The meaning of the elite ranking system

[Aewarin Jameson]

I hope Talking about Elite Status they don’t make it too easy! Game these days try to hard to please! I want to fall out of love with Elite and then come back stronger!

Indeed ... to cite a recent example Diablo 3 was released last year in May with the premise that Inferno mode (hardest difficulty) was rough - "you will die" they said and sure enough we did. Over time as the cries on the forums got louder Blizzard slowly patched the game and decreased the diffiuclty to the point now that Inferno is (excuse the expression) "faceroll"

That is a shame as I no longer play Diablo 3 - there is no challenge left and that is something the ED Devs need to take a hard look at. Once you're at the top, having undertaken a difficult journey (but rewarding one), have the best ship and all the right equipment, will there still be things to do ?

 

[Hamerstein]

Am totally in agreement that trading, mining, exploring should all have some way to track and rank people too. If you can buy credits though, you can cheat at trading - because you can instantly get a huge ship and trade in the most valuable commodities.

Just make the larger trade ships have a minimum trade rank requirement, and trade rank can only be gained through trading not simply buying cash.

 

[kenwshmt]

A ton of ore is a ton of ore, no matter where it came from.
'couting coup' is something else.

I have no idea how to rob a freighter in the middle of a convoy, or pilfer a guarded base. That has to be worth something at some point.

Perhaps asteroid mining a close period comet, maybe make it so something special happens when things are either in reentry or at Periastron (lowest point in star orbit, or before it crashes into it)

rare element, gem, hull metal, etc.

 

[Memnoch]

I think I played D3 as far as Hell and then wondered why I was still playing so stopped. Haven't touched it since. I played Torchlight 2 for longer.

 

[bigjizzy]

Nothing wrong with copying a great idea.

The x series have different ranks for combat and trade....

ED could take this further but adding explorer etc.....

Depending on the rank/reputation that is what gives you access to certain missions.. i.e you would trust a major assassination to someone who is harmless... in the same way you wouldnt trust a major finacnial situation to someone whos only ever bought and sold weapons and equipment for his own ship.....

 

[JohnStabler]

Once you're at the top, having undertaken a difficult journey (but rewarding one), have the best ship and all the right equipment, will there still be things to do ?

What are your thoughts on the suggestion that you get endgame content once you reach Elite rank? What that content could be I haven't really thought about.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Just make the larger trade ships have a minimum trade rank requirement, and trade rank can only be gained through trading not simply buying cash.

This has already been stated by FD - most equipment (ships / weapons / etc) will have an associated rank with it thus stopping the "cash to win" argument. (Source: AMA Reddit)

 

[JohnStabler]

I just couldn't get into Diablo 3. It felt too much like work.

 

[Memnoch]

That's true. Military bombing missions wouldn't be handed out to someone who was very good at shifting square pigs from Sirius to Barnard's Star. Multiple ranks in different aspects of gameplay would make a lot of sense. But then would you have the same rank titles. A dangerous trader? A deadly explorer? Perhaps that scale should be left for what it implies: combat?

 

[JohnStabler]

This has already been stated by FD - most equipment (ships / weapons / etc) will have an associated rank with it thus stopping the "cash to win" argument. (Source: AMA Reddit)

Sure, but this discussion is about that very mechanic and how it will be implmented in relation to the different roles.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

What are your thoughts on the suggestion that you get endgame content once you reach Elite rank? What that content could be I haven't really thought about.

That's where the genius of David will shine .. his dev diary about helping political worlds in conflict, helping build space stations, assassinating people who come to visit said stations ... As long as your actions in the universe still have meaning then there will be things to.

If I am simply hauling goods from one side of the galaxy and it makes no difference to the universe that action will tire. If, however, I constantly bring weapons and narcotics perhaps the world will shift in government type after an extended period of time - being a pirate my aim will be to bring down large sectors of the galaxy and enjoy anarchy! (Plus my alternate account will be a trader / explorer !)

I believe there will be "special" missions, or better ones, for The Elite - something the Founders will experience from day 1. What form these will take I do not know.

 

[Ozzieorl]

I really get little or no enjoyment from killing in games. Which is why I like sims

I hope to be an exploring trader, or a trading explorer (who may or may not be a miner) so I would really like the ranking system to include the likes of me.

 

[rebuswad]

One look at the "Were you Elite?" thread shows most people that know and love the previous games never made Elite status. It's not the be all and end all.

I prefer exploring and trading, and generally fight only when I have to. To get points towards Elite status for these activities is not necessary for people to enjoy the game.

If it were possible to get Elite status without receiving one "right on commander" pop-up this would be wrong IMO.

 

[Hamerstein]

This has already been stated by FD - most equipment (ships / weapons / etc) will have an associated rank with it thus stopping the "cash to win" argument. (Source: AMA Reddit)

In general terms yes Liqua, but under the standing premise, there would be nothing to stop a relatively poor but Deadly combateer buying a load of credits with cash and then buying the biggest trade ship out there. Subdividing the rankings over multiple disciplines makes this kind of "exploit" more difficult.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

But then would you have the same rank titles. A dangerous trader? A deadly explorer? Perhaps that scale should be left for what it implies: combat?

Who's to say the titles should remain the same per role ?

(Remember of course that people can switch "roles" by simply doing something else .. if the Elite ranking was role based then perhaps at some point you would have various titles to choose from that you could switch between depending upon your mood)

 

[Sav112]

Plus maybe a system that if killed after gaining Elite your slowly knocked back off. The better the players become the higher the demand to get to Elite. Self levelling to keep us interested! Harsh yes if you join the game late but worth it!

 

[Completely Harmless]

I really get little or no enjoyment from killing in games. Which is why I like sims

I hope to be an exploring trader, or a trading explorer (who may or may not be a miner) so I would really like the ranking system to include the likes of me.

Me too!

Don't care if I don't make "Elite, badarse killer" but hope there is some system in place for "Elite - explorer" and "Elite - trader" or something -- to keep this pay-to-win down to minimum, even if it will give you a bit of an edge somehow (or it wouldn't be possible to buy credits if it was pointless, right?).

 

[JohnStabler]

I prefer exploring and trading, and generally fight only when I have to. To get points towards Elite status for these activities is not necessary for people to enjoy the game.

OK. But if they intend to create Elite rank only content then you'll miss out on that.

 

[Memnoch]

Who's to say the titles should remain the same per role ?

True. But for each scale the top rank would always be Elite. The other ranks would be more related to the discipline, for example the ranking systems in the X games.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

One look at the "Were you Elite?" thread shows most people that know and love the previous games never made Elite status.

Nor did I

Subdividing the rankings over multiple disciplines makes this kind of "exploit" more difficult.

Completely agree - the "roles" would be determined and your ships split up according to their primary roles (can be more than 1 role for a ship type of course) :
- Large haulers : Trader
- Fast ships : Pilot / explorer
- Cobra : Everyone

Many design decisions to be made.