Tiny_Rick
Banned
Perhaps it's because I've been visiting the threads more often, but I've been seeing a uptick in criticism against those who play in Open. So much salt about griefers, and for those of us awaiting PS4 release, it has becomes a topic of particular conversation. Of mention is the suggestion that Open would be detrimental to a first time player. I want to curb that sentiment.
I think it's important to provide some understanding to those who haven't played, and more importantly, to those of us who are tenured CMDR's and will be making the transition over. There is a huge opportunity that many new players will have that, frankly, has passed for PC/Mac/Xbox, and that's a new canvas. With a new canvas comes a new player base, as well as the opportunity to establish some positive, healthy considerations with respect to playing in Open. Let's get a few things on the table before we head into the black.
First and foremost, Open should be played with the understanding that at any given moment, game play becomes a cooperative experience, regardless of your desire to keep it that way. While you might be enjoying the solitude of exploration, mining, trading, you absolutely must respect (and more importantly, accept) the possibility that other players look forward to changing that alone time.
That last part should be read with emphasis, and it's with that point that ED transcends co-op. It's a simple concept that must be reminded early and often: Open is meant to be played with others. Those who assume that Open is a playground for griefing must understand that often times griefers have a greater cohesive and cooperative play style than the lone players risking rebuys in the vacuum of space without proper backup. Griefers often operate with greater numbers and better weapons, specifically hunting those who aren't respecting the tenants of Open play. Those tenants, as I've discovered, have allowed me to enjoy Open much more, mainly because I accepted that Open play requires a willingness to let go of playing like a single player.
These tenants are probably shared by one or two CMDR's, and I'll love input from the real vets, but here's the gist:
- In Open, unless you have wingers to your left, right, and six, you're a soft target
- In Open, if you fly alone, you fly with contingencies, countermeasures and a strategy that assumes you will always be outgunned
- In Open, expect any hollow triangle to be a threat unless empirical evidence provides facts to the contrary
- In Open, realize that you are agreeing to drop into a game space where candor, respect, and even a bit of bootlicking become a greater shield than your prismatics
- In Open, accept that you are expected to be to social, even if it's to call in a security detail or parlay with the griefer
- In Open, accept your fate; griefers don't care about combat logging, but FD does (read: Don't do it)
I hope CMDR's whose Sony Sidewinders will soon un-dock for the first time not get into the bad habit of blaming griefers for their grief. At the end of the day, most griefing happens because someone pushed their luck too far into space, and someone else was there to exploit that. At the very least, I would kindly request that new CMDR's stick together and stay social, and should the need arise, bounce into Solo for a breather. But of all the egregious errors we're capable of committing, the last thing I want to see in the Sony Milky Way is combat loggers. I guess that's why I'm trying to be prophylactic in hedging expectations.
Good luck, CMDR's. I'll see you out there, and if you see me, send me an o7.
In my next series, I provide guidance on how to stalk, befriend, capture and eventually breed your own personal griefer.
I think it's important to provide some understanding to those who haven't played, and more importantly, to those of us who are tenured CMDR's and will be making the transition over. There is a huge opportunity that many new players will have that, frankly, has passed for PC/Mac/Xbox, and that's a new canvas. With a new canvas comes a new player base, as well as the opportunity to establish some positive, healthy considerations with respect to playing in Open. Let's get a few things on the table before we head into the black.
First and foremost, Open should be played with the understanding that at any given moment, game play becomes a cooperative experience, regardless of your desire to keep it that way. While you might be enjoying the solitude of exploration, mining, trading, you absolutely must respect (and more importantly, accept) the possibility that other players look forward to changing that alone time.
That last part should be read with emphasis, and it's with that point that ED transcends co-op. It's a simple concept that must be reminded early and often: Open is meant to be played with others. Those who assume that Open is a playground for griefing must understand that often times griefers have a greater cohesive and cooperative play style than the lone players risking rebuys in the vacuum of space without proper backup. Griefers often operate with greater numbers and better weapons, specifically hunting those who aren't respecting the tenants of Open play. Those tenants, as I've discovered, have allowed me to enjoy Open much more, mainly because I accepted that Open play requires a willingness to let go of playing like a single player.
These tenants are probably shared by one or two CMDR's, and I'll love input from the real vets, but here's the gist:
- In Open, unless you have wingers to your left, right, and six, you're a soft target
- In Open, if you fly alone, you fly with contingencies, countermeasures and a strategy that assumes you will always be outgunned
- In Open, expect any hollow triangle to be a threat unless empirical evidence provides facts to the contrary
- In Open, realize that you are agreeing to drop into a game space where candor, respect, and even a bit of bootlicking become a greater shield than your prismatics
- In Open, accept that you are expected to be to social, even if it's to call in a security detail or parlay with the griefer
- In Open, accept your fate; griefers don't care about combat logging, but FD does (read: Don't do it)
I hope CMDR's whose Sony Sidewinders will soon un-dock for the first time not get into the bad habit of blaming griefers for their grief. At the end of the day, most griefing happens because someone pushed their luck too far into space, and someone else was there to exploit that. At the very least, I would kindly request that new CMDR's stick together and stay social, and should the need arise, bounce into Solo for a breather. But of all the egregious errors we're capable of committing, the last thing I want to see in the Sony Milky Way is combat loggers. I guess that's why I'm trying to be prophylactic in hedging expectations.
Good luck, CMDR's. I'll see you out there, and if you see me, send me an o7.
In my next series, I provide guidance on how to stalk, befriend, capture and eventually breed your own personal griefer.
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