"PARKING"

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:19 pm

It seems that some players have resorted to "parking" their ships while actually off line in an attempt to prevent decay in thier territory.
I would like to ask the players at large if you approve of this tactic, or if you feel they should be "kicked' since they aren't really there and participating in any way.
What say you all?
I hope you will express an opinion, because you may not like my solution.
Sincerely, the management of Remula One

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:29 pm

I don't see that as much of a problem, more of a waste of electricity...

I haven't controlled any territory just yet but when I do I can't really see the point of leaving the game on to stop territory dropping a few percent. Also, if there are other people online you're likely to get blown up and then the computer is just sitting there doing nothing.

If people are really doing it then I say you have a right to kick them off because they're wasting bandwidth if they're not even playing. You'd probably need to be sure that they are not just AFK for a while though.

Ophiuchus · Post by **Ophiuchus** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:43 pm

basic questions/dichotomies of fairness, manners, sportsmanship; essentially a "free-for-all" server. good mix-up. I vote for fairness.

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:11 pm

From post: 99988, Topic: tid=7160, author=soulsacrifice wrote:...I can't really see the point of leaving the game on to stop territory dropping a few percent.

Except it isn't just a few percent. Even with the changes already made, a dozen trade stations won't keep you from losing the lion's share of territory (the minimum percentage where you get paid for owning it) after just a couple days.

I'd prefer not to park. 'Cause, when I do park, I usually remain by the computer ... except to get a cup of coffee or whatever. But I still can't read a book or do much of anything else unless I want to ignore all the pilots who log on and try to chat (or even just say "hello").

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:12 pm

From post: 99988, Topic: tid=7160, author=soulsacrifice wrote:I don't see that as much of a problem, more of a waste of electricity...

I haven't controlled any territory just yet but when I do I can't really see the point of leaving the game on to stop territory dropping a few percent. Also, if there are other people online you're likely to get blown up and then the computer is just sitting there doing nothing.

If people are really doing it then I say you have a right to kick them off because they're wasting bandwidth if they're not even playing. You'd probably need to be sure that they are not just AFK for a while though.

They aren't wasting electricity. Simply turn off PC w/o exiting the the game.
But no matter, If the majority have no issue with this tactic, then let it be so.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:42 pm

I think "Parking" at this point should be OK. If the server gets to an over load point with too many Pilots on-line then maybe some action would be called for. I for one have a hard time getting "fully" connected at times like this morning and had to use my standby method of getting on to the server so I do "Park" if I play on doing more later. The connection problem seems to be at my end so I do what I need to at this point. What ever is decided though will be fine.

P.S. I'm parked now as I check the forum.

[Edited on 1-15-2011 by thetiebers]

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:10 pm

From post: 99995, Topic: tid=7160, author=MMaggio wrote:Simply turn off PC w/o exiting the the game.

Now why didn't I think of that

It's just like the old days: ghost players who dropped off line.

Accountant · Post by **Accountant** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:29 pm

I sometimes "park" myself, just because something came up that requires my attention. And other times I just like to watch some view that has captivated my attention. In that case I am still online but it may seem like I am parked.

Even for those who do park, I really have no problem with it. We don't have so many pilots online at any one time that performance is degraded as a result. If that starts to happen I think we should re-evaluate the situation. For now, I would say to let it happen.

-Accountant

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 11:55 pm

Probably have to have a built in anti movement option or server would need a lot of stop watches.

TGS · Post by **TGS** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:44 am

Imo unless the servers actually get bogged down I don't see why this is even an issue. In "fairness" sakes everyone can potentially do it.

If push comes to shove certain modifications can be made to discourage idling online.

1. Make it so if you are inside a hangar it doesn't treat you as there so you are not actually helping your territory decay.

2. If you "idle" inside the confines of a station shield for too long you simply get pushed outside thus becoming a potential target should someone decide they take offense to your idling and can blow you out of space.

These two changes would allow something to be done about it on a player level rather than having to resort to kicking which in turn would force players to use methods to "trick" an idle check.

Also on #2 that could apply regardless of how much movement you do. If you sit in station shields for 5 minutes or some number like that it simply pushes you out. I can't imagine there is anything you can possibly need to do inside a shield outside the hangar that can't be easily done in less than 5 minutes.

Galaxian · Post by **Galaxian** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:57 am

My $.02 on this is that a player logged in to the server should be active.

Parking to enjoy the view, coffee breaks, etc is to be expected and reasonable.

However, logging into the server and walking away from the computer for hours on end to maintain control/status isn't really participating IMHO and not truly in the spirit of Multi-PLAYER.

After all, it's not Multi-Who-Can-Camp-Out-Longest... :-p

And in the end, it's just a (albeit fantastically engaging) game.

That's just my opinion though...

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:29 am

I think #1 is back wards. I think U mean so that your territory "WILL' decay if you "ENTER" the station. Right? Of course that is if anything gets changed at this time.

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:43 am

I think people would be able to get around that by turning on inertial, accelerating to 4-5k well above missile/enemy speed and majestically trundling through the universe. It would fool movement detection, they would be safe from enemies, but maybe not a fluke accidental planet collision...

