As we now know telepresence is used for controlling fighters, the idea of dying in CQC isn't as bad for me anymore, but that's not the point.
CQC is an arcade-focused game mode in ED. It provides an opportunity to have a (somewhat) level playing field to develop flight skills without having to deal with massive rebuys, dropping out of SC to get back into the fight, countdowns in game, grinding engineers, P2P connection issues etc.
As far as I'm aware, the playercount for CQC is pretty much zero, so no future players can get to level 50 to unlock the CQC Holdings Station in the main game. I do feel for those customer who bought the Arena version of the game, as their product is essentially useless. This brings me to the point of this thread:
Why is Arena dead, why is there nobody in CQC, and what can we do to promote this underutilized game mode within the main game?
For those who have never played CQC, it is a game mode that is either Free for all, or 4v4 where you fight in a points based system on custom built maps purely for CQC, a lot of development time was spent in this mode both map wise and ui wise. The loadout system you use is selected before a match, and you can have a number of pre-configured loadouts before you're placed in a game. (Ship, weapons, utilities)
There are a number of 'quality of life' improvements to CQC which can boost player counts, some are simple SQL database changes, some are drastic changes that require development. Currently ED is a massive time sink and one of the recurring topics that comes up is the subject of making money. Specifically, a ludicrous method of making money is found for players to break through the mid game ships to the late game ships, players flock to it, it gets nerfed, players find a new way, rinse and repeat.
- The reward system.
If you have not yet reached level 50, you get a measly 1000 cr for coming first place. This is essentially a waste of time and is a horrible return on time investment for the main game. If you win 10 CQC games, you can afford to restock 1 torpedo in the main game. one. The reward needs to be significantly increased to entice players to this game mode. If you can make millions of credits in an hour in the main game, why would you play a mode that gives you a chance to win 1000 cr after 10 minutes?
The rewards need to be significantly increased, to the point where you would get 100,000 cr for coming first place. This puts the reward on the same level as selling rares in a Cobra that you did back in 2015 when you started the game. As games are an average of 10 minutes long, that's still 600,000 cr an hour return, but it's better than essentially nothing. Increased credit rewards at the next prestige level should be removed, and instead replaced with the fighter skins available in the main game (I think there are fighter skins?)
Rewards for prestigeing should include skins for the main game, only obtainable from CQC.
- The Elite Rank System
See the 0% CQC rank on your HUD? Because CQC games are so rare, the reward for winning a match should be a significant boost to your rank.
For competitive ladders, a rank system where you LOSE ranks for placing in the lower 4 could be introduced, if the CQC mode gets revitalized to the point that there is renewed interest in that $150k pound tournament
- Cross Platform
Elite Dangerous is across 3 platforms, 2 consoles and PC. The matchmaking servers should be across all platforms, as PC players also play with hotas, controllers etc this doesn't matter. Not sure on how the matchmaking infrastructure is set up at Frontier or whoever hosts this, but if someone can convince someone else to look into this, that would be great.
- XP System
There should be limited-time events, like double XP or even x5 XP weekends to bring players from the main game. These should be advertised on the launcher and in-game like Community Goals.
- Leaderboards
Introduce a leaderboards like the main game has for bounties, selectable from the main screen so we can see who is the best, get some new in-game personalities introduced into Elite Dangerous.
- Community Goals
Have community goals that relate to CQC, draw players attention to it. Have a CG where you have a Farragut class and a Majestic class fighting, players join one side of the CG and they fight in an instance where you can only use fighters between the ships. Players register for the CG, and can join Arena in-game using the same 15 second count down timer while leaving in combat.
- Custom Games / Lobbies
- Allow the queuing of games while in the main game
Can be implemented using the same 15 second count down timer used for logging out when a match is found, which removes you from the instance and places you into the CQC instance.
- Bots
Take the AI from in game and throw them in there. They can navigate a station, they can navigate a CQC map.
- Powerups
Remove them from the main game, have them as an option in custom games. A weapon powerup can 2 shot a F63 with 4 pips to shields, it's broken.
- Hull Strength
I know Frontiers policy is to nerf weapons from .5 to .001, but increasing the hull strengths of the ships prevents 2 shotting people (or 1 shotting if you're using dual cannons).
- Remove the Sidewinder as a selectable ship
I'm sure that there are other ideas that people have.
TL
R things that can be implemented right nowIncrease reward system substantially (one hundedfold), increase ranking for CQC pilots federation rank, have x2 or x5 XP weekends, advertise on the launcher and in game.
