Lady MDK
Kameira Lodge
Amarr Empire
502
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Posted - 2016.10.28 18:30:00 -
[1] - Quote
Some time ago i made a post that went on about my imaginings for the future of Dust.
In it I speculated that in my opinion the only way to get the sort of imersion i was after was to make Dust an actually free to play component of EVE itself. So that none subscribing players could play and purchase Dust items off the market, maybe have some basic manufacturing ability to make and sell Dust equipment (or Not Legion equipment as was the thing at the time). But the main reason of this was so that the FPS players could actually see the universe of New Eden around them.
Maybe instead of clone jumping everywhere as was the lore with Dust you actually have to fly to the station/planet where the battle was occuring in a trooper transporter loaded with clones to fight with. But limited to PVE and Public matches.
If you were a subscriber of course you could play eve and Dust for real - getting involved in faction warefare and Sov PVP.
This post caught the eye of one Aiwha Bait who commented on it in a blog on Biomassed called - what if dust offered a subscription? which can be found here http://biomassed.net/2015/06/13/what-if-dust-514-offered-a-subscription/ .
Given some of the up comming changes to EVE i thought i might revisit this idea and see if others liked the idea too.....and how far the idea could be fleshed out.
The first major change to eve is of course the advent of Free to play. By default anyone will be able to download the launcher, create an account and play EVE in a limited, but still meaningful way. Now stop there and think about that for a second...
If the default launcher provides Free to Play access to EVE, if could also be the launcher for your character choosing to play DUST/Nova, or Valkryie, or GunJack. Without paying a penny for subscription obviously.
This is CCP being able to offer all its products under one roof so to speak. But i am interested how far this idea can be pushed.
If I use the example set by Frontier Developments who are the makers of Elite Dangerous, they have actually 2 games in the package, 1 being Elite Dangerous itself which is the actual Universe Itself with trading and exploration and everything like that. And then a stand alone game that is their dog fighting game which uses similar flight mechanics but is supposed to be more of an edge of the seat quick shooter.
DUST/NOVA the Lobby shooter
To run the DUST product from the launcher could start the lobby shooter - which would be the new equivalent of a public match or what I am calling blood sport mode) - Now none of these matches would be subject to match making but you would be able to see who was waiting and challenge them. If you pick someone who is a lot better than you then more fool you. You could join or create a match as either a solo player or a fireteam. They also wouldnt have any impact of the political landscape of EVE as they are hosted in Empire space. However if would provide an ISK flow to the player for winning the match. And some small reward for the loser so they weren't losing everything.
The match would take place in a map the size of one of the larger sockets from DUST. And could have a couple of game modes like domination and aquisition.
How does this integrate into EVE? This is the clever bit (i think anyway lol). Around the map there could be cameras which would capture the game play much like the twitch plugin for EVE allows you to stream your game. This would be streamed to a new UI within EVE which would allow people to bet on a match (CCP would then control flow of isk and objects from EVE related gambling now that external sites are against to EULA).
DUST/NoVA as part of EVE
As someone who plays EVE as Free to Play you would get access to T1 ships of your chosen race and FPS items of a similar standard. But the lobby experience would be gone (or hidden).
Some time ago CCP tried to release an expansion that would allow walking and interaction with people in stations. This was a monumental disaster as when we finally got our hands on it, it was only one room with no interaction and there was no plan for how it was to affect the rest of the game. Which as you all know is the key.
This mode if almost never used unless you want to see the jacket that you have just purchased from the NEX store but is pretty much useless. It needs to be replaced in my opinion with Walking and Fighting in stations (cus its more interesting than walking) .
I'm thinking huge maps that rely on streaming content as you go from area to area with multiple objectives. There maybe PVE also on these maps which will give some use to them outside of taking structures over. You land your ship in station and are greeted with the normal screen when docked however if you were to click the new button (called transfer to combat clone or something)
Peaceful contact PVE - You would appear in the station HUB with other players wanting to do PVE in the station there would be agents stand around or on screens waiting to give out missions, Drones or pirates could infest NPC ships for example.
PVE Invasion - Your own PI structures or drilling platforms could be infested be drones or pirates which may affect their ability to operate. At this point the POCO structure would need to be replaced by a orbital elevator. You would be required to fly out to the correct planet dock with the elevator and dock. Then choose which of your structures you would like to visit/defend.
To be continued.....
Anyone getting annoyed by reading of the above post should consider the following.
I don't care so neither should you :)
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Lady MDK
Kameira Lodge
Amarr Empire
502
|
Posted - 2016.10.28 18:52:00 -
[2] - Quote
Factional Warefare
There would need to be some changes to the existing mechancs within EVE here however. The structure in the FW sites would be a small station, rather than having to be within range of it for 5 minutes or whatever to take it over you would dock with it change to Combat clone and hack the terminal (think domination). Of course you would need to defend this in case someone else tries to take it back.
The issue here is that EVE is being decided by fps gameplay which was always a problem - however we are talking about the same community here anyone playing eve is playing dust/Nova and not replying on someone else. Never the less i think this would need to have some mechanic whereby you could take the plex by simply being in space around the structure but the more structures you hack the quicker the space will fall similar to how the dust bonuses used to work. So you dont have to play the FPS module to win but it helps.
Sov space - This is where things would get very interesting....
The thing here is you get thousands of people involved here and numbers to a high degree make a difference yet FPS are limited in the numbers they can support due to their nature.
Now at this point bear in mind I havent played the sov side of eve for some time so if i'm wrong about any of the mechanics please be nice :).
As far as im aware you can challenge sov of a system by running the PVE sites similar to the ones in fac war but with some which would now take a similar form to the facwar ones (the option hacking in FPS mode to get a quicker system takeover). This would not only give the chance for smaller fleets but also small fireteam fps play if you choose. The added bonus here if that when the station or citadel (if there is one in the system) becomes vulnerable you will need to take multiple objectives so would have a team of several dozens fighting for different objectives you may even need to place a contract to fill your FPS slots with actual mercs not just your own fleet members.
Now maybe this is a huge map similar where an FC can select squads and order them to attack or defend different objectives but using zoning and content streaming this would allow many soldiers to fight at once. An issue i always had with Dust was that some of the battle areas had multiple maps on them but you had to stay in the bit of the map you were assigned to. If zones were used wisely you would visit the whole battle, maybe even help out another unit if you were not being attacked at that time.
All the FPS stuff would of course be in Unreal4 but it would be loaded up when clicking on the transfer to combat clone button in eve much the same was that Captains quarters did But would maintain some look of EVE and chats and the same database.
You would be able to buy combat Armour specific skins in the NEX to apply to your suits just like in DUST....
Anyone getting annoyed by reading of the above post should consider the following.
I don't care so neither should you :)
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