Pigpen, this is rubber duck...we got ourselves a CONVOY!

Commander Edison

Commander Edison
There's a been a lot of noise (and sensible debate too) on the forums of late about why traders, or indeed anyone not out for pew pew pew would be in the all group.

It's not a terrible question. I mean, why would traders gain any benefit from playing with others?

Then I was reminded in a post by someone else of an idea I'd had when I first backed ED. It's best illustrated through the medium of 70's pop country-http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJEeHND_lQ

For those of you sensible enough not to watch that video, I'm talking about convoys. While it might be difficult for a single PC trader to plough through an anarchy system, what about six, or seven? Or maybe more? Why not then pool together for mercs running security?

This doesn't have to be a permanent guild type thing. Looking at the mechanics of alliances and comms, there's no reason that a group of like minded traders with a similar goal can't band together on the fly and pile through any anarchy system they choose.

Now, there are issues with this. Large convoys will become a bigger target. Anyone familiar with military history will know that there are still risks involved with moving on mass. Also, the way alliances and criminality work mean that one smuggler hiding in your convoy could mean a bounty for the lot. I think that just makes it more exciting, but if not some precautions could be put in place.

This might not be an idea for day to day trading, but it might be a great idea in the case of time limited or high risk runs with large profits.

I think it'd be a great way to counter concerns of group player piracy and keep people in the all group. The risk of piracy is still there, but safety in numbers will reduce it significantly. And most importantly, it could be a lot of fun. Anyone else think it could work?


Edit- Well, quite a bit has changed since this thread was started. Anarchy systems aren't anywhere near harsh enough, for a start. But with wings on the way,
 
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bassman

B
Commander Edison said:
There's a been a lot of noise (and sensible debate too) on the forums of late about why traders, or indeed anyone not out for pew pew pew would be in the all group.

It's not a terrible question. I mean, why would traders gain any benefit from playing with others?

Then I was reminded in a post by someone else of an idea I'd had when I first backed ED. It's best illustrated through the medium of 70's pop country-http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJEeHND_lQ

For those of you sensible enough not to watch that video, I'm talking about convoys. While it might be difficult for a single PC trader to plough through an anarchy system, what about six, or seven? Or maybe more? Why not then pool together for mercs running security?

This doesn't have to be a permanent guild type thing. Looking at the mechanics of alliances and comms, there's no reason that a group of like minded traders with a similar goal can't band together on the fly and pile through any anarchy system they choose.

Now, there are issues with this. Large convoys will become a bigger target. Anyone familiar with military history will know that there are still risks involved with moving on mass. Also, the way alliances and criminality work mean that one smuggler hiding in your convoy could mean a bounty for the lot. I think that just makes it more exciting, but if not some precautions could be put in place.

This might not be an idea for day to day trading, but it might be a great idea in the case of time limited or high risk runs with large profits.

I think it'd be a great way to counter concerns of group player piracy and keep people in the all group. The risk of piracy is still there, but safety in numbers will reduce it significantly. And most importantly, it could be a lot of fun. Anyone else think it could work?
Click to expand...

This is exactly the sort of hybrid coop/PvE/PvP play that I'm hoping will take off. I guess the biggest barrier (once we have comms) will be SC/Hyperjump syncing across such a convoy which I hope FD will address at some point.
 

Commander Edison

Commander Edison
bassman said:
This is exactly the sort of hybrid coop/PvE/PvP play that I'm hoping will take off. I guess the biggest barrier (once we have comms) will be SC/Hyperjump syncing across such a convoy which I hope FD will address at some point.
Click to expand...

I'm sure I've read about hyperdrive "slaving" somewhere, but that and the workings of interdiction in the finished game will determine whether this could be a reality.

I think seeing how the bulletin board works, and what degree of freedom we have to post things on it, will be a factor as well.
 

tooterfish

T
Drive syncing has been part of the design from day one, this kind of gameplay has always been on the cards.

Hopefully, tools for ad-hoc formations (outside of spamming the local chat channel) will be provided.
 

Rhaedas

Rhaedas
Brilliant. Add one or two paid "protection" and the look on a single pirate's face would be great. Of course the pirates can do a similar thing, but somehow having a group of pirates trying to raid a convoy with escorts doesn't seem like a bad thing, it seems right up the idea of this game. Especially if not all the escorts are visible until the mayday goes out. :)
 

Stoopyface

S
I'd really like to see convoys, but I have trouble imagining they'll happen all that often. With all the worlds and trade routes, I expect it will be rare you happen across someone that's in the same place, at the same time and who's heading to the same location as you. I hold out hope that we'll see player convoys, but I think there might need to be more incentive to go in convoys than there is now.

