I understand there's probably a technical reason to have one Mission Computer per sector, but why do we, the end users, need to deal with the issue? They act as though they're one mind, so why do we have to deal with 7000 different entities? Would it be that hard to call them all "*Mission Computer" and you always talk to the local one?

In another thread, a1k0n has mentioned that he has ideas for making this easier, but if they all have the same name, a quick alias is an instant fix.

Of course, a1k0n may have a much more elegant solution already planned...

The idea of sector based computers is that if you have a difficulty with a mission or lose your way you can page them to get help. Or if something comes up that you must drop a mission, you can hail it to suspend your current mission.

Calling all of them "Mission Computer" would violate the rule of having only one of each name. Otherwise the server would try contacting all 7000 odd computers generating massive lag and flooding your char screen unbearably...

Well probably the main reason being is that the mission system still isent complete. Most likly the mission computers are a place holder for a much more refined system.

we hope

Pyroman, why not just have one in one sector (a dev sector) that you can message? It doesn't matter if it's in the same sector as you (you can msg anyone in any sector).

I'm sure there are technical reasons behind it. The presence of mission computers in each sector seems to be necessary in determining where you are in relation with the mission you're on. Having just one mission computer wouldn't really allow that. However, I'm confident that the devs will make it a lot easier for us to take missions in the future. Perhaps some system of aliases or shortcuts can be utilized so that the mission computer can function as one computer, but in reality there are multiple ones behind curtains.

Yes, there are mundane, inane technical reasons, and we're fixing it so you don't have to worry about it.

Mainly Waylon introduced the mechanism to make his missions work within the constraints of the mission system implemented at the time -- messaging bots was an available vector for user interface that seemed simple. But yes, we can make the 'mission computer' user totally transparent, so we will do that.

(and here I thought we had many mission computers because stuff that had to do with money could only be handled in the same sector.
/me smacks her forehead. doh)