New Frames & Inventory Console Features

[DynamicRanger]

The afterburner drive that exists in the game isn't what I'm describing, it's just an improved version of the standard afterburner that consumes weapon/jump energy. A burst thruster applies all of its force at once, so if you were travelling at v of 1000 and charged up 1000 Δv (change in velocity) in the burst thruster, flipped over and released the charge, your ship would instantly stop. Another handy feature would be the ability to charge negative velocity (reverse thrust). In the above example, you wouldn't have to flip over to neutralize your velocity (although the Δv and fuel cost would be the same). To take it a step further, being able to charge Δv along any axis would be interesting--sudden jumps and dips and strafes, drastically altering course and velocity. If not for player ships, it would be interesting to see AI ships (mysterious Vonari tech?) move with a mechanism like this.

[Marvin]

Sometimes I think they do!

[Viper]

The afterburner drive that exists in the game isn't what I'm describing, it's just an improved version of the standard afterburner that consumes weapon/jump energy. A burst thruster applies all of its force at once, so if you were travelling at v of 1000 and charged up 1000 Δv (change in velocity) in the burst thruster, flipped over and released the charge, your ship would instantly stop. Another handy feature would be the ability to charge negative velocity (reverse thrust). In the above example, you wouldn't have to flip over to neutralize your velocity (although the Δv and fuel cost would be the same). To take it a step further, being able to charge Δv along any axis would be interesting--sudden jumps and dips and strafes, drastically altering course and velocity. If not for player ships, it would be interesting to see AI ships (mysterious Vonari tech?) move with a mechanism like this.

Interesting. But since we're being realistic anyway, what about the inertial forces involved in such sudden movements? The way you describe them would be fatal to a human body. Also some piece of mysterious Vonari tech?...
Don't get me wrong, I like how you think and just about every idea you listed a couple of posts back, but the above would only be realistic if some kind of inertia-canceling tech was a major part of this game, which it is clearly not seeing the use of inertial and mdts flight.

So contrary to your previous suggestions, I find the above to be slightly unrealistic.

[Munshine]

About cosmetics, Evochron backrground can look pretty cold, empty and generic sometimes. You got the feeling that ships are unmanned. In fact, it's as if humanity has becomed Cylon. Sure, radio chatters are cool but it's not enough.

Even in Frontier when you were docked at a station or at a spaceport, you could see pictures of people with ...well strange hats.
I think the game would be more immersive and more warmful if you could see human faces or Vonari faces during combat or some animated backgrounds or landscapes with human activity (or at least som beautiful hand-drawn ones which is cheaper in term of dev cost) when you are at rest in a Station or a City.

[-splosives-]

About cosmetics, Evochron backrground can look pretty cold, empty and generic sometimes. You got the feeling that ships are unmanned. In fact, it's as if humanity has becomed Cylon. Sure, radio chatters are cool but it's not enough.

Even in Frontier when you were docked at a station or at a spaceport, you could see pictures of people with ...well strange hats.
I think the game would be more immersive and more warmful if you could see human faces or Vonari faces during combat or some animated backgrounds or landscapes with human activity (or at least som beautiful hand-drawn ones which is cheaper in term of dev cost) when you are at rest in a Station or a City.

This will partially be resolved in the upcoming expansion. there will be some voice acting near stations telling you where to dock and guiding traffic and stuff.
Trading with AI also has voice acting now.
Also AI docking in stations and going out to mine asteroids when you're near an asteroid field.

It really makes everything feel more alive.

[hank]

It took me a long time to finally buy a license at a spaceport. Now that I have had one for a few weeks I was wondering how do I know if I'm getting my discount.

I thought the price shown for items (like equipment and weapons) was the open market price and when I bought that item the amount deducted from my stash of money would be less by the 25%~. But its not. If an item cost 2 million, it took 2 million off my account. So the question is, can something be added so I can see what I'm paying vs what non-licensed people pay?

( i suppose i have a trust issue )

[-splosives-]

All the prices will be updated for you. I can assure you that they will be cheaper than in an other station.

[Marvin]

Currently, the only way to determine how much of a discount you're getting is to visit a nearby station where you don't have a license. Which is one of the reasons for buying a license in the first place: trade. Buy items at the station where you get the discount and then sell at the station where you don't.

[DynamicRanger]

I'd like to see less aerodynamic models for the missiles. Admittedly, you only ever see the front or rear of a missile in action, but in the menus the missiles appear designed for airplanes (pointed nose and fins).

