Should there be an 'Open' Player Vs Environment Option on the Login Screen

[Faded Glory]

[snip]
So what is the 'issue' with such a mode of play being readily available to all players from the login screen is the question I keep asking but have yet to see many really well considered answers to...

I don't think there'd be any downside to it at all, and it would probably simplify quite a bit of 'grouping up' too, much of which could end up being done through the friends list in game, with the basic choice of whether people want to play PvP or PvE taken at login.

In fact, it would quite likely make FD's vision for how they expected the game to be played (at least as I read it from reading and listening to things they have said) more likely to occur. You would be more likely to see groups of players working together (or against each other) to influence the BGS (the environment) in the way that they prefer to play, and those groups that like to do things adversarially using PvP would have their option too. Just not against unwilling participants.

I believe you'd still require a solo mode for those who prefer a single player experience, and probably still private groups for the people who want to play (for example) as a family together, but in the main, I imagine that far from fragmenting 'the community', it would more likely bring it together in two main multiplayer formats.

As an aside, I think such a mode should have player on player damage switched off to reduce the ways that the system could be exploited, not rely on an honor code which FD would have to police.

 

[Notwyn]

" Snip"

With strict, fair, transparent rules in Open, there's no reason why everybody couldn't play there and be happy.

Incorrect, there are those of us who prefer not to see any of you, so Solo would have to stay and still equally affect the universe.

 

[Suohhen]

I voted "no" since the game is meant to be played in open. No need to bring another mode to the game.
The official reason for the solo mode to exists was to allow players with low bandwidth to play the game.
I wish there could be some kind of bandwidth diagnostic at the start of a game to switch the player to solo only in case of low bandwidth...

Beside, the thing with Mobius is to forbid any PvP outside of conflict zones, otherwise the player may be reported and banned. I doubt FD would add this inconvenience to deal with to their list.

This poll makes no sense, sorry.

No, the official reason for a solo mode was to make up for the fact that FD was not going to provide an offline mode, not the low bandwidth problem, which could occur anytime. Some of us play solo because we like solo. If they can have a Open PVE option, they should. There is no "good reason" given so far not to have it.

 

[Robert Maynard]

No, the official reason for a solo mode was to make up for the fact that FD was not going to provide an offline mode, not the low bandwidth problem, which could occur anytime. Some of us play solo because we like solo. If they can have a Open PVE option, they should. There is no "good reason" given so far not to have it.

Solo existed as a part of the game design (as well as Private Groups and Open, of course) before Offline was introduced to the Kickstarter.

Note the following extract from the FAQ published a day after the start of the Kickstarter and also note the fact that Offline mode is added as an "Update":

FAQ- Elite: Dangerous
​

How will single player work? Will I need to connect to a server to play?

The galaxy for Elite: Dangerous is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. The aim here is that a player's actions will influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer.


The other important aspect for us is that we can seed the galaxy with events, often these events will be triggered by player actions. With a living breathing galaxy players can discover new and interesting things long after they have started playing.


Update! The above is the intended single player experience. However it will be possible to have a single player game without connecting to the galaxy server. You won't get the features of the evolving galaxy (although we will investigate minimising those differences) and you probably won't be able to sync between server and non-server (again we'll investigate).



​

How does multiplayer work?

You simply play the game, and depending on your configuration (your choice) some of the other ships you meet as you travel around are real players as opposed to computer-controlled ships. It may be a friend you have agreed to rendezvous with here, or it may be another real player you have encountered by chance. All players will be part of a “Pilot’s Federation” – that is how they are distinguished from non-players – so you will be able to tell who is a player and who is a non-player easily.

You will be able to save your position in certain key places (probably just in space stations, but possibly while in hyperspace too, if we feel it is needed). A save-and-quit option will be freely available at those points, as will the subsequent reload, but there will be a game cost for a reload following player death. Your ship will still be intact in the condition it was when the save occurred, but there will be a game currency charge (referred to as an insurance policy) for this. This is to prevent the obvious exploit of friends cooperating and killing each other to get each other’s cargo. If you can’t pay, then it will accumulate as an in-game debt, and the police may chase you!

