|
|
| Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 1 post(s) |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
   |
Posted - 2013.01.28 04:49:00 -
[1] - Quote
Right now there are certain aspects of the Eve/Dust interaction through corp battles and the Orbital Bombardment events that work really well, while others are more problematic. From the mechanics side in actual combat I've seen little to no bugs. Most of the deficiencies are in the current mechanics of selecting a district for a battle, and the consensual PvP aspect of the current contract system. The system will likely be iterated, so this feedback is to help problematic features be identified for updating.
First, the Orbital Bombardment mechanic works well. Once the mechanics are explained properly, the Eve side guys have no trouble reliably executing Orbital Strikes and the mercs on the ground have little issue selecting the Starship Tactical option. It does seem pilots have issues at times connecting to the district and I've noticed pilots double clicking a district and quickly connecting and then disconnecting. It can also be problematic for Dusters to communicate the location of the battle once they are already engaged in combat since the district is not displayed on the leader board only the system and planet number. Another issue is the lack of a clock in the Dust merc quarters and in battle that shows the current Eve time, which is the best way to communicate to Eve pilots when their support will be needed. Also, It seems like if there was an option for a Duster to broadcast a corp battle in an in game channel with a channel command (OB Request: Jita IV - D13 - 0800) the process of Dusters telling Eve pilots where to go could be streamlined.
Picking a system for the event has also proven challenging because the current setup is akin to rolling a dice. The more temperate planets in a system the higher the probability it will have of appearing in the contracts and being selected. Due to this mechanic the system picks for the events have been limited to systems with 3+ temperate planets. When I quickly refreshed the contracts in an attempt to pull up a specific system that only contained 1 temperate planet it was not uncommon for it to take up to 15 minutes to get one contract hit. The current GUI also results in the dust merc feeling no connection to these contracts as part of a larger scale conflict between the factions and has no idea where they are in New Eden or how they are important. The fact that the entire contract system and, as a result faction warfare, is veiled behind director roles leads to the rank and file mercs of a Dust corporation having no ties to the bigger picture. After talking to several mercs I found that many didn't even realize that we were already making a tangible impact on Eve, and that the corporation contracts were actually causing real districts in New Eden to change hands.
This lack of weight to the current corp battles is compounded by the purely consensual nature of contracts at the present time. An organized push for a system by attackers currently can be stalled by the other side not showing up and having no consequence for their absence. The current system is more akin to a grudge match or dueling system. If there is a much improved faction warfare system down the line (as there should be), the current system should be preserved and used for scrimmages and to settle scores between corps by making it where the matches don't effect faction ownership of districts. Any future iteration should be built on the foundation of non-consensual PvP which is one of the hallmarks of New Eden. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 20:52:00 -
[2] - Quote
CCP Nullarbor wrote:
So just a chat message basically, but an easy way to do it quickly? Before the battle or during (or both)?
I actually hadn't thought about it being available in battle but I think that is a good idea as well. Merc switches to a chat channel (with Eve faction pilots, etc) and then choses and option from the same menu as "invite player" to chat channel and chooses a broadcast option that types in the battle information automatically. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 20:55:00 -
[3] - Quote
Breakin Stuff wrote:Here's hoping your points are heard and acted upon.
Reactivating Mercenary matches as a way to form up war parties on the fly would be good. Create some opposition for organized corps. It's kinda like a PUG so you don't pay the damn collateral given the fact that 90% of the time organized corp Vs random grab bag of derps, scrubs and rage bus riders are unlikely to win unless they can cook up organization and coordination, FAST.
I think this option should be something that becomes available if a corporation is a no show to a contract that has already been accepted. That way like Telc is saying the collateral is still a factor, but teams that don't show up are punished by loosing their collateral and giving the opportunity for randoms to fill up the corp match to mount an attack/defense of the district. If an attack contract goes unanswered I think there should be some fair system in place where the district is automatically awarded to the attacker (maybe after no defender accepted the contract 3 times in a row). |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 21:16:00 -
[4] - Quote
The issue with a miss once and flip system is that a REALLY REALLY large corp could put out a massive amount of contracts that could let them flip entire constellations by just winning the lottery of placing the contracts when few people happen to be on.
If you did a no show and flip system it would have to be balance by limiters like only x number of contracts per corp, but even that could be abused with alts and alt PSNs. Think of this way: automated systems in a district can repel an attack, but only for a certain time (2-3 unaccepted contracts etc.) until the attackers are able to seize the district. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 21:20:00 -
[5] - Quote
0 Try Harder wrote: As a merc, I am instantly teleported to a system, but apparently Eve pilots need to fly and go through gates and stuff.
This is now one of my favorite quotes. I might just add this to my eve side signature. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 21:32:00 -
[6] - Quote
I totally agree with bringing the logistics side to it. It also an important way for Eve to be able to push back against Dust.
The main thing though is that I think this should be limited to Nullsec warfare. In Faction warfare the Navy from each faction would be providing the War Barge and the MCC for the engagement. In null it would need to be player provided.
The key here is to make sure that the gameplay is fun, but add layers of complexity (like War barge logistics) as Mercs and Eve pilots travel down the rabbit hole. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 22:07:00 -
[7] - Quote
I worry about introducing the lag time for a player deciding they want to fight and being able to fight.
Maybe if the current system of contracts is left in place for dueling, grudge matches, srims etc. then that wouldn't be an issues.
I think the mechanic would be fine for Null, but it may be a case of too much too soon with Faction Warfare. I agree that it would be neat, I just wouldn't want to add it to the detriment of moving players from pub matches to something with more meaning.
It may be that your linear progression idea could play a factor in this though. What I mean by this is maybe war barges are only placed in systems that are on the current front line systems of the war and so you can only spawn contracts in those systems. As one milita pushes the warbarges follow suit and move the ground game as well as the naval conflict forward. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 22:24:00 -
[8] - Quote
Hmmm.......
I see what you are getting at.
We already have the 10 min timer for a War barge. Maybe make that timer actually the travel time for a NPC war barge?? |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.28 22:32:00 -
[9] - Quote
I would still want to proceed with caution. Lets make Faction Warfare not broken first, but long term this sounds like a golden idea. Imagine being on the War Barge, but instead of seeing the planet below you see yourself warping/jumping through space.
Just remember that war barges most likely travel via jump drives rather than warp drives. Maybe they cyno into a system 30 mins before a match and the opposing faction has to know its coming and scan it down. Mercs then begin deploying to the war barge at match time.
EDIT: After thinking about this I think whatever the war barge ends up being once a contract is accepted in Faction Warfare the battle HAS to happen. If something were to stop contracts external to the mercs from happening it could be very problematic. |
Kain Spero
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
907
|
Posted - 2013.01.29 01:44:00 -
[10] - Quote
Breakin Stuff wrote:the fact that we have to pay for the privelege of engaging in FW is absolutely stupid. Win = ISK payout Lose = maybe 100k as a retainer fee.
I think the collateral payment is absolutely lame.
If I'm a merc I expect to be paid for killing people for a faction, not to have to pay them in order to engage.
Totally agree with this. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|