Maybe something more like this:



or



or



or

[Marvin]

Then we could watch them tumble out of control when employed against planetside Rebel ships.


Edit: While many planets have plants, I meant the planet (and its atmosphere) ... not its biological contents.

[Edited on 11-25-2012 by Marvin]

[-splosives-]

Exactly, those weapons are designed to be multi purpose missiles.

[KingArthur]

In the Same Venue as the EXCALIBUR, that Being MUTIPLE ORDANANCE, I'd Like to See a SINGLE MISSLE with EIGHT SMALLER SUB-MUNITIONS each with a YEILD of 225 (TOTAL MISSLE YIELD: 1800) that can INDEPENDANTLY TARGET MULTIPLE AREAS of Your OPPONENTS SHIP. Though 225 may not do Much Damage a SWARM of these MUCH SMALLER SUB-MUNITIONS Would NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHOT DOWN and Would OVERWHELM either MANUAL or AUTO CM's Almost GARAUNTYING at Least ONE HIT.

[Kulin]

Hi,

i'm new to this Forum and registered because i like evochron mercenary and saw this thread. I want to describe the obstacles i had to overcome and the impressions that had a negative Impact on my oppinion about the game. Some things that could be improved from my Point of view.

(I know it's easier to say such things than to do it. It's just my Impression, without the Intention to provoke someone in any way. So please take no offense. )

1. Grapics, textures and cockpit UI are in need of an overhaul. It's getting old.
2. There could be more different music titles.
3. The ship components are too linear for my taste. For example: Engine 1, Engine 2 and so on. It would be nice to get different engines with different pros and cons. Some with higher top Speed. Some with better acceleration. It's fairly boring to improve your ship, beside components like repair Systems, weapons and such things.
4. I don't like your wing systems! All my ships are ugly! I think its impossible to create a Leviathan with Night Hawks that are in some Kind beautiful. I think it would be better to tie the turn rate and agility for 100% the engine and the hull size itself and give us just good designed ship-frames with nice wings, fitting to this design. Propably add some other component configuration Options like weapon capacity and / or Mounts to replace the wings. Something like in Arvoch Alliance.
5. You guys have strange priorities. Your tutorial and tutorial videos are 100% spoken. But you don't want to give your main storyline or pilot chatter some voiceovers? The text is not THAT long.
6. I really don't like the map in this game:
   • It's sometimes Buggy, clumsy and hard to use. A mouse zoom would be awesome. Just zoom to the place where the mouse cursor is., not to the place where my ship is when i use the wheel. I know where i am. When i open the map i need to know where i want to go to(most of the time).
   • I also don't like that there are no immersive components in it. When i read a map i don't only want to see the names of the planets. I want to get somehow more Details about every object. Especially some meta information. Like: for example city size. A Little bit of history. Pirates and hostiles. Harvestable Resources. Such things. Improved by the knowledge of your Navigator and your Science officer.

I think a very good map is something very important in a game that is so focused on Exploration. And it would bring the whole universe to live.
[*]A Evochron-Pedia would be nice. With articles for most of the star Systems and their objects. In combination with the map this would be very nice. It NOT as hard as you might think if you involve the community when writing this little background storys. It would also have it's use for multiplayer. Why not let the owner of a star system change some parts of it's description text?
[/list=1]

I hope something of this is interesting for you.

Best Regards,

Kulin

[Marvin]

Vice once upon a time had a Wiki for the game ... but nobody used it. It's one of those things everyone thinks would be cool ... but never bother with after Vice spends hours upon hours creating. As for the Nav map, do a search for instructions on its use. Also dig deeper into the Inventory console for additional data on each star system. Also check out the Customizing Kit to discover how you can mod cockpits, HUDs, and ships. Also search the forum to find out how to mod or append the quest.

As for additional audio ... not likely. Usually "audio" means cut scenes and, if Vice were to add those, you'd likely see a real exodus from the game. As for audio as it pertains to what's in the Chat window, it would be cool (as it is in Arvoch Alliance) but would also result in a much bigger program (download-wise) ... something Vice isn't likely to create.

[-splosives-]

Hi,

i'm new to this Forum and registered because i like evochron mercenary and saw this thread. I want to describe the obstacles i had to overcome and the impressions that had a negative Impact on my oppinion about the game. Some things that could be improved from my Point of view.