There are no multiplayer lobbies, and the game will be played across many servers, augmented by peer-to-peer traffic for fast responses. Session creation and destruction happens during the long-range hyperspace countdown and hyperspace effect (which is a few seconds only), so is transparent to the player.

We have the concept of “groups”. They can be private groups just of your friends or open groups (that form part of the game) based on the play styles people prefer, and the rules in each can be different. Players will begin in the group “All” but can change groups at will, though it will be possible to be banned from groups due to antisocial behaviour, and you will only meet others in that group.
​

 

[Space Dandy]

You are entitled to your opinion mate...

Mine is different than yours...

See, in the first part you write, you say that all is good, all I have to do is apply to the 'private' group to join it. (I use I in the broad sense of the word not meant specifically) There in lies part of the problem

A new player who brought the game will most likely NOT know about private groups, will NOT know about mobius or even these forums actually (especially if they brought the game via steam) so chances are they would never even know a PVE mode does exist.

What I am proposing is to put an option on the login menu for entering a PVE environment. That will serve a few different purposes, firstly it will make it an available option for people who already do not know about mobius and for those new commers in the future... Secondly it will remove the need for one of the largest private groups on the server to be administered by one player (or any players really), it would give those who want to play in a PVE Multiplayer environment a readily available choice. It will allow players who currently play solo or some other private group because they do not like the PVP nature of the current open mode a choice which they might enjoy more and allow for more social interactions than the individual private groups currently have.

If as has been stated it would be a simple matter of some predefined matchmaking settings (like we currently have for solo and private group anyway) and a menu choice for that mode on the main login menu and then I would think from a programming point of view (I am a casual hobby programmer / designer only) I do not see it as a major issue to implement. As for enforecement of PVE only or limited PVP based on conditional situations (haz rez, wanted, etc) then that might take more effort on the programming side, how much I really could not say, that would be a topic for discussion though most certainly

Basically what it comes down to you want FD to do more work for lazy people that can't be bothered to come to the officail game forums and look in the groups section and then apply to mobius?

Frankly I wont cry if FD adds a "pve open" but I don't really care about lazy people that can't be bothered to inform themselves when starting a new game and think FD should work on more content rather than wasting time on this.

Hell if it's making new players aware of pve groups just add Mobius in big on the launcher.... really much ado about nothing this thread is.

 

[Pluvialis]

Basically what it comes down to you want FD to do more work for lazy people that can't be bothered to come to the officail game forums and look in the groups section and then apply to mobius?

Frankly I wont cry if FD adds a "pve open" but I don't really care about lazy people that can't be bothered to inform themselves when starting a new game and think FD should work on more content rather than wasting time on this.

Hell if it's making new players aware of pve groups just add Mobius in big on the launcher.... really much ado about nothing this thread is.

It's nothing whatsoever to do with laziness.

You're talking as though Mobius is an official built-in part of the game. It isn't. It's a patch - a sticky plaster created by a single player to cover something FD left out. Now they might have had their reasons for leaving it out, but it seems pretty clear their reasons - as well-intentioned as they might have been - were flawed. Mobius is not a game mode, so dismissively waving a hand and telling us people should just find out about it and go play there is widely missing the point.

You're appealing to that single player to provide the thing your argument is relying on. He shouldn't be having to do it. Frontier should be doing it. And that means the implementation of an Open PVE mode. That's what's being asked for here. The poll isn't asking whether people think there should be better signposting to Mobius.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Plenty of people in open are friendly and helpful.. some not so much - just like in the real world.

And if there was an Open PVE mode for real life...

 

[Gut Rumble]

You could turn this on it's head for a solution , make the whole galaxy PVE and open a "Mobius " group to do PVP in
.

 

[Mercy Killing]

Doth mine eyes deceive me?

Is the "No" vote actually winning for once?

