Shadowbans and the BGS

This forum has more aggressive enforcement policies than the damned game does!
Very true, I fear. The reason being that mods are not employees of FDEV and sometimes are not 100% clear on their remit, but that’s a different issue.

Personally, I think cheats should be permanently banned... If someone inadvertently buys a shadowbanned account, they could contact FDEV, explain and register their credit card and details in the store. This would be good enough, I believe.

As for treating SOLO players the same?

ED is the only modern (arguably) MMO I’ve played that’s not in Alpha, if you catch my drift.
Every other game I play is solo and I would love a solo version of this game.

As a player in solo, I would be quite happy to have two distinct servers with two distinct copies of my commander. One in solo and one in open.

The BGS could quite safely run in different directions for those two servers... The problems would arise with the (admittedly threadbare and mostly text based) storylines and CGs

Would actions that precipitate an attack on a station (like the CG where the players only defended one station) in open be mirrored to the solo universe?

If they were, then we would say that influence is unidirectional... OPEN→ SOLO
Meaning that solo players would have zero influence on anything. Which would actually end up closer to the original game’s premise of, ‘you are just a pathetic little pleb who will never achieve anything nor become anything other than a more wealthy pleb.’

Would solo players even be able to take part in CGs?

Would CGs have to be rescaled to just take into account the number of players that take part in CGs in open?

If a CG was 50/50 split with team A wining in Open, but in SOLO, an epic 20 hour bounty splurge delivered just before the deadline means that the player supported team B wins in SOLO, what then?

Are all the SOLO accounts connected? Do they affect each other?

What starts off as an apparently simple ‘just put solo players on a separate server’ could snowball (butterfly effect) into a completely different reality where systems in one universe have been destroyed in the other and vice versa, leading to FDEV having to support TWO BGSs...

And that is why the shadowban server is immutable and static. Just too much for FDEV to support.


Yikes.

No thanks,
KISS.
 
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Very true, I fear. The reason being that mods are not employees of FDEV and sometimes are not 100% clear on their remit, but that’s a different issue.

ED is the only modern (arguably) MMO I’ve played that’s not in Alpha, if you catch my drift.
Every other game I play is solo and I would love a solo version of this game.

As a player in solo, I would be quite happy to have two distinct servers with two distinct copies of my commander. One in solo and one in open.

The BGS could quite safely run in different directions for those two servers... The problems would arise with the (admittedly threadbare and mostly text based) storylines and CGs

Would actions that precipitate an attack on a station (like the CG where the players only defended one station) in open be mirrored to the solo universe?

If they were, then we would say that influence is unidirectional... OPEN→ SOLO
Meaning that solo players would have zero influence on anything. Which would actually end up closer to the original game’s premise of, ‘you are just a pathetic little pleb who will never achieve anything nor become anything other than a more wealthy pleb.’

Would solo players even be able to take part in CGs?

Would CGs have to be rescaled to just take into account the number of players that take part in CGs in open?

If a CG was 50/50 split with team A wining in Open, but in SOLO, an epic 20 hour bounty splurge delivered just before the deadline means that the player supported team B wins in SOLO, what then?

Are all the SOLO accounts connected? Do they affect each other?

What starts off as an apparently simple ‘just put solo players on a separate server’ could snowball (butterfly effect) into a completely different reality where systems in one universe have been destroyed in the other and vice versa, leading to FDEV having to support TWO BGSs...

Yikes.

No thanks,
KISS.

Whoa. Someone actually having a rational argument for the opposing view point. I commend you as rational thought seems to be in short supply here.

With that said, you raise good points and valid concerns. However, I'll respond just by jumping to the last sentence of you post:

"What starts off as an apparently simple ‘just put solo players on a separate server’ could snowball (butterfly effect) into a completely different reality where systems in one universe have been destroyed in the other and vice versa, leading to FDEV having to support TWO BGSs..."

Yes that is what I want. Frankly, with as old as this game is and as much money as the player base has given them, we deserve that.

Hell, we deserve way more than what we are getting in this game.
 
People hide from opposition in solo and private modes.

Therefore, it is illogical they should be able to affect the BGS of people in open mode.

There isn't an argument here.

However, I will concede that you folks hiding out have nothing to worry about. FDEV won't take your safe spaces away.

Talk about bitter.

Remember that many people have zero interest in PvP or playing with other people at all, yet they paid the same amount for the game as you did..

Think of it this way. I always find reframing an argument helps: You’re getting the game PLUS the ability to interact with other players... You should be paying more than those who solely play in solo (see what I did there?).

With all the extra fun you’re having shooting other players and requiring all the extra dev work to support your play mode ON TOP of the regular solo mode means that PvPers should be paying a premium...

Elite Dangerous : PvP $59.99
Elite Dangerous : Solo $39.99

How does that sound?

No, I didn’t think so.

Both modes are treated identically ITO the BGS and storyline. Always have been, always will be.

If you don’t think it’s fair, play in solo.

