Trailblazer Echo - Universal Cartographics lockdown

[Esteban]

As mentioned, nothing here is broken. It's just reacting to the activity in the system. The statement that faction-state changes, etc. can affect the system has appeared in every CG description as far back as I can remember.

Yes, this becomes a difficulty for the BGS and those trying to keep a system stable.
I expect that all of us who work the BGS have run into this scenario due to one reason or another. Since this kind of leverage is essentially insurmountable while its happening, sometimes we just have to be patient and be resigned to the fact that we'll be restoring the system to its desired configuration when the event passes and all of the activity vanishes from the system.
Yes, I personally have done this kind of 'restoration' more than one time under difficult conditions. If you're in a group with any reasonably significant number of star systems to manage, it's likely inevitable- whether due to a CG, the Thargoid war we just experienced, PP2.0,* random traffic, sabotage of one sort or another, etc. Having a population of just over 1600, HIP 90578 is quite easy system to manipulate, relatively speaking.

* this has been (and continues to be) quite the wrecking ball for many of us - whew!

 

[Alec Turner]

Don’t know if folks saw Fronter's post on X but …

Pilot Alert!

A rogue group of Commanders have driven Brewer Logistics in HIP 90578 into lockdown, in an attempt to sabotage the latest initiative!

Commanders are called on to bounty hunt within the system to break the lockdown and allow the initiative to coninue!

No hand of god on this, it's up to us … and I personally think that’s kinda cool.

 

[Archvillain]

Yeah, people have wanted the background simulation system to have more visible substantial effects on the game since forever. Given that the community goal boilerplate text hints at this happening, this is clearly the kind of unexpected plot-twist development that is intended to be possible, and it invites action of CMDRs to change it.

I've already handed in most of my data and recently hired a harmless pilot crew-member. Maybe I should take them bounty-hunting to give them some target practice, level them up, and lend a hand getting the CG open for the CMDRs sitting on too much data to want to risk confrontation

However I think the game does need an in-game "error message" that links a station service being locked down to BGS faction state. The first time I encountered disabled services it was unexplained and super confusing, and for it to happen in a CG is going to confuse a LOT of players. Especially an explorer CG because exploration enthusiasts often have little interest in or knowledge of the intricacies of the BGS (and have already invested their time into doing the work for the CG)

 

[JosiahD]

I know it's so easy to just assume it's the nasty griefers under the bed. But look at this:
View attachment 416821

tl;dr a Player Faction "Fatal Shadows" has long held this system, and now a CG has turned that over in a matter of a week.... so really... who is disrupting who?

Notwithstanding that, it's not unreasonable to think that during the war between Brewer and Fatal Shadows that people, well, fought the war. It's unlikely anyone supporting Brewer Corporation via the CG would have fought the war (but would definitely have caused it), while anyone supporting the PMF would have been supporting that faction, and therefore tanking Brewer's security status. And, post war, likely trying to reverse it.

So, it's very easy to clutch the teddy bear of "nasty griefers"... but let's not forget the imbalanced effect a random CG location can have on the BGS.

Of course, that's all supposition based on a brief look at the above... but in absence of a CG running, if you asked me why brewer went into Lockdown, it's because the faction they've overthrown are fighting back for control (and the variance in the other factions suggests plenty of non-CG activity going on right now)

Thanks for pointing that out - very good point. For what it's worth I wasn't considering 'disruptive' parties as griefers per se - there are always some though who like to be disruptive all the same simply to spite others and the game mechanics allow it (hence working as intended). But this player group defending their territory would certainly be a dominant consideration here. FDEV apparently referring to 'rogue' CMDRs is interesting though....would they consider the player group rogue for defending their territory? Possibly, given it would be from the perspective of Brewer, who would likely consider them rogue for being disruptive towards their plans.

 

[Rainbro]

Oh, Frontier are actually rolling with this? Fair play, I wasn't expecting that. Despite the disclaimer Frontier always seemed to take steps to avoid it or just disabled it. I wish more CGs were interactive like this. Most are impossible to affect just due to the short notice.

 

[Ashnak]

However I think the game does need an in-game "error message" that links a station service being locked down to BGS faction state.

You got one now in your (in-game) inbox

 

[Archvillain]

You got one now in your (in-game) inbox

Yep. Good call on FDev's part (Though the game should still put explanatory messages on service lockdowns because - outside of today - seemingly-random unexplained lockdowns will continue to confuse.)

 

[Archvillain]

FDEV apparently referring to 'rogue' CMDRs is interesting though....would they consider the player group rogue for defending their territory?

For whatever it's worth I interpret that to be FDev stirring up the drama, not casting any actual judgement (I'm pretty sure FDev approves wholeheartedly)

If I was one of the players defending my turf I'd feel a bit miffed about being characterized that way, but the message is not "from" FDev, it's from the faction that just took a beating, so it totally works that Brewer Logistics is trying to cast the player faction in a bad light to motivate their supporters

 

[Florenus]

FDEV apparently referring to 'rogue' CMDRs is interesting though....would they consider the player group rogue for defending their territory? Possibly, given it would be from the perspective of Brewer, who would likely consider them rogue for being disruptive towards their plans.