Yeth, they doth.

 

[Space Dandy]

It's nothing whatsoever to do with laziness.

You're talking as though Mobius is an official built-in part of the game. It isn't. It's a patch - a sticky plaster created by a single player to cover something FD left out. Now they might have had their reasons for leaving it out, but it seems pretty clear their reasons - as well-intentioned as they might have been - were flawed. Mobius is not a game mode, so dismissively waving a hand and telling us people should just find out about it and go play there is widely missing the point.

You're appealing to that single player to provide the thing your argument is relying on. He shouldn't be having to do it. Frontier should be doing it. And that means the implementation of an Open PVE mode. That's what's being asked for here. The poll isn't asking whether people think there should be better signposting to Mobius.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -


And if there was an Open PVE mode for real life...

No...some of you should be happy we even have a group option where we can have pve only rules like mobius in the first place...it could easily have been open or solo only and that's it yet some of you are still not happy....

as for the guy that started mobius...kudos to him but if he ups and leave then FD or some other player can just replace him when that happens. Right now in this point in time the game has much more important things to do than get into this.

Seriously if a pve open mode comes about the pvpers will want their own pvp mode and then normal open will be all like well mmmm what about us etc etc.

 

[Lestenio]

You could turn this on it's head for a solution , make the whole galaxy PVE and open a "Mobius " group to do PVP in
.

Funny thing, there was a thread from a PvP player setting up a PvP league earlier today. Last I looked it had 15 replies.
Why does a thread devoted to providing PvP players with what they crave get 15 replies, while a thread from PvE players wanting a better experience get over 400. Many from PvP'ers.

Makes you wonder doesn't it. Perhaps your suggestion isn't as far fetched as some might think.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

as for the guy that started mobius...kudos to him but if he ups and leave then FD or some other player can just replace him when that happens. Right now in this point in time the game has much more important things to do than get into this.

I think you are ignoring the problem. 20 thousand customers shouldn't be at the mercy of a single player.

 

[willowfan]

You could turn this on it's head for a solution , make the whole galaxy PVE and open a "Mobius " group to do PVP in
.

Has been suggested on quite a few occasions in the THREAD OF DOOM. For some reason the PvPers don't like the idea though.

 

[Robert Maynard]

as for the guy that started mobius...kudos to him but if he ups and leave then FD or some other player can just replace him when that happens.

That's what is being sought in an Open-PvE mode (at least to some extent) - FD taking on the maintenance, management and advertising of a large PvE (mainly) group - by creating one of their own.

 

[bladerunner900]

Seriously if a pve open mode comes about the pvpers will want their own pvp mode and then normal open will be all like well mmmm what about us etc etc.

Some basic information. The PvPers already have their own mode called Open. Nothing would change there. Mobius is also a PvP mode but it doesn't happen (mostly) by mutual agreement. The only PvE environment is Solo.

 

[Mohrgan]

Some basic information. The PvPers already have their own mode called Open. Nothing would changer there. Mobius is also a PvP mode but it doesn't happen (mostly) by mutual agreement. The only PvE environment is Solo.

This is exactly why I say FD are holding player interaction hostage to PvP. The intended trade off seems to be; if you want to engage other players, at all, you must accept them shooting you up, or you can stay alone. This sounds almost exactly like; "If you don;t like it, don;t play in open" to me. Well that's exactly what we should do. Vote with our clicks and play in Group. FD knows how we play, they will have their 'hot maps'. So, just find the environment you like to play in, and play there. FD will adjust accordingly, or not.

 

[bladerunner900]

This is exactly why I say FD are holding player interaction hostage to PvP. The intended trade off seems to be; if you want to engage other players, at all, you must accept them shooting you up, or you can stay alone. This sounds almost exactly like; "If you don;t like it, don;t play in open" to me. Well that's exactly what we should do. Vote with our clicks and play in Group. FD knows how we play, they will have their 'hot maps'. So, just find the environment you like to play in, and play there. FD will adjust accordingly, or not.

