informed decision about my opponents when we/they expand into a system. Are we on the same platform/mode, how big are they, are they even still active... as it is, it can take a fair bit of out of game tracking.

Edit: and the ability to contact Cmdrs in game, cross platform, to engage in possible diplomacy.
 

Viajero

Volunteer Moderator
I'm all for players from all platforms that can use the same game.
What I'm not crazy about is when different player factions from different platforms go against each other in a war or an election where you cant see them or combat them as they are on a different platform.
Recently we lost our station and control of a system of a PC player faction to a PS4 player faction in an election/war . How do you fight a "player faction" if you cant see them as they are on a different platform. The reality now is that now they know they can steam roll us, They will look to take the rest of our hard fought and worked for systems as well like a greedy take take take cancer faction. They cant have the rest of the galaxy but they have to prey on our systems and we are unable to interact with them in game.
This rubbish needs to be sorted out and is ruining mine and other players in our groups gameplay.
Either
1. Make xbox, PS4 and PC all have their own galaxy to work in and interact separately
or
2 Make cross platform a reality so all platforms can see each other in game and it becomes a level playing field

I like playing against AI and I like playing against human player groups, but how do you compete with a human player group you cant see or have combat with.

Frontier have done this on the cheap to grab the console dollars and I get that , greed is good. But for game play it totally sucks as there is no game balance.
Either you make cross platform a reality like every one can see everyone like in other cross platform games i.e. sea of thieves. or give each platform its own server to interact with.
Its only a computer server. its not hard and your making a bundle of cash supporting a galaxy. get it done.

Not sure if I have understood you correctly but BGS and PP are already connected cross platforms in a single universe server.

Unless you are talking about the ability to actually meet players cross platform in game? In which case the thing is that even if everything was played in open and cross platform there are two key basic principles of Elite design and technical limitations that would mean it would not make much of a difference for conflict resolution:
  • Even if everything was played in open and cross platform the instancing and netcode in Elite means you would only be able to see a handful of players at most at any given time. The rest would not be in your instance and would be instead merrily doing BGS against you anyways.
  • That whenever you are engaged in PvP, say, trying to stop your enemies from doing BGS against you, you are not doing BGS. And doing BGS is the only way you can progress your faction etc. PvP does not help you there.
FDEV seem to have been fully aware of the netcode and instancing limitation from the get go, and gave the game a way for players that can not see each other (for whatever reason) to battle it out: The cumulative absolute effort in BGS (or PP) actions accross all game modes and platforms.
 
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OP - your viewing this wrong....
Rather than moaning at FDev to change something - you'd be much better off asking the community for help...
You need numbers more than anything.
And it's entirely possible, there's a few bored Cmdr's around here who might help you swing the BGS in your favour....if you ask nicely! 😘
....maybe not the most riveting emergent content....but emergent content non the less. Maybe you'll even manage to extract some salt from your opposition? 😉
No guarantees...but I suspect you'd probably get more sympathy than your current approach is getting you!

....that being said - crossplay = yes please!
 
I seem to recall that the difficulty with doing cross platform play were due to the different patch approval processes enforced by the different console manufacturers vs. the open platform of the PC. In short: it would make releasing updates a nightmare since all platforms would have to be on the same version at all times, and any update would have to wait for both Sony and Microsoft.
 
I seem to recall that the difficulty with doing cross platform play were due to the different patch approval processes enforced by the different console manufacturers vs. the open platform of the PC. In short: it would make releasing updates a nightmare since all platforms would have to be on the same version at all times, and any update would have to wait for both Sony and Microsoft.
To some extent this already happens. Could you imagine how funny it would be on this forum if a nerf to some aspect of the BGS happened on PC, but consoles still got to make use of the pre-nerf state for a week? As far as I am aware, the only things that get pushed through quicker on PC are those emergency post update fix patches.

Or maybe this delay on fix patches for more players maybe it might make someone more cognizant of the fact that things might be better with more issues ironed out before launching an update.

Yeah, I know, perfect worlds and all that.
 
The BGS is like match play in golf.
You don't bend the other player's clubs, kick their balls into the rough or poison their caddy, you try to outscore them within the given rule set.
It's an indirect contest.
Of course the difference in ED being that if the opposing lot outnumbers you, you're screwed.
And as has been said, the platform is irrelevant.
If they weren't on a different platform, they could just avoid direct confrontation from within a private group.
Not trying to "stick" it to you or anything, but this sort of thing is what one has to acknowledge before getting involved with and attached to factions.
The game mitigates this somewhat by the sheer size of the place, yes, but it won't prevent scenarios like the one you describe 100%.
 
On one hand cross play would be cool... More cmders to meet for those who want it and it would.mean more matches in CQC (I have never played KOTH).

OTOH i still would not play in open and likely others would not either so OP would still ultimately have the same problem
So sure crossplay Incan get behind but not for the reasons OP wants
 
Sure, but killing your direct enemy isn't going to help you win the BGS fight.

If you're getting steamrollered, it means you're either outnumbered badly or incompetent, and let's assume it's the "outnumbered" one. If one of your pilots is spending time hanging round in supercruise hoping to interdict an enemy, they might catch one of them ... but you're still outnumbered several to one, so while they're shooting at that enemy pilot and forcing them to high wake, several more have got past. Best case you've marginally slowed them down at the cost of heavily slowing you down.

Well, okay. Best case, they have perfectly good PvPers of their own, who are quite happy to fight you to a standstill while the rest of their squad steamrollers your BGS unopposed, the result is the same but at least you got to enjoy being crushed more.

Worst case, they don't have any good PvPers, but they do know how to engineer shields and heal beams, fly in wings of two, and make sure that you can't even get any fun out of shooting at them.
 
One of the biggest ironies of those who want to PvP their way to BGS success is that they keep failing to realize that “defending” a controlling faction via PvP is functionally identical to attacking a controlling faction via PvP. The best they can hope for is to break even, BGS wise. Furthermore, if the opposition knows what they’re doing, they can arrange a “Heads I win, tails you lose worse” situation.

It’s why I prefer to do my BGS work in Open. Imagining local headlines like “Local hooligans attack ship carrying puppies and kittens destined for orphanage while the authorities watch helplessly,” or “Violent thugs in the employ of the authorities destroy relief supplies,” never gets old. :D
They aren't "defending". They are "attacking" another faction. You can't defend when you're not attacked.
 
They aren't "defending". They are "attacking" another faction. You can't defend when you're not attacked.
And if you're being attacked by players who don't support a faction you can attack?

After all, there's many BGS players who:
  • Are more interested in spreading ideology than one particular faction
  • Are more interested in suppressing ideology than spreading one particular faction
  • Are attacking your faction, because its unfavorable to the local Power
  • Are just messing around, and don't know that you're supporting a particular faction
What then?

edit:

And of course, there definitely a possibility that you won't know who's attacking you, especially if they're clever about it.
 
And if you're being attacked by players who don't support a faction you can attack?

After all, there's many BGS players who:
  • Are more interested in spreading ideology than one particular faction
  • Are more interested in suppressing ideology than spreading one particular faction
  • Are attacking your faction, because its unfavorable to the local Power
  • Are just messing around, and don't know that you're supporting a particular faction
What then?
  1. You mean like anarchists just spreading anarchies? Not just their factions? Who does such things?!
  2. Suppressing ideologies? That's filthy imperials I bet!
  3. Attacking innocent workers would never be favourable to any power.
  4. That's me, I think.
 
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