How Dangerous should Elite Dangerous be?

[Sim Maker]

I would like it to be like real life........
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There should be relatively peaceful places. I live by the SW coast, Cornwall. I see ships every day passing my windows, none of them are under attack as far as I can tell........yet if we go to the Mediterranean there may be a flotilla of ships, packed with desperate people running from a war zone......I might go to the coast of Somalia and be fearful of Pirates attacking me............
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I often feel that if FD did this "right" they could get rid of open/solo........Traders and those who just like the whole flying and exploring side of things, could find quiet places to play and safe places to have a home base......where as, for those who want war and Danger, they should be able to seek it out or have it crash in to their faces.........there should be some super secure systems where the cops are there in a flash with Overwhelming support....and there should be Alien systems where if you show up alone, you get your free ride back to the last star port for being so foolish........and everything in-between.

 

[WR3ND]

I think the game could use a hardcore mode. I didn't vote in the poll as I don't agree with any of the options.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

I often feel that if FD did this "right" they could get rid of open/solo........

cool, i didnt know getting the ingame balance right automatically created magic compression techniques which allowed ED in open to run on a few megabytes an hr of data which we were told is all that is needed.
Also didnt know it fixed all the other issues in the megathread as to why some simply do not want to interact with meat sacks they do not know.

brilliant.

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

I think the game could use a hardcore mode. I didn't vote in the poll as I don't agree with any of the options.

It comes with an optional hardcore mode. Every time you die, you quit from the insurance screen, go to the main menu, and wipe save. Only the truest of Hard Hardcore players do that of course. Show how hard you are and go first! We're right behind you. *sniggers*

 

[Leper Messiah]

simple solution to those wanting the game harder:


FIT crappy modules and stop ruining the game for everyone else. Those wanting a harder game have COMPLETE control over it. Try taking on an elite Annaconda in an E rated sidewinder or something like that, you can play the game how you want but don't have an A rated uber ship and expect the game to scale to that.

 

[WR3ND]

It comes with an optional hardcore mode. Every time you die, you quit from the insurance screen, go to the main menu, and wipe save. Only the truest of Hard Hardcore players do that of course. Show how hard you are and go first! We're right behind you. *sniggers*

I think of that as cheating, since other players have an unfair advantage. It should be an opt-in game mode where everyone has their character wiped if they die (lose a ship).

There are players that do what you're suggesting, though I don't consider it to be a true hardcore/ironman mode.

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

I think of that as cheating, since other players have an unfair advantage. It should be an opt-in game mode where everyone has their character wiped if they die (lose a ship).

There are players that do what you're suggesting, though I don't consider it to be a true hardcore/ironman mode.

Good thing then that FDev are committed to "Playing it your way" and not according to some arbitrary, subjective definition of fair.

Players that want it Hardcore can reset their save, players that treat it as entertaining down time, can not. It's as dangerous as you want it to be, which is as close to perfection as you are going to get.

When you roam into the area of enforcing your views on other people, you are close to trolling. The best course of action is, of course, to be tolerant. And to smile. Oh.. and cake. Cake is good to. Tea, too. but never force someone to drink tea. That... well, that's really not cricket.

 

[Lowievisser]

so far since alpha its made easier.

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It comes with an optional hardcore mode. Every time you die, you quit from the insurance screen, go to the main menu, and wipe save. Only the truest of Hard Hardcore players do that of course. Show how hard you are and go first! We're right behind you. *sniggers*

i do it , if you pay attention you dont have to clear your safe often. if you know the tricks there is zero reason to die in open.

 

[WR3ND]

Good thing then that FDev are committed to "Playing it your way" and not according to some arbitrary, subjective definition of fair.

Players that want it Hardcore can reset their save, players that treat it as entertaining down time, can not. It's as dangerous as you want it to be, which is as close to perfection as you are going to get.

When you roam into the area of enforcing your views on other people, you are close to trolling. The best course of action is, of course, to be tolerant. And to smile. Oh.. and cake. Cake is good to. Tea, too. but never force someone to drink tea. That... well, that's really not cricket.

Yes, and with my suggestion of having a true optional hardcore mode implemented, people can play the way they choose to, however that is, and on a level playing field.

 

[Heavenly-Hammer]

Good thing then that FDev are committed to "Playing it your way" and not according to some arbitrary, subjective definition of fair.