I have already voted with "my click" as you you say. Unfortunately, if there is no profit involved I don't think FD will do anything. The only hope I can see is if sales drop somehow, because of too many negative reviews perhaps, due to uncontrolled aggressive behaviour towards newbies trying to learn the game mechanics.

 

[xondk]

Some basic information. The PvPers already have their own mode called Open. Nothing would change there. Mobius is also a PvP mode but it doesn't happen (mostly) by mutual agreement. The only PvE environment is Solo.

In my book that's a big misunderstanding, open is open, 'anything' can happen, pve or pvp, however yes, it is seems that in general, if someone sees another player of late, they will try to blow up that player, which is just sad, that said, I've been out exploring for quite some time, so guess I will see, but I would think personally it is still mostly a problem focused around high traffic locations.

 

[Space Dandy]

That's what is being sought in an Open-PvE mode (at least to some extent) - FD taking on the maintenance, management and advertising of a large PvE (mainly) group - by creating one of their own.

What I am saying is this is not the time for that, FD have more important and better things to do even if some few feel like they are at "the mercy of one single player".... gee some of you are sounding like the guy that started mobius is some evil dictator rubbing his hands together going mwahahahahahahaha...my pretties...mwahahahahaha

Myself I would rather FD focus on content and actual bug fixes rather than on this to ease the insecurities of a small minority.

Some basic information. The PvPers already have their own mode called Open. Nothing would change there. Mobius is also a PvP mode but it doesn't happen (mostly) by mutual agreement. The only PvE environment is Solo.

Right in this thread I heard some people saying open needs more work and that we could use a pure pvp open which is why I brought this up in the first place.

 

[bladerunner900]

What I am saying is this is not the time for that, FD have more important and better things to do even if some few feel like they are at "the mercy of one single player".... gee some of you are sounding like the guy that started mobius is some evil dictator rubbing his hands together going mwahahahahahahaha...my pretties...mwahahahahaha

Myself I would rather FD focus on content and actual bug fixes rather than on this to ease the insecurities of a small minority.





Right in this thread I heard some people saying open needs more work and that we could use a pure pvp open which is why I brought this up in the first place.

LOL. I don't think Mr Mobius is evil, just human. Which is why we need an officially sanctioned and administered PvE mode. He could decide "enough is enough" at any time and throw in the towel. Then it's back to Solo for me.

 

[Faded Glory]

What I am saying is this is not the time for that, FD have more important and better things to do even if some few feel like they are at "the mercy of one single player".... gee some of you are sounding like the guy that started mobius is some evil dictator rubbing his hands together going mwahahahahahahaha...my pretties...mwahahahahaha

Myself I would rather FD focus on content and actual bug fixes rather than on this to ease the insecurities of a small minority.

Right in this thread I heard some people saying open needs more work and that we could use a pure pvp open which is why I brought this up in the first place.

You're correct that FD need to address bug fixes and content, I doubt many people would disagree with you there.

However, part of the content that FD seem to want is player interaction, and since Sandro has posted on the forums looking for comments on suggestions for making Open a more 'player friendly' environment by dealing more harshly with some types of PKing that might lead one to perceive that they are seeing this as an issue.

An Open PvE mode could be a solution to that issue, they'll only know if they decide to implement one, something they have shown no desire to do.

To say that it just something to ease the insecurities of a small minority however, judging by the success (or popularity) of the Mobius group, and the fairly common presence on the forums of threads suggesting an Open PvE mode could be seen as a fairly subjective point of view.

 

[Gedemon]

Some basic information. The PvPers already have their own mode called Open. Nothing would change there. Mobius is also a PvP mode but it doesn't happen (mostly) by mutual agreement. The only PvE environment is Solo.

Open is not the PvPers mode, it's the "everything can happen" mode.

I've seen messages saying that de facto it's already only PvP, if that was true (but it's really not my experience since beta in open) then it would have to be fixed before anything else IMO.