Deepnature

Hey guys!  We're getting tired of Empyrion so we've just put up an Ark server to play around on for a while.  Anyone interested in joining us is welcome.  Just PM me for the details. 

(Posted Friday 19th of February 2016 on the DevBlog) 
 
      In the past few weeks Dual Universe has been on occasion described as being mainly a PvP MMO. However Dual Universe is so much more than this: it has a rich "Builder" gameplay at its core, which is rather new in the MMO genre (at least at this scale). Specifically, this gameplay is not just a kind of single player experience added on top of a MMO, but takes an entirely new dimension because of the fact that you are building within a MMO that takes the word "massive" seriously. This is a crucial aspect, and is central to the emergent gameplay experience.   We plan to implement the Builder gameplay in the Alpha version (not all tools might be ready though) before any PvP gameplay. We are doing this for 2 reasons: - We would like to send a message: our game is as much a Builder Game as a PvP Game. - In our game vision, building constructs will be the first brick of the gameplay cycle.     Warning: everything said in this blog post is still "work in progress". Development is an iterative process and the gameplay may evolve a lot between now and when the players will get their hands on the game.      Goals we have in mind for the Builder role:     Building as a meaningful activity:   Instead of just remaining an end in itself, we want to give to the Building activity a purpose to all the time invested in it. To build gigantic things and just stare at them once they are finished feels like something is missing. If you have played other Builder games, like some people in our team, you might have felt this way. That's why we plan to place the Builders at the heart of the Economy. We want to make them feel useful or even essential to other players. Builders will be able to sell, or buy their creations together with other players to increase their wealth for other purposes. Building activity will, along with the crafting activity, bootstrap the player-driven Economy. And a strong emergent Economy will be necessary to make PvP possible on a large scale. So even for PvP Players, Builders will matter.         Showing your art to an incredibly bigger audience:   You are an artist for the sake of Art, and you don't really care about making your creations profitable or being useful to anyone. That's fine and even in that case you could still have a solid reason to build in a single-shard game like Dual Universe. Why? If you want to show what you're capable of to the community, well, in the average Builder game, you will be able to show your work to 20, 50 or possibly a few hundred players if you are on a solid and very populated server, but this is still a small part of the game community. Of course, you have social media to enlarge your audience, but watching a video on YouTube is not comparable to seeing an impressive fortress in game, right? Imagine that in a single shard universe, your creations can become a tourist attraction similar to real life monuments (Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower), bringing thousands of in-game visitors just here to see your Art? Well, you get the picture.       The protection we plan for the Builders:   Building is a very time consuming activity to bear fruits, we are very well aware of this. It is also something many players practice as a relaxing activity. So if a builder wants to build without risking being attacked by a PvP player, he will have the opportunity to do it in non-PvP, secure areas. Right from the beginning, there will be a secure area of several kilometers around the Arkship (the in-game starting point). Beyond the safety of the Arkship, as players explore the universe, we are currently evaluating other possibilities for additional secure areas in the game to protect builders and their creations, as the number of players in game grows and they spread across the universe. We know that each possibility comes with Pros and Cons. Expect the final decision to be announced more or less at the same time we'll communicate in detail about the PvP gameplay. Here is a brief outline to some safe building zone ideas:   - Arkification Token: the ability to find tokens (alien relics?) for the players while exploring or mining. They could be used wherever the owner want, and will be destroyed upon use. This would then create an indestructible safe area and anything in it become untouchable by PvP Mechanisms.   - Alien Ruins: areas on planets containing lost, deactivated alien technology that could be rebuilt/reactivated by players. Once the area is rebuild/reactivated, the area becomes safe and anything in it becomes untouchable by PvP Mechanisms.   - Virtual Simulator: enabling player to enter a virtual world (call it "inception syndrome"!). While in that virtual space, the player would be able to design any construct, in a completely peaceful setting. This would help builders to design their construct and create their blueprints safely, without being interrupted by any PvP action. For ships, it will also be possible to test their flight mode, without risking a crash or wasting resources!   