Players that want it Hardcore can reset their save, players that treat it as entertaining down time, can not. It's as dangerous as you want it to be, which is as close to perfection as you are going to get.

When you roam into the area of enforcing your views on other people, you are close to trolling. The best course of action is, of course, to be tolerant. And to smile. Oh.. and cake. Cake is good to. Tea, too. but never force someone to drink tea. That... well, that's really not cricket.

Do you have to be so obtuse and condescending?

Lots of games have a "hardcore" mode for players who enjoy that kind of thing. As an example, in Diablo 3 the "hardcore" allows anyone who wants to participate in the mode to start a new character and indeed death means loss of your character and the need to start all over again from scratch. Diablo 3 also has a "Seasonal" mode where players can start again from scratch to have the opportunity to get special items that are only available via the Season and all items and money earned are made available to your non-seasonal character.

In a game like Elite Dangerous, this has very real value as ED -- like Diablo 3 -- has no real end-game other than items. And in ED, getting those "maxed" items is just a matter of money rather than RNG luck and time so seasons would add a very interesting element. Especially for those who have already banked hundreds of millions of credits and have no real purpose or direction at this point. Give them an extra couple of character slots and a reason to start a new one and work their way back up. It's how the game will stay alive and enjoyable for a lot of people. And as for the other recommendation, hardcore in D3 or any other games with a similar style of punishing play will not be for everyone and it doesn't have to be. Let it be there for those who want real danger and the threat of significant loss when they die. For everyone else, normal modes and Seasons will keep them playing for years.

At the current pace, I worry that people will simply burn out after reaching their max ships. Max ships give most people their drive and motivation right now and with the very real increase in ease of gold entry it's clear to me that FDev doesn't want ships to ultimately be their motivator to press on...but then what IS their goal? There isn't much of a story. There isn't much reason beyond making money for doing anything on a bulletin board. Triple-Elite doesn't give you anything but the satisfaction of saying you have it. Exploration only currently appeals to those who enjoy the Eurotrucker feel in space. There are no battles of significance and every CZ (the lone implemented battle system) is the same. Perma-spawing enemies. Horde mode, if you will. Those who worry about the game being exciting for years to come are worried largely for these reasons and until we see some ideas that speak to the recognition and necessity of a bit of purpose beyond ships, people will continue tossing ideas like Hardcore mode and Seasons out for consideration.

 

[Roybe]

The original game was designed so that every trip had no guarantee of a living return. Basically, the danger level was very high, relative to todays ideas of a game. Remember this was during the time or 3 lives and out. I think this game needs to have the same level of danger...basically, no one has a guarantee to return alive...that every flight, in any sized ship should be a near agonizing decision as to whether today is a good day to die.

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

Do you have to be so obtuse and condescending?

Lots of...... people will continue tossing ideas like Hardcore mode and Seasons out for consideration.

Do you mean as obtuse and condescending as suggesting removing everything but Open mode? That kind of condescending?

Hmmm. Let me see. Er. Yes. Sometimes it's necessary to be as obtuse as to point out that different people like different things and that the things suggested are already there in the game "if they so choose." The insistence on fairness though is more along the lines of "Well if I choose to play this way, why should it not be forced on other people" which in my mind is true condescension.

You have a good point though about Max ships. But here's my thoughts on that, and as Roybe as alluded to. Elite was born in an age of Three lives and out. Today, games are practically movies, where the player has to live the story, and rarely, does that story last longer than a week of playing, before going back and doing it all again, perhaps in a different difficulty. Elite Dangerous has resisted that kind of X play and remains outside of that loop.

You can do what you want - as an independent pilot. It's SIMs in space, Flight Sim in Space, Pick your Nose and Flick it - but in space. It's not COD, Tomb Raider, X2 or X3... If you decide to 'grind' to get an Anaconda that is your business. But then you complain that you can't tank everything in your A rated 'Conda... well dur, it's not a dedicated combat vessel, of course it won't. The rush for Achievement badges is what is going to kill your enjoyment of the game.

It's a mount Everest game. Why do people climb mountains? It's the same reason people played Elite all those years ago when all you had is wireframe and generated names... Because you can and you enjoy it. You have all the badges after your name, but you lack one thing: The simple joy of being able to do. And that's enough for some people. So be happy for them, if you can't be happy in yourself.

