Free Play In Multplayer?

The chances that you would get 150 tankers in one place at one time is a bit low.

Its a big ocean out there mate. and a single torp boat woudlnt be able to kill em all. But i do see what your saying.

It really depends on Engima's future depth. If the game involves a lot of cargo transportation, than tankers would be essential to the game. However, people paying $15 a month would rather not waste an hour or two doing tanker runs, but instead imploy a newbie to do it.

I could see many benefits to this. Imagine playing as a tanker, you could rack up points to commision ships for when you purchase the full version of the game. While you're at it, you're helping your "country" to victory, and staying in contact with the community.

But then again, these(few) people will be using the hardware, servers, etc. It'd be interesting to try something new though. It would be better than simply saying, "7 days free!". Now people could continue playing afterwards, but with a weaker fleet to choose from.

You could also restrict where a player can go if he is using free-play. If the player goes into an area that is restricted, he will be warned, and then he will be relieved of command. This turns his ship into an AI vessel, and he must respawn. This could be used to keep free-loaders near ports and harbors so that more advanced players do not need to baby-sit bases.

Just some food for thought. cheesburga:

Sorry to be a party pooper but the drive a tanker/milchcow stuff is open to exploitation. It could breed the Enigma version of team killers.

For instance a few US players could get in LFN tankers and open up on their escorts (just examples there no specific dig at the yanks intended). Could tip the scales in a close battle.

I agree that although in principle it is a good idea it is open to exploitation, although I am sure this could be got around by ensuring that a computers ip is logged and before they play they have to select a side say the US which they have to stick to unless they get permission to change sides, and if they do that and then they start the own side firing then it will be highlighted and they will be booted.

Well, whatever TAG might do, in the end it will stil be possible to play with two accounts (you'll have to pay both of them, of course).

Take a look at common MMORPGs, it's nothing unusual to see players who own two accounts have them logged in at the same time.

What they could do is have the tankers weapons controlled by AI so there'd be no chance of someone firing on friendly ships and doing damage. Or friendly fire could be turned off...... but that would take away some of the experience as the main reason to even have a free ship to sail/pilot is so that non paying players can see the game before joining.

I wonder how hard it would be for the game to detect that friendly fire is happening? and then the ships responsible could have an AI mutiny and put their captain in the brig for a certain amount of time.

In IW (Iron Wolves) The Players handled team killers themselves. We would call a truce and both sides would would destroy the player who was purposely shooting at his own team. It was very effective, people found out real fast that it was not tollerated and they either quit doing it or went away. The old IW community was very close (no matter what side you were on) and worked together to monitor the game and took action against the few who played only for the enjoyment of ruining the game for others. East was part of that communty and will have a good handle on dealing with greifers. I for one will hunt them down and kill them regardless of what flag they fly or what it does to my score. The quicker they get knocked out of the game the quicker they will go away. fire:

sounds like a good plan to me, I think the closer knit the community is the better regulated it will be.

In IW (Iron Wolves) The Players handled team killers themselves. We would call a truce and both sides would would destroy the player who was purposely shooting at his own team. It was very effective, people found out real fast that it was not tollerated and they either quit doing it or went away. The old IW community was very close (no matter what side you were on) and worked together to monitor the game and took action against the few who played only for the enjoyment of ruining the game for others. East was part of that communty and will have a good handle on dealing with greifers. I for one will hunt them down and kill them regardless of what flag they fly or what it does to my score. The quicker they get knocked out of the game the quicker they will go away. fire:

Actually, this is a perfect role for the Assassins. They get called in to take care of TKers.

The highest ranking officer should be able to order team mates to fire on a team killer anway IMHO.