News Implementation of a dedicated mission server

[bitstorm]

I think it's maybe a little more worrying even than that. My opinion is that it's a way for FDEV to have a small team responsible for missions and the overall arc of the game without having to involve the whole development team. Updates and improvements to Elite can go hang for as long as FDEV want. They're moving into maintenance mode and trying to find ways to lessen its impact on their business.

No idea, but I'm not sure dedicating a small team lessens the impact on the business.

I think Dominic Corner has previously looked after the mission stuff? If they're dedicating a small team to it you could argue that's because they realise missions are core in ED and might benefit from multiple folk working on it.

 

[RG-870]

If the number of missions available is not VASTLY (!!!) increased after that update I will probably stop playing E. Board hopping is a symptom which you're trying to cure. Unfortunately you forget about the disease.
People use board hopping because there are hardly any decent missions available. Why should I use a large ship with lots of passenger / cargo racks if I can hardly fill more than a few of them?
Newer ships become bigger and more expensive. We need a decent flow of cash to afford them. Nerfing missions will drastically decrease the credit / hour ratio of missions thus nerfing income - once again. The 10% increase in payout is a joke.
There is no use paying ~1billion for an Imperial Cutter if you can hardly fill an Asp Explorer with passengers.

I own two E accounts with Horizons. I bought into the late beta. I would have bought the lifetime membership if I hadn't missed that offer by a few days.
My main account has a decent number of cosmetics / paintjobs /colors bought from the shop. I put quite some money into this game and was willing to continue doing so in the future. I got a long wishlist in the store.
But I'm also an adult. I have a life. I do NOT need a game turn into another job. E always was a grind, I always hated that side of the game which time walled me from the things I really wanted to enjoy. If the dedicated mission server means once again nerfing my income / hour played I will stop playing E and put my money into something else.

 

[SirMaxxx]

and if this is meant to be part of the game, then Frontier will surely make up for it in some way - but if not, then using an exploit will not be possible.

 

[Knightshark]

There is a ton of valid criticism here. But let's all not forget: As long as bord hopping is possible, it's impossible to balance the mission system. Bord hopping is imo the main disease keeping the mission system from evolving. So, very, very good move FD. I am now much more optimistic about the future of the mission system.

 

[Kurgol]

As someone who plays the BGS I totally understand those who are worried it will bring pain to BGS play, however with board flipping removed Fdev have static goalposts that they can balance around - I hope this is going to be excellent for the long-term health of the game, even if it's painful in the interim.

 

[liquidtweak]

just found out about this because I haven't been playing. if they finally fix it so solo (no ps+/xbox live) players don't get bombarded with multi-wing missions, cool beans. but if a solo player is still bombarded with multi-wing missions, still sucks...

oh, also forgot! I don't do combat, so it sucks when the mission board is filled with massacre missions when my ship is built for passenger/cargo hauling!

 

[NetAxiz]

Could you please fix this, before nerfing the mission board, its because of bugs like this that we have to board flip.
Why has this important bug not been resolved yet? These liberation missions are useless because if this, one would think that this was more of a priority. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/403844-Destroying-NPCs-power-plant-has-no-effect/

 

[Sierra_Hotel]

Could you please fix this, before nerfing the mission board, its because of bugs like this that we have to board flip.
Why has this important bug not been resolved yet? These liberation missions are useless because if this, one would think that this was more of a priority. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/403844-Destroying-NPCs-power-plant-has-no-effect/

How is that possibly related to the mission boards?

 

[lovely lovely]

As long as the outcome gives you the variety and number of missions equivalent of board flipping does then it's a no brainer imo.

 

[NetAxiz]

How is that possibly related to the mission boards?

It has everything to do. Because Liberation Missions are nearly impossible to do because of this bug , so they are wasted missions on the mission board, another reason to board flip. fix the bug and we wont need to board flip so much and can actually take these missions and enjoy doing them. the point here, is Fix a bug that was opened Months ago, PRIORITIES !!!

 

[Han Zulu]

Which already happens every 15 minute. I just dont want a button for it which would be rubbish.

Hopefully with this dedicated server, they will be able to push out more missions. I also hope they implement missions from different contacts too. Like bounty hunting contracts from the security contact. Smuggling missions from the black market contact. These contacts could all have rep that needs to be improved too. The higher the rep, the better the mission.

I would also like to see a new UI element. When we dock we get the station services/launch/the other one. There should be another section called anonymous access which is where you get the dodgy contacts, like the black market, fence, contracts for assassinations etc. These should not be a part of the station services and would be available if you have a fine or bounty or notoriety.

Agree with all this. Except, I don't mind the button(s) though, and perhaps a way to filter/search like textbox or dropdown. Maybe even they could have hundreds of missions on the servers and you request a list of specific mission types all together, which would be a huge improvement.

