So CQC has been struggling to attract players for some time now right.. why is this? Here's what I think the problems are:
1. It detracts from in-game progress
Because of the huge grind walls in Elite, many players feel as though if they are not working towards their goals, they are wasting time. If they were to spend time playing CQC instead of say, unlocking that Imperial Cutter, gathering materials so they can engineer their FDL or earning credits for that next purchase - they probably would feel like they have missed an opportunity to progress.
2. You cannot use the ships you have spent so much time working on
If you have spent countless hours engineering that perfect FAS, you're probably not going to want to log into CQC and fly a generic fighter about, as fun as they are to fly. A PvP orientated player will want to be using his/her engineered ship - for practice as well as the fun of it. You don't learn about mods & loadouts flying in CQC where the weapons and rules are different to the main game.
3. The community perception of a dead mode
Talk about CQC on the forum, Reddit or Discord and most players will tell you that it is dead. A few enthusiasts will tell you about the amazing game they had the other night, but generally most players will complain of not being able to match-make with any other players after waiting for ages in the lobby.
4. No spectator mode
CQC is supposed to be the Elite universes e-sport right? You'd expect there to be an ability to watch other matches.
5. No league tables
Arena modes should always have league table(s) of some kind to show how you compare to other players. Due to the nature of Elite: Dangerous, player notoriety has always been a key part of the community - not having league tables is another open goal missed.
6. Lack of bots (not sure about this one)
Many players think that adding NPC's to CQC will help make it popular again. I do not actually agree with this, because with the first 2 issues I mentioned above would still work against it. NPC's are probably not suitable for an arena mode anyway - previous AI upgrades have proven they're either too easy to beat or impossibly difficult. Also remember that FDev tends to give the AI the ability to cheat to make it harder. Would we really want that in CQC?
Solution : CQC Duel mode
The creation of the PvP hub has shown us that there is a real demand for an organised duel system within the game. CQC could be a great way to enhance this side of the game, if the following mode was implemented:
1. Duel challenge option
When in the game, a player could send a duel request to any player they encounter or ones that are on their friends list. It would work like a multicrew request, with both players being taken to the CQC duel lobby on acceptance. The same request could also be issued to other wings (wing vs wing duel).
2. Duelers would use their own ships
Instead of using throwaway fighters, players would use their actual in-game ships to duel with. This means all mods, special effects etc (exactly how they are in the main game). The only difference would be that FSD drives would be disabled for obvious reasons (meaning all duels would be to the death!). Rebuys would not apply to a death so it would be an excellent way for players to compare builds, mods, skill and practice without credit loss.
3. PvP league
There could be a player league table based upon wins/losses that is specific only to duel (not including standard CQC). This would be the best index of PvP skill the game could have. A separate table for general CQC could also be made.
4. Squadron matches
Once squadrons arrive, they could be connected to CQC duels with squadron matches and league tables. Squadrons could challenge other groups for the PvP bragging rights. The league table would show who the best PvP squadrons are week to week.
5. No CQC specific features
Features unique to CQC would not be used, such as: Power-ups, line-of-sight sensors, reduced gimball arcs, respawns & time-limits. Other than the four maps, no FSD or rebuy cost - the fights would be like they are in the main game. Synthing would be limited to level 1, and player material stock would be what they have in the main-game, pre-fight.
6. Duel Rewards
Winning ranked duels would provide players with random high-grade (grades 4 and 5) materials and a variable amount of credits (depending on league rank of your beaten opponents).
Every kill you get would also provide you with an 'Ace' pin which varies in design/status depending on the combat/CQC rank of the opponent killed. Ace pins would be viewable in the main game on the ship scan screen. Losing ranked matches would reduce your CQC rank and league table position (there has to be a negative side to counter potential friend-kill material farming).
7. Spectator mode
Other players would be able to spectate matches using a viewable match list and the camera suite + a spectator overlay that shows the status of all players in the fight. Caveat being that when a player goes cool or silent, their overlay would say 'tracking lost' and camera tracking would stop working until they are warm enough again. This would be to stop spectators helping competitors too much via out of game comms.
8. CQC Duel options
There could be the following options for duel mode:
I think these suggestions would help get CQC going again rather than simply adding bots to the current implementation.
Note to mods: Could I request this not be moved out of the suggestions subforum please, thanks!
