With Scenerios (and BGS) changes Elite Dangerous is a new game!
- Thread starter Quantis Trap
- Start date
True, but my hope remains -- perhaps naively -- that one day we'll be able to escort ships that are themselves moving between systems. This is definitely a small step in that direction, if not in terms of the game's technology then certainly in terms of FD's attitude towards making the galaxy feel more dynamic. Until now it's largely been a collection of disconnected mini-games, and FD have been worryingly happy to leave it that way. It looks as though after 3.3 it will still be a collection of mini-games but with more substance to the audio-visual glue that holds them all together. It's very promising. It certainly holds the promise of more changes relevant to me, a largely solo player, than I was expecting.
I can't agree with that assessment. The BGS stuff will of course carry more weight with organised player groups who are driven by that aspect, but it's not locked away from individual players. And "scenarios" seems to be geared towards lone players as much as, if not more than, groups. Hell, better interaction with NPCs is something we friendless sad-acts (or "lone wolves" 'cos it sounds cooler) have been requesting for years.
I won't defend FD for every aspect of ED's development; I have always maintained that IMO it was oversold, launched prematurely and has been subsequently developed in something of a haphazard and not always logical way. And yes, the emphasis on multi-player over more generally useful features has been galling at times. But I don't think this is one of them. This looks to be a well-balanced and considered set of improvements, with an eye on future expansion. The proof of the pudding will be in the beta-ing, but for now I'm as hopeful as I've been in quite some time that the project is moving in the right direction.
The only possible cloud is negative reaction from BGS players, because from my vantage point of knowing next to nothing about the BGS those changes did seem significant and possibly contentious. I haven't seen any such negativity yet, but this is the Frontier Forums so 50 moaning threads could have been launched while I was typing this.
Currently with the BGS its possible for a solo player to manage a decent number of systems as you know only one state is active at a time. Im currently soloing around 20 different systems with the same faction.
In the new system its going to be very difficult for a solo player to manage more than a few systems, as strategic descisions will need to be made on whether to fight the war or make money in the boom system.
This however gives the individual player more choice. Previously if a faction went into lockdown you were limited to combat duties which would not appeal to many players. Now they can ignore this state or the war state and go to the other systems which are in boom or famine to trade goods.
I prefer the new system as it makes large factions more dynamic. Under the old system major player groups were creating huge homogenous zones. Now those groups will have a proper management role divying up activities for their players. This ties nicely of course into squadrons. The members of these squadrons will probably also be able to undertake the activities they most like doing rather than being forced on a particular tick to merely engage in hauling medicine or killing npcs via pew pew.
In the new system its going to be very difficult for a solo player to manage more than a few systems, as strategic descisions will need to be made on whether to fight the war or make money in the boom system.
This however gives the individual player more choice. Previously if a faction went into lockdown you were limited to combat duties which would not appeal to many players. Now they can ignore this state or the war state and go to the other systems which are in boom or famine to trade goods.
I prefer the new system as it makes large factions more dynamic. Under the old system major player groups were creating huge homogenous zones. Now those groups will have a proper management role divying up activities for their players. This ties nicely of course into squadrons. The members of these squadrons will probably also be able to undertake the activities they most like doing rather than being forced on a particular tick to merely engage in hauling medicine or killing npcs via pew pew.
BGS changes look interesting, lots of current ways of managing systems have changed, so lots to learn.
Not so convinced about scenarios, they seem another way to get missions - but in space[/s] - so rather than being prepared to do them, you end up having to run back and buy food / equip fuel limpets / get a combat craft. Nice for casual play, I'm less convinced they will be used for BGS purposes unless the INF changes are large - better to pick up 20 missions you understand IMHO. We will see in the beta. (The actual changes to CZ etc look fine, just not convinced yet about using them for BGS.)
