Squadrons and (lack of) Cross-Platform: Questions

TheSynopticVision · Nov 2, 2018

If I understand correctly, Squadrons will not be cross platform. Which means, if squadron "The Knights of Ni" was created by a PC CMDR, all the people on its roster will be PC CMDRs. I also think that once a Squadron has been created, no other squadron with that name can be created on any other platform. Which means: if player group "The Knights of Ni" has 200 members on PC, 70 on Xbox and 65 on PS4, the Xbox and PS4 CMDRs will not only play separately (separate comms channel, separate leaderboards, separate officers and leader...), but in fact won't be able to belong to a "Knights of Ni" squadron at all, since that name/squadron is associated with the PC environment.

Is all of the above correct?

If so, it seems very, very inconvenient for console CMDRs. The only solution I see would be to put a platform tag in the name of the squadron itself "The Knights of Ni [PC]" or "The Knights of Ni [PS4]", but that's not exactly a clean solution.

I understand the political problems in implementing "real" crossplay (even tho, Fortnite), but since the BGS is already "crossplay-lite", why can't squadrons be cross-platform too?

Aashenfox · Nov 2, 2018

I don't think we should take the fact that a field is provided to state which platform a squadron exists on (or specification of a platform preference), as confirmation that cross platform membership will not be possible. I'm hoping it just gives a flavour of the majority of members and 'cross platform' will be an option. The BGS is common to all platforms, so should squadrons be, since they can work together toward the same goals, regardless of platform.

TheSynopticVision · Nov 2, 2018

Aashenfox said:
I don't think we should take the fact that a field is provided to state which platform a squadron exists on (or specification of a platform preference), as confirmation that cross platform membership will not be possible. I'm hoping it just gives a flavour of the majority of members and 'cross platform' will be an option. The BGS is common to all platforms, so should squadrons be, since they can work together toward the same goals, regardless of platform.

I share your hope, but I'm not sure anything clear was said on the matter. For ex: in the "filters" page when looking for a squadron, there is no mention of platforms, as if it's taken for granted that you're only looking among those on the platform you are at the moment.

Wyldwiisel · Nov 2, 2018

Maybe Fdev could allow cross platform chat in squadrons so we can keep in touch with our fellow console players? Or we will just keep using discord?
I'd also like to know if there will be a voice channel
And will wing sizes change

MG Bad Lizard · Nov 2, 2018

Don't forget all we are seeing is the beta build which is pc only and thing are subject to breakage sorry I mean change.

It's not I don't have faith in fdev it's just this will completely divide most pmf which is not a good thing.

TheSynopticVision · Nov 2, 2018

MG Bad Lizard said:
Don't forget all we are seeing is the beta build which is pc only and thing are subject to breakage sorry I mean change.

It's not I don't have faith in fdev it's just this will completely divide most pmf which is not a good thing.

Some kind of official statement from Frontier would be good at this point. Anyone reading this?

Q1: Will live-server Squadrons be at all cross-platform (i.e. will the Squadron's roster include PC/XBOX/PS4 CMDRs, will comms panel/announcements show up on all platforms and so on)?

Q2: If not, can there be two Squadrons with the same name and the same PMF affiliation on two different platforms?

Requiem Mortis · Nov 2, 2018

Doesn't this work in the same way that Commander names do across platforms ?

Allcrowsareblack · Nov 2, 2018

TheSynopticVision said:
Some kind of official statement from Frontier would be good at this point. Anyone reading this?

Q1: Will live-server Squadrons be at all cross-platform (i.e. will the Squadron's roster include PC/XBOX/PS4 CMDRs, will comms panel/announcements show up on all platforms and so on)?

Q2: If not, can there be two Squadrons with the same name and the same PMF affiliation on two different platforms?

Hope we get a response in this soon!

Mangal Oemie · Nov 2, 2018

We were one of the groups that were asked in advance to set up our squadrons, and it is basically three across the platforms. So there will be a PC AEDC squadron, a PS4 AEDC squadron and a XBOX squadron, each with their own leaders and members.

rootsrat · Nov 2, 2018

TheSynopticVision said:
I also think that once a Squadron has been created, no other squadron with that name can be created on any other platform.

Incorrect. Our squadrons are named "The Winged Hussars" on all 3 platforms. It's the tag (4-character ID) that has to be unique IIRC.