 

[jonesskill]

Yes, because system doesn't serve you entirely. It is also a output of BGS world, with appropriate demand for specific missions with specific goals to be fulfilled.

If you want to fill up your big ship, look for big systems with boom states. You have to move around, game won't serve these chances on the platter.

Yeah, this show how much you don't undestand the misison board/BGS mechanics.

State (so long as it's not War) has very little to do with the mission count or types. There's an effect ... but beyond reskinning missions and picking within subtypes, it's mostly subtle. Population has even less (there are some extremely indirect effects from population, but a system with 1000 people is perfectly capable of generating full and diverse mission boards)

Connectivity and diversity (economies, mix of surface/orbital assets) of nearby systems is way more important than either.

Exactly, Some very small systems have more/better missions than high populated ones.

Agree with all this. Except, I don't mind the button(s) though, and perhaps a way to filter/search like textbox or dropdown. Maybe even they could have hundreds of missions on the servers and you request a list of specific mission types all together, which would be a huge improvement.

Just remember that all those improvements that you guys are talking about are just expeculation - They are announcing just a dedicated server, persistent, with a little increased payout - NOTHING ELSE.

For now we just know that after this comes to live people will strugle to find a decent mission because the system will continue to be the same s*it.

 

[smartroad]

I would love for this to eventually be able to allow better targetting of missions based on previous takeup/success. One thing I have always thought was missing from the game is the ability to become known (in a system/by a faction) as someone who is very good at salvage or assassination or search and rescue. Personally I enjoy doing the first and last of those three examples and would love to me known as someone factions could go to for those, so the mission board would show more of them.

I would add (for me anyway) a sense of belonging in the game, that your actions have been noticed and you are important in your own way. With most games you are the hero, you have a real effect on the world, after all you are probably saving it single handedly. Elite can't be like that on a galactic scale, but in system/faction you should be able to become a bit of a celebrity if you work hard enough. You could be introduced to other factions or people who need your help (maybe using the in-flight mission communications). I know there is a big push for multiplayer and everyone working in groups etc, but I like to play games to get away from people as I spend my days with them! The problem is that Elite doesn't (again for me) reward me, other than money, for all my effort. I have enough money now that I don't want for much so other rewards would instil a more personal narrative (to use Frontier's terminology) where I can be noticed by a faction. Flying through their home system and have the people message you saying "Hi" or "Thanks for your help with that war" etc.

 

[ErasmusVenport]

Since there will no longer be the ability to exploit board flipping, do you plan on removing or at least increasing the ability to pick up more than the current 20 mission cap so that we can at least utilise the mission systems available missions to our advantage?

Its always been frustrating to have available cargo space or available data missions etc. for your intended route but the 20 mission cap stops you from collecting them. If you want to limit the number of missions for data for example you could have a data capacity (not limiting the number of missions but the overall size of the data you can carry, maybe by ship type), for other missions like assassinations etc. you can limit the availability as you currently do for the Thargoid scout/interceptor and skimmer missions etc. and just cap the availability of missions on number already collected/active.

This would be a good way of lessening the impact of the change for those who do utilise board flipping above the 10% pay increase and would also benefit the immersion of the game as I've always felt that the hard limit just isn't realistic - If I have the space in my ship why cant I carry the goods....

 

[Dbrn47]

Cheating is cheating, no matter the excuse

Indeed.

 

[Dbrn47]

Saving Princess basically handed FD a Mission Board parameters design along these lines, what...two years ago? I wonder if they saved the link...

I doubt it, they seem to want it to be their idea, of their own design.

 

[Dbrn47]

There is a ton of valid criticism here. But let's all not forget: As long as bord hopping is possible, it's impossible to balance the mission system. Bord hopping is imo the main disease keeping the mission system from evolving. So, very, very good move FD. I am now much more optimistic about the future of the mission system.

Too much of an assumption to think it's going to go further than eliminating board flipping. Curb the expectations folks, it could easily be the worst thing ever just as much as the best.

 

[Genus]

I doubt it, they seem to want it to be their idea, of their own design.

A succinct summary, of the problems the user base has experienced.

Something has to change, and it ain't just the Mission Boards.

 

[Lex Humboldt]

@Frontier: Eliminating board flipping is treatment of symptoms. Reason is the repetitive game play aka grind lot of people don't want to do... Together with the lack of good missions this leads players to use the short from.

2% of players doing this daily? Well, that is because it is very effective and you need it only to do all few weeks and you can do the things you want instead.

Maybe think about roots and not about symptoms if you want to attract players except hardcore grinders.

 

[Garris]

Its a step in the right direction for sure.
Please with cherries think hard and test it first. Don't blow it by just doing the mission board across the play modes and not add any more to the choices. In fact as some have said nerfing missions. It's dull enough on there as it is. Not finding ones you want/need to do.