Listening Post Border War

Imagine a destroyable listening post on each side of the Itani/Serco border wormhole. Each nation earns a point for every (time period) during which the listening post is active.

Combatant players would concentrate on destroying and defending listening posts. Pacifist players would concentrate on shipping in raw materials to repair the listening posts and perhaps provide them with extra HP in the next round.

This would provide both violent and peaceful players with a never-ending activity. The score would provide a motivation much like CTF did during certain stages of the alpha test.

Asp

i like this idea alot. i think this would encourage more people to participate in something rather than chasing a transport in 2 systems everyday.

the majority of that time involved going after the transport you meet a maximum of 3 to 4 players on the defending side. normally there is 1, or 2. seeing 3 to 4 players is very rare. another and myself managed to gather 12 people togather to CTC. i doubt i will ever see this kind of organization again.

currently in CTC; speed is the key, and absolute sole power in destroying the transport and running the cargo back. this includes intercepting the cargo carrier. as it stands, the valkyire, vulture, and Eldrad's bus of doom (didn't they name it the meat tin?) dominate CTC because currently CTC demands speed and quick strikes.

there is absolutely no role for heavy fighters, and bombers in CTC.

i beleive your idea would open up a new window of oppertunities for all ship types. bombers, heavy fighters, advanced fighters, light fighters, and cargo ships. this would also give the prom a role which is seriously needed.

edit: i would considure this a step in the right direction to introduce the storyline within the game. something to do :P

This is a great idea!! I do think though that there should be more targets, right now it JUST the CTC, if we could get listening posts, possibly sensor grids (kind of like floating mines but sensors, more assault and arena seekers, possibly even unfinished stations that are under construction. And they should definitely bring back the hidden stations and wormholes to allow for more "discovery" in the game.

I love this idea Asp.

The listening post could in reality be a large, slow, highly armoured ship. Sort of like the hive queen. It could move around to an extent, but onyl slowly. It's only weapons would be defensive turrets like on the test frig. It could be defended by vultures, or even turrets. This way, small fighters can't really get in close enough to pound away with energy weapons. You would need heavies with L-ports shooting off rockets or seekers for a distance. :D

Thoughts:

-Eject mines about 500m out (not sure if they effect friendlies though)
-Def bots flying around with repair beams (players too)

Seconded, thirded.... sounds good

I don't know about the rockets and seekers from a distance though, as it would take the defense part out of it, since its not too tough to get to a good distance and ping a large object. But it IS tough to find the person doin it.

This sounds like a great idea, more options do seem to be needed for the players and this one seems to have simplicity and a straightforward setup. I've been looking for a reason to use a heavy assault craft... this sounds like it.

Btw, i noticed you can select parts of stations (e.g docking bay), i haven't been game enough to try and fire at the selected section, but if it is possible to cause damage to stations than having a listening post as a station instead of a ship would be even better :)

Shapenaji: most energy weapons max out at around 500-800m you cant hit anything beyond that range. We had a weapon in the test phase called the Avalon torpedo which you carried in an L-port. It was slow, but could fly for several km if you got your speed up, and it did huge damage.

To hit a moving target with something like that from a decent range is a very hard thing to do.

A group of heavies would need some form of escort to stand a chance against defenders. Using suprise would probably be the best angle to take. Jump in, shoot, jump out before the defenders can find you.

Yeah, there are a very few kinks in this idea, but they are small and very few. But this is only the first draft.

Its brilliant. I think this could add that missing something that would really make the game completely awesome.

I hope this goes straight to consideration and further drafting.

(Perhaps this more or less recent ability to target certain parts of a station is hinting at the future ability to damage a station...)

Sounds good! Eventually a number of these different scenarios would exist, and the score from each could be amalgamated into a weekly 'Nation Score' or some such system. Hopefully this would provide scope for peaceful traders to have as much influence on their nation's standing/ranking as hardcore PvPers.

Like it - two thumbs up from me :)

"I don't know about the rockets and seekers from a distance though, as it would take the defense part out of it, since its not too tough to get to a good distance and ping a large object. But it IS tough to find the person doin it."

this is true, however imagine the thrill your group trying to destroy the bombers as fast as possible, and delivering cargo to the base as fast as possible to repair the damage.