Forums » Suggestions
Vendetta Online Hosted Combat Zone
The Gist
The idea is to have a free-to-play hosted sector instance, separate from the persistent universe game where people can play specifically designed for combat with mid-to-high tier combat ships.
This will hopefully solve a number of problems that vendetta has at the moment with a fairly simple to implement solution that shows off the best elements of the game, but still leaves people wanting more at the end.
(Chocolateer how do you embed the stupid anchor links on this thing it isnt working for me)
The idea is to have a free-to-play hosted sector instance, separate from the persistent universe game where people can play specifically designed for combat with mid-to-high tier combat ships.
This will hopefully solve a number of problems that vendetta has at the moment with a fairly simple to implement solution that shows off the best elements of the game, but still leaves people wanting more at the end.
(Chocolateer how do you embed the stupid anchor links on this thing it isnt working for me)
Sector Layout and Format
I propose a sector with 3 stations, separated about 5000m from each other in a triangle with various asteroids in the center. The stations would not show the normal station interface and incoming users would first be presented with a choice of UIT, Serco or Itani to choose. Once selected they would be shown a selected group of common combat ships and load-outs to choose from, once they've chosen a loadout they can exit the station and fight with the other inhabitants.
Exposing new players that just want to fight to the complicated station interface has always been undesirable. This gives people a simple, no-nonsense way to chose a pre-selected and pre-configured load-out and get straight into the fight.
I propose a sector with 3 stations, separated about 5000m from each other in a triangle with various asteroids in the center. The stations would not show the normal station interface and incoming users would first be presented with a choice of UIT, Serco or Itani to choose. Once selected they would be shown a selected group of common combat ships and load-outs to choose from, once they've chosen a loadout they can exit the station and fight with the other inhabitants.
Exposing new players that just want to fight to the complicated station interface has always been undesirable. This gives people a simple, no-nonsense way to chose a pre-selected and pre-configured load-out and get straight into the fight.
Ship loadouts example
The idea here is for a selection of commonly used top tier ships to be presented. As it stands, users that want to try the game's reputed combat have to spend hours and hours grinding until they get a chance to use these ships and weapons. The following are some examples of what I mean:
All ships equipped with Fast Charge powercells.
UIT
Raptor UDV w/ dual Neutron Blaster Mk III
Warthog Territorial Defender w/ Gatling Turret and Sunflare
Warthog Mark II w/ Megaposi and Sunflare
Maurader Type X /w AAP/Lawneut/Xgx
Maurader Type X /w Dual flare and Lawneut
Vulture III w/ Raven/AAP
Vulture III w/ Neutron II/Neutron III
Centurion RevC w/ Dual AAP
Tunguska Centaur Aggresso w/ Gat turret, jackhammer and sunflare
Serco
SkyCommand Prometheus w/ Sunflares and Gatling Turret
Serco Vulture Guardian w/ Dual AAP
Serco Vulture Guardian w/ Dual Advanced Rails
Serco Vulture Guardian w/ Neutron Blaster III's
Serco Prometheus Mark III /w Plasma Annihilator and Sunflares
Warthog Mark II w/ Megaposi and Sunflare
Warthog Mark III w/ Gatling Turret and Sunflare
SkyCommand Prometheus w/ Dual gauss III and Jackhammer
Itani
IDF Valkryie w/ Lawneut/AAP/XgX
IDF Valkryie w/ Dual Neuton III and Sunflare
Valkryie Vengeance w/ Dual flare and lawneut
Valkryie X-1 w/ Dual AAP and Sunflare
Centurion IBG w/ Xgx and Neut III
Centurion IBG w/ Dual AAP
Centurion IBG w/ Dual N3's
Warthog Mark II w/ Megaposi and Sunflare
Warthog Mark III w/ Gatling Turret and Sunflare
The idea here is for a selection of commonly used top tier ships to be presented. As it stands, users that want to try the game's reputed combat have to spend hours and hours grinding until they get a chance to use these ships and weapons. The following are some examples of what I mean:
All ships equipped with Fast Charge powercells.
UIT
Raptor UDV w/ dual Neutron Blaster Mk III
Warthog Territorial Defender w/ Gatling Turret and Sunflare
Warthog Mark II w/ Megaposi and Sunflare
Maurader Type X /w AAP/Lawneut/Xgx
Maurader Type X /w Dual flare and Lawneut
Vulture III w/ Raven/AAP
Vulture III w/ Neutron II/Neutron III
Centurion RevC w/ Dual AAP
Tunguska Centaur Aggresso w/ Gat turret, jackhammer and sunflare
Serco
SkyCommand Prometheus w/ Sunflares and Gatling Turret
Serco Vulture Guardian w/ Dual AAP
Serco Vulture Guardian w/ Dual Advanced Rails
Serco Vulture Guardian w/ Neutron Blaster III's
Serco Prometheus Mark III /w Plasma Annihilator and Sunflares
Warthog Mark II w/ Megaposi and Sunflare
Warthog Mark III w/ Gatling Turret and Sunflare
SkyCommand Prometheus w/ Dual gauss III and Jackhammer
Itani
IDF Valkryie w/ Lawneut/AAP/XgX
IDF Valkryie w/ Dual Neuton III and Sunflare
Valkryie Vengeance w/ Dual flare and lawneut
Valkryie X-1 w/ Dual AAP and Sunflare
Centurion IBG w/ Xgx and Neut III
Centurion IBG w/ Dual AAP
Centurion IBG w/ Dual N3's
Warthog Mark II w/ Megaposi and Sunflare
Warthog Mark III w/ Gatling Turret and Sunflare
Role in events
The sector isn't just for people to come and try VO's combat out before they get invested in a persistent universe, it's also a place for guilds and other organisations to recruit into the game. This sector would be ideal, for instance, to hold the Nation war in. Which means that not only subscribers can participate in the nation war (boosting its participation numbers) but also that it gives the opportunity to meet new players in a combat environment and potentially recruit them into a persistent universe guild and whatnot.
