I'm concerned – the direction of the game.

[Qpid Stunt]

I'd prefer the opt in / out system. Opt in and you can see all other players that have also opted in, opt out and you cannot be differentiated from the AI by other RL players, nor see other RL players.

Personally I would want to play with there being no HUD displayed distinctions between RLP and NPC's, I don’t see why there should be a difference when talking about trading, exploration, etc, but when it comes to piracy and bounty hunting do you really need to see a RLP, for what reason? Wouldn’t any trader or bounty NPC or RLP be the same?!?

Or possibly use your scanners on a targeted ship like you would with any other ship in the galaxy to see its bounty / cargo manifest and act accordingly? There is no reason to differentiate between RLP and NPCs bar targeting players specifically to attack them or wanting to communicate - so lets hope the communication systems that come into play suffice to negate the requirement for identification.

From a distance away another ship should appear to be exactly that, just another ship. Upon closer inspection you will probably be able to tell anyway (pathing and manoeuvring, etc), but by then they will have hopefully seen anyone's approach with their scanners, and have decided upon a course of action... Fight or Flight... or of course stay and chat

I love the idea of multiplayer, the unknown entity of who is who, what do they want, will they be aggressive... That would add a massive edge to any one (NPC or RLP) you encounter out in space! So while I am all for wanting to see other RL players, I would actually prefer not knowing and have the added immersion / suspense that it would give...

The RL situation that has been referenced previously sums it up perfectly IMO - when you enter a strange pub, unless you have arranged to meet someone (a friend) specifically, you won't 100% know how anyone's reaction would be to you unless you interact, and their reactions will be directly influenced by your actions... PewPewLazorz and I'll PewPewLazorz back!

 

[Adept]

I think that's what I'm afraid of regarding multiplayer. Being of a certain age where my reactions/hand-eye co-ordination/bladder control are usually in question, I'm thinking the single player option is the path for me to take. I realise the AI could equally be unkind, but somehow I wouldn't feel so bad being smoked by the computer rather than some smug git with a lot of flying time/experience under his belt.

I also realise I could be missing out on a big chunk of what could be a very enjoyable part of the game....

And this is exactly why many of us don't want the players highlighted from the NPCs. When you're just learning the ropes, flying your starter ship on modest trade runs, there's no reason for anybody to come harass you in particular. You don't have much to steal and all that. If you show up as a player though, there are always those who want to challenge you or just mess with you.

 

[Morpheus]

I stated my position in the DDF and I'll restate it here. Others have a different view and I accept their right to play the game the way they want to.

If a player is playing ED in online multiplayer mode, and they are voluntarily part of the 'All Group' they should expect to come across other players in their travels. The core systems should be teeming with players and NPCs.

Some players see it as an extra challenge, an extra level of gameplay, to try to work out whether a ship is a player or not. This is fair enough and this is their choice of playstyle. They should have the abilty to enjoy that gameplay. But, given a choice, it is not my preference for playstyle.

Personally, I want there to be a real, distinguishable difference between full online multiplayer gameplay in the 'All Group' and single player offline/online play.

When I arrive at a station, I want to know that it is teeming with players, rather than just teeming with ships, all of which could be NPCs. Otherwise what is the point in playing a multiplayer game?

I say this from the point of view of social gameplay, not for reasons of picking on player characters.

 

[ScottGust]

I agree, theres no need to (automatically) detect if a player is human or not..

 

[Adept]

When you arrive at a station there will probably be a bulleting board, maybe a local live chat. NPC mercenaries may well be there as well, advertising their services (I'd love that), but also human players saying hi and asking if others want to join their cargo convoy etc etc. None of this needs a CMDR and an empty ship symbol.

 

[deusx_ophc]

And this is exactly why many of us don't want the players highlighted from the NPCs. When you're just learning the ropes, flying your starter ship on modest trade runs, there's no reason for anybody to come harass you in particular. You don't have much to steal and all that. If you show up as a player though, there are always those who want to challenge you or just mess with you.

and me, playing the friendly robin hood type, will be unable to help out those under fire or those that could do with a helping hand.

some of my best multiplayer experiences center around exactly that episode. being taken by the hand by an elder player or taking newbs along for an unforgettable game session myself.

i shall be a very sad panda to miss this type of encounter because i could not give a moneky about my fellow UFO

 

[OriginalBadBoy]

When I arrive at a station, I want to know that it is teeming with players, rather than just teeming with ships, all of which could be NPCs. Otherwise what is the point in playing a multiplayer game?

But those players will be there, its not like they wont be there because an icon on the scanner is different.

And it won't be 'teeming' with players, at the most you are going to see 30, which in a space station (or even in a space port on a planet eventually) might seem busy, but once you out in space, its not going to matter. That number will be inconsequential outside of missions that you will be teaming up on. And on a mission you are going to know who you are with anyway.

Groundhog day round here ...

 

[Theaghan Black]

and me, playing the friendly robin hood type, will be unable to help out those under fire or those that could do with a helping hand.

some of my best multiplayer experiences center around exactly that episode. being taken by the hand by an elder player or taking newbs along for an unforgettable game session myself.

i shall be a very sad panda to miss this type of encounter because i could not give a moneky about my fellow UFO

I don't see the issue, I think if someone will ask for help (PC or NPC) then the victim, the attacker or both will probably be humans. So the opportunity of a relationship (good or bad) is still there.

With no request you could look at the scanner for contacts in combat stance and scan them accordingly.

