Lygos
ISS Navy Task Force
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Posted - 2006.12.04 19:39:00 -
[1]
Haha stupid idea alert!
You can file this under: "Let's add more stuff to the database."
1)Add another layer of "hp" under structure. Suggested name, emergency containment field. Oh wait, taken, nvm.
2)Instead of triggering the usual blue fireball upon the dissolution of hull hp, a new object is rendered. Basically the same ship model, but full of bullet holes, and maybe some electrical activity.
3)The new "ship" is still piloted by a pod, but it cannot warp, cannot fly, and cannot achieve a lock on anything, but it can still activate certain modules(optional). The pilot also retains an eject function, possibly a more effective one than we enjoy currently. Preferably no shield or cap regen.
4)If any form of dictor bubbles is allowed in lowsec, emergency eject should catapult the pod a random distance at a high rate of speed. Emergency eject and warp is also a valid option for reason detailed below.
5)When the new ship is rendered, all those nearby lose lock on it (no more coherent electronic envelope). Subtargetting mechanics are a crazy developmental path but are not important here.
6)Once retargetted (or smartbombed), the ship can easily be blown up. If this happens, and the pod is still inside, the pod is instantly destroyed. By shrapnel. This is a good time to add that nifty blue nova and the usual explody bits.
7)Pod signature radius is reduced to 10 or 20 meters tops.
8)Ships below hull hp cannot be remotely repaired (by normal means). They do, however, give better odds of salvage and mods than true wrecks.
Basically this gives an interlude decision making period for those who are usually paralyzed by the session change involved and the subsequent clickfest where latency just tends to count for too much of the gameplay. Latency-based competition should be discouraged in mmogs simply from a design perspective.
Anytime latency or lag is making gameplay difficult simply due to firmware, it is a good indication that it is an opportunity to intercede with a new phase where players must deal with a new set of options, and a different sort of threat.
Instawarping of pods as detailed in 5 demonstrates a choice on the part of the exploding participant. He is given the choice regardless of the number of assailants or defenders involved, and thus a choice that can't quite be obviated by metagaming concerns including, but not exclusive to blobbing. He can either save his life, and by extension hand his ship over, and possibly even lose his insurance, or he can consider any "business transactions", or he can go down with the ship by choice.
I realize that there are those who are quite fond of locking and squishing pods, so I would think that Concord telemetry might be required to allow the insta-warping option, and thus, it is only possible in lowsec, and not 0.0 space.
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