Point Buy Battles!

[TheJesterJAG]

I'm new and have not yet been in a port battle. However one of the major complaints I've been seeing while reading about PotBS is that inexperienced players can't get into port battles because more experienced players will get upset with them, and because they're afraid of being the one that loses it for their side.

I see why this problem is. The random offer to get in is a great system, but the new, less experienced, and cheaper shipped players are still left out.

I'm going to make a wild guess and assume that the reason port battles are 24v24 is in part so the servers can handle running the battle. If the servers could handle a larger load though, one thing I think would be very neat is a sort of 'point buy' system to port battles.

That's to say three small ships might be worth one large in a port battle (point wise in this pseudo 'point buy' system). Of course three small ships could probably out maneuver a larger vessels and there's all the arguments that can come in there and such...

But the theory is, different skill levels and ships are worth different point values. Both sides in a port battle would be equal in points, but not necessarily in number! Or perhaps this could be used in the "Fleet Fight Zones" that were being discussed in another thread, if those are implemented.

In any case, the 'balance' would certainly need to be worked out and if it's to be done it must be by the experts, but then one side could field 10 light ships and the other 5 mediums, or 2 large and a medium, etc. The combinations become near limitless as long as all ships in and levels of characters are worth certain points.

Then, three level 1-15 characters in small boats would only be (say) worth one level 50 characters in a large 3rd or 1st rate... or whatever.

The key to the balance wouldn't only be in the the size of the ship, but the level of the player in the ship. That way, young players could get some experience on the battlefield, and the side they're on might even be happy they've got three small ships instead of one large.. maybe.

Someone with a better brain for typing and explaining who understands me could maybe help me further this discussion? I'd also love to hear feedback from all others who would like to give it.

[Spinnaker Sam]

How would your system handle a rank 50 sailing a rank 23 ship? If you base it only on ship level, then rank 50s would still demand that lower ranked players give up their slot to higher ranked players using the same ships that the lower ranked would be using.

How about allowing the lower ranked people to auction off their slot? That way if the higher ranked players don't want them to participate they can buy them out and get their own people into the battle provided they are willing to pay for it.

[Rueven54]

He stated that the equation would include the character level.

As for the addendum, sounds cool.

As a whole though, I kinda think that it is neccessary. I think the system works just fine the way it is. If your interested in PBs, it is not that hard to obtain a high level. Even level 37 characters in small doses can be meaningfull in a PB if in the right ship (defiant or Mignone). Long range is important. Burst damage is important. They are not the Most effective ships, but they contribute. If we restrict player entry into PB based on only the criteria of "Elite Ships Only", then we would only see NO in 1st rates. If you contributed to the contention system, and recieve an invite, use the system as is. It will put the experience under your belt. Every nation has the "roguish" low level port battle combatants. So the tides will not get tipped too much.

The people that ostricize players for competing in a port battle at low level are just mad because they or one of their friends aren't in the port battle.

[TheJesterJAG]

Originally Posted by Spinnaker Sam How would your system handle a rank 50 sailing a rank 23 ship? If you base it only on ship level...[edit]

I said base it on ship level & character level.

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Well, maybe not for changing the port battles. However, there is a suggestion right now in the section of ideas up for debate; It suggests that there be PvP Zones where people can do 24v24 or 12v12 instead of just 6v6.

Maybe instead of going the rout of XvX, they could try a something like this idea?

[Rueven54]

They have that already. Its called six mediators/bermudas/hermes/xebecs against fewer bigger/slower ships.

har har

[Spinnaker Sam]

To go along with such a system you would either need to provide a way for players to see what ships and captains are already accepted, or allow players to change ships within the Ready Room in order to meet the points requirements. Also, what happens if some people get greedy and decide to take up the majority of points with their rank 50 ships and rank 50 characters? Some people just don't care about the rest of the team, they want to sail their big, bad ships and they don't care if it forces someone else to take a lesser ship. Just something that should be mentioned.

[TheJesterJAG]

Originally Posted by Spinnaker Sam To go along with such a system you would either need to provide a way for players to see what ships and captains are already accepted, or allow players to change ships within the Ready Room in order to meet the points requirements. Also, what happens if some people get greedy and decide to take up the majority of points with their rank 50 ships and rank 50 characters? Some people just don't care about the rest of the team, they want to sail their big, bad ships and they don't care if it forces someone else to take a lesser ship. Just something that should be mentioned.

I was thinking more along the lines of:

1. The invitations would be sent out.
2. Players who wanted in would accept.
3. The server would figure out who to let in out of those who accepted.
(Instead of just letting in the first ones who were randomly picked then accepted.)

The server could give priority to those who were randomly picked first, or just send the invitations out to everyone on the server, those who want in accept the it picks (semi-) randomly from those who accepted. (Semi-random because it'll take into account ship types.)

Perhaps when players bid-in they choose which of their ships they'll (have to) use in the battle. It'll just pop up a list of all the ships they own, the select the one they intend to use. (If they pick one that a lot of people picked, and they don't get in.. tough luck. The system does have to have a breaking point somewhere for SOME simplicity.)