Originally by: Abulurd Boniface

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Edited by: Abulurd Boniface on 25/12/2008 07:10:23
I had expected the vessel to be a bit bigger as there were noises about it being a small Rorqual. Even so, it's a great ship that can serve a large variety of purposes.

My problem with it is the cognitive dissonance that no ship can be scooped to the maintenance bay that has ore in its own hold, even if that is its primary cargo type [barge / exhumer class]. It makes no sense that I can see.

As a narrative device I cannot reconcile the idea that it would be ok for a ship to be completely filled with ammunition but not a single bit of ore can be taken along. Also, the guest ship cannot have an assembled GSC on board. Why?

If a practical reason could be offered why this would make it impossible for the guest ship to be stored into the maintenance bay of the Orca, I would take it as read. Here it seems like an arbitrary reason to prevent pilots from expanding the maintenance bay into an extension of the cargo hold. If a pilot would choose to use the vessel in that way, why would the designers have a problem with that? Why is there a need to try and limit the abilities of the ship when deploying it like that is just one of a vast array of permutations in which the ship can be used? It's a natural, sensible way of using it as people will, by their very nature, try to maximize the use of their assets.

I appreciate the need for balance in the game but this kind of restriction goes against what a reasonable use of the vessel would be. So, ok, a ship can be stored that happens to have ore as [part of] the cargo. Big deal.

The quality of the experience of the game will only truly come into bloom when the pilot is allowed to use the environment and the equipment in ways that are natural consequences of the way the universe is built. Introducing arbitrary and [here at least] nonsensical restrictions take away from the 'suspension of disbelief' that allows us to enjoy the full experience of what it means to be players in the vast tableau vivant that is New Eden. Interrupting the natural flow of the universe just so one aspect of the use of the environment would not impinge on questions of whether an Orca would become too much like a freighter is nickle and diming the pilot. It bespeaks a lack of imagination and it takes away from a great idea for no good reason.

This decision was made by product managers during a PDT meeting where the natural requirement for the frugal use of limited company resources was translated into finding a way to needlessly restrict the use of a feature because the people at the table do not -really- live in the universe they help create.

A pity.

Abulurd Boniface
ME ME
CEO

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