Edit: And the best change - choosing a faction in a CZ isn't hidden in the Functions menu
I'm sorry, but did you just say "missions in space"?!?! If yes, then this has me very excited. For the last couple of years now I have been begging them to move the focus of missions away from the mission board, instead allowing us to pick up missions "on the fly" (pardon the pun)-via salvaging certain items (e.g black boxes, escape pods), interacting with NPC's (by scanning them, for instance) or by scanning Data Points, Private Data Beacons & Ship Data Cores. Maybe scenarios are the first big step towards that long wished for goal.
Aside from Faction State, I would also like to see Commander Stats play a role in the kinds of scenarios that can crop up-like Notoriety, Faction Rep & Elite Rankings.
You know, I just had a crazy idea. What if these changes also got incorporated into the overhaul of Power-play? That would be kind of epic!
Bob Lighthouse
Banned
My optimism is growing, cautiously.
Capital ships and "bosses" in CZs?
Can't wait to try it myself.
With all of these significant changes, can you imagine the credit exploits when it goes live?
A good set of changes I think overall. I do wonder though about the megaship scenarios - do they vary in difficulty for PVE/solo players - will helping the megaship be harder in some cases as in a well equipped and especially the larger ships it looked like it would be quite easy?
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Baby steps, Jack, baby steps. Q4 looks like they're taking all these long dangling loose threads & finally stsrting to pull them together-like bringing missions into Conflict Zones & making the zones more dynamic. Indeed, these new systems bring the game ever closer to many of my posts in the Suggestions Forum.
You are also correct re: the potential for NPC interactions in relation to piracy. One thing I suggested back in Q1 was that high Notoriety could give the player an option to menace an NPC ship to force them to drop cargo without needing to deploy weapons. Gives a reason for players to maintain high notoriety by making it more than just an inconvenience.
An incredible 700 cmdrs watched this riveting live stream, down to 300 by the time they gave away an amazing paint pack bundle at the thankful end of this shameful media sacrifice, not you Will you were cool btw.
Haven't watched the l8vestream yet, but do we know if RES's are getting an overhaul too? I feel they could benefit from the same kind of love that CZ's appear to be getting.
Ian Phillips
Volunteer Moderator
The largest attendance figure I registered during the stream, whilst not busy reading the chat, was 5600+. I think you might have missed a zero off of your reported numbers.
Not yet. I suspect that if there are any changes then they would be in the mining stream next week.
RES was not mentioned, however I suspect they will be covered by mining changes. If I would have to guess, I doubt they have stayed as they are if everything around them changes.
It really seems like this is going to be the biggest update so far, in that it ties it all together into a more cohesive game. There is a lot to unpack here, and it's gonna take a while to adjust to all the changes.
Pretty sure I way 5.8k - and now it's up to nearly 9k. Gotta remember, lots of people around here not very good with numbers once they start having to take their socks off to count
Not a crazy idea at all! In fact it would be crazy, not to mention almost impossible, for these changes to not be part of the new PowerPlay!
While they don't have great significance in and of themselves - these little scenarios will have quite an impact on the feel of BGS work.
Those people maintaining their factions will want to eliminate Famine States fairly quickly, so they'll be shipping in food anyway.
I'd wager that dropping in to these scenarios and dropping a food canister will have a bigger impact on the famine state than just flying directly to the station and selling it all.
Either actively looking for these or stumbling on them will break up the A-B hauling.
Those people maintaining their factions will want to eliminate Famine States fairly quickly, so they'll be shipping in food anyway.
I'd wager that dropping in to these scenarios and dropping a food canister will have a bigger impact on the famine state than just flying directly to the station and selling it all.
Either actively looking for these or stumbling on them will break up the A-B hauling.
Sorry guys but i disagree.
The changes are cosmetic, at best. I felt embarrased watching the presentation, some of the changes are basically insulting to experienced players.
The changes are cosmetic, at best. I felt embarrased watching the presentation, some of the changes are basically insulting to experienced players.
Glad I’m an inexperienced player then!