 

[WR3ND]

...

Maybe you're not understanding what I'm saying.

I'm only suggesting a hardcore mode as an additional game option, this doesn't force anyone to do anything different than what the game already allows for. What it does do, however, is provide an additional way to play that isn't currently in the game, by providing a hardcore mode where people are on an even playing field.

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

Maybe you're not understanding what I'm saying.

I'm only suggesting a hardcore mode as an additional game option, this doesn't force anyone to do anything different than what the game already allows for. What it does do, however, is provide an additional way to play that isn't currently in the game, by providing a hardcore mode where people are on an even playing field.

I'm happy with that the idea of a hardcore mode. It's the even playing field I'm worried about. Elite will never be "EVEn" (See what I did there? Never mind. ) Next thing it will be "Why am I seeing players who aren't playing in my HardCore mode?" or "Why should <whatever> mode affect the BGS in my mode?" It's bad enough with the Open Superiors. (They're a bit like Mother Superiors, but without the habit.)

 

[Riverside]

Maybe you're not understanding what I'm saying.

I'm only suggesting a hardcore mode as an additional game option, this doesn't force anyone to do anything different than what the game already allows for. What it does do, however, is provide an additional way to play that isn't currently in the game, by providing a hardcore mode where people are on an even playing field.

Are you suggesting a second, parallel 'open play' where there is no insurance? If you die you lose the ship you were in & go straight back to the LHS 3447 Sidewinder, but can retain all other ships, ranks etc? I think I'd be in favour of that.

If you are suggesting 'Die & lose everything' Ironman mode I'm not so sure I would do that personally.

In principal I like the idea of real consequences, in reality I probably still wouldn't tool around the lave cluster in a Type-7

 

[Aratoth]

I think it's gotten harder over the last couple of updates and I'm not sure it would be as easy if I were to start over, but from a gameplay perspective I'd rather it be the current situation than the RES farming heaven it has been in the past.

It's much easier to start fresh, trust me I know! (I start fresh everytime I die) ESPECIALLY if you score lucrative courier mission.
The last ten times I started over, one time Trevithick station offered me a courier mission to transfer 4 tonnes of slaves to some joint close by and I got like 89K for it, 1 mission! bye bye Sidey!

 

[Nagual]

So dangerous even Chuck Norris is scared.

 

[KellyR]

I think it's gotten harder over the last couple of updates and I'm not sure it would be as easy if I were to start over, but from a gameplay perspective I'd rather it be the current situation than the RES farming heaven it has been in the past.

No, it wouldn't be easy if you started over. But it would be much easier than when you first started. I've just started over myself. Only had time for 1 mission before I had to log off, but that one mission got me 8k. When I first started the best mission I could get was 3k and that was rather unusual. Usually it was 2000 to 2500. Also got interdicted during that mission and evading wasn't that hard, but then I was in a sidewinder so I had an advantage. I think the interdiction mechanic is just about balanced now.

I think the danger factor is just about right. Maybe tweak it a bit upward, but not much. I'm a fairly good pilot and I can win most (but not all) times against an NPC in 1 on 1. In a large ship like a python, I can win 3 on 1 if they're cobra or less. Anything larger than that, I bug out with those kinds of odds. But 3 on 1 when I'm in a cobra? No. I'm out of there as quick as I can get the FSD spooled up.

 

[lifeschool-amiga]

Speaking as someone who usually uses up a SCB every 3 enemies, and as someone who cant enter Combat Zones for more than 5 mins after the 1.4 patches, I think the game is a little too hard for crap players like me, and too easy for Diehards who play it all day long. Diehards may have Prismatic Shields and 8 SCBs and fly around in their fully kitted Anacondas, but I had a Python and the shields collapse in 20 seconds.

I think the AI should be on minimum for newbies and lower ranks, and on maximum for players who are at Deadly and Elite.

 

[KellyR]

It's much easier to start fresh, trust me I know! (I start fresh everytime I die) ESPECIALLY if you score a good a lucrative courier mission.
The last ten times I started over, one time Trevithick station offered me a courier mission to transfer 4 tonnes of slaves to some joint close by and I got like 89K for it, 1 mission! bye bye Sidey!

They've fixed that. You now have to be up in the trade ranks to get that kind of mission. Peddler or such. But it's still better than when I first started on release day in December 2014.