I just don't see impromptu convoys happening, but maybe there could be an incentive such as long distance trade runs being very lucrative, which would encourage players to band together for such journeys.
 

VR jefranklin18

VR jefranklin18
Stoopyface said:
I'd really like to see convoys, but I have trouble imagining they'll happen all that often. With all the worlds and trade routes, I expect it will be rare you happen across someone that's in the same place, at the same time and who's heading to the same location as you. I hold out hope that we'll see player convoys, but I think there might need to be more incentive to go in convoys than there is now.

I just don't see impromptu convoys happening, but maybe there could be an incentive such as long distance trade runs being very lucrative, which would encourage players to band together for such journeys.
Click to expand...

Well, if we can advertise on the bulletin boards then it can be used to drum up convoy members. And of course by pirates to plan attacks....
 

Shoney

Shoney
Commander Edison said:
And a role for the combat/PvP enthusiast which might ensure contact with other people on the same wavelength.
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Might even be fun if it would be possible for the group to make out a contract to anyone who can escort the convoy.

Turn the contract into a mission where the convoy has to arrive at it's destination intact for the contract to be fulfilled or something? That would ensure payment for the contract taker. And the contract would cost money to set up for the contract giver.

Something like that.:p
 

Crightonian

Crightonian
Mr_Jim said:
And money to be made as an escort :)
Click to expand...

Should we be standing alongside the hyper spaceway with a tight fitting short skirt and a large smile or best wait by the intersections to get a job.!!!

Teamspeak !!!!! the wonders of modern tech, "need an escort!!"
 

Rhaedas

Rhaedas
Love to see the videos of it. A picture that comes to mind is a herd of whales,and a pack of orca in the background waiting for the right time.
 

ddrooster

D
bassman said:
This is exactly the sort of hybrid coop/PvE/PvP play that I'm hoping will take off. I guess the biggest barrier (once we have comms) will be SC/Hyperjump syncing across such a convoy which I hope FD will address at some point.
Click to expand...

the once we have coms bit is the salient quote

are we ever going to have coms
 

Commander Edison

Commander Edison
Stoopyface said:
I'd really like to see convoys, but I have trouble imagining they'll happen all that often. With all the worlds and trade routes, I expect it will be rare you happen across someone that's in the same place, at the same time and who's heading to the same location as you. I hold out hope that we'll see player convoys, but I think there might need to be more incentive to go in convoys than there is now.

I just don't see impromptu convoys happening, but maybe there could be an incentive such as long distance trade runs being very lucrative, which would encourage players to band together for such journeys.
Click to expand...

I agree it's not likely to be a constant thing, but I think the plans for injected events and background sim events (famine, war, station building, sudden discovery of rare commodities) will create "gold rushes" where many players will converge to profit from both trade and piracy.

If and when that sort of thing happens, it'd be great to run a blockade with a dozen ships of all shapes and sizes going hell for leather for the station
 

Commander Edison

Commander Edison
Rhaedas said:
Love to see the videos of it. A picture that comes to mind is a herd of whales,and a pack of orca in the background waiting for the right time.
Click to expand...

Yep. It makes piracy more interesting too. Instead of just saying "I've got a great big rail gun, hand over the goods!" pirates have to decide on how they're going to tackle a group. Do they just pile in and hope to disable one ship? Or do they dive in amongst the convoy, hoping to panic a skittish hauler into making a break for it so they can take them down before they hit witchspace?

Loving the oceanic imagery btw.:cool:
 

VR jefranklin18

VR jefranklin18
Commander Edison said:
Yep. It makes piracy more interesting too. Instead of just saying "I've got a great big rail gun, hand over the goods!" pirates have to decide on how they're going to tackle a group. Do they just pile in and hope to disable one ship? Or do they dive in amongst the convoy, hoping to panic a skittish hauler into making a break for it so they can take them down before they hit witchspace?

Loving the oceanic imagery btw.:cool:
Click to expand...

Anyone in a slow mover is going to be stuffed. The pirates will target those at the back of the pack. Like on the Serengetti ;)
 
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