I have been thinking about the issues over the weekend and have come up with a solution to the crime & punishment problem. Hopefully my solution does address peoples concerns on both sides of the debate Carebares and Greifers alike. Also I have tried to use mechanism existing in the game already, with out re-inventing the "karmic wheel", hopefully just joining up the dots. Not saying it is a simple fix but at least trying to apply a logic to problem. People may have a different approach or ethos that's fine, philosophical differences I can deal with. What I'm intersted in is does the logic play out. Obviously and details of variables can be changed.
The problems are as I see it, 1 no consequences for actions; 2 little jeopardy or meaningful punishment for actions; 3 Not limit anybody's style of play; 4 increase PvP interaction potential.
1) Have a Pilots Federation (PF) Reputation scale, Esteemed-Good-Fair-Neutral-Bad-Notorious which is governed by CMDR's.
If CMDR A is attacked and destroyed by a CMDR B (i.e. first to fire), CMDR A can optionally mark down the aggressor's PF REP -1 (CMDR A may not want to negatively affect CMDR B's REP, e.g. fair fight, I was asking for it etc.). Only Neutral to Esteemed REP CMDR's will have the option to down grade opponents REP after destruction.
PR REP downgrade can only occur if:-
1. If attacked first (i.e. fire upon or rammed or interdicted resulting in damage) by another CMDR.
2. If destroyed.
3. If you have a neutral or positive PF Rep.
4. If not in a Combat Zone i.e. signed up to a Power/Faction.
5. If not destroyed in Power v Power combat.
6. If you as the attacked & destroyed CMDR you wish to give a negative REP to your aggressor. This would be administered from the ship destruction or Buyback screen.
Reputation downgrading can be administered from the Destruction/insurance/buy back screen, after your ship has been destroyed.
CMDR's gain a positive PF REP boost if they destroy another CMDR's with a Bad/Notorious REP (+1/+2 respectively). Therefore allowing negative PF REP CMDR's to “redeem” themselves by destroying other negative PF REP CMDR's (dog eat dog).
In certain situations such as combat zones or [Power] Agent v [Power] Agent then this would not apply as CMDR's have signed up to a dangerous occupation. Therefore no PR REP changes would apply positive or negative.
Example PR REP table (variables illustration only! Frontier will have their own way for calculating Reputation, with Power & faction Reps).
Level - PR REP
3 = Esteemed = >50
2 = Good =10 to 49
1 = Fair = 1 to 9
0 = Neutral = 0
-1 = Bad = -1 to -24
-2 = Notorious = < -24
Example scenarios:-
(a) Welcome to the jungle! CMDR Noob [PF REP = 0] is attacked & destroyed by CMDR Griefer [PF REP = -24] for no apparent reason. CMDR Noob downgrades CMDR Griefer -1 PF REP, therefore CMDR Griefer has (PR REP= -25] acquired a Notorious PF REP.
(b) Take that! CMDR Respectable [PF REP = 3] is attacked by CMDR Badboy [PF REP = -3]. CMDR Badboy comes of worst and is destroyed. CMDR Respectable gains +1 to [PF REP = 4], whilst CMDR Badboy remains at [PF REP = -3].
(c) All in a days work! CMDR Bounty Bob [PF REP = 22] attacks & destroys CMDR Oddjob [PF REP = -26]. CMDR Bounty Bob gains +2 [PF REP = 24], CMDR Oddjob remains [PR REP = -26] but cannot downgrade CMDR Bounty Bob as he has a negative PR REP.
(d) Eagles at dawn! CMDR Flash [PF REP = +10] has altercation with CMDR Cocksure [PF REP = +7] about a new paint job. Both agree whatever the outcome they won't down grade PF REP's. CMDR Cocksure attacks and destroys CMDR Flash. CMDR Flash honours agreement and applies no change CMDR Cocksure's PF REP.
(e) Bleeding heart! CMDR Dastardly [PF REP = -55] attacks & destroys CMDR Mutley [PF REP = -13] for a laugh. CMDR Dastardly receives +1 [PF REP = -54]. CMDR Mutley remains [PF REP = -13].
(f) Kings shilling! CMDR Slaughter [PR REP = -10] is attacked & destroyed by CMDR Mercenary [PR REP = -1] in a Combat Zone (CZ). No change to either CMDR's PR REP. CMDR Mercenary limps out of the CZ to repair. On way to station gets interdicted by CMDR Mutley [PR REP = - 13] who attacks any destroys CMDR Mercenary. CMDR Mutley gains +1 [PR REP = -12], CMDR Mercenary remains on [PR REP = -1].