The sector isn't just for people to come and try VO's combat out before they get invested in a persistent universe, it's also a place for guilds and other organisations to recruit into the game. This sector would be ideal, for instance, to hold the Nation war in. Which means that not only subscribers can participate in the nation war (boosting its participation numbers) but also that it gives the opportunity to meet new players in a combat environment and potentially recruit them into a persistent universe guild and whatnot.
I've talked about doing an in-game "simulator" for Duels and things like that. But it would still work with the current account system.
Working with the account system is what I meant by this, just not requiring a subscription to access this particular part, essentially a Free-to-play area that would function like a sort of duel arena but restricted to fixed loadouts. The key point though is to have the FPS-style class-loadout interface so newcomers can get straight into the action without learning the station interface.
I'd like to see you give it a go as a completely free-to-play area for promotional purposes, but you can always tweak it or sell it as a separate product later. The thing is being in a single sector with dueling is often enough for some people - that's all they want out of VO, but having that sector populated can only bode well for first impressions for those who want the full MMO deal.
If you feel that having static load-outs is too much for a free area, you could consider doing a rotation of ships and selling unlocks in the arena for micro-transactions or some other scheme. The main thing is we don't know how many people would frequent a single sector VO in a free-play scenario with top tier ships. This will give you that answer and would be really useful to get some of our older players re-enthused about the game.
I'd like to see you give it a go as a completely free-to-play area for promotional purposes, but you can always tweak it or sell it as a separate product later. The thing is being in a single sector with dueling is often enough for some people - that's all they want out of VO, but having that sector populated can only bode well for first impressions for those who want the full MMO deal.
If you feel that having static load-outs is too much for a free area, you could consider doing a rotation of ships and selling unlocks in the arena for micro-transactions or some other scheme. The main thing is we don't know how many people would frequent a single sector VO in a free-play scenario with top tier ships. This will give you that answer and would be really useful to get some of our older players re-enthused about the game.
I think this would probably have a very negative effect on subscriptions. How many people pay $10/mo just to duel already?
Copy the link given in the upper-right corner of the post and enter it like this (remove underbars):
[_url=http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/28602#345773]The Gist[_/url]
The Gist
Sector Layout and Format
Ship Loadouts Example
Role in Events
[_url=http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/28602#345773]The Gist[_/url]
The Gist
Sector Layout and Format
Ship Loadouts Example
Role in Events
+1
I did that already meridian but it opens a new window its not a proper anchor link, anchor links should just be <a href="#345773"> or whatever so they don't open a new link to get there.
They may pay $10 per month to duel, but they wont necessarily get the same freedom out of this sector because of the limitations on ships and the fact that each of the ships must be used with that specific loadout.
They may pay $10 per month to duel, but they wont necessarily get the same freedom out of this sector because of the limitations on ships and the fact that each of the ships must be used with that specific loadout.
Interesting... how ay players can be supported in a single sector?
I think this would probably have a very negative effect on subscriptions. How many people pay $10/mo just to duel already?
He's right. Maybe it would be better to just let them use low level ships with low level weapons and not have a specific loadout. The other ships/weapons should be there, but should be greyed out informing them to subscribe to use it. Maybe give them ONE high level ship loadout (uncommon), just so they know what they are in for if they subscribe. I think it's more important for them to get to use the game mechanics rather than highest tier ship loadouts, because after all, the mechanics are the best part and what separates VO from any other space mmo.
I could see your suggest as a limited promotion deal. Maybe a random weekend or something.
He's right. Maybe it would be better to just let them use low level ships with low level weapons and not have a specific loadout. The other ships/weapons should be there, but should be greyed out informing them to subscribe to use it. Maybe give them ONE high level ship loadout (uncommon), just so they know what they are in for if they subscribe. I think it's more important for them to get to use the game mechanics rather than highest tier ship loadouts, because after all, the mechanics are the best part and what separates VO from any other space mmo.
I could see your suggest as a limited promotion deal. Maybe a random weekend or something.
The question is not "would this have a negative impact on subscriptions" the question is "would it create more new subscriptions than those who forgo a subscription because the option is available".