SpiceRub

?

So asteroids will be spawned in space by NQ. To find them you need to sus out clues, probably do some cypher puzzle, and then after a certain time the location is announced by NQ.

Why does NQ need to personally handle this? Is this really emergent gameplay?
 
It'll basically just be like the last event, only with asteroids and in pvp space. Whether or not you need to solve a puzzle for this it'll still be only available to the the most powerful org. If it's done one asteroid at a time, it'll be a complete shitshow.

I myself imagined the implementation of asteroids to be some sort of massive asteroid field in space, an actual geographical location, or locations. Right now there's absolutely nothing in space, and no reason to explore or travel. If there were large asteroid fields, they could be used as for instance, "planets in space", with areas within it likely to be claimed for strategic purposes and such.

Really just feels like a recycled NQ strategy. Failed attempt at populating space.

So I finally make the choice to leave the game behind me for now. I really do not see how the current company will be able to make this work and I feel their attitude and overall outlook on what they are doing will help any chance of a revival of the viability of the project. And no amount of pushing the buttons to try and see some movement will have any effect I believe. Maybe I'm wrong but I do not think so.. I see no reason to spend more time supporting a company when I do not see much of anything to make me believe they can and will support the game.
 
So there, all you haters can rejoice as I'm out.. been a good few years but unless things change drastically, this game will not make it.
 
And no, you can't have my stuff..
 

what would be nice is a dense asteroid field AND player made markets..... so that someone could plop down a space trade hub sorta near the field.

Asteroids are a huge opportunity to bring that emergent gameplay to DU that I believe we all want.  Non-aggression pacts between orgs, group organized mining (pilots, miners and scouts working together), and piracy/org vs org conflict all come to mind immediately. 
 
In my opinion, asteroids should address these issues:
Alterative to terrestrial mining. A way to gather large amounts of T1 and T2 without meganode hunting; T3+ content may be dependent of that particular asteroid belt spawn. Bring 'civilization' outside of the safe-zone (be it for cooperation or pew-pew) Get some ships destroyed so more ships can be built.   A few ideas regarding these asteroid fields:
I think they should be non-static in nature.  They should spawn in, persist for a few days, then de-spawn (or turn into just rock).  If they continue to spawn in indefinitely, eventually their will be no need to share or contest them.  The also means if one doesn't spawn near your base, the next one might (or might not).  With the proposed mechanic of needing to be scanned down first, this would give those that are scanning a limited head start. Combat ranges need to be evaluated carefully and hopefully mechanics adjusted accordingly.  Depending on the size of the asteroid belt, I'd think a sensor range dampening effect  (that extends well beyond the belt itself) would make both hunters and scouts work harder without allowing those L Railguns to snipe folks from way outside the belt. As @Physics suggested, I like the idea of the belts being dense enough that one can't speed though without colliding with something.  Having the asteroids be large (and huge one's hollow) would be nice as well. Probably not getting this one soon, but requiring guns and missiles to have line of sight to actually hit their target would be great.  Being able to evade that combat ship by keeping an asteroid between you and them would emphasize the pilot's role and give any hollowed out asteroids a tactical value. A mechanic that allows people to communicate or 'hail' another ship would be appreciated.  The idea of having them in the safe zone should really be limited to T1 with limited T2 with the thought being T1 and T2 should be the stepping stones to progress to T3+.   If people are going to be able to live in space, maybe a space Market? (Or player markets if you REALLY love us?)  

An asteroid puzzle race is just another race to the bottom for this game.
 
It should be obvious that anything puzzle or time based will translate into gain for big org's and the 0.1% of most dedicated players, at the expense of new players and the larger average player base that don't have the time or interest to live and breath DU 24/7.
 
Same with broadcasting asteroid locations. Org's already have the advantage in numbers increasing their chances for finding asteroids worth mining, and now they are also going to be told where to travel to kick out any smaller group of players that worked hard to find a good asteroid?
 
Why does NQ keep making these basic fundamental mistakes over and over again?

I dont really get why need a puzzle etc, just spawn asteroids around a planet deep in PvP zone, ( Ion, Symeon etc ) make sure that they are rich on high tier resources, since there is no ship mining etc, sadly there have to be a safe zone around the asteroid so people wont lose their ships while there are inside a hole. But make it small 0.5 SU or so. 
 
Than let the combat begin.... 
 
A hammer is all you need to drive a nail, stop trying to build a nuclear powered, smart hammering solutions. Just spawn some rocks with ores in it, THAT is all we are asking for. No puzzles etc ( because lets face it, last puzzles NQ created was terrible ) 

Imagine if NQ did put in an asteroid zone and the zone was dense enough to impose an artificial speed limit unless someone does not mind accidentally smacking one at silly speed. That would make space combat there very very interesting. 