What about the constructs built in non-secure areas? These will be destructible. We assume what take the most time in the building activity is to design a construct the first time and tweak all the small details on it. Once you have the Blueprint, or a Construct Snapshot with a Repair Unit, it's only a matter of gathering resources to repair it or reproduce it an infinite number of times. This is the best way to make the PvP destruction acceptable in our opinion, but we remain open to community suggestions!       The Tools available for the Builders:   We have taken some time to analyze and gather information about what are the strengths and weaknesses of already released builder games. It seems they all fall into two main categories:   Those who have predefined blocks which are easy to take in hand gameplay wise, enabling players to build nice designs quickly but where the creativity is limited, due to the number of different preset blocks you can choose from to build with. Those who have voxel tools enabling players to manipulate the world to reach maximum creativity freedom. The drawback is generally that this ability to manipulate voxels is incredibly intimidating and difficult to take in hand for a beginner. While a few experienced players can build wondrous things, the vast majority of players are overwhelmed and discouraged. In order to avoid the pitfall from the two genres, we've come to the conclusion to get the best of both worlds to appeal to both experienced and novice builders. So yes, in the Alpha, you can expect to have "Voxel Tools" as well as what we call "Voxel Elements". So, what exactly are Voxel Tools & Voxel Elements?   Voxel Tools:   1) Deploy/Remove Shape Tool:      In a nutshell this tool enables the builder to deploy (or remove) a primitive shape, a bit like a 3D brush. Right now it can be a cube, a sphere or a triangular prism. The size of the shape can be resized and rotated. It can be used for deploying/extracting large shapes or for fine tuning those intricate details.     However it will grow in versatility as time passes: we plan to include cylinders, cones, tetrahedrons (triangle-based pyramid), square-based pyramids and many more!      2) Line Tool: this enables the builder to create a plain linear connection between two rectangular surfaces that you are free to define. Both the starting rectangular surface and the ending rectangular surface of the volume are defined before deployment: the size of the rectangular base at each extremity is decided by the player with a simple drag&drop movement.       3) Smoothing Tool (work in progress): this enables the builder to smooth sharp edges and corners progressively enabling more organic and streamlined shapes to be made. The smoothing action can be triggered either by a click or by maintaining the mouse button to have a continuous smoothing action.    4) Select Tool (work in progress): this enables the builder to select a precise group of voxels and save it temporarily (like in a clipboard) or permanently in their Voxel Element Library. The selection can then be reproduced (copy/paste) in the world (assuming the builder has the necessary quantity of material to reproduce it). Note that it only stores the voxel content and not other game Elements (eg Engines).   5) Paint Tool (scheduled): this enables the builder to "paint" any surface of a construct. In fact, it's material swapping: one voxel of a specific material is replaced by one voxel of another material. The removed quantity of material is put in the player inventory while the quantity of material used to replace it is taken from the player inventory. We will try to have two painting modes: sharp painting (similar to hard edge painting) and smooth painting (where the material recently deployed is slightly propagating to adjacent voxels, creating a blending effect).   Voxel Elements (or Voxel-based Elements):   Put simply, a Voxel Element is a complex, predefined voxel-based shape constituted of one (or more) material(s). A spiral staircase is a good example of a Voxel Element. Voxel Elements will be gathered in a library. We plan to include more and more complex shapes in this library. The feedback from the community will be essential to know which complex shapes will be the most useful to builders. In the long term, builders will also have the ability to create Voxel Elements themselves, and to save them to their Voxel Element Library. They will also be able to modify the materials used by the Voxel Elements, so if you want a metal stair with a wooden handrail, or vice versa, you will have to simply update the materials attached to the Voxel Element.   Mesh-based Elements (or "Elements"):   As well as Voxel Tools and Voxel Elements there are also predefined game Elements like Cockpits, Engines, Boosters, etc... They bring functionalities to your Construct, and can be attached to your voxel-based creations, setting up their anchor point and orientation. Some Elements will be required to build certain things. A basic flying craft will require a Core Unit, a Control Unit, a Gyroscope, and a few propulsors (adjustors to orient, rockets to fly), but the voxel-made chassis, hull and design of the craft is entirely left to the builder.   Well, that's all for now. We hope this gives you a better idea about the plans we have for all the Builders in Dual Universe. Don't hesitate to give your feedback on the forum, if you have any suggestion or comments to make: we really want to have your opinion on this!   The Novaquark Team.

