If technical limitations were to prevent this, then Defiance, RIFT, and so many others wouldn't be possible...

And Defiance is Open World on PS3, PC, and Xbox.

I hope Singularity doesn't explode if this is implemented. Maybe it could freeze districts with no players inside?

Only each District, broken up across a Planet.

Each District would amount to a map 25 times bigger than what we have now. Then link to other Districts via Gates that essentially transport you off one grid, onto another. Similar in effect to what EVE Online does, but based on a FPS MMO Model.

http://files1.guildlaunch.net/guild/library/283303/Simple_District_Map.png
Above is a poor attempt at quickly whipping up a simple design overlay of what I am trying to say. It's done is MS Paint, and done very quickly and crudely, so forgive the child-like scribble.

I'll be creating a much more impactful version at a later date.

[Link Added in OPs.]

I had someone PM me in game (DUST-side and EVE-side) about how would you initiate a conflict, such as a Planetary Conquest without an instanced 'declaration and an MCC'.

Though I'd believed I'd covered this in the topic, I'll reiterate what I believe are your options with the pros and cons under this OPEN WORLD system.

Option One - The Interplanetary Assault
You have your War Barge (Controlled EVE-side, that houses 4 MCCs, 1200 Clones, and a Nano-Factory to create Vehicles from BPCs, thus.. if you have BPCs, you can call down as many vehicles as you like.

Your EVE Pilot puts the War Barge in position over District 7 - Planet V, Hrober and locks his 'deployment'. This unlocks an EVE-side interface that allows him to launch his loaded MCCs, with designated Clone Resources, to any District on that planet from orbit. They will sit there, however, until someone designated as being able to command those ships from your corporation / alliance comes and enters them.

Then your forces can utilise the resources of the MCCs and the War Barges to wage campaigns on the Districts.


Option Two - The Gate Attack
You move your MCC through a Gate from a friendly, or neutral District (loaded with Clones and Resources to manufacture a limited number of Equipment Stes and Vehicles) to a Hostile District. Your soldiers can then use the 'Mobile TacNet' on the MCC to spawn there and wage their campaign.

Option Three - Low-level Insertion
Cheapest of the three options presented here as examples, the Low-Level Insertion takes your force from one district to another. Until you deploy (or capture) one, you have no Clone Respawn Site and any vehicles, equipment you have, cannot be simply 'called in' since you're lacking Control Support.

These are just some of the options you can have. As well as mixing them up, buy perhaps deploying one MCC from your War Barge on a District weakened by your Guerilla Forces who used a low-level insertion to get in and wreak havoc.


Now under this system, being open world, it would be possible for multiple corporations, multiple MCCs, and multiple alliances to assault a District. However, to prevent the 'steamrolling' that would generally occur, the District Command Centres (Bases) will heavily favour the defenders.

Not only with the ability to 'place' them wherever you want on the District, along with the ability to shape the landscape either directly, or via destructible barriers, you can build a heavily defensive position that can be partially automated so that you are not immediately defencless if all your people are not online. Including a reinforcement timer for each 'layer' of defences.

Base Shields go down, wait minimum of 24 hours before you can assault and capture the Command Centre in the base.

What does Open World Solve?

This is the question many will ask. What does making this game Open World actually solve?

It solves the dilemma of disadvantageous ground or starting points. You've built your base where you want it, your opponent can attack from where they choose. Ground, terrain, and your knowledge of the district become a tactical weapon.

It also solves the problem of redline sniping and tank sniping. The Gates can be camped, much like in EVE, but a no-fire zone (or protected turret area) around the gate can prevent constant camping (until null sec planets) as well as stealth and subtlety. But there's no 'redline' per se to snipe from on any battle.

It fixes cover and terrain. You have much more to use as cover to eliminate that pesky sniper. Or get in close to those tanks. You can minefield 'easily' traversed areas to make them a little less 'easy' to traverse. The name of the game become tactical. And tactics are what we should be aiming for. This is a great upcoming game, based in one of the largest Sandbox games in the world.

Some of that should be in DUST, as it already exists in games less developed background wise.

DUST should be open world, as EVE is open world.

Persistent Destruction!

If you blow a hole in the ground, that hole should stay there... is the basic principal, until you come along and fill it.

This may be limited by technology to an extent, but one this ANY persistent world game lacks at the moment is true, long-term destruction as a consequence.

Anything that is destructible, is replaced next time round. (Except player Assets). Building still stand after being hit from orbit, and mountains subjected to barrages of Rail gun Slugs and Missile Bombardments are left unmarked. Persistent Destruction is key to immersion.

And if anyone has read most of my posts, immersion is what I aim to get with almost every one of my ideas, and the ideas I support.

If you build a mine, harvest resources from a forming network of underground tunnels, then blow that mine up into a massive crater, those tunnels will still be there, as will the crater, filled with mining equipment debris, and whatever else was used there.

If you drop an orbital on an unshielded building (Shields being a Base-level Infrastructure to protect your own base of operations from orbital strike.) That building shouldn't be standing afterwards.

The more collateral damage that is inflicted, the more it will cost to repair it. So while bringing down a cliff to block a road is a great tactical move, the cost to clear the road for use afterwards could be tremendous.


Possible Random Encounters / Effects
- Sansha Raid
The Sansha are coming to steal away the populace on the planet, and cyborg soldiers / harvesters / gatherers are attacking a random settlement. The objective is to eliminate the Sansha 'control' ship or eliminate the enemy before they make off with their hostages.
> Success = ISK, SP, Salvage / Loot
> Failure = The District Loses some of it's potency (1-5% dependant on size of raid).

- Rogue Drone Infestation
Rogue Drones have adapted to begin creating hives on planets now, and these technological terrors are burrowing into the ground, collecting resources, and expanding themselves outwards. A never-ending plague that falls from the stars. Your objective is to eliminate every single Rogue Drone, or their Queen / Overseer in the hive.
> Success = ISK, SP Salvage / Loot
> Failure = Progressive expansion and loss of income. As the Hive grows, it draws more resources, kills more populace, and stops machinery working. Each day it's left unchecked, the District gains a proportionate loss of income. 1%, 2%, 4%... constantly growing, so that in left unchecked, it can swallow up the entire District's income and remain so until the Rogue Drone Infestation is purged.

These could occur randomly, or in conjunction with EVE Online Events. Such as Sansha Incursions making each District in Affected Systems gain a Sansha Raid. Rogue Drone Infestations could be devastating, so could happen frequently, spread across many planets and Districts.

You could!

Possibilities multiply with Open World... with closed world 'instance' style... gameplay becomes dull, lifeless...

I think everyone knows how much I want DUST to succeed, and my belief is that only through Open World can DUST really become the MMOFPS that most of us envision.