Yeah just buy guy who proposing this puzzles all the time some 300 pages sudoku book and incancereate him in toiled cabin with it. Enough of this crap.
 
What we need is physcial (persistant) asteroid belt with some randomization and regen cabability (per exemple by zone updating when there is no players present around) + ore scanner. No warp around in big radius.
 
 

So asteroids will be spawned in space by NQ. To find them you need to sus out clues, probably do some cypher puzzle, and then after a certain time the location is announced by NQ.

Why does NQ need to personally handle this? Is this really emergent gameplay?
 
It'll basically just be like the last event, only with asteroids and in pvp space. Whether or not you need to solve a puzzle for this it'll still be only available to the the most powerful org. If it's done one asteroid at a time, it'll be a complete shitshow.

I myself imagined the implementation of asteroids to be some sort of massive asteroid field in space, an actual geographical location, or locations. Right now there's absolutely nothing in space, and no reason to explore or travel. If there were large asteroid fields, they could be used as for instance, "planets in space", with areas within it likely to be claimed for strategic purposes and such.

Really just feels like a recycled NQ strategy. Failed attempt at populating space.

So asteroids will be spawned in space by NQ. To find them you need to sus out clues, probably do some cypher puzzle, and then after a certain time the location is announced by NQ.

Why does NQ need to personally handle this? Is this really emergent gameplay?
 
It'll basically just be like the last event, only with asteroids and in pvp space. Whether or not you need to solve a puzzle for this it'll still be only available to the the most powerful org. If it's done one asteroid at a time, it'll be a complete shitshow.

I myself imagined the implementation of asteroids to be some sort of massive asteroid field in space, an actual geographical location, or locations. Right now there's absolutely nothing in space, and no reason to explore or travel. If there were large asteroid fields, they could be used as for instance, "planets in space", with areas within it likely to be claimed for strategic purposes and such.

Really just feels like a recycled NQ strategy. Failed attempt at populating space.

So asteroids will be spawned in space by NQ. To find them you need to sus out clues, probably do some cypher puzzle, and then after a certain time the location is announced by NQ.

Why does NQ need to personally handle this? Is this really emergent gameplay?
 
It'll basically just be like the last event, only with asteroids and in pvp space. Whether or not you need to solve a puzzle for this it'll still be only available to the the most powerful org. If it's done one asteroid at a time, it'll be a complete shitshow.

I myself imagined the implementation of asteroids to be some sort of massive asteroid field in space, an actual geographical location, or locations. Right now there's absolutely nothing in space, and no reason to explore or travel. If there were large asteroid fields, they could be used as for instance, "planets in space", with areas within it likely to be claimed for strategic purposes and such.

Really just feels like a recycled NQ strategy. Failed attempt at populating space.

So asteroids will be spawned in space by NQ. To find them you need to sus out clues, probably do some cypher puzzle, and then after a certain time the location is announced by NQ.

Why does NQ need to personally handle this? Is this really emergent gameplay?
 
It'll basically just be like the last event, only with asteroids and in pvp space. Whether or not you need to solve a puzzle for this it'll still be only available to the the most powerful org. If it's done one asteroid at a time, it'll be a complete shitshow.

I myself imagined the implementation of asteroids to be some sort of massive asteroid field in space, an actual geographical location, or locations. Right now there's absolutely nothing in space, and no reason to explore or travel. If there were large asteroid fields, they could be used as for instance, "planets in space", with areas within it likely to be claimed for strategic purposes and such.

Really just feels like a recycled NQ strategy. Failed attempt at populating space.

Lol Snipey... 
 
It's like you woke up, put on a left sock, got an alarm that the Staff of Wisdom struck again, and just ranted some crazy nonsense no doubt connected to your dreams of Blazemonger terrorizing you witb chopsticks and voxel checkerboard... and then you went to have a smoke on the balcony and realized you were butt naked.

I have been trying to figure out how to say what needs to be said without sounding toxic or doomsday-esque.  I don't know how to fully do that so I am going to preface this post by saying I want good things for DU and NQ and the people that make up the NQ staff.  With NQs current trajectory you are in a death spiral.  If you stay the course you are on it is my fear that DU will not survive and all of the NQ staff that has poured heart and soul into DU will be unemployed.  I get the impression that NQ looks at DU and gets caught up with jubilation of the technical marvel that is DU.  To that I agree it is a masterpiece and you all deserve a thousands applauses.  However applause doesn't keep the lights on.  It is my firm belief that NQ needs to let go of the methodical roadmap you are using to develop DU.  Yes if you continue on the course you are on you will eventually make a masterful product.  The problem is you do not have the funding to do that.  