(I know it's easier to say such things than to do it. It's just my Impression, without the Intention to provoke someone in any way. So please take no offense. )

1. Grapics, textures and cockpit UI are in need of an overhaul. It's getting old.
2. There could be more different music titles.
3. The ship components are too linear for my taste. For example: Engine 1, Engine 2 and so on. It would be nice to get different engines with different pros and cons. Some with higher top Speed. Some with better acceleration. It's fairly boring to improve your ship, beside components like repair Systems, weapons and such things.
4. I don't like your wing systems! All my ships are ugly! I think its impossible to create a Leviathan with Night Hawks that are in some Kind beautiful. I think it would be better to tie the turn rate and agility for 100% the engine and the hull size itself and give us just good designed ship-frames with nice wings, fitting to this design. Propably add some other component configuration Options like weapon capacity and / or Mounts to replace the wings. Something like in Arvoch Alliance.
5. You guys have strange priorities. Your tutorial and tutorial videos are 100% spoken. But you don't want to give your main storyline or pilot chatter some voiceovers? The text is not THAT long.
6. I really don't like the map in this game:
   • It's sometimes Buggy, clumsy and hard to use. A mouse zoom would be awesome. Just zoom to the place where the mouse cursor is., not to the place where my ship is when i use the wheel. I know where i am. When i open the map i need to know where i want to go to(most of the time).
   • I also don't like that there are no immersive components in it. When i read a map i don't only want to see the names of the planets. I want to get somehow more Details about every object. Especially some meta information. Like: for example city size. A Little bit of history. Pirates and hostiles. Harvestable Resources. Such things. Improved by the knowledge of your Navigator and your Science officer.

I think a very good map is something very important in a game that is so focused on Exploration. And it would bring the whole universe to live.
[*]A Evochron-Pedia would be nice. With articles for most of the star Systems and their objects. In combination with the map this would be very nice. It NOT as hard as you might think if you involve the community when writing this little background storys. It would also have it's use for multiplayer. Why not let the owner of a star system change some parts of it's description text?
[/list=1]

I hope something of this is interesting for you.

Best Regards,

Kulin

1: Will be improved in the upcoming update
2: There will also be more music in the update
3: There is no top speed in space. The only thing that can possibly differ in engines is acceleration, fuel consumption and size. All of which are accounted for in the game.
4: your oppinion I guess. I like the wings as they are, but there can always be improvement.
5: I guess the main quest isn't really the point of the game. There will be more voice acting in the expansion
6: the map will get some improvements. No idea if they will satisfy your needs though. do you know you can right click to zoom in any nearby sector?
There's always some description of every system available in the news console in case you didn't know. It would be nice to have some more though.
7: This already exists on Seejay's site. Go to the clan [HB] forum thread to get a link.

[oni14128]

In the Same Venue as the EXCALIBUR, that Being MUTIPLE ORDANANCE, I'd Like to See a SINGLE MISSLE with EIGHT SMALLER SUB-MUNITIONS each with a YEILD of 225 (TOTAL MISSLE YIELD: 1800) that can INDEPENDANTLY TARGET MULTIPLE AREAS of Your OPPONENTS SHIP. Though 225 may not do Much Damage a SWARM of these MUCH SMALLER SUB-MUNITIONS Would NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHOT DOWN and Would OVERWHELM either MANUAL or AUTO CM's Almost GARAUNTYING at Least ONE HIT.

That was what I was hoping the Excal would be. I always love the look of a single missile flying off the rack only to split into 8 halfway to the target and bombard it. Or, make them passive seekers that don't require a lock and each sub-munition would track the nearest target when it separates for an area saturation. Would be perfect if they were low yield kinetics. Knock a whole bunch of enemies around so you don't have to worry about getting shot by everyone while you take out a single target.
Along the same line, how about rocket pods? Maybe a single pod can hold 7 unguided rockets, fire 1 with each press of the trigger or ripple fire if you can make it have different modes. A nice anti-Cap weapon that doesn't kill everything in a 6 k radius, cough FTs, cough.
I have been playing EVE online lately and one thing that I feel could make evochron better is bonuses to ship types. Have certain ships be better at shielding or mining to promote the diff types and not just have it be a ladder climb to the evoch-e of civ equivalent.
Just my thoughts.

[Marvin]

Have certain ships be better at shielding or mining to promote the diff types and not just have it be a ladder climb to the evoch-e of civ equivalent.

I agree on that one. Only problem is ... everyone has their own favorite ship and often complain if it lacks any capability of other ships. It's even a battle (of words) to maintain a fair balance between civilain and military ships. Ergo, certain compromises must be made in an effort to keep everyone satisfied.

