Station attack alerts: introducing additional messages?

FotonCat · Post by **FotonCat** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:36 am

Often there are cases when station is attacked by accident with no intend to destroy it. And then, we can see the alert "Station attack at sector...". And no more messages about further fate of station.

It would be nice to be able to distinguish if station was attacked deliberately or not to be able to decide whether or not it worth to fly and defend the station.

How about introducing additional messages when station is attacked continuously (maybe even with station's shield/hull percentage in brackets) and/or being already destroyed?

CS-ACI- · Post by **CS-ACI-** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:03 am

Hello,

From post: 186875, Topic: tid=12553, author=FotonCat wrote:How about introducing additional messages when station is attacked continuously (maybe even with station's shield/hull percentage in brackets) and/or being already destroyed?

This would fill up the chat window quite quickly.

Even more so if more than one station is being attacked.

Steve

DeathTech · Post by **DeathTech** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:32 am

From post: 186875, Topic: tid=12553, author=FotonCat wrote: It would be nice to be able to distinguish if station was attacked deliberately or not to be able to decide whether or not it worth to fly and defend the station.

How about introducing additional messages when station is attacked continuously (maybe even with station's shield/hull percentage in brackets) and/or being already destroyed?

I'm not too sure about this and can't remember when or where it was said but I believe Vice stated at some point, and correct me if I am wrong: "Stations can only be destroyed by Players at current, not NPC's"

So I don't think there is a problem here.
Of course I may be remembering that wrongly.

Although judging from the 17 times I was killed inside of a station by FDN forces in Pearl, with the station surviving without issues (attacked by an assault carrier and several destroyers) I would assume A.I never intentionally attack a station. (Unless maybe a defence contract or something occurs and the player takes it.)

From my point of view that's mostly speculation though.
I'm pretty sure about the "only players destroy stations" thing though.

CS-ACI- · Post by **CS-ACI-** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:31 am

Hello,

FotonCat is thinking about MP.

Steve

FotonCat · Post by **FotonCat** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:22 pm

Yes, my topic is about multiplayer.
Maybe at least add a message of station (command module) destruction?
I think, currently it doesn't have any sense to see this "Station being attacked..." at all without message of it's demolition after some time.
How could I decide whether or not to go and defend?

DeathTech · Post by **DeathTech** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 1:03 pm

Found the word of Vice regarding station creation & Destruction:

From post: 186640, Topic: tid=12535, author=Vice wrote: Currently, all building and destruction operations are done by the player(s) (for a variety of reasons established during the course of development/testing). Although incidental module destruction may occur from time to time. This may change at some point, but for now, build/destroy events are exclusive to players.

So, stations will in most cases only be: Destroyed by players
Built by players
On exception for default stations. & Sometimes stations lose a module here and there by accidents. (I am assuming A.I warping in on the modules or something like accident friendly fire by nearby ships (in warzones, etc...))

By that I'd have to conclude that 99% of the time if you ever do get that message. It is generally intentional attacking of a station.
And the only thing you can do at current to determine if you should go defend is: look at the map and see if its too far or not.
If you feel you want to know if it was demolished. I assume you can just fly there and check.

Though considering destruction events are limited to Players.
You can just ask in global chat if the station was destroyed or not. And if it was a misfire or something. (does happen sometimes

IMO adding extra checks and automated messages may just annoy more people and make the servers slightly more under load.
From the point of view of a single player (player), it would just add extra slowdown and more lines of code to process that aren't needed.

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:37 pm

From post: 186882, Topic: tid=12553, author=DeathTech wrote:Though considering destruction events are limited to Players. You can just ask in global chat if the station was destroyed or not. And if it was a misfire or something. (does happen sometimes

IMO adding extra checks and automated messages may just annoy more people and make the servers slightly more under load. From the point of view of a single player (player), it would just add extra slowdown and more lines of code to process that aren't needed.

I concur. Besides, if a station is under attack, it doesn't really matter if it's deliberate or accidental. A kill is a kill.

Kamiyami · Post by **Kamiyami** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 3:21 am

I have, on more occasions than I care to admit, accidentally discharged weapons inside, or nearby a station(fat-fingering FTL), but I agree it does seem way more of an inconvenience to run excess lines of code, and/or flood chat, than for someone to occasionally have to make a patrol detour and find a false alarm.

Better a rare and temporary nuisance, than a persistent, background and/or message log one.

matchbox2022 · Post by **matchbox2022** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:03 am

When I see it, I totally ignore it.

There really aren't enough players to do anything about attacks and defend it or care frankly.

Personally I just leave 99% of stations alone unless someone I want is hiding inside....like a hard candy coating.

Or I get trolled bad...aka someone setting up weapon pods at a save point or gate.

Which I laugh off if I can get away and take care of it.

Long story short, I get its point and all, but as far as more messages I think it serves its purpose pretty well....

If we get to the 100+ ppl online every night, then yeah it'd need to be re-tweaked for sure....what your saying makes a lot of sense, but the effort involved for the ppl who are on the servers just isn't worth it.

[Edited on 3-22-2016 by matchbox2022]

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:26 am

From post: 186901, Topic: tid=12553, author=matchbox2022 wrote:Or I get trolled bad...aka someone setting up weapon pods at a save point or gate.

Which I laugh off if I can get away and take care of it.

If there was only one server and no single player, then that might be a problem. As it is, though ... it's no problem at all.

FotonCat · Post by **FotonCat** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:51 am

No one can tell, why we ever need "Station being attacked.." without "Station being destroyed.." message at all?
If you don't wanna see flood in chat, let's completely remove messages about station attack. Because it has no sense now.

[Edited on 3-22-2016 by FotonCat]

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:40 am

Programming-wise, I can picture how Vice could determine when a station is coming under attack. But, at what point would you consider it to be in danger of destruction?

FotonCat · Post by **FotonCat** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:00 am

From post: 186908, Topic: tid=12553, author=Marvin wrote:Programming-wise, I can picture how Vice could determine when a station is coming under attack. But, at what point would you consider it to be in danger of destruction?

When the variable of hull percentage of command module will drop to 50% or lower, for example.

[Edited on 3-22-2016 by FotonCat]

FotonCat · Post by **FotonCat** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:30 am

Or just when command module is already destroyed (i.e. object was deleted from universe) program can call a procedure to throw corresponding system message.

matchbox2022 · Post by **matchbox2022** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:40 am

I do see it as useful,

But I mean....has anyone here rushed to a station's rescue yet?

I think it is great, and with a 50% hull margin for command it wouldn't be crazy to implement, but there aren't enough players yet?
Now I'd see it and think, well there goes another one, and get back to combat

.

If I were "around" Id likely check it out. But that assumes there's a lot of people on, so the chances of someone "around" being a lot better.
If people think like me.

PS. Amount of players does seem to be getting better, since darkstar went off it seems players are grouping up on orion sigma eu. So yeah, what you say has merit, especially if we get up to server maximums.

[Edited on 3-22-2016 by matchbox2022]

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 3:34 pm

From post: 186911, Topic: tid=12553, author=FotonCat wrote:Or just when command module is already destroyed (i.e. object was deleted from universe) program can call a procedure to throw corresponding system message.

I think that would be a case of closing the barn door after the horse already got out.