I am open to suggestions on other methods to gain positive PF REP other than taking out Bad and Notorious CMDRs. Maybe could have a time factor by dividing [PF REPtf = PF REP/hrs played], the PF REPtf would, over time converge to zero, if no further Kills positive or negative took place.
2) Have a Pilots Federation "Most Wanted" (MW) board of the Online CMDR's with the most negative PR REP's.
This is accessed in stations, with the top 100 (or suitable number) of the online most bad/ notorious CMDR's. With some associated intelligence, such as [NAME], [PR REP], [LKL Last Known Location], [TIME SCANED] & [PF BOUNTY]. Could also have ship type and wing strength etc. This table is updated in real-time or regularly (every n minutes) based on ship scans by NPC, stations & CMDR's, with crime reports activated in security systems. CMDR's/bounty hunters could request an intelligence feed to their message panel and Galaxy Map of a small number (1-10) of the "Most Wanted" CMDR's they are interested in.
This would make bounty hunting viable for PvP and keep the "Most Wanted" on their toes, without being too unbalanced against them. It would give every CMDR some measure of consequence for their actions. Accumulation of bad REP would act like karma. Therefore act as some sort of deterrent from the casual ganker, griefer, whilst providing more meaning to gaming for the hardcore Bad Boy CMDR's, as being the PF enemy no.1 would be an achievement of sorts. Whilst Bad/Notorious CMDR's would genuinely have some consequences for their actions and have to plan their moves more carefully.
The PF REP would work in a similar way to Power/Factions REP system, hopefully making it more likely to be adopted by the Devs. Having said this the crucial difference is that it is administered by the players themselves. System security is a matter for the powers/factions, this will continue to be administered by the game NPC's. PF REP stays with you even after destruction but your bounty pot will be shared by the successful bounty hunters. Normal bounty hunter rules apply e.g. KWS before attacking to gain all bounties etc.
Create a Criminal Intel Network (CIN) with Reputation score, responsible for feeding intelligence about top bounty hunters and power agents to CMDR's. The CIN is not a Power or faction but a loose network of criminal organisations pooling intel on potential threats. Any systems with an anarchist faction present would contribute intel to the network. The higher the crinmal/anarchist presence and the low the system security the more intel. gathered. The higher the CIN rep the more/better quality intel can be gather. It would work in a similar way to the Most Wanted board and could open up the potential for CMDR hits/assassinations contracts. Gaining REP with CIN would be done through non-faction blackmarket activity smuggling, selling illegal commodities and scanning potential threats, also carrying out contracts.
The top most esteemed commanders as famous individuals or impressive ships also would attracted attention & be targets for assassination contracts. Perhaps security scans could be intercepted or corrupt security officers could leak intel., also look outs could embedded in ports/stations etc. To balance things out perhaps a criminal intel. network could operate in anarchy, lawless stations and through blackmarkets, with the top most esteemed CMDR's with similar info and feeds to map/message panel. A certain amount of security scans could be intercepted in Low- High security system proportionally. Also CMDR ship scans could also be fed into the system (this may need extra button in control panel) or work if the "report crimes" button is off. This intelligence would be useful for avoidance and for making hits on Esteemed CMDR's viable also.
3) CMDR's can place bounties on other CMDR's through the Pilots federation.
Separate and in addition to fines and bounties from powers/factions. This would add to the incentives to bounty hunters and add to the consequences to the "Most Wanted". I know some CMDR's will get a bit silly but unless you are in the "MW" your locations will remain unknown, only exposing CMDR's to local CMDR's with KWS. In general I think this would be not abused, if so perhaps the issuing of bounties could only be done after destruction similar to the issuing of minus REP points.
Perhaps CMDR's can pay-off bounties if they depending on their PF REP.
Optionally bounties can by the PF as a function of the PF Rep of the attacker and the cost of the destroyed ship.
4) NPC Power/Faction crime & punishment tweaks. Power Agents can be an FIB type organisation.
A similar "MW" board system could work for Powers and Factions in parallel to Pilot Federation REP board in stations. Power/faction "Most wanted" boards could be up in stations controlled by Powers and factions, providing more bounty hunting opportunities. In addition to this a Power's Agents could act like the FIB, NPC agents could be sent out to hunt down, spy and attack the "MW" in their power's space, and possibly some forays in anarchy or rival powers aswell. The NPC agents could be dispatched in proportion to the Notoriety of the “MW” CMDR's. For example public enemy No.1 might have to deal with 10 NPC Agent incidences per 5 hours, whilst public enemy no. 100 might just have 1 per 10 hours.
