tragic strategery

[Nigel_Strange]

I was flying another solo mission in the war zones. I was annoyed that the "friendly" destroyer was just sitting there, doing pretty much nothing, so I decided to try to get it engaged in the battle. After all, they have missiles, why were they hoarding them?

I lured some vonari into range, but they did not fire.

I hid behind the friendly destroyer when the vonari fired missiles. The missiles passed THROUGH the friendly destroyer without hitting it! Then, the VONARI SHIPS passed through the friendly destroyer without taking a single laser blast.

So, I decided that two could play that game. While the enemy were shooting at me, I returned fire. However, I was apparently close enough to the friendly destroyer that MY shots hit its shield, and so the destroyer turned hostile, even though I was shooting at enemies that were right in front of me.

In other words, the friendly destroyers shields protect the enemy, do not protect me, and serve as a pretext by which they can declare me an enemy.

NOW, they start shooting missiles and using the laser...on ME. So that's what they were saving it for! Apparently, the hoard all their missiles and instead of using them against the enemy, they wait for a friendly pilot to hit them with accidental friendly fire, then they break open the seals and unleash them.

So, now you know why I turned Renegade? Alliance military is lame. That's why they need all the mercenary help they can get against a fairly disorganized bunch of aliens.

It would, actually, be kind of cool if you could change your allegiance in single player.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, I wish the Vonari were hiring. >_>

[Maarschalk]

LOL.....Not only that but when ever your in the middle of a contract some times the friendly capital you supose to protect jumps right from nowhere in you line of fire turning hostile and unleashing all they got on you and the enemy missiles pass right through them as well hitting you......:P:P:P:P

[alpha45]

Yeah. That's something I'd like to see in the next game. It could be integrated with the clan tag, so it would work in MP too.

For example:
[AL][E17]alpha45
[AL] is my allegance to the Alliance military
[E17] is my clan tag

Others would be like:
[IN] Independent
[FD] Federation
[PI] Pirates
[RG] Renegades

And depending on your choice, NPCs would react differently. For example. If you were a Renegade, you would be attacked on sight by most NPCs, but fellow Renegades would respect you. If you had a high rank, you could order them around.

Otherwise, an option could be added to register your clan on the server as a certain type. So if the SD clan registered themselves as a Universal Police type on the Babylon 5 server (that's kinda what they do) the server would make all lawful NPCs (NPC's with a government) to support them and consider them allies, and all non-lawful (pirates, renegades, etc) to act more aggressively towards them. If the Independent Merchants clan registered themselves as a Merchant clan, then most human forces would leave them alone, they would get special deals on trade, and certain defensive weapons (turrets, shields, armor upgrades) would be cheaper and easier to find, however military-grade weapons and ships are locked (a merchant wouldn't buy a fighter) harder to obtain. Also, they would get access to illegal items [banned firearms, Vonari artifacts] to smuggle, although other ships can attack if they discover this cargo. Also, pirates will target them more often.

[Nigel_Strange]

I like the idea of changing your tag and being taken as a friend or foe accordingly. I've always identified with the Renegades. However, the merchant class thing is not quite as exciting for me. It would eat into the freedom of the game, which I value highly (being a Renegade).

However, I don't see why you couldn't build a reputation as a merchant as well as military or civilian fighter. Instead of tracking the number of military missions you do, or the number of ships you kill, it could track how much money you made on trading (or maybe just track your bank account).

So, this way, you aren't restricted by your "class" but you also get perks for being rich. Membership has its privileges.

So, how do you reward people who are wealthy? In real life, of course, you are rewarded with a higher tax rate, but we want the game to be fun, not depressing.

I know in Las Vegas, if you're a high-roller, they comp you rooms, dinners, or whatever. So, maybe having a high merchant class would allow you into more prestigious bars, or maybe they'd comp your repairs, or maybe let you buy stations (and actually enjoy the profits from the station's trades)...

[Nigel_Strange]

First, however, I'd like for the friendly capital ships to act their part, dagnabbit!

[TGS]

Hmmmm is there any chance of getting that fixed? Especially in Multiplayer. I'd really like to see situations where the NPC's are more active and I mean active in all respects. Both in missions and on their own.

And tbh why even have friendly alliance capital ships near you if they're useless lol. Aren't they suppose to keep the peace?

[Jeremy]

They're there to provide psychological support. See, the Alliance cares - they even sent a big battleship on the mission to look pretty and watch you get killed!

[Marvin]

Concerning merchants (traders), keep in mind that IM is based on Asimov's Foundation Trilogy ... where the merchants (traders) were spies, explorers, extortionists and other really neat things.

[DennyMala]

We trade services too......if you know what I mean....

[Marvin]

[chuckle]