Modes The Solo vs Open vs Groups Thread [See new thread]

[who?]

If you play alone of course you cannot expect to have the benefits of playing together with others (Wings). Open play has other Wings too which increase the overall risks of players.

Yes, by playing Solo we lose out on the ability to form Wings. And by playing Open, you lose out on the safety from PvP 'muggings' Both are choices. I don't think there's any point in Frontier trying to make things "fair" as it's a pretty arbitrary term. Anyone who started playing E : D early probably has a big advantage in terms of practice, funds and ships compared to newer players, should Frontier try to even out that advantage too? You can't iron out all the advantages and disadvantages, unless we do a system-wipe and everyone starts off again in the same mode.

The only players who should be fined is those who frequently switch between modes to grind with maximum safety and then switch back to Open Mode like nothing happened and buy the top ships and modules with the credits that they made in the safest solo mode.

I agree, I don't like that either. I'm just not sure what Frontier can do about it without artificially tinkering too much with people's money/ships etc.

As said above, it's not really a competition. If you want a combat ship it doesn't take too long to grind your way to a Vulture in any mode, and then what? "I have a Vulture and 20m CR, he's been playing Solo and has a Vulture and 50m!!" I wouldn't care. Personally I wouldn't mind if someone were making a lot more money than me in another game mode, it doesn't really gain them anything. If anything, the players who do that are going to be over-equipped and under-skilled, up against equally-equipped and more skilful opponents.

 

[Javert]

Again, it's not a competition.

Here's three players.

Player A started playing in January. They played in Open all the time and got to 200 million Cr.
Player B started playing in March. They played in Solo all the time and got to 200 million Cr then switched to Open.

What's the difference between player A & B?

Player C starts today and goes to Open.

What's the difference between players A & B from player C's POV?

Frontier adds extra reward to Open. Player C sets up their Internet to block out other players and grinds to 200 million Cr in "Open" (technically Open, actually Solo). What's the difference now?

Player A argues that Solo mode is bad and should be limited / banned / nerfed.
Player B argues that Solo mode is perfectly fine and not an issue.
Players C (and D and E) points out that you can rig up your networking to make open the same as solo.
Players A and B ignore player C and continue same argument....

481 Pages later.....

 

[Cowboy Bats]

I would say quite the opposite. Open players don't come on the forums. Usually "childish pvpers" dont use forums and mature discussions like this. But I can assure you that today's gaming community (in general) is more biased towrds PvP and MMO(MOBA or whatever includes pvp and all that...you know it very well I assume).
Do you think those little trolls in Open even know ED has a forum??

I've got $50 that says with an open player being defined as a player who plays exclusively in open, that it's a handful of players at best. The truth is that the vast majority of players play in multiple modes.

Clue: Every thread about combat logging is a thread about someone who just entered solo after evading a fight.

 

[SteveLaw]

Player A argues that Solo mode is bad and should be limited / banned / nerfed.
Player B argues that Solo mode is perfectly fine and not an issue.
Players C (and D and E) points out that you can rig up your networking to make open the same as solo.
Players A and B ignore player C and continue same argument....

481 Pages later.....

Quite. Frontier need to release a patch to change human behaviour. I'm going to just keep playing though, not waiting around for it.

 

[DarkWalker]

Yes it is your choice, but frequent switching of modes without any penalty or benefit to stay in a specific mode causes abuse and exploitation as explained earlier.

It's only abuse and exploitation if the ones that determine the game rules, in this case Frontier, say so. By trying to up the ante in making such grave accusations you automatically lose due to their narrower definition, unless you can provide some reference of Frontier saying that mode switching is exploitive or abusive.

You can, of course, defend that it should be considered an abuse or an exploit, but of course then it's only your opinion. My own opinion is that mode switching should be free of consequences and unrestricted as long as the player isn't in combat at the moment he switches, which is more or less how it works nowadays.