Hi SzaryWilk,
 
To give additional info complementary yo vylqun answer:
 
1) Yes, all players will be on one single server (using cloud computing), managed by Novaquark. No player-hosted server will be possible.
 
2) Yes, a Kickstarter campaign, planned for the end of the year. 
 
3) What's planned at the moment (but it might change): Alpha Team members will get access to the Alpha a few months after the Kickstarter campaign.
 
There are two ways to join the Alpha Team:
- by being an active member of the community who brings constructive suggestion & feedback and/or contribute to the community growth. 
(the Novaquark team will decide on a case by case basis)
- by backing the game during the crowdfunding campaign.
(minimum pledge amount still in discussion)
 
We adopt the same philosophy for Alpha Access than for our Monetization Model: by bringing personal and significant contribution to the community or by supporting financially the game, this show proof that a player cares about the game and contributes to its development. Considering that, we assume players corresponding to this profile are the ones we seek to help us improving the game during the Alpha.
 
Best regards,
Nyzaltar.

Oh I don't know about that lol, maybe if you're paying

Well folks, after one final all-nighter, I finally have my organization and my website set up!!
 
 
Introducing...
 

 
 
https://community.dualthegame.com/organization/the-outfit
 
The Outfit is an organization of outcasts; including smugglers, merchants, traders, pirates, rogues and like-minded entrepreneurs. 
 
While a lot of things still need to be done yet, we have a private forum set up and are ready to start making new friends and building an awesome community. 
 
Please check it out and feel free to PM me with any questions. 

At first it flipped a lot for us. Pushing and then getting pushed back. Though near the end of our session, it seemed like TR was gaining the upper hand.

You can apply here Rooster! https://community.dualthegame.com/organization/cops-coalition-of-pirates-smugglers
 
Also, had a very good turn out for Game Night with Planetside 2. We'll be doing another one next week, so stay tuned!

Dont forget, COPS's first game night is tomorrow at 4 PM CST! We'll be playing planetside 2 on the Emerald server. Teamspeak info is in the quote.

Hello my COPS Coalition friends!
 
Pleased to reveal COPS has it's first prototype t-shirts! Once we're closer to release of Dual Universe, we can make arrangements for those who would like to have one!
 
Might be useful at a NovaQuark/Dual Universe convention at some point 
 

For COPS' game night this upcoming Saturday, we will be playing on the Emerald Server in Planetside 2. 
 
Same time and teamspeak server. 
 
Thanks,
Cybrex

There'll be big Organizations coming in, no worries there lol. It's early days, best we start strong early on and build a sturdy foundation for the challenges yet to come!
 
  Thank you for the vote of confidence , I know there's a few here with handy skills and experience, and I too have observed you and am glad you've chosen to join us! *plops a cold, frothy beer on the table*

I think, Pirate Smuggler friend, you underestimate my capacity to disengage and disassemble all vestiges and signs of your countermeasures!

Greetings fellow COPS mates!
 
As Captain Kiklix here said, we're an umbrella organisation with smaller ones within, such as my Astrum Enterprises. I'm a free spirit, but I also like a good tight-knit group of friends who love to build, explore, and make the most of their gaming experience, who you can rely on for friendly comradeship in times of need.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to the COPS community for pushing us past the 50 member point. Glad to see there are so many like minded individuals coming to Dual Universe and finding interest in our growing community.