What appears to be an entirely reasonable argument from one angle can suddenly appear quite different from another.
 
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Whoa. Someone actually having a rational argument for the opposing view point. I commend you as rational thought seems to be in short supply here.

With that said, you raise good points and valid concerns. However, I'll respond just by jumping to the last sentence of you post:

"What starts off as an apparently simple ‘just put solo players on a separate server’ could snowball (butterfly effect) into a completely different reality where systems in one universe have been destroyed in the other and vice versa, leading to FDEV having to support TWO BGSs..."

Yes that is what I want. Frankly, with as old as this game is and as much money as the player base has given them, we deserve that.

Hell, we deserve way more than what we are getting in this game.

Cheers for the props.. LOL... The problem with two BGSs is that FDEV cant even support one, properly. They already have to manully fudge everything to account for the inelegance of their original BGS... Imagine the that would ensue if they were forced to keep track of the shenanigans happening on two poorly designed BGSs... Makes me shudder.

Consumers always deserve more (j/k), but if we did this, we’d arguably end up with less.


As for shadowbanning, I think they should be on a completely separate shard, permanently *depending on their “crime”.
 
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Don't you love it when someone agrees with you but hate it when they don't :D Or when someone gives an opinion but it's not the same as yours so they try to belittle or dismiss you, funny that.

Yea bots are bad :p
 
You can try to minimize the term as much as you want. But it is what it is.

Private and solo are in fact safe spaces. If you or others become emotional over that terminology you should all ask yourselves why.

Holy stawman batman!

A safe space is "a place or environment in which a person or category of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or physical harm."

The whole point of a safe space, and the whole reason they are ridiculed, is because they are set up specially to get rid of all criticism and "emotional harm." It is all about protecting an individual's feelings from being hurt due to criticism by banning all forms of it. Its only viewed negatively because people demand it and act like it is an entitlement. We are surrounded by safe spaces everywhere and have been from long before it was a word, the only reason it became negative was because there were people trying to shut down discussion by demanding that the place they were in became a safe space, or by demanding that institutions provide them instead of just creating their own private safe spaces if they really were needed.

Solo mode is a way of playing a game where by yourself. It is a way of enjoying a game. It has nothing to do with trying to protect yourself from hearing criticism in the real world.

If you want to expand the definition of "safe space" to include any and everything that separates people into different groups, then fine, go ahead. But that makes you no different than people who call anyone right of them s.

The only way you can expand the context of safe spaces to include a game mode is if you expanded it to the point that almost every solitary activity was considered a safe space.

I'm not emotional over you terminology, any more than I got emotional when someone said that I was 1 step away from Hitler for saying that I would prefer if women dressed more modestly than they currently do but that I think Islam goes too far in it's demands. I simply think you are arguing irrationally and wrong.
 
People hide from opposition in solo and private modes.

Therefore, it is illogical they should be able to affect the BGS of people in open mode.

There isn't an argument here.

However, I will concede that you folks hiding out have nothing to worry about. FDEV won't take your safe spaces away.

Insulting and condescending. My, my, not the way to influence people and win friends.

I'd say that players in Open only play there because they are incapable of playing Elite alone. They need the comfort and support of other players. We soloists, however, can stand the challenge of the big black by ourselves, we don't need a crutch to play Elite.

That's me being polite. What I really want to say about your post would get me banned.

You can try to minimize the term as much as you want. But it is what it is.

Private and solo are in fact safe spaces. If you or others become emotional over that terminology you should all ask yourselves why.

You should ask yourself why you are getting so worked up about the subject and being insulting. Small man syndrome (and I don't mean height)?
 
I did find the "safe space" comment amusing :)

Playing behind a NAT and perhaps a level firewall before the OS firewall - that's hiding in a safe space :D

Public IP's and FQDN - that's where the fun is for some genuine PVP. Or are you hiding in your "safe space"? ;)

I promise I won't pew-pew you too much.
 
Nobody is hiding - everyone is playing the game as they see fit to enjoy their gaming time to their preference.

I agree with this statement.

and also...

I've gotta say, combat in this game is disappointing for me. I've watched tons of it via YT and done some of it myself (losing my precious Mostly Harmless status). It appears to be mostly little triangles with a blurry something in them, and they pewpew, and you pewpew back, and sometimes you get a close look at the ship in a joust...

Not really visceral to me. Now, Starlancer, Freelancer and FreeSpace (along with much older titles like the X-wing - Tie Fighter franchise) had ships come right up to you to toss a mine in your face, you could see individual parts shorting or trailing flame, you had good, close visuals in most fights; flaming balls of dying ships, along with all the crackling-good combat sounds and chatter. Then there were the inevitable battleships, properly scaled and they were monstrously big & scary.

Maybe I need to get into a Vulture and get some face-time with other ships, I dunno. But ship combat in this game is not why I enjoy it.
 
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People hide from opposition in solo and private modes.

Therefore, it is illogical they should be able to affect the BGS of people in open mode.

