Dr Brain

Thanks for a well thought out post. Most of it is probably directed toward arnk, as he does the settings now, but I'll answer what I can. I've played for a bit, and never had a problem getting enough money for ammo. I would imagine it would take more of my earnings on the higher end guns, but even then I can't imagine not turning a profit. The original plan for ammo was to make the vet guns take more and therefore cost vets more. While I don't think that's really happening, I certainly don't think the opposite is happening either. I've noticed this too, in my short time playing. I'm sure we'll figure out some way of making them work. I haven't noticed a difference, but I haven't played for long.

Prox cannot be reduced on Thors. Thor's damage cannot be changed in any way. The only thing we can do is make them more expensive, and make ships hold fewer.

I'm sure you're wrong.

UNH, and not a clue.

My university specifically blocks 5000. I changed it to 5005 for that reason, !@#$%^&*uming that others might have the same issue. Sorry to cause you additional trouble.

I can't be bothered to prune this topic, so I'm closing it instead. Anyone with more to say than "no, you are" can create a new topic in zone dev.

I'll try and make the command when I get some time. Now is not that time, though.

I had this discussion with you in game, and while I've given up on you ever understanding where I'm coming from, I'm going to quote you and reply in an effort to help others understand my position. A counter reply is not necessary. I have never had zone population as an indicator of success. I don't care about population beyond the fact that it's easier to balance settings with more people online. If I feel a change is necessary (as in the case of basing with item spam) I will make that change regardless of how my current player base feels about it. I'm not making the zone for the player base of the month, I'm making it for me. I'm making a zone I would enjoy to play. If you don't like it, feel free to move on like the hundreds of players before you. I did the exact same thing two or three years ago, when I completely redid all the settings. The zone population dropped to 1/3, but those that stayed liked it a lot more, and eventually we grew to a larger pop than before. People were screaming at me that I'd killed the zone, as they are now (actually, truth be told, fewer people have been complaining this time around). Being supreme dictator means that I have to accept all the blame for decision that has been detrimental. On the other hand, it also means I get credit for bringing the zone to this point. If there was population to kill, it means I somehow managed to get population. If I've done it in the past, you'll have to trust my judgment to get it back. I don't have any desire to alienate people, but when it's a choice between population and gameplay, I'll choose gameplay every time.

Arnk and I thought about this, but we really wanted to get new players into the swing of things as quickly as possible. We've got ammoless guns on the to-do list, but pea shooter isn't one of them. Unfortunately, even a $20 reward really isn't enough to bring most good players out of spec. There may be a way to improve the formula, but there's only so much we can do.

During any change, you anger some people, and please others. We've had this problem at least three times before. The problem is that the angry people are the ones playing your zone, and the pleased ones haven't heard about your change yet (since they left a while ago). The population will eventually return. I'd rather make the gameplay better and lose half the zone than the alternative of keeping bad gameplay forever. Yes basing sucks, but I promise you that it will get better. Once it does, there's no guarantee that the players that left will come back, but we're sure to pick up entirely new ones.

Thanks for a well thought out and articulated post. I haven't played long enough to know whether your suggestions would help, but I'll be sure to make basing a top priority for the devs.

Uploaded a new jar with fixes from Cerium and the new server's IP.

We've moved to a new server along with HZ. Hopefully the new server will eliminate the lag issues many players have been experiencing. Make sure to redownload the zone list. Hyperspace should update automatically when you press ok.

Yeah, I never actually looked at the ban message when I set that text. I've updated it to only show the website.

Reminds me that I have to change that ban message...

When did I say I was ok with an automatic buyer? I'm not.

All good common sense tips.

?shipitems is more compact.

We're making a LVZ display. I'm under the impression it will be something like Full, medium, empty, but don't know the exact implementation details.

It's tomorrow, unless you live in NZ. But thanks.

We'll soon be moving to a new server sometime in the next week in an attempt to fix this. Both HZ and HS have been experiencing connection problems, and we've just been waiting for the connection to the central billing server and a bit of free time to move the zone.

I'd like to compliment owl for making a well articulated topic about how he feels. We're in the process of introducing some ammo-less guns, and ways to make ammo less annoying. The general idea behind ammo is to stop bountying in the bases. You can't sit there spamming bullets/bombs on a bombline, hoping to make a random kill. If our next solution doesn't fix the bountying in center (but I think it will), we'll probably take out the safeties in the ammo depots.

Because of the reset, rewards have been temporarily suspended to give players a fair chance of earning things. They will resume in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know when.

Any mod abuse topics will be summarily removed. The forum is not, and never has been, the appropriate venue for discussing personal issues with zone staffers. If you have a problem, you should take it up with that person's direct superior. If you've got a problem with a mod, talk to Rare. If you've got a problem with Rare, talk to D1st0rt. If you've got a problem with D1st0rt or any zone developers, talk to me. If you've got a problem with me, go find a new zone. Contact information is in the zone news file; ?messages work well, and forum PMs will work in a pinch.

We're going to give things a fair shake.