After conversing with the majority of members in COPS, and reaching out to a few other DU community members, seems that Planetside 2 is a good option for us all to group up and play together! It is free to play, and team oriented. It couldn't hurt to at least try it right?

 

Here are the current details for 7/30s Game Night!

 

Date: 7/30 Saturday

Time: 4 PM CST (This should be 10 PM for our UK guys)

Game: Planetside 2 (Terran Republic Faction)

Voice Chat: Teamspeak 66.150.214.9:15490

 

If you have any questions please let me know! If anything changes with the plans, I'll be sure to let everyone know before hand. Also, this offer is also extended to the rest of the Dual Universe community. Come pew pew with your fellow DU comrades!

 

I really hope to see everyone there!

 

Thanks,

Cybrex

Hehe maybe Friday nights could be "Snuggle Time".
 
In echo of Kiklix I'm past the days where I want to actively recruit anyone. Organic growth seems better, including friends and family coming in as well.The people who approach us want to join us, I'm not a believer in chasing anyone.
 
I look forward to us developing a sense of kinship.

I rather like the looks of these:

 

 
From this thread for credit: http://www.matrixgam...m.asp?m=2845072
 
Can I build something like them? Not sure, depends on the flexibility of the tools. But maybe something a little less complex?

I don't mean functionally but aesthetically what would be your particular flavor of choice? 
 
For me i would favor ships that would be kind of like rat rods, junkers, minmatar like ships, ones that look like rickety pieces of junk that manage to do a job with minimal excess 
 
I'd also be really excited to see ones inspired by but not direct copies of romulan ships from star trek tng, they always looked the coolest 
 

It really is great to see the organization grow rapidly like this so many new members To anyone that recently joined, welcome! We sure do have alot of members that will be great in all various aspects of the game: from building to scripting and exploring to pirating/plundering lol

I'm in the middle of building my own site where I will post my builds and such.  I am also adding  forum so we can start talking style guides and upload images and such.  I would be more than happy to open it up further so we can talk about a lot of other things too, if you guys want.  Should be done by the end of next weekend.
 
Or maybe I can just start a new one just for COPS instead?   If you guys want to do it, I can host it on my server and all I would ask is that someone get us a domain name so I can get started.  Take me about a week or so.
 
What do you think Kik?

I like to think of myself as a Privateer in a coalition of like-minded individuals.  Our role (as I see it) is to keep balance in the Universe acting as independent operators smuggling goods, and providing services when needed, and "distributing" the wealth when it becomes too concentrated in for form of piracy (like futuristic Robin Hoods).
 
The beauty of this idea is that within this cooperative people can play the game any way they want, and even change roles without abandoning the core principals of the group.  Tell me if I'm wrong... 

​Cops has been disbanded. Sorry for wasting your time. This was a lone decision by Kiklix and does not reflect the other legate lady astrum nor the members.
 
 
​The following are the answers to why COPS has been disbanded.
 
Drama:  Certain populous organizations and their legate have been concocting rumors about COPS. Legates from other some what populous organizations have made assumptions about COPS and presented these as facts. In every case these people are wrong and only serve to create drama. There is no reason for all the hate I have received and COPS has received. I am done 'playing' with a community full of children.
 
​EDIT: Removed this section due to clarification by Novaquark.
​
​​I would like to thank everyone who made the decision to join cops. I am sorry it could not pan out. I wish you all well, I wish Novaquark the best.
 

