Suggestion To Improve CQC's Relevance/Integration

[Martian Successor]

For something that was recently introduced CQC feels like the end stages of an online PVP multiplayer mode's life cycle, i.e. not enough players are playing apart from a dedicated few and eventually it might die off altogether. However, in my opinion, CQC just needs to be made relevant to the rest of Elite Dangerous for it to garner more interest and also "fill up" with players. But in order to make it feel like a part of ED there needs to be a purpose for its existence in the context of the ED universe that we play in Open/Private/Solo.

So here are my ideas for improving the overall integration of CQC:
Better credit payouts are a must, especially if you're consistently finishing matches in the top 3.
Rewards and achievements in general should be made so that we can take them with us into the main game. I'm talking things like; winning exclusive CQC Paintjobs and Decals as you progress through the ranks.
● Have the option for a custom training mode against AI pilots - 1 v 1 duel with an enemy AI ace or a survival match against several opponents to hone your skills.
● CQC mentions in Galnet - make it like the galaxy's greatest sport with mentions of tournaments, top ranking players, Faction rivalries between "The Empire's best ace vs The Federation's heavy hitter". Think podracing!
● CQC in-game live feeds that you can tune into via a station's bulletin board or your ship's Transactions page - like watching a football game. This will go down well with Explorers, Miners and long haul Traders who will now have something to watch while they crash into a Sun in super cruise! Well, they gotta be careful of course
● Placing bets on competitors while you watch - spice things up and let not only skilled participants make wads of cash but spectators as well (if their bet wins). The winning/surviving player could even get a better payout purse because of the bets people placed on him/her to win. This will add some real spice and excitement like watching an underdog knock out a veteran and being lucky enough to have bet against all odds on the underdog!

These are some of the things that will make CQC thrive in my humble opinion. What do you think?

 

[Frenotx]

I like all of these suggestions except the last two. I -adore- the last two. I think those especially would be an immense step towards making cqc feel like a part of the game.

 

[Eera]

great idea, but top of those, complete empty slot by AI. How many time i have been waiting more then 10 min before a game start because of waiting for slot full filled !

 

[Martian Successor]

I like all of these suggestions except the last two. I -adore- the last two. I think those especially would be an immense step towards making cqc feel like a part of the game.

Thank you kindly. Hopefully someone from FDev takes a quick gander at these suggestions.

great idea, but top of those, complete empty slot by AI. How many time i have been waiting more then 10 min before a game start because of waiting for slot full filled !

Definitely, good point. That would speed up the wait times and also fill a spot during team matches if someone happens to drop out. Some players are already quite crazy about ramming into you so I say bring on the crazy cop AI that likes to play space dodgems!!!

 

[Korlan]

Great Suggestions. Perhaps a good old fashioned Ladder?

--Monthly or bi-weekly in-game credit payout tournaments based on 2 week ladder tiers? Thinking generally bronze - silver - gold - plat with each tier hosting tournies with scaled credit winnings. something like 4 million for top 3 bronze places, 8mil for silver, 20 million for gold, and 50 million for plat. Maybe a bit more on each tier would do due to the exclusivity of top three winners.

-- I have also read a post about CQC stations. Where you dock up to get into CQC from any of the main 3 game-mode. Maybe have 4-5 stations that 'stream pilots'. Essentially making the fighters in CQC 'drones' that pilots dock up to control remotely.

 

[X-Terminator]

I'd just be happy if the VOIP worked better. Is it now on MUTE by default?
Plus we can not voice chat to team before it begins or ends in Lobby.