This question and suggestion is aimed more toward the powers that be. I'm not sure if it's possible but this is what I want and hope it's a feature many people would like. It's also going to take a lot of time and effort to implement. With the ASSS capabilities, is it possible (or how much is possible from each number) for this to happen: 1) When a player reaches a certain spot on the map (like for instance, J14) can the ASSS server automatically spawn a bot that will chase and fire at a player for a certain time or until he reaches another point in space (like L14)? a. Can ASSS detect damage taken to a bot and disconnect, kill or cloak it once it reaches a certain number? b. Can players kill bots spawned from ASSS? 2) Can new commands be implemented with a whole new, additional system in place like ?listmissions? 3) Can ASSS pop up an LVZ or other on your screen displaying text (or an image of text) when you make a command? a. >>> Can it pop up when you reach certain points on a map? b. >>> Can it pop up when you have completed specific tasks? 4) Can ASSS save money/experience you gained from another (or specific) arena on your name and have it be useable in the pub arena? 5) Can a specific arena not allow you to use certain ships (like, a shark and a leviathan)? a. >>> Can this specific arena have different ship sizes than public arena? 6) Can the ASSS server not allow you to use a certain list of commands in the pub arena, but allow it in another arena? The reason I ask all this is because I'm completely obsessed with space combat simulators that deal with different ships, missions, etc. like Jumpgate and Black Prophecy. I'm pretty sure this isn't unheard of, but it's something I would really like. I'm pretty well-versed in the different types of missions and I've even thought of some really cool ideas that could be added to Hyperspace (or even its own zone). For the first time, we would have real, actual, PvE content thanks to ASSS. The system I have thought about, and I've been thinking about this for a while now - constantly jotting down ideas in my downtime at work, is a mission system and I think Hyperspace is the perfect environment for this. There's a couple things that I've realized first and foremost and would be highly suggested to read before going any further. 1) With the implementation of this, I've realized it would be ideal to have this in a seperate arena, so it doesn't interfere with: a. >>> Normal pub functions such as flagging, powerball and center fraying. b. >>> Download size >> 1.>>> The sheer amount of file size needed for a system like this would be far too large for a normal player to download on top of all the files that are downloaded on a normal pub map. Moving on, here's how the system I have in mind would operate. Xog> ?go Missions (I'd suggest making a storyline, even if it's short and simple, and name the arena to something that corresponds with it) Enter warbird (free, default ship for this arena) Xog> ?listmissions This command can do two things, and is decided upon by whoever wants to implement it. 1) Pop up a LVZ image of available missions (they could alternate for a wider variety of missions). 2) Give a list of missions in the chat field Ex:Xog> ?listmissions [A] Transport Scout [C] Guard Xog> ?missions A [A1] X Station is in need of Water. Use ?buycargo Water and deliver the item to X Station. Difficulty 1/5 [A1] Reward: X amount of $ and/or Experience. [A2] X Station is in need of Gold. Use ?buycargo Gold and deliver the item to X Station. Difficult 3/5. [A2]Reward: X amount of $ and/or Experience. [A3] X Station is in need of [insert Expensive Weapon]. Use ?buycargo [insert Expensive Weapon] and deliver the item to X Station. Difficulty 5/5 [A3]Reward: X amount of $ and/or Experience. etc Xog> ?missions B [b1] Scout along the southern hypertube’s sector and enter the [X Sector (P13 or whatever)] by using the Hyper Gate. Touch the flag beacon to announce you’ve made it. [b1] Reward: X mount of $ and/or Experience. [b2] etc. Xog> ?missions C [C1] Guard [bot that flies to specific waypoints] as he/she flies to X Station. [C1] Reward: X amount of $ and/or Experience. [C2] etc Deeper Discussion on A,B,C. A - When you’re transporting cargo to another station, there’s certain areas of the map that triggers events, like for instance, a bunch of enemies suddenly spawn and start shooting at you, and based on the answers to my aforementioned questions, they can fight back or [try to] run away (will be difficult), or maybe if you’re going through enclosed areas, a burst could go off. B - When you’re scouting an area, your main objective is to go to a flag and capture it (like in trench wars). Once the flag is captured, the mission is completed. On your way there, things will trigger events just like in part A. C - When you’re Guarding someone, it’s a bot set to fly to certain points on the map, and on the way, there are events that trigger, such as bots spawning or anything else that’s possible just like in A and B missions. Discussion of ability of team-oriented missions The ability implementing team-oriented missions is also very possible. For instance, ?teammissions could list a bunch of different missions just like A, B and C and even more. Flying with pilots turns this some-what singleplayer game with chat into multiuser teamwork. More difficult bots, trickier traps, and the absence of wingmen could create a very arduous mission for people. Discussion of Pirating and getting items from kills. Pirating is a great aspect of many space MMOs. A player can become a pirate - but at a cost. And this is where faction points come in to play. Say you were on your way through a transport mission with an expensive item in your cargo (the pirate has no idea what you have) - and he decides to kill you. If he kills you: 1) Your mission is failed. 2) The item that was in your cargo is now in his. (speculative) 3) He creates a bounty on himself. 4) He takes a big hit in faction points. Discussion of Faction As for faction, if I were allowed to construct the story for this whole feature, there would be two factions. 1) The aliens/bots (named something else ofcourse) 2) The main ‘good’ organization (named something else ofcourse) Of course, there would be a neutral zone/station where players could go to “dock” their ship (enter safe zone) and sell items they obtain from pirating or doing other things, but is often under attack by the alien race Deeper Discussion on Bots/Aliens, ships, and loot There’s a lot of possibilities for this. 1) The alien race can have two unique ship models. With ASSS allowing multiple ship sizes and models in an arena, one model could be an edited shark, while the second a large, slow-moving Leviathan as a ‘battleship’ that sharks spawn from (spawn at the exact location and then fly away from ship to attack player) 2) Have 7 different models, ships 2 through 8. Pilots can only use the Warbird for missions, and they gear up their ship through the pub map. Items - Bots can drop items when they are killed, and they go to whoever killed it automatically. There’s many different ways you can go with this. Total list of commands for this system: ?missions - lists available missions categories ?mission [a, b, c, etc] - lists available missions under this category ?mission [a1, etc] - Selects this mission ?objectives - Lists the objectives of your currently selected mission. ?buycargo - Lists items available at this station ?cargo - Lists items currently in your cargo ?sellcargo - Sells cargo when you’re at the station/safe zone I really hope at least some of these ideas shed some light on this type of system. I think making this happen would draw a lot more people to the zone, and it would give them something to do rather than fray in pub when nobody’s flagging. It will also present an initiative to play as well. A lot of people get bored by not playing. NOTES 1. I’ve also noticed that this could actually be implemented as an entire zone itself. 2. I can create the storyline/background if anyone wants to take the initiative on creating this dream. 3. This is a very large and complex system, but it can be done given the time, patience and dedication.