 

[Kayweg]

If you play in a more difficult game mode e.g. Open Mode that should come with more benefits (higher risk = higher reward).

If there's no tangible benefit to play in open-mode, only higher risks due to increased chance of PVP, then people will continue to grind in solo-mode or private groups, because that's the safest. They'll switch to Open Mode for fun when they got their top-of-the-line combat ships. That's how people who frequently switch modes abuse it.

Frequent game mode switching without any penalty isn't fair for players who mostly grinded in open-mode, because they took way more risks.

I always thought the "higher reward" IS the "higher risk" ? The thrill, excitement, player interaction, more fun etc. ?

At least it's along that line many open players seem to argue, and to convince solo/group players to join them ?

 

[Scientia]

I always thought the "higher reward" IS the "higher risk" ? The thrill, excitement, player interaction, more fun etc. ?

At least it's along that line many open players seem to argue, and to convince solo/group players to join them ?

Heh yea, the idea of calling human interaction, a "risk", is wild isn't it? I mean yea if you look at it through as strict a looking glass, as say a Vulcan, or a robot, there is far more risk involved, for not much reward, but that is sad when someone sees it that way.

I think people are scared of the idea of loss, and death. More over they are scared that it could be at the hands of another human being. It scares them to "death" hehe, and they can't get over the idea that someone in this world got over on them, and they lost. I think all of that is a vital part of the experience, of both life, and our little simulation.

But who am I to say, I'm just a random weirdo.

 

[Asp Explorer]

But who am I to say, I'm just a random weirdo.

Everybody is a random weirdo

 

[SteveLaw]

Everybody is a random weirdo

I disagree. I'm a specific weirdo.

 

[Asp Explorer]

I disagree. I'm a specific weirdo.

You are absolutely right. Everybody is specifically a random weirdo

 

[Dave1235]

If you play in a more difficult game mode e.g. Open Mode that should come with more benefits (higher risk = higher reward).

If there's no tangible benefit to play in open-mode, only higher risks due to increased chance of PVP, then people will continue to grind in solo-mode or private groups, because that's the safest. They'll switch to Open Mode for fun when they got their top-of-the-line combat ships. That's how people who frequently switch modes abuse it.

Frequent game mode switching without any penalty isn't fair for players who mostly grinded in open-mode, because they took way more risks.

Surely a player grinding in solo then switching to open when they have a big ship and lots of money only requires one switch.

How would fining people for switching often make any difference?

 

[Faded Glory]

1. Well let's say you are in an Unpopulated area in Open right? But you never know when a random Pirate judt comes up and bashes you out of existence, all of a sudden. In Solo, you never feel like an experienced player might wreck you anytime.
2. What yiu guys don't understand is that I NEVER SAID CHANGE SOLO. Your precious Solo mode can stay like that or can get updated to 6.0 I don't give a single credit on that. But why are you so keen on not letting us have a little more reward in Open. What you said can just be countered. Let's say you play in Open, suddenly a wing attacks you. Bam! Dead. Now meanwhile in Solo, there is no challenge, tell me NPC's killed you.........
I don't want changes to Solo, and many here are on the same page as I am, we want a LITTLE more reward in Open. Not less in Solo...

I just have to ask, respectfully, why do you want or feel you need more / greater rewards in open? This game is not a competition, nobody will win it. Ever.

 

[ViciousMink]

You are absolutely right. Everybody is specifically a random weirdo

Brian: "Repeat after me: I am an individual!"
Crowd: "I am an individual!"
Lone weirdo: "I'm not!"

 

[Rocktopper]

If you play in a more difficult game mode e.g. Open Mode that should come with more benefits (higher risk = higher reward).

If there's no tangible benefit to play in open-mode, only higher risks due to increased chance of PVP, then people will continue to grind in solo-mode or private groups, because that's the safest. They'll switch to Open Mode for fun when they got their top-of-the-line combat ships. That's how people who frequently switch modes abuse it.

