Right now there are Level 1, Level 7, and Level 10 sectors. Players cannot enter these sectors if they do not meet the minimum ship rank for those sectors, i.e. Rank 7 ship to enter Level 7 sector.
There are a few problems with this:
Players who do not own a T4 (Rank 10) ship cannot change stations by flying across open space as the entire middle section is composed of Level 10 sectors. Thus, they are stuck leveling one specific faction until they reach T4. They also cannot earn as many Alien Crystals as they are unable to complete the daily mission for each faction.
Players cannot access some of the most profitable loot areas without at T4 ship.
Players with unique DLC ships (most of which are T3) cannot use them on a large percentage of the game map. Specifically for myself, I am referring to my T3 pirate ships which I was hoping to use in open world.
The reason given for the current restrictions is so “players don’t accidentally fly into areas they can’t handle”. So let’s provide an option for players who don’t want to be babied.
OLD Suggestion:
If a player disables Station Protection, allow them to fly an under-level ship into high-level space. Players who have Station Protection active cannot enter high-level space without disabling it, thus showing that they accept the risks inherent to entering a high-level area in a low-level ship and are doing so willingly.
Just so there is no confusion, Station Protection does not exist for anyone in Level 7 or Level 10 space, so under-leveled players would not be losing any benefits that high-level players might have. This toggle would only prevent them from using the jump gate while active and piloting a ship considered to be under-level. DERP, I was wrong about level 7 space.
NEW Suggestion:
Make a separate toggle option allowing players to disable the ship restrictions in high-level sectors with the warning that they will likely die and that the recommendation is to leave the option on.
Players will be able to change stations by flying through Level 10 space on a Tier 1 ship if they so choose (provided they can avoid the NPCs). The GS option still exists and is not threatened, as many players probably won’t be able to make it unless they have achieved a minimum of T3.
Players will also be able to use all of their special DLC ships anywhere on the map. T3 Pirate ships will actually be useful!
I’d remove the restrictions entirely and instead put threat warnings that indicate the recommended ship rank for the region. Warnings don’t show if your ship is high enough rank. Remember, there are R7 Protected regions (Felony, for example).
I’d remove the restrictions entirely and instead put threat warnings that indicate the recommended ship rank for the region. Warnings don’t show if your ship is high enough rank. Remember, there are R7 Protected regions (Felony, for example).
This is a two edge sword. On one side, yes you should be able to fly to other stations and utilize DLC bonus ships as you wish… On the other side, even though the risk is obvious in lvl10 territory, as soon as t3 ships try… And fail often at getting across a lvl10 sector, they will all be saying how the npc’s should be nerfed. Or there will be complaints about how some NASA dude in his T5 (Tillo XD) killed an entire convoy of ships. You can’t have your cake and eat it to. The restriction is there for just that reason. Perhaps, and I’m not putting much thought into this, another solution may be to have a pay or toll gate somewhere in a lvl7 that would get you from one station to the other… However personally I think the risk of travel should be inherent in any situation so these sectors should also not be for the faint of heart.
Doesn’t mean anyone has to listen, or care. They are told what ships they are expected to bring. If they bring weaker ones and die, then their crying is ignored.
Nor should they. Most of the people you are talking about are T1 and T2 pilots. You shouldn’t invest in a F2P until you know you’ll get your money’s worth.
Again, nerfing the whole game because some moron is too stupid to read instructions is a terrible idea. Let idiots rage at how their starting ship can’t kill a Naga. Everyone else will catch on quickly that when the game says “Warning! Ship Rank 7 or higher recommended for this sector” it means it!
I like this idea, but seeing how the devs changed Sector Conquest to only 11-15 it seems like they like the idea of locking out content based on ship rank. That being said it does seem out of place for open world to have restrictions seeing as it’s supposed to be this place where the game is effectively in the hands of the players.
the only problem i see in this is actually, that station protection toggle allows others who turned it off too to shoot you even in the protected areas; which would not make this solution so ideal.
i agree that theoretically it would be nice if it would be possible, at least after unlocking the missions, to go anywhere with anything. could also work over some setting or warning. I actually feel safer in a lot of my T3s atm still.
It may also be wise to introduce this over time, but I still think, the devs should consider this again (since they decided not to do it in this fashion suggests, it was purposefully restricted)
Nor should they. Most of the people you are talking about are T1 and T2 pilots. You shouldn’t invest in a F2P until you know you’ll get your money’s worth.
That is you saying this. And if you would get the money? Would you have the same opinion?
I just try to lead you to the clue that developers HAVE TO care for the image of the game. Beginner-friendliness is a must have.
Nor should they. Most of the people you are talking about are T1 and T2 pilots. You shouldn’t invest in a F2P until you know you’ll get your money’s worth.
Latest F2P stats (not this one but in general) I heard were that either players spend real money within the first two weeks or not at all. That is why the NPE (new player experience) is so important.
I realized I made a HUGE derp. Station Protection CAN be active in a level 7 sector.
So that means if ships were allowed to toggle the ability to fly into a higher-level area, it would have to be an independent option from Station Protection.
Call it ‘Sector Restrictions’. Let them disable it at their own peril.
Only T1 ships should be restricted in travel, if at all in my opinion. IF you have T1 only, you are not ready for what’s out there. T2 means you know the game basics (yeah right, half of lfrs in T2 didn’t listened on “out of range” tutorial, but oh well) and you know that there are dangers out there. Not to mention every pirate in 7-10 is rather deadly to T1, making “hoping for the best” rather bad option.
In Freelancer, Elite, Privateer no one prevented taking on impossible opponent. This is a thing to figure out in space sim.
And yes, not being able to use Sai to travel is pain in the butt.
This is what happens when 90% of the map has been turned into a safe PvE zone. People set cruise control so they can create a thread on the forums about how bored they are.
My post must have really rubbed you the wrong way.
Did I mention sometimes I’ll put attack drones on my Mauler for self defense? :005j:
Anyway, the zones are large which is good, but they’re also empty. If all the gates were 5km apart, then all the maps would be cramped by the time invasion became common. Think of cruise control as “hibernation.”
Invasion maps are not easy to balance. Too much space and people get bored. Too little space and they get overwhelmed. If you focus too much on weak players the strong ones get bored. If you focus too much on the strong players the weaker ones get slaughtered. If you make it so that groups are needed to survive, people will get pissed off because there’s no proper group mechanics. If you make it so everywhere can be solo’d, groups get easy farming.
I personally believe you can spot where Invasion is falling down by looking at how it compares to existing modes and finding the common assets it’s lacking. Invasion should, ultimately, look and feel like Star Conflict. At the moment, it doesn’t.