New Content

[P Nut]

Let's face it. Any effort to increase population will be fruitless unless new content is produced.

We need new items and/or an item designer. In my opinion, an entirely new item set would be neat.

 

Cry/whine in this thread to garner support and show the SysOps what needs to be done for this zone to survive. Ideally, we'd like to see someone hired as an item designer.

 

EDIT: Ideas and suggestions for items and sets are also appreciated.

Edited February 17, 2011 by P Nut

[Cheese]

this should have been done ages ago

 

its probably already too late

[PlayWolf]

Lets have a choice to have limited self upgrades or to customize by items BOO HOO HOO

[»D1st0rt]

I think an item committee would be better than a single person if we're dealing with people that have never made items before

[PlayWolf]

I think an item committee would be better than a single person if we're dealing with people that have never made items before

Though going to be hard to form one.

[P Nut]

I think an item committee would be better than a single person if we're dealing with people that have never made items before

I agree. Multiple people should be consulted for proper balancing.

 

EDIT: We could have an open discussion and encourage input from all players.

Edited February 17, 2011 by P Nut

[Dr Brain]

Did you have someone (or some group) in mind?

[Unix]

Possible solution other than committee.

 

1) "Contest" to have one or more new items added. Staff would determine a winner, and must have one winner at the least. If staff sees more than one item that they like or think would work well add all of them.

 

2) Rotate items. Similar to the idea of restaurants changing up their menus depending on the season and the raw materials available to them. Instead of completely changing the items, every 2-3 weeks, new items are added in a rotating style, so that way players can toy around with new things, obviously this would require around 6-10 new items per rotation, then you can also have same items on the "menu".

 

If you do have a group, probably a small group of players who understand the game play and have played in at least two resets would be best. Then you could test it out in a subarena to see if the items are overpowered before having them introduced. Then of course, the group would be an extension of like a player government, rather than an extension of zone staff. So they dont have any authority in moderation, that way a larger player pool could potentially be involved in helping make/design new items.

 

You could also have a moderator handle the group so that there is some direction and staff involvement at the same time.

Edited February 17, 2011 by Unix

[P Nut]

I do not have anyone in mind but I would prefer someone who is familiar with hscore. I don't think a rotation style is going to work, however. The entire set has to be balanced with each item in consideration of each other. Also, each time an item is changed people will have to rebuild their ship. This needs to be one fell swoop. Edited February 17, 2011 by P Nut

[Unix]

Rotating items wouldnt be about balance, rather than just getting more items out there. And if any items are actually good/balanced, then keep them in, otherwise they could easily be thrown out. If they are thrown out and you have the item, a simple refund plus 5% or something for an inconvenience would suffice.

 

Also, an introduction of an item doesnt automatically mean it is unbalanced, even if in the beginning it proves to be useful. Best example of this is when this item set was first introduced and WBs were all using Omega. At this time, many believed Ampere Imploder was an inferior signature item in comparison to Omega Drive. After seeing one player show that Ampere was a very good signature item to have on WB over Omega, more began switching over to Ampere.

 

Same thing with Flash Drive, many believed initially it was an inferior sublight to Omega. After some time though, there are some who even believe that Flash Drive is an overpowered item even though little to nothing has changed about Flash since it was first introduced.

[PlayWolf]

I think an opposite of parallel relay is needed, -1 recharge +3 nrg +1 afterburns and ebomb damage

[P Nut]

I see. This would replace a smaller, balanced item set with a larger one with variety. People will have more diverse builds. I like it. This idea should be explored.

 

EDIT: This would also require an entirely new item set as the current one is very polarized.

Edited February 17, 2011 by P Nut

[PlayWolf]

Well even though a lot of items were over powered, I would like to also see some of the discontinued items but up to play like cyclone or amprere or anything else that has been taken off the list because of it's over ability.

 

I mean for good ol sake, a blast from the past is great.

Edited February 17, 2011 by Wolfie

[Unix]

If you modified some of the items that we have now, that could also help a lot. Changing not as useful items into useful items will drastically change game play with very minimal effort.

 

Oh, and at the same time, if a committee were to make any changes, it would probably be best if it were announced publicly on the forum. Having items change without any kind of notice is kinda ew.

[PlayWolf]

Items we have now do not need a change. Well, maybe sharp and mass because they are a tad broken due to no more ammo module.

[P Nut]

I recommend a sub arena for people to test items. It would be less of a shock since people will have time to play with them and it would help to refine any balancing issues. Edited February 17, 2011 by P Nut

[PlayWolf]

I laugh to think, watching some kid/guy pop up and say "I made this item, it gives boosts to your ship!" and it's heavily over powered without draw backs

[Unix]

Items we have now do not need a change. Well, maybe sharp and mass because they are a tad broken due to no more ammo module.

Changing items isnt just about nerfing, but also boosting. Quad core could use a boost, Oracle as well can use a boost. Items that mabe 1% of the zone uses could use a boost.

[Dr Brain]

For technical reasons, it's extremely difficult to remove items from player ships and offer a refund. It requires some direct database manipulation while the zone is offline.

 

Because of that, cycling items (or any regular removal of items) is not really feasible.

[Unix]

Perhaps then instead of offering the refund or doing it automatically, make the item inert and have the sell price what the "refund" price would be, at the same time no longer have the item purchasable. I would imagine that would be easier to do than to manipulate the database.

[PlayWolf]

It's not as easy as it sounds, taking an item away from a player just because it is a "rotating item" or "one time item".

Why?

Because the item is "rotating or a one time deal" 1> they wouldn't buy it in the first place 2> knowing that if rotates getting that item taken off their ship

 

Then you would put in more like, "Well you can do this?". No gray areas are wanted.

[P Nut]

It seems one fell swoop is still the best option. Possibly at the time of a reset.

[Cheese]

For technical reasons, it's extremely difficult to remove items from player ships and offer a refund. It requires some direct database manipulation while the zone is offline.

 

Because of that, cycling items (or any regular removal of items) is not really feasible.

 

 

its easy if you do it through the zone, its the way we do things in distension

[PlayWolf]

its the way we do things in distension

 

When you say "we" do you mean just the great quantity of cheese?

Edited February 17, 2011 by Wolfie

[Corey]

For technical reasons, it's extremely difficult to remove items from player ships and offer a refund. It requires some direct database manipulation while the zone is offline.

 

Because of that, cycling items (or any regular removal of items) is not really feasible.

 

 

its easy if you do it through the zone, its the way we do things in distension

How's that working out for you?

 

In all honesty I think new items are in order.

 

+------------------+
| Darkmatter Mines |
+-----------+------+-----+-------+----------+-----+------------------+--------------------------------+
| Buy Price | Sell Price | Exp   | Ships    | Max | Ammo             | Item Types                     |
| $64000    | $23000     | 7000  |   3 5 7  | 1   | None             | Signature, Bomb                |
+-----------+------+-----+-------+----------+-----+------------------+--------------------------------+
| Mines made of the heaviest material know to man, these mines do max damage in a wide area of effect.|
| The shrapnel emitted by these mines are very deadly.                                                |
+------------------+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Property Name    | Property Value |
+------------------+----------------+
| bomblevel        | +4             |
| shrapnel         | +31            |
| maxmines         | =8             |
| minedelay        | =150           |
| mineenergy       | =430           |
| bombdelay        | =170           |
| bombenergy       | =10000         |
| initialbounty    | -5             |
| shraplevel       | =4             |
| maxspeed         | -1             |
| maxthrust        | -1             |
+------------------+----------------+

Edited February 17, 2011 by Corey