Holy christ almighty you guys are thinking about this way too much.

First, any application that doesn't let me quit when I want to deserves damnation to hell (aside from apps that are in the process of an critical operation, like video exporting or something).

Logout options should by dynamic based upon established threat conditions. Log out button should read either:

Logout [SAFE]

or

Logout [THREAT]

SAFE logout applies when there is no threat, and ship disappears instantly from game upon logout.

THREAT logout applies when there is a threat (worth debating what qualifies as such), and still allows player to exit game, but ship remains adrift in game for 1 minute.

No more stupid timer bullsheet.

Done. Simple. Merry Christmas.

Been thinking about your problem. As I see it, it is more of a concern when a Pirate approaches a ship to collect from them rather than an actual combat condition.

If so, the remedy is simple and requires VO to do nothing. Change your hail for the ship you are trying to collect from "Stop or be shot" to "Slow to half speed or be shot, and maintain half speed". This will prevent you from wondering if the "target" is logging off or whatever. You can surely tell if a ship is flying at half speed and they cannot log off while moving. If there is danger of them jumping thru WH or sector jump, then you simply follow as you do now, or do your Pirating where they can't jump easily.

Just trying to help, even though I have been labeled Carebear.

@greenwall: I agree with being able to log off when you want to log off, and I like your idea of LogOff:Safe, and LogOff:NotSafe.

We do disagree on how long your ship should take to time out. I have suggested 1 minute from last damage, etc..

I suppose that is you wish to force the threat to make a decision in 1 minute, he will probably just blast you, and we are half way back to pirates not being able to afford very much patience. I would rather a threat be allowed to be as patient as he is willing to be.

@Crusader: Um... your suggestions might have some merit, if you actually understood the mechanics of the game. Currently, you may log off while moving, as long as you are not accelerating, turboing, shooting, etc. So you can drift at 65m/s and still log off. Nice try though. I suppose pirates could insist that a noob do a little wiggle/spin dance thing every 10 seconds, while they are trying to type...no, I don't see that working out for very many pirates or noob. Please be at least minimally versed in the mechanics under discussion before suggesting to a bunch of vets that there is already an obvious solution. thanks.

edit: I got it! we can just ask the noob to install a back rolling dodge bind, so we don't have to worry about them logging while we teach them to type givemoney. That's the ticket! hey noob! type in "/+strafe_left;+roll_left;+reverse". perfect, now i don't have to worry about you logging! hey wait! you are headed for the wormhole! STOP! I WILL BLAST YOU! YOU STUPID NOOB! YOU WOULD BE DEAD BY NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT BLASTED DODGE BIND! NOOOO! I almost had him too. stupid dodge bind.

The dodge binds were zapped by a update.

I am sorry for that post - my only experience with log out had been with my Dent and if it was moving at all, the log out got canceled - I tried for first time with "normal ship" and could log out any time that there was nor acceleration, like at full throttle and not reached speed yet.

I was just trying to offer a suggestion to help you out.

07:36PM vskye: "The dodge binds were zapped by a update."

There goes all of my pvp skill.

Suppress the logoff option, you're all addicts, you do not need to logoff anymore!

I've been perusing this thread for awhile.. we're looking into a couple of options and I'll post when I have more information (assuming it isn't implemented first, heh).

yay!