Forums » Suggestions

Ion storm random thrust engine interference

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May 02, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
Im thinking that ion storm should more actively interfere with ship's engines. This would make game more challenging, interesting and dangerous - the same as sailing today's seas is.

Similarly as high waves and strong winds of a storm interfere with a water-ships maneuverability, speed, thrust etc, ion storm could interfere some more with spaceship's non-jump engines.

This could work by randomly changing engine parameters for a random amount of time, for example:

a) Increase ship's maximum turbo speed by 30% (can exceed 225) for random number of seconds/minutes.
b) Decrease ship's maximum turbo speed by 30% for random number of seconds/minutes.
c) Increase ship's maximum non-turbo speed by 25% for random number of seconds
d) Decrease ship's maximum non-turbo speed by 25% for random number of seconds
e) Random thrust of 10-20N pushing the ship in a random direction for random number of seconds.
f) Random turbo ignition for few seconds

Of course different probabilities could be added to every option, to balance this out.

Every 5 seconds new "surprise" could be selected for every ship in ion storm with following exemplary probabilities:
- 70% = no malfunction
- 5% = malfunction a)
- 5% = malfunction b)
- 5% = malfunction c)
- 5% = malfunction d)
- 5% = malfunction e)
- 5% = malfunction f)
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
If You like this idea, a logical conclusion is You should like the other one too:

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/23194

( Ion storm jump engine random interference (random sectors / uncharted sectors) )
May 04, 2010 CrazySpence link
lets make traveling more shitty than it already is!

That will surely encourage people to go from grey space to the war border because everyone will love random malfunctions!

If you like making things hard on yourself all the time chop off your feet, if you are already unable to walk chop off your arms too. This way everything will be harder for you just the way you like it without making the game I like more annoying
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@CrazySpence

If you like making things hard on yourself all the time chop off your feet, if you are already unable to walk chop off your arms too. This way everything will be harder for you just the way you like it without making the game I like more annoying

1. Well, the general idea of ion storm is that it should be somewhat annoying and that it should make sailing more difficult.
However, the details can be polished, probabilities decreased so it won't be much more annoying that it's now.

2. Why are You complaining so much ? Can't You just plot a course which is stormless using SHIFT + click ? I always do that because storms are too annoying already as they are now.

3. The general point of this is to make game more interesting & challenging (botting in storms will be more difficult for example as its much too easy now). If there were no storms, this game would be completely dull as nothing UNEXPECTED would ever happen.

It's the UNEXPECTED things that make life more interesting, You know.
May 04, 2010 ladron link
Well, the general idea of ion storm is that it should be somewhat annoying and
that it should make sailing more difficult.


Yes, you are entirely correct. Now take a second (you should borrow someone else's brain since yours appears to be largely non-functional) and see if you can figure out why this isn't desirable. Anything which exists in the game purely to make the game less fun should probably be removed.
May 04, 2010 Dr. Lecter link
This idea makes me want to
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@ladron

Anything which exists in the game purely to make the game less fun should probably be removed.

1. So You're saying that ion storms should be completely removed then ? Because no, they're not fun at all.

2. Also, notice that ONE THIRD of the so called "malfunctions" i created are actually making things BETTER than they were (increased turbo speed, increased normal speed).

3. Why so much somplaining ?? What's the problem here ? Let's just make the probability of ANY malfunction 10%, and then divide that between options. Everybody is happy.

3a. If You hate malfunctions so much, perhaps let's make even HALF of the malfunctions "good malfunctions" then. Won't it be fun to fly a ship with temporarily increased parameters ? It will be a lottery of a sort. There's 50/50 chance you get something useful, and 50/50 chance You get an actual malfunction.

Fun/annoyance factor is just a matter of proper adjustment.
May 04, 2010 Antz link
Ion storms are a good idea in general, they add something different to an otherwise monotonous journey. They are however always the same, hence my "more weather systems" thread. Making travel more interesting will make me more inclined to embark on a journey.
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@Antz

Ion storms are a good idea in general, they add something different to an otherwise monotonous journey. They are however always the same, hence my "more weather systems" thread. Making travel more interesting will make me more inclined to embark on a journey.

Exactly.

What is interesting about Ion storms ? Surprise.
And that is EXACTLY what I'm trying to do here.

To add more surprises. Something UNEXPECTED.
Unexpected is generally good, because most people hate monotony (except women i guess).
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@Dr. Lecter

This idea makes me want to [Kill it with fire]

Your high quality trolling is appreciated, dear Sir. (I actually think that maybe there should be some "HQ trolling badge" - but that's another suggestion).

Perhaps let's stick to the serious things now, after we already had some fun.
May 04, 2010 Dr. Lecter link
Perhaps let's stick to the serious things now

Ok, how's this, then: your idea seriously sucks.

First, it's based on weird dice-roll mechanics that VO has long eschewed and for good reason. Take that crap back to your friends' basement on D&D night, not here.

Second, you've missed that ion storms already serve a PvP function -- forced interaction in a more dangerous, unmonitored environment where special gear is needed to fight effectively -- that would be destroyed by making the sort of PvEnvironment changes you are proposing here.

All they need to do is (i) make all ion storms have a single, much smaller, exit point and (ii) make "reefs" of storms in which people will hide because traffic will be forced through the reef.

So, in all seriousness, go crate some monsters on closet before posting again -- I award you no candies.

Unexpected is generally good, because most people hate monotony (except women i guess).

I bet your gf thinks you're a boring lay.
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@Dr. Lecter

First, it's based on weird dice-roll mechanics that VO has long eschewed and for good reason. Take that crap back to your friends' basement on D&D night, not here.