[Major Grubert]

My opinion about mapping changed since i started to play

right now there is enough resources with EM tool + mercenary.junholt.se (dont go if you dont want know) map mixed with good navpoint savings you can fly the Evoverse with a Mantis and never use a gate again

but, what i would like is a self building map, where I see only what I discovered, only the places i really was, but nicely done, with fact sheet for each object, distances tools, jump/fuel calculators, no need of to much details on objects , only a scale and mapping tools

the main problem I see in wiki and mapping tools is when it give so much infos that you don't feel to discover anymore...

this is so great when finding a system which is NOT on the map

I prefer the idea of private maps, Clan maps, very valuable maps because old ones , special maps... secret maps









[Edited on 12-4-2012 by Major Grubert]

[oni14128]

Have certain ships be better at shielding or mining to promote the diff types and not just have it be a ladder climb to the evoch-e of civ equivalent.

I agree on that one. Only problem is ... everyone has their own favorite ship and often complain if it lacks any capability of other ships. It's even a battle (of words) to maintain a fair balance between civilain and military ships. Ergo, certain compromises must be made in an effort to keep everyone satisfied.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, I'm not saying make the civ ships as capable as the mil ones. I'm just saying maybe make smaller ships more fuel efficient (this is prob already true) and larger ones able to hold more missiles (after class 2 military it seems like they can all hold 8 so make it an even larger missile bay) or have bonus to weapon damage or capacitor. For the civs maybe make a certain frame get a bonus to mining speed or able to use multiple cargo holds (Ex. two class 5s for a total of 10 cargo slots) or have a better sensor for having items appear on the radar at a longer range than is standard.
I may be wrong but it seems like everyone gets to the starwraith and evoch and thats all that gets flown (correct me if i'm wrong). I just think this would promote people to use the lower class ships if it gave them more incentive.
I am not trying to turn Evochron into something its not, like I said before, it just seems like a ladder climb to the best ship.

[Marvin]

Actually, many of the vets who spend a good portion of their time in PvP use different ships. Some guys prefer maneuverablilty ... which, in a military ship, can't be improved via modified wings. Others prefer greater hull protection. Some pilots flying civilian ships are more interested in fuel "economy" ... and so they sacrifice the option of big engines in order to have bigger fuel tanks. Etc.

As for "clean" maps with nothing on them except what you discover for youself, check out and make use of the Customizing Kit. Then go to Seejay's website and download Atollski's program. And you're all set. (Can't figure out how to use Atoll's program ... and the ste-by-step instructions are too complicated? Then wait for the Expansion and pay AI pilots for "secret" information on where to find uncharted star systems.)

[KingArthur]

MARV Is Right On The BUTTON Regarding FRAME USE. I use a SHRIKE EXCLUSIVELY. My Opponents Vary in their "SHIP OF CHOICE" From the EVOCH-C Through to the CHIMERA.

The Reasons are Just as MARV has Stated except for ONE CONTIGENCEY. "HEAVY-HANDED". The Reason I Have Flown the SHRIKE for Over Two Years Is Due, in Part, to My Heavy-Hand on the Stick.

More Agile Ships Make it HARDER For Me to Re-Aquire a Target after a Pass and To STAY WITH THEM THROUGH A PASS as I Can Not be as "Delicate" with The Stick as Needed.

Lighter Frames = Smaller Fuel Tanks. My SHRIKE CARRIES 2400 UNITS so I Never Need Bother Even LOOKING at My FUEL GAUGE While a EVOCH-C only holds 800 UNITS, which can be DEPLETED FAST in a GOOD PvP.

The SHRIKE has agility: 62, the EVOCH-C: 105 (If I'm not Mistaken)

EACH PILOT will Come to Find their PERSONAL FRAME OF CHOICE. I Always Suggest to My Recruits They TRY ALL MIL FRAMES before Settling on One.

And REMEMBER, You Can OWN more than ONE SHIP.

[Marvin]

And, for the same reason as KA stated, I usually use an Avenger for combat. In a turn with a lighter ship, I always overshoot the mark. If it's a heavier ship, I can't get turned around fast enough. So, for me, the turning rate of the Avenger is just about right.

[SeeJay]

For those that want to explore and find all
systems on their own, I can provide an
excel sheet with only the known systems
listed and plotted on a 2nd tab in that sheet.

If any one is interested in that , let me know
and I'll set it up and upload it to my site.

[oni14128]

I stand corrected.

[KingArthur]

DON'T FEEL CORRECTED, FEEL "INFORMED". I, as well, Have Asked the Questions You Have So Long Ago.