Simple Fix to Combat Logging

[Garbarrage]

Given the likely inability of FD to be able to realistically stop this practice without wasting precious Dev time dealing with combat loggers on a case by case basis, and the nature of this game as a pseudo-mmo, I think I may have an imperfect solution that would satisfy all but the most grief-oriented players.

The players most injured by combat logging are of course the aggressors. They've stalked and waited patiently for a target, they've cornered them and are just about to get the kill, when they are faced suddenly with a rage inducing empty space, occupied only a second ago by their prey. They've been denied the carnage that to their mind they richly deserved.

How about simply adding an explosion animation to every ship that logs off outside of a station? Logging is essentially an admission of defeat. The aggressor gets an acknowledgement of this from the game. The victim gets away scot free.

Now, I can already see the griefer complaining that it means nothing without knowing that they've also caused a loss to their victim (they have anyway in time and principle), but unless this was their sole intention, why should it matter?

I also realise that this would be an acceptance of combat logging by FD, but realistically are they ever likely to see it as a big enough issue to come up with a robust solution?

Anyway... I've dug my fox-hole and am wearing my full armour.... Discuss.

 

[Comrade Error]

Of all the people you want to fix it for the griefers?

 

[SirGirard]

I still don't understand why some cmdrs get so wound up with combat logging? The opponent ran away leaving you victorious in the field! Who cares....other than those who have a perverse need to "Blow" a cmdr up!

 

[Comrade Error]

I still don't understand why some cmdrs get so wound up with combat logging? The opponent ran away leaving you victorious in the field! Who cares....other than those who have a perverse need to "Blow" a cmdr up!

Piracy is already a rich man game, no need to make it a ''even richer mans game''.

 

[kofeyh]

Combat logging exists because you can't stop people making a secondary decision, and you can't stop people ending the game.

This just isn't "fixable". However structuring the game so it's redundant, by having a punishment/ reward model implemented, actually might help. Combat logging isn't a causal issue. It's a symptom of a greater problem. It's all part of crime and punishment. The "elephant in the room that Frontier will forever grapple with.

Frontier have work to do; this just conveniently shoves it under the carpet with some cheap explosion animation to make hunters feel better. Which it won't. It'll have the opposite effect of making it even more obvious.

The imbalance that is trader versus cashed up combat veteran, means unless that dynamic is revisited, it will continue. Indefinitely.

Frontier are aware of this. Just as they are over the growing demand for PVE. It is something they can address, however the time it needs is non-trivial and won't be solved overnight. Or even soon.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

You are a brave person...

I still have faith that at the end of all the data collection by FD they will implement an automated warning system with consequences... It may be a while but I think it's coming.
I mean I speak as an uneducated fool here but can't they rig it to get a confirmation command sent when someone presses "log-out to main menu" or "log-out to desktop". And the same when someone presses login?

That way they'd have X user - login... X user logout. Subtract the logouts from logins and it should = 0. Any that are higher than 0 have used out of game methods. Then put numbers on it or clever statistics (numbers per month/year) to determine at what point players get warnings/actions since a certain number may be accidents or power-cuts etc.

 

[Cynaqq]

Similar solution:

When someone combat logs or even successfully jumps out, the game should reward the remaining player by an on screen promt that they win.

There should be a flashing icon overlayed in the middle ofnthe screen, covering more than half the area with an arbitrary progress bar under it which will fill up an arbitrary amount with an arbitrary number suffixed with XP next to it. After animating for about two seconds, this icon should merge into the right hand side screen, making the combat rank indicator flash for a moment and fade to normal again.

This should be entirely visual, no effect on the actual rank.

 

[kofeyh]

You are a brave person...

I still have faith that at the end of all the data collection by FD they will implement an automated warning system with consequences... It may be a while but I think it's coming.
I mean I speak as an uneducated fool here but can't they rig it to get a confirmation command sent when someone presses "log-out to main menu" or "log-out to desktop". And the same when someone presses login?

That way they'd have X user - login... X user logout. Subtract the logouts from logins and it should = 0. Any that are higher than 0 have used out of game methods. Then put numbers on it or clever statistics (numbers per month/year) to determine at what point players get warnings/actions.

Door swings both ways. A large percentage of people logging out are going to be panicking traders. So unless frontier figure out a way that doesn't just load the target up with some sort of additional punishment, leaving he aggressor with zero net losses, it will just empty open.

Virtually everyone will just go to PG/ solo, where the only offended are AI; and they are too busy not caring because they simply don't.

Address the underlying causes. Eveything else is just window dressing.

 

[Cymek]

Do people feel the same about combat logging to avoid scanning when doing smuggling missions

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Similar solution:

When someone combat logs or even successfully jumps out, the game should reward the remaining player by an on screen promt that they win.

Like this?

 

[Ari Ben Zayn]

I still don't understand why some cmdrs get so wound up with combat logging? The opponent ran away leaving you victorious in the field! Who cares....other than those who have a perverse need to "Blow" a cmdr up!

