How about a new SLF dual feature (aka in game CQC with consequences)!

[Quantis Trap]

A recent CQC post reminded me about a feature idea I thought about a while back but didn't post.

I think it would be really fun if two willing players (or maybe two wings) could initiate a dual with SLFs (Ship Launched Fighters).

The following list could be some of possible the sub-features:

01) When initiated, SLF duals could be based on one kill or the best out of N kills depending on how many SLFs the parts have.

02) An SLF dual could be like a dual at high noon in the wild west and would have consequences except that no one dies.

03) The consequences in (02) could be one of the following:
* The winner wins a small amount of cargo from the other.
* The winner wins a small amount of credits from the other.
* The winner wins his freedom to leave without being fired upon.
* ...
PS: Yes I know (03) could be exploited, but don't worry about details like that for this discussion!

04) SLF Duals could be a fantastic way to even the playing field is many kinds of disputes. Pirates could offer it during an interdiction as a way to win the interdiction in an agreeable way. In situation like this there would be no people wining that the other player had a much more powerful ship!

05) SLF Duals would be in a private or protected instance once initiated so that only the involved parties could affect the results.

06) The players non-SLF ships would be completely immune to fire during the dual, could not affect the dual and probably would not even be including in the field of play.

07) No NPCs allowed in the dual. Duh!

08) No complete AFK play on one side of the dual. Some players on either side must be actively flying to a certain point or the duel is invalidated. Don't worry about how this might be done.
...

What do you think?

Disclaimer: Sorry if this idea has already been posted by someone.

Moderators please don't move this to the suggestions thread. I want to hear what people think. If people like it and have other refinements, I'll post an edited version in the other thread.

 

[Quantis Trap]

Hmmm, guess this wasn't a gripe or a discussion about re-balancing weapons, shields or armor so it got no air. Silly me for not sticking to the script!

 

[Gunnet]

Looking purely at the gameplay I like the sound of it. But I honestly can't decide if it would feel too contrived to be able to naturally blend with the rest of the game.

I read it last night shortly after it went up. Just didn't post because I wanted to leave the first reply to somebody who might be more unequivocally positive about it, or at least make a useful criticism.

 

[Saxon Kili]

Well, you know, fast cash exploits are en vogue on the forum this week.

But hey, I love the SLFs and the more ways to make them useful, the better. I especially like your pirate interdiction duel dispute resolution idea.

 

[Aussiedroid]

Cool idea! Reminds me a bit of World of Warcraft's duel system. That was good no-risk fun, that could even be used for adhoc competitions with guild members etc.

In ED, I could definitely see it working too. SLF/SRV would be good, but could see the same system extended to ships. Perhaps once players enter/accept a duel then it continues till the ship is down to 10% hull then disables damage. SLF could be to destruction though. Then based on the conditions there could be an exchange of cargo/credits or whatever or nothing at all. Not a far stretch from this to having wing duels too, or duel hub locations that players can visit to challenge others.

If it were to be implemented, it would be good to have some new stats to track your wins/draws/losses and the like. Perhaps it could also count towards CQC rank?

Could also see new NPC mission opportunities with such a system if extended out, as factions may use this to settle some minor disputes, or even a PvP mission geared towards open play challenges to encourage friendly engagement.

 

[CMDR Corlas]

Duels aren't my cup of tea. What's the other feature though?

 

[Alex Brentnall]

I like it:

Pirate - Yaar give me cargo
Trader in Keelback - I challenge you to a duel!
Pirate - Game on, 20T of ye cargo, best of 3!

*Fight*

Cargo auto-transfers if trader looses. Both ships appear in separate instances after the fight to ensure no shenanigans/unfair conduct.



Everyone wins, piracy becomes possibly more lucrative to be actually functional, trader knows they can have a fight of it and come out unscathed or just with cargo losses. Keelback and other SLF ships are more popular. As above needs a few mechanics put around it to ensure it's not used for afk transfers or whatever but yeah, I like it.
I don't actually see too many/any downsides to this.

The only issue I can think of is when a wing attacks a single ship and how that'd work. Multicrew is easy as the helm decides and then nominates a pilot. Maybe we need a wing-leader.

 

[Old Duck]

A recent CQC post reminded me about a feature idea I thought about a while back but didn't post.

I think it would be really fun if two willing players (or maybe two wings) could initiate a dual with SLFs (Ship Launched Fighters).

I like this idea, minus some of the complicated "sub-features". What I strongly dislike about CQC is the CQ part (close quarters) and being stuck on some random team of players who don't know what "team" means. Getting together with a friend to just practice some high-speed combat either in open space or asteroid belt / planet ring would remove both those negatives... Best of all, the mechanism for this is already available Just don't forget to turn off "report crimes" if this is a consensual dual!

 

[Siobhan]

I like it:

Pirate - Yaar give me cargo
Trader in Keelback - I challenge you to a duel!
Pirate - Game on, 20T of ye cargo, best of 3!

*Fight*
Cargo auto-transfers if trader looses. Both ships appear in separate instances after the fight to ensure no shenanigans/unfair conduct.

And if the trader wins, what do they get?

 

[Drelthar]

You can just do this in game though can't you? not sure an actual mechanic is needed?

 

[Old Duck]

Didn't someone once suggest a similar thing where you put two NPCs in "the ring" to see who comes out on top? That would be fun as well, and no NPCs are harmed in the making of the Rocky movie because SLFs are telepresence controlled!

 

[Alex Brentnall]

And if the trader wins, what do they get?

A fresh instance with which to successfully complete their trade mission in the knowledge that either the trader or pirate is in another instance until they high wake to a new system.

You can just do this in game though can't you? not sure an actual mechanic is needed?

The assurance of rules being followed rather than a dirtbag setting up a "lets dual in SLFs" only for 3 other ships to show up and gank the guy whilst he's in the animation transitioning to fighter control. Because you know people will

 

[SushiCW]

Unfortunately the SLFs are mostly tuned for fighting "regular" ships, not each other. Consequently SLF vs SLF fights in the main game really aren't that interesting, and depending on the loadout may be quickly over in seconds (e.g. anything with a laser will destroy anything with kinetics) or never end at all (e.g. kinetic vs kinetic is easy to stalemate forever if both pilots have half a clue).

If you want fighter combat that's actually balanced to make it reasonably interesting... well, that's what Arena is for.