New Game Mechanic:Distress Signal

[CyphirNil]

After re-watching the capital ship trailer again I'm surprised player distress signals aren't already in the game as a feature.

The idea would be that if a player is attacked by a pirate/bounty hunter/ne'er do well character they can broad cast a distress signal to the local system (In the form of an instance signal much like the unidentified signal source) and other players can come to there aid, they might offer a reward for assistance or hope someone will come out of the kindness of their heart, the point is it would be an additional mechanic to encourage player interaction.

Additionally a new ship component specifically designed to counter this could be introduced, a signal jammer could be used by pirates or player hoping to catch someone unawares to jam the signal either canceling or reduced its detection range in the solar system so only nearby players can pick up the distress signal.

 

[Fost]

Yeah I like that idea!

 

[Philip Coutts]

It seems so obvious to include this. I loved the Cap ship video where you get the distress signal and can choose to accept the combat mission, I was actually thinking about this the other night. The game badly needs things like this to draw players together and make it more interesting.

 

[Tiamat]

There used to be a distress beacon back in beta which you used when you ran out of fuel and an NPC turned up and offered you fuel in return for your soul (not really but at the prices they charged it wasn't far off!). It was a placeholder mechanic until fuel scooping was added and then it got removed. I saw a post by someone at FD (Michael maybe) who said it may return but it would need reworking as it wasn't well implemented. I think it will come back in a form like this as the UI mechanics are already there.

 

[CyphirNil]

There used to be a distress beacon back in beta which you used when you ran out of fuel and an NPC turned up and offered you fuel in return for your soul (not really but at the prices they charged it wasn't far off!). It was a placeholder mechanic until fuel scooping was added and then it got removed. I saw a post by someone at FD (Michael maybe) who said it may return but it would need reworking as it wasn't well implemented. I think it will come back in a form like this as the UI mechanics are already there.

Just noticed today it use to be in use, thats good to hear they may consider it. as you say the UI mechanics are allready there, frontier has made a great effort to streamline player interaction in such a large area as space, i just feel a few more mechanics to encourage this would be a great improvment

 

[Tinman]

Several scenarios regarding the use of distress signals was discussed back in the design discussion forum by the devs themselves. I'm quite sure things like this will come at some point.

 

[wstephenson]

It would be nice to have signal yellow SAR Cobras like in Oolite out there answering distress calls, and for this to be available as a mission role, further down the line.

 

[reaperslayer]

i wouldn't mind them bringing back the distress signal again. and also possibly making a module or something to scan for distress signals, labeling em based on priority by color or something or being able to pick up a friendly one. (though to be honest i think they should work on adding the signal back and such before making it complex) if i had to guess how they would do it i'd say they'd label the distress's as "Out Of Fuel" "Rescue Run" and "Reinforce Request" and then also have a quick distress one for those who can't go to menu and have it as "UnKnown Distress". i cap the letters for short reference like OOF (in league and dota OOM = Out Of Mana so seems like a good thing to go), RR [Dragon Ball reference lol], RiR, and UKD though for the mean time could just have it as an open USS.

[edit] also forgot, could have a scanner look out for distress signals and like, some details come up and you can accept or deny it, accepting being locking on to it and it would show on nav. maybe just have computer chick say it or have it like that space battle vid where it's a prerecorded message saying "mayday mayday commander in combat, requesting assistance" or "this is a fuel request, distress signal set to close quarters, if you can hear this life support has disengaged, please respond" or something. idk, possibly just rambling at this point.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

The idea would be that if a player is attacked by a pirate/bounty hunter/ne'er do well character they can broad cast a distress signal to the local system (In the form of an instance signal much like the unidentified signal source) and other players can come to there aid, they might offer a reward for assistance or hope someone will come out of the kindness of their heart, the point is it would be an additional mechanic to encourage player interaction.

Maybe just change the "Report crimes: On" option to also broadcast to any players in the area... come on, we all know all commanders have police radio scanners fitted don't we?

 

[norcus]

So turning on your distress signal creates a variant USS called a Distress Signal Source. I like the idea, but I don't see myself sacrificing an internal slot, or anything more than a few joules of power for it.

 

[dementia]

I like this idea a lot however there should be no jammer module for it or anything. Being a pirate etc should still be a risky affair no matter how much money you have.

 

[Wulfpewpew]

After re-watching the capital ship trailer again I'm surprised player distress signals aren't already in the game as a feature.

The idea would be that if a player is attacked by a pirate/bounty hunter/ne'er do well character they can broad cast a distress signal to the local system (In the form of an instance signal much like the unidentified signal source) and other players can come to there aid, they might offer a reward for assistance or hope someone will come out of the kindness of their heart, the point is it would be an additional mechanic to encourage player interaction.

Additionally a new ship component specifically designed to counter this could be introduced, a signal jammer could be used by pirates or player hoping to catch someone unawares to jam the signal either canceling or reduced its detection range in the solar system so only nearby players can pick up the distress signal.

+1. I had the same idea and wanted to post it.