Sever Program and New Multiplayer Features...

Post by **Vice** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:01 pm

Some of you have probably been wondering what has been going on with the server program. A series of events and player requests/discussions have resulted in a fairly extensive effort to expand the capabilities, security, and options of the server program and multiplayer system.

One major objective was to introduce a text only, 2D only version of the server program that did not have a requirement for a 3D graphics card. This involved porting the server program over to a different language and rewriting/changing much of the systems of the program for the new language and target platforms. At one point, it seemed as though this project would only take a few weeks, but several major obstacles surfaced that prevented any further development until they can be fixed or worked around. In short, the programming language could not properly interface with the game's multiplayer system. No solution to this has yet been found, but I am in contact with the author to try and find a solution. For now, this project is on hold.

The other set of objectives involve changes to the clan territory system. With the next update, players will receive about 10X the amount for each territory payment. If a player who is a member of a clan that controls a territory is online, the rate of decay for ownership of that territory is stopped. And lastly, player built stations will further reduce the rate of decay if they are built in the territory and are marked with the appropriate clan tag. The more stations a clan builds, the slower their rate of decay for a territory. Stations will be a way to help maintain control of a territory.

These changes will hopefully encourage more building, defense, offense, and maintenance of clan controlled territory and reward players for expanding their empires and interacting with other clans. They can watch for opporunities to invade and destroy opposing stations to further deplete the level of control of a system while also defending their own stations from attack to maintain their own control. And as before, ship-to-ship battles and cooperative PvE objectives will still provide territory control benefits.

With these changes comes a significant question. Now that stations can be marked as clan owned and provide clan territory control benefits, there are three directions we can go with the R1 server for this new feature set:

1 - Leave the existing stations in place, virtually all of which will provide no territory control benefits for any clan. New stations that are properly marked will begin control benefits.

2 - Remove all existing stations to allow for new open space where new clan marked stations can be built.

3 - Leave the existing stations in place, but have clan tags added to them based on current territory map data on the server.

So based on the details above, please reply with which option you would prefer for existing stations.

GORF · Post by **GORF** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:12 pm

2 let the good times roll

sundalo · Post by **sundalo** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:55 pm

Sounds awesome Vice, now we can really have some competitive wars! Multiplayer will come alive like never before with these changes.

sundalo · Post by **sundalo** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:59 pm

Gonna go with 2 on this one as well, let's start this off from scratch lol.

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 10:24 pm

I too, would vote for 2. More fun for BA.

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 10:39 pm

Well, since Gorf probably has the most to lose from a re-set of stations ... and still opts for 2, so do I.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:16 pm

I'll go with #2 as well...

Galaxian · Post by **Galaxian** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:55 pm

Great work Vice!

I am currently a privateer and not much of a station builder but I'll put in my $.02 and vote for #2 as well as it looks like the best option to me.

Maybe this will generate some work for the independent merc looking to make some credits by hiring out to various clans for specific missions....

GUNSLINGR · Post by **GUNSLINGR** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:18 am

I'm gonna go with #2

thats my 2 cents.

-Gunslingr

[Edited on 1-1-2011 by GUNSLINGR]

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:42 am

If we "Clan UE" still had 6 or more territories I would vote for #3 but as we are down to TWO I will vote for that number so I vote for (there goes they bank balance, lol ) #2 also.

:(:D:P

Hitori · Post by **Hitori** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:46 am

Even though I am Clan less I say #2!

Sidius · Post by **Sidius** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 4:06 am

Number 2 I'm a BA member but show it. I love shaking the wheel barrow full of apples.

Dengar · Post by **Dengar** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:53 pm

Yeah 2. Start all over again now that the builders and destroyers know how do do all that stuff.

Parapilot · Post by **Parapilot** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:57 pm

I go with 2 too. So far it is looking unanimous.

ShoHashi · Post by **ShoHashi** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:20 pm

Yes, I concur with point #2 as well.

-Sho

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 5:51 pm

Overwhelmingly every one is voting relatively for #2, so I think #2 is the way to go...

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 3:20 am

let rip the number two!

...um, I mean get rid of the stations.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:02 am

Number 2 works for me!;)

Poor "Sir Build A Lot" will have much to do!:P (Thats Gorf)

Scavenger4711 · Post by **Scavenger4711** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:58 am

There are already many stations out there... maybe too many. So let's make a fresh start with option number 2

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:28 am

Yes ... Gorf is already well on his way to polluting all of space with oddly named stations.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:30 am

ROFL....Noticed that about the Cow in Wolfs clothing.....

Bers40k · Post by **Bers40k** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:25 pm

i very hope texxt server is born

DennyMala · Post by **DennyMala** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:08 pm

I'm for a fresh start too, so may it be 2.

The only other fair way would have been to set the clan tag of the one who built the station but it's unfeasible.

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:18 pm

It has already been reset Denny. In fact there seems to be thousands of new clan stations built already.

I also hope a 2d based server is possible one day because I might be able to run it on my netbook or even in the background on my PC. The ingame hosting never seems to work for me.

[Edited on 8-1-2011 by soulsacrifice]

shilo · Post by **shilo** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:05 am

From post: 99452, Topic: tid=7093, author=soulsacrifice wrote:It has already been reset Denny. In fact there seems to be thousands of new clan stations built already.

I also hope a 2d based server is possible one day because I might be able to run it on my netbook or even in the background on my PC. The ingame hosting never seems to work for me.

[Edited on 8-1-2011 by soulsacrifice]

I am running both fine on my system. Granted its not a laptop but no issues here running the server and game.