Towing back to port

Exim · Post by **Exim** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:27 am

I wonder what are other people's reactions and possibility of equipement being able to "stack" so you are allowed multiple of the same and they give double the effect?

So for some of us deep space explorers... we can have 5x Jump drives (just as example but it wont be practical since no shield)? or perhaps longer spooling time to jump but time taken is still slightly less then the time required to do 5 jumps? so there is slight advantage...

These "Relay System" are they not meant to double energy capacity? can this be extended to jump energy too?

the jump takes all energy no matter how big/small the jump... can that be revised? or is this intentionally considered to be this way?

If the arguement is that a "jump" is a speedless travel, its actually folding space and time, thus no matter how far or near, its uses all energy... then if being able to equipe 5x jump drives... should enable me to jump 5x as far

Bottomline is... I would really like to explore these uncharted planets... and the lack of an ability to detect stars and planets I think can make things very difficult... perhaps adding an equipment which can detect stars and planets within 200sectors and stations within 100sectors would be good? and it requires 100% per use and shows for 60seconds with its direction... kinda like the cycle of stealth generator...

I think this would attract more people to venture out into deep space... because at this stage... without cheating... there is no way of know where things are... and there is a possibility of not reaching anywhere even with 4000 fuel... it could mean not being able to get rescued and never able to come back

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:38 pm

I, think you have some valid Ideas here.

I do not like the stacking of equipment though, there is a Mantis Jump Drive that alowes you to jump 10 sectors at a time. There are not enough equipment slots already.

I, like the Idea of some way to detect stars and planets, but I think a better Idea is to make that part of the Navigators job, and the more experience he has the farther he can detect stars and planets up to a certain distance!

Also I like the Idea, for part of the Sience OPS and the Navigator's experience level, to be able to directly jump at a planets docking bay and jump through black holes, and into caves. After all they are suppose to be the Experts in their fields after all that is what you are hiring them for.

:):)

[Edited on 3-23-2009 by Maarschalk]

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:35 pm

Originally posted by Maarschalk
Also I like the Idea, for part of the Sience OPS and the Navigator's experience level, to be able to directly jump at a planets docking bay and jump through black holes, and into caves. After all they are suppose to be the Experts in their fields after all that is what you are hiring them for.

aww what and take all the fun away?

Karin · Post by **Karin** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:52 pm

I like the idea of having fewer (or at least a variety in the number of) equipment slots, maybe tied to the type of frame you have. Particularly if you can have more of one item. As a miner I would love to be able to pull up ore quicker with 2 tractor beams at the expense of other ship systems -- thus making it more exciting knowing I have to watch my fuel more closely, or keep an eye on where enemies are, etc.

Anyways, neat idea, for whatever it's worth!

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:09 am

I like the idea of twin tractor beams, for mining. So much of the time, in the game, is set up doing mundane tasks. You need money to play. but, do you want to spend time making that money? Or, would you rather be out there playing the game?

it's the same with getting out to Rift space, , Sol, etc ... 70 jumps!! Fair enough the first time. But, after that, how about you set the co-ords and the jumps happen automatically? Some seem able to do those 70 jumps in a couple of minutes - darned if I know how - I'm squatting over the keyboard, hitting Alt F2 for about half an hour. Then there's getting back out - darned nightmare. Mind, I've heard rumours that you can get something that lets you set up your own wormholes to anywhere!!

Energy is another point. I like doing just guns combat. So, far, I've been able to manage up to three reds, at the one time, but, above that, there's just too many missiles in the air for me to handle, without hitting the afterburners and bugging out. Something to be able to increase the energy would be nice.

Real long range radar would be nice too. What about a R&D station, here and there - where you could set up your own development of ships, weapons, equipment, number of bays etc....? it could be set up on the level your have achieved, amount of kills/contracts, and, or, crew skills, amount of money, systems travelled, or, any combination?

In MP, it would be nice, when doing military contracts, in the war zones, to be able to do your own contract, regardless of who else is doing one, at the same time. It would be nice to have the choice of individual, or group contracts. At the moment, you can, in a war zone, accept a contract and see no waypoints because someone else is already on a contract, and you can't even see their waypoints.

You can find, in the war zones, that you can have a contact blown out, or awarded, and you've done nothing! Who wants credits for someone elses achievements? Not me!

How about being able to use your tractor beam to strip the armour of enemy ships? Well, why not?

I hope that this is seen as constructive criticism, not just a moan. I think that Vice has done brilliant with LR, just that, I and others, going by the updates, think that it can be improved!