 

[Adept]

and me, playing the friendly robin hood type, will be unable to help out those under fire or those that could do with a helping hand.

some of my best multiplayer experiences center around exactly that episode. being taken by the hand by an elder player or taking newbs along for an unforgettable game session myself.

i shall be a very sad panda to miss this type of encounter because i could not give a moneky about my fellow UFO

I'm very much a White Knight myself, and I suspect I'll be coming to the aid of others quite often. I will move in to save NPC ships as well, and I don't mind now knowing. If a human player is broadcasting a distress signal they probably will be highlighted as important anyway (I suspect the Elite Federation will be humans and high level NPCs), and it may well include some hand typed stuff if they have a moment

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

and me, playing the friendly robin hood type, will be unable to help out those under fire or those that could do with a helping hand.

The fact that someone is already under fire may prompt them to switch on their transponder ID and call for help. An added bonus being they'll be revealing the whereabouts of other real players (the ones that are attacking our victim if it isn't just an npc encounter). Anyone who prefers playing with their transponder on could see it and respond.

I can see it being used as a kind of emergency beacon at times. An S.O.S. Or indeed used conversely to lure do-gooders into a trap

 

[Olrik]

but as none of the proponents of instant player recognition had in that time come up with a valid reason ,the only reason I can think of it being "game breaking" is because it will make it harder for them to actively target players as a priority.

Obviously.
It seems to me that the transponder "opt in" option offers a reasonable alternative for the proponents of instant recognition.

When I arrive at a station, I want to know that it is teeming with players, rather than just teeming with ships, all of which could be NPCs.

No problem, use the "opt in" option

 

[Adept]

The fact that someone is already under fire may prompt them to switch on their transponder ID and call for help. An added bonus being they'll be revealing the whereabouts of other real players (the ones that are attacking our victim if it isn't just an npc encounter). Anyone who prefers playing with their transponder on could see it and respond.

I can see it being used as a kind of emergency beacon at times. An S.O.S. Or indeed used conversely to lure do-gooders into a trap

There's something fun here actually.

I'd like the transponder on / off thing to mean you're advertising you're a member of the Elite Federation of Pilots. I hope there will be NPC members (like I said, tier 2 and above), but it means there's a very good chance you're a human player. Keep that turned off, and you're hiding your status.

Now, as a twist I'd like it to be so that the "crimes against CMDRs are punished more severely and with automatic bounties" only works if you have your identity transponder turned on.

It's like a rich / important person dressing down and driving a modest car to avoid unwanted attention. You're less likely to get kidnapped or otherwise targetted for your wealth, but on the other hand you are also not treated with privilege when you pretend to be an average Joe / Jane.

 

[Olrik]

Now, as a twist I'd like it to be so that the "crimes against CMDRs are punished more severely and with automatic bounties" only works if you have your identity transponder turned on.

Good point

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Maybe FD will throw a curve ball into the mix here and have some really nasty NPCs use the odd fake transponder signal - pretend to be humans and lure people into the spiders web!

NPC griefers

 

[AnnuverScotinExile]

i cannot fanthom how you combine those points of view.

how can liqua's proposal push more people into sp and at the same time make ironman more carebear?!

genuinely baffled and happy to be enlightend ^^

It will 'push into' SP some portion of players who do not want to be instantly IDd so that griefers and "Wheeee, pew, pew" merchants can identify and target them. That, surely, was obvious.

And for ironman, he proposed having no insta-ID. Clearly that makes it harder for griefers and "Wheeee, pew, pew" folks to identify PC to attack, thus making it easier to avoid being attacked when you play ironman. Given that there are still escape pods in ironman (so you can avoid being killed, even when you are, and the anti-griefing consequences will funnel baddies into the 'all' group, ironman is not as ironmanish as you might expect. Frankly, I don't know why they are bothering when you still have the escape pod. Players might as well play in the all group, and choose to start again when 'killed', since they can choose to not die in 'ironman'.

 

[metatheurgist]

All I'm saying is that you've got a much better chance of making a friend if you can tell the people from the furniture.

Sure, and IRL sometimes when you try to talk to someone they pretend you're furniture - that's life. If someone wants to make a friend they'll speak up.

 

[deusx_ophc]

It's like a rich / important person dressing down and driving a modest car to avoid unwanted attention. You're less likely to get kidnapped or otherwise targetted for your wealth, but on the other hand you are also not treated with privilege when you pretend to be an average Joe / Jane.

you can dress all you like and still will command privileges if required. its one of the upsides.

 

[Mazhurg]

Sure, and IRL sometimes when you try to talk to someone they pretend you're furniture - that's life. If someone wants to make a friend they'll speak up.

I see that you are married too!

 

[Philip Coutts]

There has been a lot of typing going on in this thread, lots and lots in fact. Maybe there's something wrong with me but I don't really care which way it goes. I really have no strong feelings on it. I guess for me it's always nice to see names I recognise when I'm playing but that said once the full might of the galaxy is unleashed how often will I see anyone anyway? Hmmm ultimately my face is in "not bothered" mode for this one.

 

[Memnoch]

Maybe FD will throw a curve ball into the mix here and have some really nasty NPCs use the odd fake transponder signal - pretend to be humans and lure people into the spiders web!

I hope that the AI will be capable of any number of things, with any luck all adding to their capability of making them as indistinguishable from a human player as possible. Having them engaged in all activities that a player can do would be a start, including the odd attempt at mindless destruction.