1. It detracts from in-game progress
Because of the huge grind walls in Elite, many players feel as though if they are not working towards their goals, they are wasting time. If they were to spend time playing CQC instead of say, unlocking that Imperial Cutter, gathering materials so they can engineer their FDL or earning credits for that next purchase - they probably would feel like they have missed an opportunity to progress.
2. You cannot use the ships you have spent so much time working on
If you have spent countless hours engineering that perfect FAS, you're probably not going to want to log into CQC and fly a generic fighter about, as fun as they are to fly. A PvP orientated player will want to be using his/her engineered ship - for practice as well as the fun of it. You don't learn about mods & loadouts flying in CQC where the weapons and rules are different to the main game.
3. The community perception of a dead mode
Talk about CQC on the forum, Reddit or Discord and most players will tell you that it is dead. A few enthusiasts will tell you about the amazing game they had the other night, but generally most players will complain of not being able to match-make with any other players after waiting for ages in the lobby.
4. No spectator mode
CQC is supposed to be the Elite universes e-sport right? You'd expect there to be an ability to watch other matches.
5. No league tables
Arena modes should always have league table(s) of some kind to show how you compare to other players. Due to the nature of Elite: Dangerous, player notoriety has always been a key part of the community - not having league tables is another open goal missed.
6. Lack of bots (not sure about this one)
Many players think that adding NPC's to CQC will help make it popular again. I do not actually agree with this, because with the first 2 issues I mentioned above would still work against it. NPC's are probably not suitable for an arena mode anyway - previous AI upgrades have proven they're either too easy to beat or impossibly difficult. Also remember that FDev tends to give the AI the ability to cheat to make it harder. Would we really want that in CQC?
Solution : CQC Duel mode
The creation of the PvP hub has shown us that there is a real demand for an organised duel system within the game. CQC could be a great way to enhance this side of the game, if the following mode was implemented:
1. Duel challenge option
When in the game, a player could send a duel request to any player they encounter or ones that are on their friends list. It would work like a multicrew request, with both players being taken to the CQC duel lobby on acceptance. The same request could also be issued to other wings (wing vs wing duel).
2. Duelers would use their own ships
Instead of using throwaway fighters, players would use their actual in-game ships to duel with. This means all mods, special effects etc (exactly how they are in the main game). The only difference would be that FSD drives would be disabled for obvious reasons (meaning all duels would be to the death!). Rebuys would not apply to a death so it would be an excellent way for players to compare builds, mods, skill and practice without credit loss.
3. PvP league
There could be a player league table based upon wins/losses that is specific only to duel (not including standard CQC). This would be the best index of PvP skill the game could have. A separate table for general CQC could also be made.
4. Squadron matches
Once squadrons arrive, they could be connected to CQC duels with squadron matches and league tables. Squadrons could challenge other groups for the PvP bragging rights. The league table would show who the best PvP squadrons are week to week.
5. No CQC specific features
Features unique to CQC would not be used, such as: Power-ups, line-of-sight sensors, reduced gimball arcs, respawns & time-limits. Other than the four maps, no FSD or rebuy cost - the fights would be like they are in the main game. Synthing would be limited to level 1, and player material stock would be what they have in the main-game, pre-fight.
6. Duel Rewards
Winning ranked duels would provide players with random high-grade (grades 4 and 5) materials and a variable amount of credits (depending on league rank of your beaten opponents).
Every kill you get would also provide you with an 'Ace' pin which varies in design/status depending on the combat/CQC rank of the opponent killed. Ace pins would be viewable in the main game on the ship scan screen. Losing ranked matches would reduce your CQC rank and league table position (there has to be a negative side to counter potential friend-kill material farming).
7. Spectator mode
Other players would be able to spectate matches using a viewable match list and the camera suite + a spectator overlay that shows the status of all players in the fight. Caveat being that when a player goes cool or silent, their overlay would say 'tracking lost' and camera tracking would stop working until they are warm enough again. This would be to stop spectators helping competitors too much via out of game comms.
8. CQC Duel options
There could be the following options for duel mode:
- Ranked & unranked matches (for league table rank/rewards or not..)
- 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4 or variable wings
- Small ships max, Medium ships max, Medium ships only, Medium ships min, Large ships min, Specific ship(s) or Any ship
- Spectated or non-spectated
- Specific CQC map
- Engineering enabled/disabled
- Synthesis enabled/disabled
I think these suggestions would help get CQC going again rather than simply adding bots to the current implementation.
Note to mods: Could I request this not be moved out of the suggestions subforum please, thanks!
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