Autoculto · Nov 2, 2018

This issue has been bugging me for a while. We have already created our 3 squadrons but not clear on what info is shared between squadron platforms. My concern is this.....
If a player group had all 3 squadron platforms and have say 50 pc players, 20 Xbox players and 5 PS4 players and all 3 squadrons are working as a team to achieve the same goal. You then achieve your combined goal and end up on the leader boards. Do all the squadrons receive the rewards or would the Xbox and PS4 players get hung out to dry and get nothing because the squadron with the most players achieved the goal?
If this is how it works then the only thing it will achieve is to increase the divide between platforms. You would soon see single platform player groups. Imho this could be very bad for the game if squadron info isn't linked between platforms.

TheSynopticVision · Nov 8, 2018

Bumping this up because there are many unanswered questions regarding the cross-platform functionality of Squadrons and we'd like some kind of answer.

TheSynopticVision · Nov 8, 2018

rootsrat said:
Incorrect. Our squadrons are named "The Winged Hussars" on all 3 platforms. It's the tag (4-character ID) that has to be unique IIRC.

But that’s because the WH are already a large group and you guys got the “reserved” squadron name. What happens if I create a completely new Squadron called “The Synoptic Squadron” on, say, PS4? As far as I understand, from that moment onward that specific name will be “taken” on ALL platforms.

Again, I might be wrong, but it would be nice to know for sure how these things will work.

Braandlin · Nov 8, 2018

Fdev have confirmed that squadrons

are single platform only
can have the same name on different platforms
have a unique 4 letter tag
will have no interaction including communications across platforms

That's the situation we have.

The "Mighty Hornets [abcd]" on PC and the "Mighty Hornets [wxyz]" on xbox, will be considered as two entirely separate squadrons by the game.

There are a number of technical issues that drive this, many of them from the platform manufacturers. But added to this is the complexity in how the ED matchmaking server works to handle instancing between squadron members. It gets even more complicated when you start to consider the introduction of Carriers.

I was musing about this the other day

jasonbirder · Nov 8, 2018

Ninja'd...you can have the same name across multiple platforms - (Our PMF applied and received confirmation for our name across PC/XBone and PS4) - they act as completely separate Squadrons though - no interaction/comms across platforms etc

TheSynopticVision · Nov 8, 2018

Braandlin said:
Fdev have confirmed that squadrons

are single platform only

can have the same name on different platforms

have a unique 4 letter tag

will have no interaction including communications across platforms

That's the situation we have.

The "Mighty Hornets [abcd]" on PC and the "Mighty Hornets [wxyz]" on xbox, will be considered as two entirely separate squadrons by the game.

There are a number of technical issues that drive this, many of them from the platform manufacturers. But added to this is the complexity in how the ED matchmaking server works to handle instancing between squadron members. It gets even more complicated when you start to consider the introduction of Carriers.

I was musing about this the other day

Thanks for that, but just to be clear: you CAN have a unique 4-letter tag or you MUST have a unique 4-letter tag?

Take a group with a very well-recognizable acronym like for ex. the Children of Raxxla (COR). If the Children or Raxxla PC Squadron has "COR" as tag, can the Children of Raxxla Xbox Squadron also have "COR" as a tag? or will it need to have "COR2"?

Braandlin · Nov 8, 2018

TheSynopticVision said:
Thanks for that, but just to be clear: you CAN have a unique 4-letter tag or you MUST have a unique 4-letter tag?

Take a group with a very well-recognizable acronym like for ex. the Children of Raxxla (COR). If the Children or Raxxla PC Squadron has "COR" as tag, can the Children of Raxxla Xbox Squadron also have "COR" as a tag? or will it need to have "COR2"?

MUST.

The tag is the unique identifier.
The name is just text for human use.

Cmdr Nemo · Dec 19, 2018

Mangal Oemie said:
We were one of the groups that were asked in advance to set up our squadrons, and it is basically three across the platforms. So there will be a PC AEDC squadron, a PS4 AEDC squadron and a XBOX squadron, each with their own leaders and members.

I'm a member of the AEDC, but I don't use the discourse, my internet can't handle both at the same time. What and where does one join the xbox AEDC squadron.

Konan · Dec 27, 2018

What about the leaderboads? Are they cross-platform?

Old Duck · Dec 27, 2018

I know this isn't 100% on-topic, but I do very much appreciate that squadrons are at least cross-modes. I'm currently stuck in Solo, but it's nice having the option to remain connected to other players, even if indirectly.