If a CMDR has friendly or allied Power/Faction REPs security scanning would not be sent to Pilots Federation "MW" board, thus reduce risks in friendly area's, if neutral to hostile/bad then this will be shared as intel. Neutral and negative Reps would have security scans would be passed on to the PF & relevant Power/factions “MW” boards as intel.
CMDR's that have signed-up to a power could have more styles of play opened up to them, in addition to delivering diplomatic material. Being the eyes and ears supplying intelligence whilst on their travels. Attacking rival Agents and Wanted NPC a like. Hopefully this would open out the potential for buccaneering (Power sanctioned piracy) against rival powers. Depending on a CMDR's various REP,s would make him/her vulnerable it other jurisdictions. Perhaps fending off rival Power raids based on intelligence from the “MW” board or tracking NPC's hostile to the your power might be more potential.
Have two categories (A & B) of crimes, relating to their severity. Cat A could be reserved to serious crimes e.g. attacking ships, murder, this would be punishable by destruction as normal. Cat B for less serious crimes, e.g. speeding, where a fine would be sufficient. Is it right that a speeding fine means your are attacked be NPC security? However, if a Cat B fine is not paid off with a certain time frame them I would increase the fine, perhaps after so many increase then this could be classed as a Cat A offence.
Docking Privileges in non-anarchy systems would have a certain risk (proportionally) to it aswell, for the “MW” or hostile to controlling faction. Perhaps docking and facility privileges could be blocked in some cases also. If a hostile power agent with a negative Power REP does not have full station privileges, let say no access to repair and restock etc.
Hopefully the above measures could even create emergent game and more meaningful PvP and power faction dynamics without being too cumbersome to implement.
5) Insurance or buy back cost should be a bit more nuanced than it currently is.
Insurance is probably the most effective way to "punish" players. If the Pilots Federation insure commanders, then why not base the calculation on PF REP factor (Rf) and Claim rate (Cr) see below, could also factor in Rank discount (Rd).
Insurance calculation Factors
i) PF REP factor (Rf) scales from [0.01 to 1] "Esteemed" to "Notorious" respectively, e.g. "Esteemed" = 0.01; "Good" = 0.05; "Neutral" = 0.1; "Bad" = 0.5; Notorious = 1.
ii) Claim rate = Total number of claims/time played (hrs). CMDR's that make less claims are rewarded for their piloting skill and ability of not dying. This could be amended to exclude claims made through Combat action. i.e. (Total number of claims – number of combat claims)/time played.
iii) Rank discount based on Pilot Federation rank, higher ranks have bigger discount e.g. (Elite = 0.25; Mostly Harmless = 0.01).
iv) I = Insurance or Ship Buy Back Cost. Ship cost (Sc) is the total cost of ship + modules etc. that were destroyed.
I = Sc * (Rf + Cr - Rd)
Example a :- Mostly harmless CMDR in 1,000,000 crd ship, with neutral REP (Rf = 0.1), played 50 hours claimed 5 times (5/50 = 0.1); Ranked Mostly Harmless (Rd = 0.01);
I = 1,000,000 * (0.1 + 0.1 - 0.01)
I = 1,000,000 * 0.19
I = 190,000
example b :- Elite CMDR in 55,000,000 crd ship, with notorious REP (Rf = 1), played 250 hours claimed 58 times (Cr = 58/250 = 0.232); Rd = 0.25.
I = 55,000,000 * (1 + 0.232 - 0.25)
I = 55,000,000 * 0.982
I = 54,010,000
The values to the various factors involved in the insurance calculation can obliviously be tweaked.
Having an insurance system that rewards positive behaviour and "good" piloting ability and penalizes negative behaviour and "bad" piloting. If signed-up to power/factions or involved in a combat zone or a Power's agent perhaps a further discount could be subsidized by power/faction.
I would not insure mods or materials, so they are lost as these are unique, it would also level out benefit of having mods against not having them. I know there are a whole set of issues regarding mods this just a personal preference.
6) To make some of the above points workable I would separate out playing modes i.e. OPEN, PRIVATE, SOLO.
Treat them as parallel universes, so ships, mods, credits are all separate. Changing modes starts you in the place you left on in that particular mode etc., nothing transfers. This is to stop CMDR's just changing modes to allowing them unfairly escape. If combat logging is deliberately disconnecting to avoid destruction then simply allow a reasonable number per unit time e.g. 3 per month. Any more than that which is definitely not a server issue goes down as ship destruction for the disconnected player.
Anyway Sorry it was a bit long. hope it adds to the discussion.
cheers