You know, most games generally tend to reflect real life in some way.
And the biggest problem with real life (ESPECIALLY in unpredictable situations which includes storms) is that it's UNPREDICTABLE.
That's why games (and programs in general) need RANDOM functions - to mimic real life.

Real life is (mostly) not boring because of complete randomness. How else do You propose to create SURPRISES without randomness ?
That's what dice rolls are for man.
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Second, you've missed that ion storms already serve a PvP function -- forced interaction in a more dangerous, unmonitored environment where special gear is needed to fight effectively -- that would be destroyed by making the sort of PvEnvironment changes you are proposing here.

So can You please tell me, which exactly change i proposed actually destroys Your small PvP haven ?
I think You are completely wrong. The changes i proposed (with proper adjustments) make PvP EVEN MORE interesting (because You never know if Your engines will work at full capacity, or over-100% capacity).
So this creates a situation when EVERY TIME YOU FIGHT A DIFFERENT OPPONENT in storm - even when You already know that opponent (because opponent's engines may be different from normal parameters this particular time).

The reason for this is that even small unpredictability/surprise creates interesting situations.
Tell me Yourself - are You more bored when You already know what is going to happen, or when You have no idea WTF is going to happen next ?
In which situation will Your body create more adrenaline ?
I think the answer to that question is obvious. That's EXACTLY the reason I'm proposing to add some more RANDOMNESS to this game.
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All they need to do is (i) make all ion storms have a single, much smaller, exit point and (ii) make "reefs" of storms in which people will hide because traffic will be forced through the reef.

Definately good direction, but that's not enough.
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So, in all seriousness, go crate some monsters on closet before posting again -- I award you no candies.

Nice one. Trolling +2
You need 498 more XP for the next level of HQ Trolling badge.
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I bet your gf thinks you're a boring lay.

Good one. Trolling +3
You need 495 more XP for the next level of HQ Trolling badge.
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Ok, how's this, then: your idea seriously sucks.

Your opinion has been noted.
Why not help me improve it then ? I'm sure the general idea is good. The fun/annoyance factor is only a matter of adjustments.
May 04, 2010 Dr. Lecter link
I'm sure the general idea is good.

You are mistaken. See my points (i) and (ii) above--ion storms need nothing else. They, and VO in general, most assuredly does not need random shit going wrong with ships that you expect, quite reasonably, to do what you tell them to do when you tell them to do it and nothing more or less than that.

However, I do appreciate the proper capitalization afforded to all mentions of My name.
May 04, 2010 ryan reign link
I like the idea of random malfunctions in general... gives "Firefly" kinda feel to things. However, as I understand it, ion storms may be being phased out, if that is the case this would all be pointless.
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@Dr. Lecter

See my points (i) and (ii) above--ion storms need nothing else. They, and VO in general, most assuredly does not need random shit going wrong with ships that you expect, quite reasonably, to do what you tell them to do when you tell them to do it and nothing more or less than that.

1. Listen. Ion storm's are RANDOM by DESIGN. As you have surely noticed, they appear in RANDOM sectors at RANDOM times, you can't predict it.
So perhaps let's leave them random - it's pointless to make predictable something that should be random in its very nature !

2. You're telling me that You hate randomness. So tell me something. If you hate randomness so much, why do You input random trolling into this discussion ?
I thought you would like more a normal, monotonous, boring discussion between me, Alloh and others.
If You hate randomness so much, then why do You make this discussion random with your (high quality) trolling ?

LET US BE BORING & MONOTONOUS!! You're making this too random ! Get out now before we turn into D&D basement dwellers !

3. Perhaps let's make a compromise. Maybe we should leave everything in VO predictable & monotonous, EXCEPT Ion storms. So this way we will both be happy. You will have Your precious predictable PvP, and I will have randomness. What do You say ?
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However, I do appreciate the proper capitalization afforded to all mentions of My name.

Awesome one. Special (random) bonus.
+25. 470 left untill HQTB.
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@Ryan reign

I like the idea of random malfunctions in general... gives "Firefly" kinda feel to things. However, as I understand it, ion storms may be being phased out, if that is the case this would all be pointless.

Well, if that's is the case....
I hope You're wrong. Ion storm are the only random thing left in the game. If they will be removed, the game will be totally, absolutely predictable. And predictable = monotony.
May 04, 2010 Whytee link
LET US BE BORING & MONOTONOUS!!

Hear that, and join IPA and become a pacifist, popping prozac instead of dinner.

-Hortan, the other member of the Interstellar Pacifists Association.

Oh, and +10.000 to the suggestion... If we remove ionstorms first. Otherwise, no thanks
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@Whytee

If we remove ionstorms first. Otherwise, no thanks

Great. So what do You propose instead ?
May 04, 2010 CrazySpence link
Well lets have a random chance that crashes the client instead, in the time it takes you to reconnect you could be killed while your ship spins in circles for a minute trying to time out adding greater risk and excitement to the game!
May 04, 2010 Dr. Lecter link
Ion storms are not "random" in the way that you are suggesting ship performance be "random." Thanks for playing.

[edit]CS gets it![/edit]
May 04, 2010 PaladinOfLancelot link
@CrazySpence

Well lets have a random chance that crashes the client instead, in the time it takes you to reconnect you could be killed while your ship spins in circles for a minute trying to time out adding greater risk and excitement to the game!

Well, that was somewhat funny.
However, that is not an argument.
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@Dr. Lecter

Ion storms are not "random" in the way that you are suggesting ship performance be "random."

Yes, but they're random IN A WAY. So, if they are random already, there's no harm done in making them even more random.

Complete monotony is bad for Your mental health (and for player numbers probably too), so let's not go that way.

Iin Real Life sea-storms are random (as the weather is random in general) and who knows if there aren't any real ion/particle storms in the galaxy.
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Thanks for playing.

Oh, a pleasure. Always happy to help.