So, any official word on whether this is viable? I've been cautioned against just building a POB and proceeding beyond where I am without some input from devs or admins on this idea first. I'm very eager to get this rolling and have even started some preperation with the AI faction as a bit of a sample so people can get a look at what this could be like, but the the council I have had from one member in particular holds some weight with me and I don't want to go for it only to find it won't be recognised later.
So if any of you (devs, admins, or anybody who thinks this is interesting) have anything further to say about the Etherium, this would be the place to say it, PM me or hit me up on skype (infraredfrost).
Is there anything more people would like to see out of this at the moment? Politely asking for further input from anyone (devs and admins included). I'm not really sure where to go or what to focus on from here.
The history is nice. I think than you need to make contact with more factions and see how this goes. Like the Outcats, the Order and BHC. Maybe do some explorations in the nomad's systems.
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The question has been raised as to how such a small population could represent itself ingame without taking a major population hit every time a pilot dies. My answer to this is simple - The ships are unmanned, controlled by Etherium in a bonded or "hibernation" state. With their superior technology, it would be feasable to control the ships by AI or remote signal (modern-day military do this already), represented by an AI ID, from a POB acting as an antenna or relay station. This is also part of the reason negotiations started with the AI Consensus before other potential parties. If this is successful and the Etherium population increases the ID could come later for those pilots (depending on dev/admin approval).
I have left my skype (this page, top post) details and invited comments from admin and developers many times to no avail, so it can't be said I haven't tried to get some input from that direction.
I have been considering using a POB as a base of operations until an official answer comes back from the powers that be. Is there anything in the way of me doing this?
Whats wrong with using a Phantom ID straight away? You could just imply the AI controlled ships within the description of the ID.
I also would like to ask how would the faction keep up POBs ? Phantoms have no Transport ships, and if you use civilian freighters in your tech list it will take like an average 12 of runs per day to keep it top up.
(03-28-2014, 12:58 AM)Nexus Ark Wrote: Whats wrong with using a Phantom ID straight away? You could just imply the AI controlled ships within the description of the ID.
I also would like to ask how would the faction keep up POBs ? Phantoms have no Transport ships, and if you use civilian freighters in your tech list it will take like an average 12 of runs per day to keep it top up.
Going to explain this point by point. Using the Phantom ID isn't my decision and is out of my reach at the moment. I do have ideas that it could possibly be SRP'ed for if the initial base survives for a decent period of time. But that is not up to me.
POB's - Maintained by automated ships that I hope to strike a deal with the AI Consensus to acquire. The Etherium will be using civilian/borderworlds tech, there are plenty of wrecks in the Omicrons to scan and salvage, and this would also fit with the infiltration/subterfuge angle outlined in the OP as a type of camoflage.
(03-28-2014, 12:45 AM)|nfrared Wrote: The question has been raised as to how such a small population could represent itself ingame without taking a major population hit every time a pilot dies. My answer to this is simple - The ships are unmanned, controlled by Etherium in a bonded or "hibernation" state. With their superior technology, it would be feasable to control the ships by AI or remote signal (modern-day military do this already), represented by an AI ID, from a POB acting as an antenna or relay station. This is also part of the reason negotiations started with the AI Consensus before other potential parties. If this is successful and the Etherium population increases the ID could come later for those pilots (depending on dev/admin approval).
Hmmm... why not radio-controled from a suport ship a change? The real pilot is in a well hiden but in the same system. Maybe have a Freighter flying over there when be possible. Or in the crusier.
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The idea of a playerbase with the Etherium is something that I find quite questionable as well. Player bases are supposed to be RP platforms, despite their not being used as them now and then. Supplying them, is also an RP endeavor. Something that I really don't see the Etherium being capable of merely going up to people and requesting the materials that they need to be loaded into ships. This would have to be done indirectly of some sort through a third-party, which also brings the question of 'who' this third-party is.
It seems that the Etherium was left in the dark, while people hope that the Phantom ID reviving becomes something of the past and forgotten, as it seems that decisions are being made based on being left on the edge which I could recognize.
However I feel that some of the methods that would have to be something to go through, sorta.. lowers the quality of things quite a bit.
(03-28-2014, 02:45 AM)Moveit56 Wrote: The idea of a playerbase with the Etherium is something that I find quite questionable as well. Player bases are supposed to be RP platforms, despite their not being used as them now and then. Supplying them, is also an RP endeavor. Something that I really don't see the Etherium being capable of merely going up to people and requesting the materials that they need to be loaded into ships. This would have to be done indirectly of some sort through a third-party, which also brings the question of 'who' this third-party is.
It seems that the Etherium was left in the dark, while people hope that the Phantom ID reviving becomes something of the past and forgotten, as it seems that decisions are being made based on being left on the edge which I could recognize.
However I feel that some of the methods that would have to be something to go through, sorta.. lowers the quality of things quite a bit.
This is pretty much a direct hit on all accounts. Granted, a POB was not part of the original concept, and is something that would have been expanded into using the Temple of the Revenant as a starting point. As I'm unsure as to what is planned for those assets now and the majority of the feedback I have had has been overwhelmingly supportive, I have been investigating alternate methods of establishing Etherium ingame that won't disrupt intended gameplay.
This is where the AI come in. In my mind they are the logical choice to form an alliance with, and also would be giving the AI some roleplay that isn't hostile. I believe they would be in the position to aid the Etherium in getting established and sheltering them for a short time until they become self-sustaining, and in return gain an ally that will eventually grow strong enough to become an asset to them. This is very "long-game" stuff, but I suspect an immortal machine race would plan ahead more than most.
Could this water down what has already been laid out? Potentially. I would be treading carefully and keeping the Etherium hidden for as long as possible. It's not really something I want to do this way. But I feel I am beginning to run out of options.
In saying that, I will hold off until I get a decision either way. With one of the admin team having retracted their own idea to potentially give this a shot, I'll admit I still have hope that this will go ahead in its original form. I have worked hard on it and it is not something I intend to discard on a whim or put at risk with hasty decisions. The community was asked for ideas around this and I am giving it (as I do with everything) my best shot.
Some input from those who will ultimately make the decisions surrounding this faction, even if it's just a "We are still thinking about it", would go a long way. At this stage with no feedback from admin, it is beginning to feel like "Ignore it and it will go away" even though this may not be the message they intend to send.
Whew! Sorry about the text wall, but this should explain alot about where this lies now. Further feedback is still encouraged.
Although I have no idea how admin works, but maybe give a gentle PM bump to one of the *nicer* admins to discuss it ? They are probably not paying attention to this thread anymore since the phantom thing died down. (Or they just cant be bothered posting this thread)
Comparing to the fact that The Reverent proposal pretty much got instant admin approval, phantom ID, ship line and official-dom before it started made me a bit wary that this thread just isn't getting the same attention when the majority of the community voted for this proposal.
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