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:20 am

I agree that long-range exploration needs some thought. There's little incentive to do so, and even if you want to, you won't really run into something 9 out of 10 times. I proposed a specialized Mining Beam once, and a specialized Tractor beam, possibly with levels of effectiveness. That sounded smart to me

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:39 am

Originally posted by tha_rami
I agree that long-range exploration needs some thought. There's little incentive to do so, and even if you want to, you won't really run into something 9 out of 10 times. I proposed a specialized Mining Beam once, and a specialized Tractor beam, possibly with levels of effectiveness. That sounded smart to me

What about long range radar? Possibly inter quadrant?

Karin · Post by **Karin** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:11 am

Using the probes could be a neat idea, but I can't recall how they currently work. Are they fired and they travel long distances, returning sensor data? Or do they remain at the same location once you launch them?

Anyway, just a thought.

Venus · Post by **Venus** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:27 pm

Something I'd like, is to be able to add another Cannon into the beam slot, so I can fire both together, or alternate between different types.

Another option, is an extra equip slot.

I do love the realism of the wormholes not being named to their destination... getting out of something like Vonaria if you don't know how or where to go, is downright painful. There should be in such an area, at least one visible way out in nav map. The area is huge and could take ages to find your way out. Not so bad online, but I'd hate to be someone who only plays single player and wander in there. Even worse if they saved in there... either game over... or spend hours/days trying to find a way out.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:39 pm

Originally posted by Venus
Something I'd like, is to be able to add another Cannon into the beam slot, so I can fire both together, or alternate between different types.

Another option, is an extra equip slot.

I do love the realism of the wormholes not being named to their destination... getting out of something like Vonaria if you don't know how or where to go, is downright painful. There should be in such an area, at least one visible way out in nav map. The area is huge and could take ages to find your way out. Not so bad online, but I'd hate to be someone who only plays single player and wander in there. Even worse if they saved in there... either game over... or spend hours/days trying to find a way out.

That's the realism of Space Exploration, I mean getting Lost or stuck, that is why I think to add more realism to it is to be able to Hire crew members with special skills, who know the area your traveling to!;)

Karin · Post by **Karin** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:18 pm

Ah while we're at it, I think a floodlight item would be cool too for when you're exploring caves, or mining in the night. It has no real functional purpose though, apart from illuminating things, but I think that could be neat too if it increased visibility (and used energy, and killed visibility if you left it on inside a nebula, etc)

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:18 pm

I like the added exploration equipment idea. I'd like to be able to go exploring and sight seeing.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:26 pm

Not sure what I'd want for my current mission of visiting every city on every planet in every system. I plan on being busy for quite awhile. Any more ideas people?

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:39 pm

This game has all the navigation aids necessary to find your way back to civilization. If you've forgotten the coordinates to every other star system, sector coordinates 0,0,0 will always lead you back to Sapphire. Just plug 'em in and follow your nav point.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:41 pm

Originally posted by Marvin
This game has all the navigation aids necessary to find your way back to civilization. If you've forgotten the coordinates to every other star system, sector coordinates 0,0,0 will always lead you back to Sapphire. Just plug 'em in and follow your nav point.

And have a VERY big fuel tank (or some friends) lol.

Loki · Post by **Loki** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:47 pm

I have a suggestion that should be a pretty easy fix. When a station takes its' rent for a hangar I'd like to be informed which station is taking my money. I have a station charging me rent right now and I have no idea what station it is. I only have one that I use regularly and I probably threw something into storage when we first got that ability but now I can't pull my stuff out because i don't know where it's at.

As for deep space exploration I agree that it would be nice to have a little extra help looking for hidden planets etc. Long Range Sensors or something like that. It wouldn't have to be super powerful, just make the odds a little better of finding something. I love the exploration aspect of the game but the truth is I don't do it. I have four kids and work sixty hours a week. My gaming time is limited and I just don't want to spend it ALT-F2ing into the void with limited chance of actually finding something. Let me clarify one thing. This is a suggestion, not a complaint. I LOVE this game and if Vice didn't lift another finger to make it better I'd say he's done more than any other ten developers.

