Global Comms Array (GCA)

[Kethriss]

This, or something similar, has probably been brought up before, but here is my suggestion.

People have been complaining about the game not having a lot of player interaction except in certain areas, and a common suggestion to fix this is with a global chat channel. This idea is frequently shot down because it would ruin the feeling of isolation Elite has, which is arguably a major part of the experience. I propose we meet somewhere in the middle.

Global Comms Array:
This system would introduce either a tab in the chat window, or be it's own terminal, and would allow Commanders currently in a system with a Nav Becaon to chat with any other Commander also in a system with a Nav Beacon. This could be cleaned up by having several sub-channels, such as region specific (Empire, Federation, Alliance) and faction specific (ex: Followers of Arissa Duval would be able to chat in their own channel, and nobody not part of that faction could access that channel), in addition to a global channel. If a commander is not in a system with a Nav Beacon, they lose access to the GCA. This ensures the feeling of isolation when out in the frontier is maintained, while also making the game feel more lively and providing social players an easy way to interact with eachother. Of course this could be deactivated if a player chose to.

This could also open the door for new modules, such as a GCA Signal Booster, allowing you to access the GCA as long as you are within a certain distance (say, 100ly) of a system with a Nav Beacon. It could also open up the door for Espionage missions, where a faction sends its agents out to download GCA data of another factions encrypted channels by hacking in to a Nav Beacon. This of course would be a crime and would get any enemy ships in the area coming after the spy as they access the Beacon.

Well, thats my idea. I wouldnt be suprised if im not the first person to think of something like this, but still.

Tell me what you think, and leave any other suggestions!

 

[DragoonKnight]

This has potential to open up new gameplay ideas. How about hacking the GCA to see who is in range (but not where they are) or just shooting it to temporarily disable it? Then others could attack the pirates trying to disrupt the GCA. Would give a reason to be at NAV becaons.

 

[Kethriss]

That would be an interesting aspect of gameplay. Maybe while youre in a system and have the GCA active, and pirates or somebody start attacking it, your computer would say "GCA Interference Detected", and that would be your queue to head over to the Nav Beacon to intercept some high ranked ships with large bounties. Naturally it would only be offline for a short while of it does get disabled, and it would only affect that system.

Although that also opens up the possibility for griefing in the starting systems. we already have players in big anacondas hunting down newbies, this would just allow people the ability to also shut new players out of chat.

 

[MONTItheRed]

I support any movement to improve communication ease, access, and depth.

I don't buy into immersion as a reason against chat channels. Everyone can chat with everyone across any distance via wings or direct communication.. It is still space, and even of communications are instantaneous, the distances must still be traveled.

 

[DragoonKnight]

That would be an interesting aspect of gameplay. Maybe while youre in a system and have the GCA active, and pirates or somebody start attacking it, your computer would say "GCA Interference Detected", and that would be your queue to head over to the Nav Beacon to intercept some high ranked ships with large bounties. Naturally it would only be offline for a short while of it does get disabled, and it would only affect that system.

Although that also opens up the possibility for griefing in the starting systems. we already have players in big anacondas hunting down newbies, this would just allow people the ability to also shut new players out of chat.

How long could they grief if every PvP player and bounty hunter in a 100 LY radius knows their exact location?
Besides, eventually system security would also show up as a response to the ships you destroyed. I think holding one of these GCA beacons may not be that easy.

 

[Daynen]

I like this proposal. It would give nav beacons a hell of a lot more sensible purpose than 'place to farm bounties.' As far as chat being restricted, well...that's a narrow rope on which to balance, and I understand both points, but...this game has already gone so far in the direction of simulation that I have to say 'why not?' Limiting comms access by distance, realistically, would actually encourage play MORE than just opening chat to everyone everywhere all the time. I often find that 'global' chat can actually reduce the sense of community due to the safety of anonymity and distance, and the complete lack of consequences. giving us wing chat and secured comms channels seems fine, mostly, but communications in this game should be a living part of it, not just the same raid finder or zone chat trolling as we see in every MMO ever.

ED has taken unique and refreshing directions with this game; let's not try to force them down the same tired paths we've seen a hundred times before.