Groups on OS overhaul

[zDominator]

I REALLY think the way groups operate on the OS is just ... wrong.

Time is sped up on the OS for playability. So be it: it is a GOOD thing.

But the ability for a group to be spread up miles and miles apart and still all end up in the same battle

a) really irks my willing suspension of disbelief.

b) is the facilitator for a LOT of griefing-type strategies.

I've said it before in another thread, but here I go again:

I think groups should be represented by a SINGLE ship icon with the number of ships in it just like NPC fleets are. The group leader steers the group icon around on the OS.

Once the group enters a port or instance, they are free to move abut individually.

The open sea speed for groups (or PFs, for Player Fleets) would be limited to the SLOWEST ship in the fleet.

Having a tackler in a PF would still be a good thing as they could tackle the enemy within the instance and prevent an escape.

Yet, you wouldn't have the situation we have now where just because a Sleek Hermes catches a player, they find themselves engaged by slower ships that wouldn't have been anywhere NEAR the fight but for the magic mechanics we have now.


Additional idea:

PFs could ALWAYS be flagged for PvP in the OS.

Merchants could group with NOs to ship goods and not worry about splits.

This would bring about (I am hoping) all sorts of realistic type encounters. It could result in the "ambush gameplay" the devs are after.


I'm really thinking this idea would really improve gameplay.

I'd love to hear some feedback, thoughts on this idea.

[Rueven54]

I actaully agree with this idea.

The only problem is that it would be very hard to make alot of players bite off on the idea of not having control over their player and his/her ship.

[szolty1]

At what distance would the group members enter the single ship PF? What I'm thinking of is if you group up with a number of other players, but you might be all over the map. For example, you might have group members starting off in Turtling Bay, Port Royal and St. John's: Do they all teleport to the group leader's position, or do they not join together until the ships are on top of each other?

[Joseph Fletcher]

I don't think the devs or players would go for the idea of now controlling their ship.

How about a system which would prevent small ships tacking large ones (I know something like this is in the pipeline) then changing the way joining encounters works so that:

When one ships joins the battle all ships in a radius get pulled into the group, like now but the radius is much bigger. Ships appear relative to their position on the OS, so that the closer together the group are in the OS the closer they appear in the instance. Spread out ships risk being isolated and destroyed in detail. Once the initial invite timer finished the instance is locked with the exception of flares for PVE which unlock the instance but only for a set time (say 10 seconds), this regenerates the invite as before to all ships in the radius.

This system prevents tacking by small ships and gives groups a reason to sail close together.

[Detta Walker]

Originally Posted by Rueven54 I actaully agree with this idea. The only problem is that it would be very hard to make alot of players bite off on the idea of not having control over their player and his/her ship.

They can quite simply make this fleeting up optional.

[Naw Just Wainers]

Originally Posted by Detta Walker They can quite simply make this fleeting up optional.

I agree. *twitch*

It is a very good idea overall, though. Perhaps a pre arranged formation for when battles are engaged, as well? Proximity limitations of course in positioning.

Such pipe dreams, but I do love this idea.

[zDominator]

Originally Posted by SeraphicRadiance I agree. *twitch* It is a very good idea overall, though. Perhaps a pre arranged formation for when battles are engaged, as well? Proximity limitations of course in positioning. Such pipe dreams, but I do love this idea.

Or, perhaps the group leader could even select from a short list of formations that, upon entering instsance, the PF will be in

[zDominator]

Originally Posted by szolty1 At what distance would the group members enter the single ship PF? What I'm thinking of is if you group up with a number of other players, but you might be all over the map. For example, you might have group members starting off in Turtling Bay, Port Royal and St. John's: Do they all teleport to the group leader's position, or do they not join together until the ships are on top of each other?

Well, you could click in "join fleet" like you do for battles now. Very close proximity, I would think, only.

[zDominator]

Originally Posted by Rueven54 I actaully agree with this idea. The only problem is that it would be very hard to make alot of players bite off on the idea of not having control over their player and his/her ship.

The benefits of being in a fleet (great PvP!) would surely outweigh reluctance to a momentary inability to steer their ship around on the OS.

[Joseph Fletcher]

All sorts of problem could happen with a group leader picking a fight the members didn't want.