The now left behind 4-player-wing is wound up because their target didn't see a re-buy-screen. [hehe]

 

[Crimson Kaim]

Of all the people you want to fix it for the griefers?

Don't know what you talking about. I haven't seen any griefer in ED so far.


To the OP: Even though I am highly into PvP I don't think we shouldn't be able to log out outside of a station. What's with explorers? Logging out within this 15 second time may be an idea. A relog at the insurance screen is just what I want for c-loggers. It may punish those with a bad connection, though. But anyways this shouldn't be an excuse for c-logging.

So to conclude: instant death when logging out in a fight (within the 15 second timer) is something I'd like to see. Don't know what would be so hard to activate the insurance event upon losing connection if some value was set 'true'.
It is indeed a fast way for FD to fix c-logging.

But keep in mind that instancing is the second worst thing in ED so don't mess up instancing and disconnecting

 

[Vandaahl]

How about simply adding an explosion animation to every ship that logs off outside of a station?

I bet the explorers might think different about it because they have to start from scratch again and again, or did you mean just a boom and no one dies?

 

[Kazacy]

In my opinion an even simpler fix for combat logging will be banning from open for the logger for at least one week. The player clearly doesn't like open and consequences so FD will help the guy to choose the game mode he really like.
If the commander recidivate the ban from open should became longer.

 

[kofeyh]

Don't know what you talking about. I haven't seen any griefer in ED so far.


To the OP: Even though I am highly into PvP I don't think we shouldn't be able to log out outside of a station. What's with explorers? Logging out within this 15 second time may be an idea. A relog at the insurance screen is just what I want for c-loggers. It may punish those with a bad connection, though. But anyways this shouldn't be an excuse for c-logging.

So to conclude: instant death when logging out in a fight (within the 15 second timer) is something I'd like to see. Don't know what would be ao hard to activate the insurance event upon losing connection if some value was set 'true'.
It is indeed a fast way for FD to rix c-logging.

But keep in mind that instancing is the second worst thing in ED so don't mess up instancing and disconnecting

Victim has ship rebuy of some millions, cargo potentially in millions. Versus an armed assassin who has perhaps about 5k tops in lost ammunition cost.

You want the guy who would have lost millions, to lose more millions. Perfect. This will empty Open and you'll have no one but other armed bandits to hunt. Who can shoot back and ACTUALLY put your own ship and rebuy on the line.

If you can't see that frontier have some work to do in this respect, you aren't paying attention.

 

[dayrth]

Of all the people you want to fix it for the griefers?

It is normally the griefers that combat log.

 

[Robert Maynard]

So to conclude: instant death when logging out in a fight (within the 15 second timer) is something I'd like to see. Don't know what would be so hard to activate the insurance event upon losing connection if some value was set 'true'.

Sandro's definition of Combat Logging specifically excludes use of the provided save-and-exit with 15 second delay - leaving the game gracefully is not Combat Logging (by Frontier's definition).

 

[Comrade Error]

Don't know what you talking about. I haven't seen any griefer in ED so far.

I don't care what you wanna call 'em.

 

[BlueLumen]

I don't disagree with "combat logging" for one particular reason. PvP in Open isn't balanced, which is my primary reason for playing solo. If I were to play open, my Corvette would stand zero chance against "combat capable" ships built for PvP. Nothing like an FDL spamming Shield Cell and heat sink to negate all of my damage while I'm quickly dwindling down to zero because I'm not built for PvP because it's not my goal. Point is, I KNOW I will lose a fight if it approached by the typical "kill you cause I want to" player that has sat in a system for 30 minutes waiting for my sexy Corvette to come rolling along. As long as they don't have the PvP optional, I wont go to open, therefore I don't lose unfair and unwanted fights, and I don't have to combat log. Stop being a "griever" and you will stop feeling the grief of "Combat Loggers".

 

[Comrade Error]

It is normally the griefers that combat log.

Oh no it ain't. There are far more traders out there if you ask me and they're often quick to log. Besides OP was clearly talking for a fix for the griefers (for some reason?).

If anything the logging amount is split nicely down the middle between traders and griefers.

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I don't disagree with "combat logging" for one particular reason. PvP in Open isn't balanced, which is my primary reason for playing solo. If I were to play open, my Corvette would stand zero chance against "combat capable" ships built for PvP. Nothing like an FDL spamming Shield Cell and heat sink to negate all of my damage while I'm quickly dwindling down to zero because I'm not built for PvP because it's not my goal. Point is, I KNOW I will lose a fight if it approached by the typical "kill you cause I want to" player that has sat in a system for 30 minutes waiting for my sexy Corvette to coming rolling along. As long as they don't have the PvP optional, I wont go to open, therefore I don't lose unfair and unwanted fights, and I don't have to combat log. Stop being a "griever" and you will stop feeling the grief of "Combat Loggers".

Haven't seen this reason before.. I do agree the combat is dumb and is why I'm simply staying away from any fight that includes a Corvette or Anaconda now.