Why don't you play CQC? What would make you join? Survival mode against Thargoid drones?
CQC is an arcade-focused game mode in ED. It provides an opportunity to have a (somewhat) level playing field to develop flight skills without having to deal with massive rebuys, dropping out of SC to get back into the fight, countdowns in game, grinding engineers, P2P connection issues etc.
As far as I'm aware, the playercount for CQC is pretty much zero, so no future players can get to level 50 to unlock the CQC Holdings Station in the main game. I do feel for those customer who bought the Arena version of the game, as their product is essentially useless. This brings me to the point of this thread:
Why is Arena dead, why is there nobody in CQC, and what can we do to promote this underutilized game mode within the main game?
For those who have never played CQC, it is a game mode that is either Free for all, or 4v4 where you fight in a points based system on custom built maps purely for CQC, a lot of development time was spent in this mode both map wise and ui wise. The loadout system you use is selected before a match, and you can have a number of pre-configured loadouts before you're placed in a game. (Ship, weapons, utilities)
There are a number of 'quality of life' improvements to CQC which can boost player counts, some are simple SQL database changes, some are drastic changes that require development. Currently ED is a massive time sink and one of the recurring topics that comes up is the subject of making money. Specifically, a ludicrous method of making money is found for players to break through the mid game ships to the late game ships, players flock to it, it gets nerfed, players find a new way, rinse and repeat.
- The reward system.
If you have not yet reached level 50, you get a measly 1000 cr for coming first place. This is essentially a waste of time and is a horrible return on time investment for the main game. If you win 10 CQC games, you can afford to restock 1 torpedo in the main game. one. The reward needs to be significantly increased to entice players to this game mode. If you can make millions of credits in an hour in the main game, why would you play a mode that gives you a chance to win 1000 cr after 10 minutes?
The rewards need to be significantly increased, to the point where you would get 100,000 cr for coming first place. This puts the reward on the same level as selling rares in a Cobra that you did back in 2015 when you started the game. As games are an average of 10 minutes long, that's still 600,000 cr an hour return, but it's better than essentially nothing. Increased credit rewards at the next prestige level should be removed, and instead replaced with the fighter skins available in the main game (I think there are fighter skins?)
Rewards for prestigeing should include skins for the main game, only obtainable from CQC.
- The Elite Rank System
See the 0% CQC rank on your HUD? Because CQC games are so rare, the reward for winning a match should be a significant boost to your rank.
For competitive ladders, a rank system where you LOSE ranks for placing in the lower 4 could be introduced, if the CQC mode gets revitalized to the point that there is renewed interest in that $150k pound tournament
- Cross Platform
Elite Dangerous is across 3 platforms, 2 consoles and PC. The matchmaking servers should be across all platforms, as PC players also play with hotas, controllers etc this doesn't matter. Not sure on how the matchmaking infrastructure is set up at Frontier or whoever hosts this, but if someone can convince someone else to look into this, that would be great.
- XP System
There should be limited-time events, like double XP or even x5 XP weekends to bring players from the main game. These should be advertised on the launcher and in-game like Community Goals.
- Leaderboards
Introduce a leaderboards like the main game has for bounties, selectable from the main screen so we can see who is the best, get some new in-game personalities introduced into Elite Dangerous.
- Community Goals
Have community goals that relate to CQC, draw players attention to it. Have a CG where you have a Farragut class and a Majestic class fighting, players join one side of the CG and they fight in an instance where you can only use fighters between the ships. Players register for the CG, and can join Arena in-game using the same 15 second count down timer while leaving in combat.
- Custom Games / Lobbies
- Allow the queuing of games while in the main game
Can be implemented using the same 15 second count down timer used for logging out when a match is found, which removes you from the instance and places you into the CQC instance.
- Bots
Take the AI from in game and throw them in there. They can navigate a station, they can navigate a CQC map.
- Powerups
Remove them from the main game, have them as an option in custom games. A weapon powerup can 2 shot a F63 with 4 pips to shields, it's broken.
- Hull Strength
I know Frontiers policy is to nerf weapons from .5 to .001, but increasing the hull strengths of the ships prevents 2 shotting people (or 1 shotting if you're using dual cannons).
- Remove the Sidewinder as a selectable ship
I'm sure that there are other ideas that people have.
TL
R things that can be implemented right nowIncrease reward system substantially (one hundedfold), increase ranking for CQC pilots federation rank, have x2 or x5 XP weekends, advertise on the launcher and in game. Why don't you play CQC? What would make you join? Survival mode against Thargoid drones?
