Multiplayer bonus

[Caspar]

So my understanding about multiplayer is that is channel based (primarily peer to peer) rather than traditional MMO. I think that's a good thing for a number of reasons - not least of which are infrastructure costs and constant moderation.

I wondered though if there was a good way to introduce a risk / reward feature in to the game that would keep multiplayer interesting & varied. Yes, by all means let people play in isolation - but what about if players get premium rewards for multiplayer play?

Prerequisite: Multiplayer channels have applicable modes. This would be a 'risk' mode for multiplayer.

Scenario:

A team of people are looking to haul a large amounts of goods between a number of systems. The rewards are going to be great - but if they drop in to a multiplayer channel, there's a 10% bonus applied. Knowing the additional risks, they haul goods as a team using a couple of Anacondas and a hand full of escorts.

To avoid exploitation of the bonus - they don't actually have control of the multiplayer channel they're joining.

Opposing players, currently hunting NPCs in a system get notification from their 'spies' that there is potential for a juicy heist and are given a region of several planets that the haulers may be visiting. They immediately dispatch scouts to the various planets - one of which detects the convoy and alerts his 'colleagues'. One by one, they warp in to the system and then rally & charge. Let battle commence.

Just an idea.

 

[JohnStabler]

You have an interesting idea there.

It reminds me of group quests in world of warcraft where certain quests could only be completed by finding players in the local area to take on whatever the challenge.

I understand that some players will complain about certain content or rewards not being accessible to loners. But David Braben has expressed an interest in the emergent gameplay from multiplayer interactions. In order to encourage this I think FD will need to implement mechanics such as this.

 

[Caspar]

Thanks for the comments John.

Certainly I wouldn't want to advocate a two tier game - but I think a game mechanic like this would be a good way pf providing a varied mix of multiplayer play styles.

Without the risk/reward aspect of hauling / mining / exploring in a multiplayer environment - we could end up with a multiplayer element that becomes a peer to peer - head to head shoot em' up annex to the game rather than something integral to game play.

I may be wrong (probably) but I'm keen to hear any more thoughts on this idea.

 

[carlsberg]

A team of people are looking to haul a large amounts of goods between a number of systems. The rewards are going to be great - but if they drop in to a multiplayer channel, there's a 10% bonus applied. Knowing the additional risks, they haul goods as a team using a couple of Anacondas and a hand full of escorts.


erm. not to rain on your parade or anything, but why?
if they're a team of people, as you put it, they're already online in multiplayer mode.
if they're in full multiplayer mode, your suggestion would be irrelevent, any other group of players could target them at any time anyway.
if they're in a private group mode, it's because that's how they want to play, usually because they find the interaction of full multiplayer intrusive and annoying, such a group is not going to change their minds for a small bonus.

 

[blubbber]

I think it is an interesting idea, but only if the additional reward is for example an increase in profit etc.
It always annoyed me in games like WOW that there was no way of getting the good items unless you played in a guild. While I did play in a guild and enjoyed it, you shouldn't be forced to in order to experience the full game

 

[Celandri]

nope, dont agree, this isnt a mmo, The mostly revard you should see is you are not dead and mabye some ranking up after doing lots of missions.
And youre locked out of amount of players in a shard anways, so say you do the way you do and get 4 anacondas and 12 backup ships. that means you have total 16 more slots for enemys in a shard and if there is random players staying in that shard = no enemies coming.