Suggestion: Player Distress Signals

[MakeNShakeNBake]

Frontier, in the Elite Dangerous Books there is a method of signalling for help. At times this was referred to as an "Open Frequency system wide distress call" where a message is recorded and sent out. In the lore, sometimes this has panned out for the protagonist, other times not. However, currently, in game the only mechanic relevant to this is the System Authority system in which a timer counts down and its length depends on the security level of the system.

It would be cool for the player to be able to activate a distress signal and have other players be able to answer it in system. If under pirate attack at a USS or a fuel shortage or FSD malfunction, it would be cool for other players to be able to provide assistance.

Now I understand that this system can be abused by griefers... maybe attacking a player distress signal can be made to be an especially heinous crime? What of lawless systems? I'm not sure but currently, all "Player Distress Signals" are handled out of game with special requests to the Fuel Rats or Hull Seals. Is there some way to have that mechanic added to the game?

Thanks!

 

[Bloodsign]

Frontier, in the Elite Dangerous Books there is a method of signalling for help. At times this was referred to as an "Open Frequency system wide distress call" where a message is recorded and sent out. In the lore, sometimes this has panned out for the protagonist, other times not. However, currently, in game the only mechanic relevant to this is the System Authority system in which a timer counts down and its length depends on the security level of the system.

It would be cool for the player to be able to activate a distress signal and have other players be able to answer it in system. If under pirate attack at a USS or a fuel shortage or FSD malfunction, it would be cool for other players to be able to provide assistance.

Now I understand that this system can be abused by griefers... maybe attacking a player distress signal can be made to be an especially heinous crime? What of lawless systems? I'm not sure but currently, all "Player Distress Signals" are handled out of game with special requests to the Fuel Rats or Hull Seals. Is there some way to have that mechanic added to the game?

Thanks!

It would be cool to be able to feed distress signals directly to a particular squadron (your own, allied, local player law enforcement, fuel rats, etc.)

If the distress beacon were visible only to those recipients, that would make it more of a boon and less of a liability.

 

[777Driver]

Now I understand that this system can be abused by griefers... maybe attacking a player distress signal can be made to be an especially heinous crime? What of lawless systems? I'm not sure but currently, all "Player Distress Signals" are handled out of game with special requests to the Fuel Rats or Hull Seals. Is there some way to have that mechanic added to the game?

It is a cool idea, during early beta we could send out a distress call when out of fuel, an NPC rescue ship would drop in and help.

Coming from someone that primarily plays in open, I can't see a combat distress call working for two reason's.

1. As you mentioned above, abuse. I wouldn't drop into help someone because it would very likely be a ganker trap, same deal for anyone using the beacon, gankers would just drop in and get an even easier kill. Gankers don't care about racking up bounties and notoriety, they wear it with pride.

2. Not enough people in open sadly.

Even if we didn't have bored gankers, the game would need to be open only to warrant implementing what you suggest.


I suggest just joining an active squad. I fly with GARD, they use discord. If anyone needed help and I'm around, I'd immediately head over and help out.

 

[Morbad]

I think there are likely plenty enough people in Open who would respond to distress signals in their vicinity.

I'm sure it would frequently be used to lay traps and that many of the responders would be hostile. The solution to this is pretty straighforward...don't use a distress beacon unless you really need to and don't respond to them unless you like taking chances or you think you're ready for whatever could be inside.

 

[777Driver]

The solution to this is pretty straighforward...don't use a distress beacon unless you really need to and don't respond to them unless you like taking chances or you think you're ready for whatever could be inside.

Do you honestly think it would work like that in open? The primary group of users would be the newbies, they will get ganked to the extreme.

Like I said previously, the idea is great in theory. In reality it would be badly abused.

Would you bother activating a distress beacon when under attack by NPC's?

 

[Morbad]

You sound like you are new to the game and the forum, do you honestly think it would work like that in open? The primary group of users would be the newbies, they will get ganked to the extreme.

I think if you need to activate a distress beacon you are likely within an inch of of a rebuy already and the risk that a hostile CMDR (or NPC) answers the call is still probably better than the alternative. A pod ride home is a pod ride home.

 

[777Driver]

I think if you need to activate a distress beacon you are likely within an inch of of a rebuy already and the risk that a hostile CMDR (or NPC) answers the call is still probably better than the alternative. A pod ride home is a pod ride home.

True

But If you are an inch from a rebuy, activating a distress beacon, hoping a cmdr is nearby, then waiting for them lock to your beacon and get within drop range.. Just can't see that being a usefull tool.

I like the idea of a repair beacon. Do the rats also offer a repair service to newbie deep space explorers that forgot to take limpets/afmu?

Anyway, maybe I am bit jaded, I like the fact that open can be very risky, but it's not a great place for anyone that needs help from another cmdr. Maybe it would work for Mobius.

 

[Kissamies]

Ganker threat is real, but some mechanic like this would do a lot for the emergent gameplay and player generated content this game needs.