Although I'm not particularly fond of using exploits, at the moment R1 is a 'no rules' server, it would be a pity to see rules cropping up because of these exploits.
- No Parking
- No Bombing
- No Petting
- No Diving at the Shallow End

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:27 pm

From post: 100051, Topic: tid=7160, author=Atollski wrote:I think people would be able to get around that by turning on inertial, accelerating to 4-5k well above missile/enemy speed and majestically trundling through the universe. It would fool movement detection, they would be safe from enemies, but maybe not a fluke accidental planet collision...

Although I'm not particularly fond of using exploits, at the moment R1 is a 'no rules' server, it would be a pity to see rules cropping up because of these exploits.
- No Parking
- No Bombing
- No Petting
- No Diving at the Shallow End

Good point, Attolski

Zule · Post by **Zule** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:56 pm

From someone that sits and mines with barely moving for ages on end I think I would be caught in this parking thing and I wouldn't like that. i tend to only mine one thing at a time and set up my cargo bays to only fill up with that one thing. This means I do sit still for a very long time as I have full cargo capacity now and depending on sheer luck i can be in one place for over an hour at a time.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:44 pm

No worries Zule. I can tell the difference

Post by **Marvin** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:42 pm

How about this ... out of courtesy to those actually engaged in playing: set your name to (e.g. [IM] AFK). You'll still be maintaining your territory but nobody will try (in vain) to engage you in chat or ask your advice or help. And, if the server fills up, MMaggio will know, at a glance, who to boot.

Post by **Marvin** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:49 pm

Same here: [IM] MarvinAFK.

TGS · Post by **TGS** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:23 pm

And yes that is basically what I meant with the suggestion. Imo idling should not be disallowed or even discouraged. However idling for the sake of maintaining ANY persistent variable on a server shouldn't be allowed.

And Eclipse I know players can attack you inside the shield... however being pushed out for spending too much time there means if there are hostile npc's in the area and you decide you wanna leave your ship sitting there you will most likely come back dead. Be it from a player kill or an npc kill.

From post: 100047, Topic: tid=7160, author=thetiebers wrote:I think #1 is back wards. I think U mean so that your territory "WILL' decay if you "ENTER" the station. Right? Of course that is if anything gets changed at this time.

Zule · Post by **Zule** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:47 pm

From post: 100090, Topic: tid=7160, author=MMaggio wrote:No worries Zule. I can tell the difference

That's good to know, because I often go off and have a coffee while mining, but shh don't tell anyone they might blow me up while I'm afk'ing. Though judging by my performance doing some military stuff today it won't matter if I'm there or not lol.

TGS · Post by **TGS** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:58 pm

I thought that was sort of what the "buy license" feature was there to prevent. Unless of course I am mistaken and buying a license actually does something different?

From post: 100111, Topic: tid=7160, author=Eclipse wrote:
From post: 100110, Topic: tid=7160, author=TGS wrote:.
And Eclipse I know players can attack you inside the shield... however being pushed out for spending too much time there means if there are hostile npc's in the area and you decide you wanna leave your ship sitting there you will most likely come back dead. Be it from a player kill or an npc kill.
That is what the new 'enter' feature is for, you can enter and stay protected. NPCs can still get you in the docking area.

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:03 pm

For game-built stations, buying a license releases you from paying docking fees (where applicable). It also reduces the price of items for sale (excluding fuel, I think). For stations you built yourself, you're automatically given a license. This gives you the option of cancelling the license at your own station ... subsequently upping the price of items sold there.

Perhaps you can see the advantage to this system.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:10 pm

From post: 100248, Topic: tid=7160, author=TGS wrote:I thought that was sort of what the "buy license" feature was there to prevent. Unless of course I am mistaken and buying a license actually does something different?

From post: 100111, Topic: tid=7160, author=Eclipse wrote:
From post: 100110, Topic: tid=7160, author=TGS wrote:.
And Eclipse I know players can attack you inside the shield... however being pushed out for spending too much time there means if there are hostile npc's in the area and you decide you wanna leave your ship sitting there you will most likely come back dead. Be it from a player kill or an npc kill.
That is what the new 'enter' feature is for, you can enter and stay protected. NPCs can still get you in the docking area.

the license protects U from AI don't know about if protects from other players.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:59 pm

After reading the responses, I was prepared to let "parking" continue.
Now there is a new, hopefully unintended problem I would like you all to know about.
I presume that "parking" was just to prevent system decay, but now I see where some have found a way to even keep other players from playing in a system you are parked in.
By taking a contract, then "parking" it prevents anyone else from from getting contracts in that system. To me, this is taking unfair advantage of a loophole.
Also, if another player takes a contract and the parked player is in the same system they also get credit for completing the mission and sharing the spoils w/o even really being there.
Worse yet, if the real player fails the mission, he is prevented from taking new missions since the game is waiting for the parked player to finish said mission.
I ask you all again if you still feel this is fair.
Thank you for your input in this matter and apologies to Aures for kicking him from the game to prove a point.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:20 pm

I thought contracts are only sector related and not the whole system. So you could still do contracts in the same system in a different sector of that system.

That being said however when some one is parked in a sector with a contract active and he is inside the Stations Lobby. The player entering that sector will not know this, and will only know by checking the tilde key that there is another player in that sector but not know where in the Sector he is or what he is doing. My 2 cents worth is Parking should be allowed but not with an active contract to prevent others from doing contracts in that sector. If you want to prevent others from doing contracts in a specific clan controlled sector then be physically present and active in that sector to protect that sector.....