NQ needs to increase revenue. The best way IMHO to get more users interested in the game is to prioritize gameplay loops.  NPC Pirates that players can kill to get things.  Asteroid belts to explore and fight over. Gameplay loops these are the things that will bring users to DU and more importantly retain them.  These foundational pillars NQ are working on to set itself up for a more robust world down the road so you can then add gameplay loops is a recipe of your undoing.  Give the people what they want so that they will give you money to do the things you actually want to do.  Basically this is a long winded post saying " you are putting the cart before the horse" and "it will be your undoing if you do not beware".  Us users will be sad if DU fails but we can go play another game.  Sorry for being the asshole who said it.
 
Edit- it is anecdotal but all my friends in DU have been doing there best to give NQ the benefit of doubt but faith is running low and many have said this is the last billing cycle (3 month sub) that they will pay without seeing some signs that NQ is actually making progress and adding actual game play loops to the game.  I must admit I am more hard headed but I have asked myself "at what point in time do I cut and run". I invest large amounts of time into the main game I play which is DU but I do that to build up for a future.  If there won't be a future (game death) why am I investing for that future? 

Haha sure if it was some other cargo ship. It’s very well armoured, won’t be braking for nobody ?

Comes with a free built in tracker so BOO knows where you are at all times.

Large core Armoured Super-Freighter will be up for sale soon within the next week!
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Purpose-built space only Armoured Freighter, with a strong focus on secure transport.
Tired of berating greifers in discord? Aboard the Eye of Apathy, oppression becomes but a mere bugsplat on the windscreen.
If you think you wouldn't need an armoured freighter, you probably wouldn't need your cargo.
Specialising in high value transport, among other creative uses.
Lightly equipped with 4 L railguns for any necessary minor deterrence.
 
Visit the craft yourself, at APATHY VR.
 
Dry Weight: 10 KT
Forward Thrust: 612 MN
Brake Force: 510 MN
S sized rear dock for atmo shuttles/haulers
Cargo Capacity: 15,360 KL
Containers: 80 / 8 hubs
 
All elements have maximum placement talents
Containers and fuel containers all have -25% mass reduction.
 
Coming to the market soon™!
 
 

It hits 1G at about 70KT of unaltered mass. reads on the report as approx 52 KT with talents

Great ! It will do the job then ! Gratz for the build !

One of the worst looking ships I've ever seen. 

Large core Armoured Super-Freighter will be up for sale soon within the next week!
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==============================
 

==============================

==============================
 

==============================
 

 
Purpose-built space only Armoured Freighter, with a strong focus on secure transport.
Tired of berating greifers in discord? Aboard the Eye of Apathy, oppression becomes but a mere bugsplat on the windscreen.
If you think you wouldn't need an armoured freighter, you probably wouldn't need your cargo.
Specialising in high value transport, among other creative uses.
Lightly equipped with 4 L railguns for any necessary minor deterrence.
 
Visit the craft yourself, at APATHY VR.
 
Dry Weight: 10 KT
Forward Thrust: 612 MN
Brake Force: 510 MN
S sized rear dock for atmo shuttles/haulers
Cargo Capacity: 15,360 KL
Containers: 80 / 8 hubs
 
All elements have maximum placement talents
Containers and fuel containers all have -25% mass reduction.
 
Coming to the market soon™!
 
 

Fifteen minutes on youtube also shows the state of the world and leads to the conclusion that termination is a preferable outcome.
 
That's not an argument for anything.

NQ is advertising that which does not exist.

I've been thinking about the past few days and even the last few months, even back to .23. Some in the DU community including myself can be pretty harsh towards NQ. This last few days has been no exception. Sometimes it's all written off as trolling but that's not the whole story. The trolls are a small number of people. I think this is a huge learning experience for all of us. 

On the NQ side, know that you want us to build a civilization and that requires lots and lots of time. Lots of us have been grinding away at this for many many hours. If something changes and puts that all into jeopardy, we want to know. It's not like call of duty where the damage will change slightly. Changes here mean dozens, maybe hundreds of hours of work lost. In the extreme case of the game shutting down, people want to know they aren't pumping hours into nothing essentially.

On the community side, we have probably learned a lot about ourselves and how we fit into games like this. How sometimes we stop enjoying the game and worry too much about things we can't control.

I think that for a game to be the real life Ready Player One, the developer has to be serious about nurturing it's community and the community needs to be reasonable with their expectations from the developer. I've learned quite a bit here and It's been a fun ride.

Goodness gracious, you really think someone's going to put another 50 million into this pancake?