a few questions

[Ursus]

Hello everybody. I recently dug out freelancer and played through the SP campaign again, and now I am exploring some of the multiplayer stuff and specifically kicking around on the Discovery RP server. So I am new to the mod and the server and have some questions. I don't do a lot of RP, and don't do much MMORPG either although I did play Ultima Online for a few years, and I see a lot of similarities there.

Is it possible to launch the mod without using FLMM? When I try to load the regular shortcut, the servers show as incompatible and are grey, so I can't connect unless I use FLMM to launch the game. I'm running Windows 7 if that matters.

Is there a compatible/legal widescreen mod? I know about the command-line option, but since my shortcuts don't work (see above) I can't use that.

The MP game mechanics are kind of interesting. It seems like everytime I spawn, the game checks the current grid state for persistent objects, and if there are none then it will roll some dice to create spawn. So I am able to farm hostile NPCs by entering and exiting a base, as long as there isn't any other players or patrol traffic then I will probably get more spawn. On the other hand, jumping into a hostile sector with little traffic means I am likely to get met by dice spawn. Is that about right?

Are the grid sectors spherical or cubical? I used to know the answer to that

How prevalent is cheating? The game software isn't maintained by MS anymore obviously and there sure seem to be a lot of cheat messages...

The RP rules are on the honor system? I mean things like the allowed ships and weapons for an IFF, or the actions allowed by an ID... the mod doesn't seem to enforce any of that so I guess it is all voluntary compliance?

I must say that the whole IFF/ID scheme is the most confusing part of the game. At the lower levels the rep can change a lot--enter a new system and you show green to a faction you've never met, which may tip the balance on another faction that you were struggling to be neutral with. I am just waiting for my rep to shift me into another faction and suddenly be running illegal equipment... near as I can tell you can't be neutral and aligned (say a liberty-aligned civilian), but you have to commit to a faction and do a bunch of missions to max out rep, is that about right?

How do you alert an admin about willful violations for enforcement? There have been a couple of times when somebody has used the tradelane bug to trap me in a gate and kill me before I could break free, or has attacked me without warning, so I am just wondering about the enforcement options. Voluntary rules that are not voluntarily followed by everyone... it's like voluntary tax rates.

Thanks for any info

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