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:59 pm

Originally posted by Loki
I just don't want to spend it ALT-F2ing into the void with limited chance of actually finding something.

not that I don't like your idea ( I do it's cool ) but even in the depths of space there are usually pointers
SPOILER - hidden below-----------
those ships you find in the middle of nowhere, they are usually going somewhere

[Edited on 3-24-2009 by verbosity]

berighteous · Post by **berighteous** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:40 pm

I was wondering about that... Good to know.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:53 am

Originally posted by Loki
I have a suggestion that should be a pretty easy fix. When a station takes its' rent for a hangar I'd like to be informed which station is taking my money. I have a station charging me rent right now and I have no idea what station it is. I only have one that I use regularly and I probably threw something into storage when we first got that ability but now I can't pull my stuff out because i don't know where it's at.

You can find your stored ships station ID and coordinates in one of the games file. Happened to me once. I do not remmember which file though!;)

Exim · Post by **Exim** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:24 am

As we were discussing on IRC, the mantis jump drive is experimental, we came up with an idea of adding a new equipment which must be used in conjuction with the mantis drive to travel further. Rather than stacking equipment...

Since both equipement are "experimental" but since mantis drive already safely travels 10 sectors, the new addition should allow travel of up to your fuel tank capacity with elevated risk... so the longer the jump the higher the risk... and a maximum of 4000 sectors can be jumped... this jump method should not be a method that can be relied upon... and should have a random chance to cause side-effect even if a jump was successfully made...

Risk Ideas:
- Random chance of jump inacurracy... (may leave ship stranded, if pilot risk the max of their capacity)
- Random chance of 99% flight systems damage... successful or not (not able to do anything until damage is repaired)

This should allow faster travel and for space exploration with a touch of "Lost in Space"
Perhaps there should be an option to ask for fuel from friendly NPC vessels at a very high cost.

and I still think there should be a better method of detecting stars and planets... maybe something that can be equiped to our laser beam or weapons slot so such detection method will require recharge?

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:26 am

Exelent suggestions, I'm all for it, makes the game more intresting!;)

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:04 pm

You know, the least dangerous(and most successful) way to explore is to have a copy of the Universe file open while you're flying... >_> Sure beats flying through empty space for months.

Also, getting stuck somewhere with low fuel really isn't a problem, since you can change your sector position in your pilot profile file.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:23 pm

****SPOILER ALERT!*****

Originally posted by Jeremy
You know, the least dangerous(and most successful) way to explore is to have a copy of the Universe file open while you're flying... >_> Sure beats flying through empty space for months.

Also, getting stuck somewhere with low fuel really isn't a problem, since you can change your sector position in your pilot profile file.

No one reads the manual, they all read the Universedata.txt file and the Pilot profile file, the two most important survival documents!LOL:P:P:P

Should have put spoiler alert like I did!LOL:P:P:P

[Edited on 4-27-2009 by Maarschalk]

Glock36 · Post by **Glock36** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:13 am

oh I'm gonna catch hell for this comment. I've been playing this game for a week or so now pretty much all the time. It's a great game. But it's too realistic to attract mass sales. If this game is going to grow and vice is going to make the real money he deserves, the game is going to have to get easier in some ways. You certainly can't have a situation where a player gets lost and has to start over. I see a lot of good suggestions up there about the visibility of more map items.

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:13 am

Originally posted by Glock36
oh I'm gonna catch hell for this comment. I've been playing this game for a week or so now pretty much all the time. It's a great game. But it's too realistic to attract mass sales. If this game is going to grow and vice is going to make the real money he deserves, the game is going to have to get easier in some ways. You certainly can't have a situation where a player gets lost and has to start over. I see a lot of good suggestions up there about the visibility of more map items.

You shouldn't have to "catch hell" for any comment, as long as it is constructive or has a valid purpose. No one person has any greater or lesser right to offer suggestions; whether they are accepted or not is up to Vice, and he does a good job of deciding which suggestions should be implemented.

About that difficulty factor; the game is more complex in some ways than any other Space Sim... but that also makes it "deeper" and more realistic. A lot of people appreciate that. As for ... "losing sales"? I dunno, I'm not a business major.

Some things may seem VERY difficult at first... but practice makes perfect. I don't think I really had a handle on the game (started with Evochron Renegades) for at least 2-3 weeks, and I was playing several hours a day.

For me, my biggest problem was understanding the Reputation system in Evochron Renegades; it was SO DIFFERENT than other similar games. At first it even seemed illogical (to me). Eventually it made perfect sense (when I started to consider the ... "politics" ... of the backstory, and that opened up a new dimension, made the game even more interesting). I think *in the long run*, anyone having difficulty with any aspect of the game will get a sense of achievement after they have succeeded. Your feeling (generally?) that the game should possibly be "made easier"; you might change your mind with a little more time.

(edited for a spelling error)

[Edited on 4-28-2009 by Storm]