There isn't an argument here.

However, I will concede that you folks hiding out have nothing to worry about. FDEV won't take your safe spaces away.

There is no "Open".
There is "PS4 open", "XBox Open", "Mac Open" and "Pc Open".
Plus instancing and friends lists within these.

So keep the BGS out of it. Thats where we all play together and against each other. If you cant live with that opposition, dont play the BGS.
 
If an account is shadowbanned, can they still affect the BGS?

Interesting question as if they can (and I suspect they still do), then shadowbans lose a lot of their edge. Shadowbanning bot accounts or those players who abuse the BGS through exploits are in no way limited via a shadowban and those abuses will continue. We just won't see them.

Either a straight up account game ban is required, or make BGS be unaffected by any shadowbanned account actions.

The original idea of shadowbans was to remove the players from the BGS and they would only be able to see other shadowbanned players.
 
So, should the handful flash past the demonstrated skip? The sung mole indulges in the stack.
Otherwise, how will the unwise seventh discriminate the ladder?

Young Girl:

Or do posies just bloom for the feel of a May?
Investing space without a place;
Confusing grace with outer space.


BTW: "The sung mole indulges in the stack." is my new mantra.
 
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Server merge. Open mode only.

Cross platform play is possible, though that is not exclusively on FD to make happen. Cross platform for more than just this game is the future of gaming.

Finally, you are making some baseless assumptions here. I never proposed taking anything away from anyone. I proposed separation.

To be clear though I do like you addressing me as Mr. Zajo.

Edit:. Remember guys and gals you don't have to worry, FD won't listen to me. Your safe spaces are protected.


There is only one server...can't make that change! There aren't any modes, there are only flags you choose for matchmaking! Can't 'lock' things to a 'mode' because the 'mode' doesn't exist!
 
See this is an example of someone having an intelligent discussion. Some of you should take note.

See this is an example of someone AGREEING WITH ME. Some of you should take note.

There...corrected that for you...
 
There is only one server...can't make that change! There aren't any modes, there are only flags you choose for matchmaking! Can't 'lock' things to a 'mode' because the 'mode' doesn't exist!

There can of course be more than one server. We do connect to a different one in betas and FD probably have their their own, for testing.

The problem is that separating 'Live' on two or more servers, the story part of the game falls apart.

The story in ED is far more important than the BGS. If a station that has been attacked by Thargoids gets repaired on one server and not on the other, the story falls apart. Same goes for Power Play.

The only way to make Open more relevant in BGS and in Power Play, is to add influential game play that requires interaction with other commanders.

An example could be a PvP combat zone. A zone that has some kind of control mechanism, where the faction that 'controls' it earns a significant amount of points in a conflict.
Dropping in to the zone would require selecting a faction before entering. When entering the zone, all matchmaking filters gets turned of. Even if you drop in from Solo, you will get inn with other Commanders.
Player factions could chose if these zones should spawn in their controlled systems. That way a PvP faction can effectively protect their systems, with PvP.
In Power Play they could spawn in all conflicts.

This is just an example of voluntary but meaningful PvP game play. FD can probably come up with better ideas, but only if they try.
 
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The problem is that separating 'Live' on two or more servers, the story part of the game falls apart.

The story in ED is far more important than the BGS. If a station that has been attacked by Thargoids gets repaired on one server and not on the other, the story falls apart. Same goes for Power Play.
....

This. This is why all suggestions of separating modes, different rewards on a mode basis, separating platforms, different influence levels, compulsory PvP, etc. etc., are all impossible. Not undesirable, unpopular or difficult; just impossible. (But I guess people who don't like others' ways of playing will still ignore this simple fact and keep making the same suggestions over and over).
 
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The problem is that separating 'Live' on two or more servers, the story part of the game falls apart.

The story in ED is far more important than the BGS. If a station that has been attacked by Thargoids gets repaired on one server and not on the other, the story falls apart. Same goes for Power Play.
....
This. This is why all suggestions of separating modes, different rewards on a mode basis, separating platforms, different influence levels, compulsory PvP, etc. etc., are all impossible. Not undesirable, unpopular or difficult; just impossible. (But I guess people who don't like others' ways of playing will still ignore this simple fact and keep making the same suggestions over and over).

Exactly this. Storytelling in ED has so far been entirely through custom-placed galaxy assets, forced BGS events, and mission/Galnet text. Any independent server mode would have to either eschew storytelling entirely or otherwise somehow preclude ambitious commanders from discovering secrets ahead of time.

Elite: Dangerous is a multiplayer sandbox with a shoehorned story that makes for an extremely awkward gameplay combo. To be honest, I think Fdev has gotten better at balancing that combo since I started in 3301. Their continued progress on the story and related new gameplay elements have brought a lot more to the game than there was a few years ago, but it's been at the cost of alienating certain parts of their audience.

Heh, honestly this might be more something for the accountants at Fdev to answer than the developers. [haha]
 
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