Frequent game mode switching without any penalty isn't fair for players who mostly grinded in open-mode, because they took way more risks.

Surely a player grinding in solo then switching to open when they have a big ship and lots of money only requires one switch.

How would fining people for switching often make any difference?

Good question...

 

[W0OCQCK]

If you play in a more difficult game mode e.g. Open Mode that should come with more benefits (higher risk = higher reward).

If there's no tangible benefit to play in open-mode, only higher risks due to increased chance of PVP, then people will continue to grind in solo-mode or private groups, because that's the safest. They'll switch to Open Mode for fun when they got their top-of-the-line combat ships. That's how people who frequently switch modes abuse it.

Frequent game mode switching without any penalty isn't fair for players who mostly grind-ed in open-mode, because they took way more risks.

So if Solo & Groups have an advantage, why aren't you taking advantage of these modes for yourself. You see everyone can do it, no one is restricted from doing it, not even open players. So exactly why are you playing in open, and not in the modes that, "in your opinion" have an unfair advantage. An unfair advantage that virtually ever package holder in ED have access too. I'm not really seeing anything unfair here.

Now if your goal is to get everyone into say "Open", to say liven it up a bit for a certain player base. Well I understand why your agenda to do this might be suffering a bit. But it's unfortunately not due to the mode switching. It's mostly due to, "FD's" commitment to provide a game that allows players to play as they would like to play. If they choose to play alone, or in like minded groups, where players like yourself aren't invited, that's their choice, not yours, or anyone else's.

 

[Dave1235]

If you play in a more difficult game mode e.g. Open Mode that should come with more benefits (higher risk = higher reward).

If there's no tangible benefit to play in open-mode, only higher risks due to increased chance of PVP, then people will continue to grind in solo-mode or private groups, because that's the safest. They'll switch to Open Mode for fun when they got their top-of-the-line combat ships. That's how people who frequently switch modes abuse it.

Frequent game mode switching without any penalty isn't fair for players who mostly grinded in open-mode, because they took way more risks.

I have seen a few posts where people have said they will grind in solo and then go in open to cause havoc, very few.

There are people in solo & groups that will never play in open, the pure pvp players grinding in solo to troll others in open is a different thing entirely.

I think (just my opinion) that its not really a problem, based on the few posts where I have seen people say they will do that, how would you know if a player who killed you earned their ship in solo, groups or open?, you see this as a problem, can you quantify it, you seem to think it is rampant and a big problem. It is OFC possible I missed the thread discussing "mode swapping", please do link any polls etc that support your opinion that its a big problem.

 

[Walt Kerman]

Telling open players to play a mode they find boring in order to contribute effectively isn't a solution though either.

 

[W0OCQCK]

Telling open players to play a mode they find boring in order to contribute effectively isn't a solution though either.

Listen Walt, that' exactly what I'm getting at! There not playing in the modes because it bore's them. Even though all the modes taken together collectively = what? Total and complete fairness. I agree with you there. But open advocates need to stop trying to make it seem as something unfair is going on. Nothing unfair is going on.

 

[Walt Kerman]

Listen Walt, that' exactly what I'm getting at! There not playing in the modes because it bore's them. Even though all the modes taken together collectively = what? Total and complete fairness. I agree with you there. But open advocates need to stop trying to make it seem as something unfair is going on. Nothing unfair is going on.

Fair enough, as long as we recognize this pushes a part of the player base to a mode they find boring.

Though I think the guy you aware arguing with is saying it's unfair between modes, not between players who have access to both modes. And he's right, the imbalance between modes when contributing to combat CG's for example, is what pushes players who like open into solo in order to be able to contribute.

 

[MacKerris]

I just have to ask, respectfully, why do you want or feel you need more / greater rewards in open? This game is not a competition, nobody will win it. Ever.

well if I had to guess.....e-peen?