Forums » Suggestions

Economic Overhaul--how to rip off that inevitable bandaid

Feb 10, 2019 SkinWalker link
Off and on, we all have discussed how the economy is problematic in the game. I imagine the Devs have had this on their radar for years. If it were me, I'd probably lure some Economics grad student into doing a master's thesis or dissertation on creating a "MMORPG economy" or something, then model that. Let someone else do the work.

However the Devs arrive at the solution, implementation is probably going to be the difficult part. Which is the part I'm offering a potential solution for.

Assuming the Devs have a new economy in mind or ready to roll out (some day), the hard part for the player is how does it happen fairly? Strip everyone's bank to start over? Make "credits" worthless and replace with a new form of currency?

I propose the Devs introduce a new storyline of an alternate star system. Perhaps the current system is being overrun by Hive and everyone needs to go. Each nation plus Corvus have created a special Wormhole and sent Forward Elements to stake out a claim and start up a set of new stations.

Each player can move his characters from this star system to the next with whatever that character can carry. That character can take its biggest ship loaded with whatever he/she feels is most valuable and head through the Star-System Wormhole, arriving on the other side with his/her new stake. No credits, just whatever he/she could carry.

So, a player with a Trident could load it with as many XCs of cargo (weapons, goods, spices, rum, food, a few X-1's left over from before the faction Redux, whatever). Once he/she enters the WH, he/she appears in a random, non-bot sector of the nation he/she just left. With no way back. That pilot can then head to a station, unload -sell some goods, take some missions, and start from scratch.

Wealthy players that have been around for a while will have an advantage as I think they probably deserve. New players that just started will still be able to invest in some common sense commodities or weapons that would be sure to sell well enough to stake a decent start.

I propose that insurance missions for Cap ships still be in place. So you can jump with your Dent and, once you have enough wealth, take the insurance mission to replace your Goli if you had one. No need to manu it all over again.

Once the new Star-System becomes available, any NEW players would start showing up there instead of the Old-System. That way people can't create new accounts to move wealth. You're stuck with what you already have.

I think this might give Devs a way to introduce new sectors, change how the map is arranged, link Grey to Deneb, introduce a new version of CTC, etc.

But it all hinges on there being a new economy ready to roll out.

But, as an archaeologist, I think it would be fun to introduce some new missions that center around Xenoarchaology and finding artifacts of a civilization that once inhabited the new Star-System. An ever-evolving storyline that could involve illicit trade of antiquities, exploration, etc.

These are just the sorts of things that come to mind when I'm sitting in the dark, on Furlough, drinking bourbon. Take them as that. :)
Feb 10, 2019 Pizzasgood link
Interesting approach. The problem is that if it's announced in advance, multiple accounts can be set up ahead of time in order to carry over more wealth. Especially if free accounts are allowed to transition that way. And if you restrict it to only paid accounts, it turns into a pay-to-win scenario (albeit time-limited).

I think I'd rather they either let everybody keep their money, or devalue stuff equally across the board. Every possible solution to this problem is going to be unfair somehow, so they might as well keep things simple and straightforward.
Feb 10, 2019 greenwall link
This would be a fantastic way to guarantee i never play again
Feb 10, 2019 SR_7134_HELLCAT link
I am always searching for new ways to keep myself busy. Perhaps this new system be linked to 1 or two other new systems, that way we're not bored. OR. You have to clear the hive of the system and eventually the levi,And then be granted the ability to leave. If you come back,process repeats.
Feb 11, 2019 -Wash- link
+1000
Feb 11, 2019 starblazzz link
I left clash of clans when they added the second base...

More systems makes sense but might as well make a new game for this suggestion.

-1003