Note that there's Community Goal there and there are Commanders working against it. I guess they quite objectively fall under "rogue" category.

 

[Rainbro]

Note that there's Community Goal there and there are Commanders working against it. I guess they quite objectively fall under "rogue" category.

What about two-way CGs where only one can succeed? It's just a marketing term, Brewer Corp don't represent the entire Pilots Federation or get to give orders.

 

[Jmanis]

What about two-way CGs where only one can succeed? It's just a marketing term, Brewer Corp don't represent the entire Pilots Federation or get to give orders.

They've been done in the past. People complained when both sides didn't get rewards despite individuals putting in comparable effort.

 

[metatheurgist]

tl;dr a Player Faction "Fatal Shadows" has long held this system, and now a CG has turned that over in a matter of a week.... so really... who is disrupting who?

Gee, I wonder if anyone mentioned that having PMFs and CGs would inevitably lead to conflicts like this years ago... Oh wait, I did.

 

[Jmanis]

Gee, I wonder if anyone mentioned that having PMFs and CGs would inevitably lead to conflicts like this years ago... Oh wait, I did.

Yeah... like... this is one of the biggest example points i lean on whenever there's a thread complaining about the BGS being "unfair/ unbalanced"... so what? It's meant to be. The background sim is meant to be that living, breathing universe. It's not meant to be a balanced strategic chess game... that's what Powerplay is (meant to be... but OT). The fact FD can drop a CG or Thargoid Titans or, well, any event, wherever they like, whenever they like is testament to that. FD can't be held hostage to their own universe because players get upset by change.

I make an exception for issues relating to anarchy factions, because Anarchies are actually exemplar of the diversity the BGS should generate; unique mission templates and background effects compared to the otherwise homogenous array of other faction types. But that's getting OT again.

More on-topic... i do empathise a little. A constant complaint of mine is that FD don't lean harder into the mechanics their game implements... throwing CGs which are a hard "hand of God" against a system which is meant to be autonomous and self- generating effects from player input seems bizarre (much like allowing PMFs in the first place, but again OT)... and indeed there's been plenty of events or activities that happen almost despite these mechanics... for example Conflict CGs... why do FD insist on tallying bonds and hard- injecting a conflict to resolve a when there's literally BGS mechanics that are more interesting and diverse than bond collecting, to resolve wars already. It's literally undoing existing mechanics to achieve something.

My one hope is colonization gives us essentially player- initiated trade CGs, and we can start to think about getting rid of CGs, and instead coupling unique rewards such as pre- engineered modules to a reward pool for these dynamic mini-CGs, of which dozens can now spring up, and genuinely have a chance of failure.

OTOH, it perplexes me where we all know the background sim is dynamic... yet there's constant surprise when that rears it's head to throw a spanner in... like... do we want a dynamic universe? Or should FD just shut it down and make everything static?

I dunno.. i shouldn't be surprised when we've had so many updates of people getting what they actually asked for, only to go "not like that!!!" because players didn't comprehend what that would entail.

Eh... rambling...

 

[Stardurst]

Dang, I've been out exploring for about a week now, was about to head back tonight. A little loathe to engage in bounty hunting with a week's worth of data... Sure hope some kind souls help out. Otherwise, got a lot of rocky ice data for nothing haha

 

[Galactic Fork]

Dang, I've been out exploring for about a week now, was about to head back tonight. A little loathe to engage in bounty hunting with a week's worth of data... Sure hope some kind souls help out. Otherwise, got a lot of rocky ice data for nothing haha

Haha same, I'm only 100 jumps from the bubble, but don't know if it's worth even continuing back now. Maybe make a real exploration trip out of it.
Wish I had returned before all this, but that's the way of the BGS. I'm really glad Frontier's leaning into this and making it part of the story.

 

[Frankymole]

Can't we just hand in the Cartographics at a Fleet Carrier in the system?

 

[varonica]

Can't we just hand in the Cartographics at a Fleet Carrier in the system?

No, it has to be at the megaship, I am currently in the system doing bounty hunting so maybe it will get turned back on before the CG is over, don't give up hope and hang on to your data until the last minute.

 

[Frankymole]

No, it has to be at the megaship, I am currently in the system doing bounty hunting so maybe it will get turned back on before the CG is over, don't give up hope and hang on to your data until the last minute.

Ah, shame. Oh well, I only had 25 systems to sell so they can go to my FC there. Did most of the others last week.

 

[Jmanis]

The good news for everyone is there's no minimum duration like the old days... it's purely based on security status, so could all be over this time tomorrow.

 

[hutandrei]

Yeah, but tomorrow the CG will be over.
What about all the poor players, full of exploration data, that cannot sell it, and can't get involved in the fighting because that would risk all their data?