 
 
 
COPS - Coalition Of Pirates & Smugglers.   The arkships landed. We woke anew, scared, unsure. Groups formed, factions aligned. Power corrupted. For all the efforts to save our species, the millennia we traveled, we reverted almost instantly back to that old human nature. Not even extinction could change our habits, our instinct.   We have all been there. Watching and witnessing the mega-corporations metastasize and feed off the livelihood of the less fortunate. Class warfare, poverty, slavery...being forced to work by some clown sitting at the top of his ivory tower barking commands. I’ve had enough of it, most likely so have you. It’s time to break from those chains and live a free life. It ain’t easy, ain’t too much glory, but it’s honest (for the most part) and fair.  We are a coalition, a collaboration,  a consortium, a conspiracy, a communion,  a clan, a crew, a club, a confederation, a confederacy collecting cohorts connected, conjoined, combining efforts to be a free people, free from tyranny, terror and totalitarianism.       WHAT IT'S LIKE:   Ever want to pilot the Millenium Falcon? Ever dream to have a crew who works together like Firefly? You want to be that solo guy who searches for bounties like Boba Fett and his Slave I?   This is how we dream to play and we intend to play this way. However Dual may require efforts from a  larger group. If this is true, we just want to have a system in place so that people can come together to fullfill their visions. We want solo play, but under the safety net of a larger organization.     WHAT WE ARE NOT:   ​We are NOT GRIFERS. COPS are pirates, smugglers, outcasts, ninjas, mercenaries in the ROLE play sense, NOT in the griefing sense.  
THE BREAKDOWN:   • Enrollment: Some will get invited, some will inquire. If you want to be part of a free alliance just ask.
• Primary language: English and gibberish.
• Timezone: Only mega corps keep up with time.
• Goal:  Solo or co-op gameplay within a larger group. We all like to do our own thing, but somtimes you need to be part of something larger or you will get left behind.  
COPS is an organization created and designed to bring together like minded people who prefer to play solo without constraints of typical guild requirements (be here on X day, at Y time to raid Z...ya its tiresome).  We realize people have limited time to play and that real life takes place first. That being said, Dual Universe looks like this might be a game where cooperation and collaberation are keys to success. If we find this to be true, there might be more expected collaborative gamplay required. We don’t want to force anything on anyone, but just ask people to step up if it is required to do so.  In the end it’s not about making a large guild rich, its about making sure your needs are met, our mutal needs are met. We endevor to create an enviroment where co-op game play is actually fun and rewarding.    
SO WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?   • Security: Safety in numbers.
• Community: A network of people to work together with if so desired.
• Freedom: Free to play your way but with the undertanding that freedom requires effort and work. There will be times we need to work together, its the only way to keep an alliance strong.
• A Trade network. Not sure how Dual is going to work with trade, but within a group there will be communication lines. We will be able to trade with each other and help keep our alliance strong.
• Veteran ship builders: We have members who have crafted some of the finest voxel ships to ever exist.  Our fleet will impress, this I can promise.
• Veteran home builders: We have members who have crafted some of the finest voxel sci-fi mega structures to exist. Our home world wont look like a cut rate hostel.
• PVP: Lets face it, even if you only care for PVE, PVP might and will happen at some point. If you intend to fly in a ship, once you are out of the ark safe zone, pvp will happen. We intend to create smart ship designs that will help to ensure pvp victories, but you will need to know how to fly it.
• PVE: We know some people have no interest in PVP. Hopefully we can get a civilization started with trade, harvesters, crafters etc. It’s good to have folks who specialize in these categories.
• Exploring: It’s at the heart of Dual Universe, of course we will explore!
• If i can be done in Dual, we intend on experiencing that content in one way or another.  
GOVERNMENT:   Don’t really intend on having some massive over inflated group of power hungry people running the show. I have no interest in that, however there does need to be a head or some form. Castles have kings, homes have breadwinners. Even a pack of wolves looks to their Alpha. I intend on holding the main key of power or have it distributed among a very close group of friends. Those who know me know I fight tooth and nail for the little guy, for honesty and integrity. I have no intent on telling you how to play or what to do...but internal conflicts will occur and those will need to be resolved. We want everyone to be happy and to play together...its the best recipe for success. 
   
If COPS sounds like a style of gamplay that you find appealing, speak to Kiklix or LadyAstrum.