Anonymous

Aphelia finally let me out of the freezer. She had slowly warmed me up while she trained me and pumped nutrients into my body, a frail shell of what I had once been. But then we all looked like that, barely human, mentally vacant, and emotionally spent. Huddled together, our bodies thawed out, we were raw, and scared.
 
The ark was relatively warm compared to the freezer, more of which were opening every minute spilling out the human meat cargo they carried and had kept alive for thousands of years only to deliver them to an empty planet with only the words of a computer for safety. Yeah, welcome to Utopia.
 
I looked at the other meat skeletons. I didn’t know any of their faces. If I had, I wouldn’t have recognized them. I sure as hell that none of them recognized me. Ten thousand years is a long time to hold a grudge, but there were those that might. My dealings had not always been on the up and up.
 
When you owe money and you know how to circumnavigate security systems, you start taking jobs that you might previously have considered morally objectionable. But you justify it to yourself: Just this once; Just until I get out of debt; just until I have a little extra—then you stop questioning it because the truth is, we’re all going to die and it’s not going to matter who has what or how they got it. What is it the saying: Possession is nine-tenths of the law?
 
But who was the law here?
 
We had no possessions, only ourselves. I was sure the first murder would happen that first week. Maybe not murder, but the first death from fighting over possessions. You really can’t have law without government and there was no government nor would there be for some time to come. Government requires reason and people operating on basic fight or flight rarely use reason. I saw that before we left Earth. And why we waited for that first fight, the first death came within the first hour as someone decided to just walk off the top of the ship.

"More lore, less war. I hope we all get along."

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Yep - I'd start a new thread @Dygz_Briarthorn

Excellent. Very intriguing to read. Great work!

Please - before there's another round of forum bashing people for having opinions, concerns or otherwise - let @NQ-Nyaltzar sort it out.
 
Flaming every thread about the business model in know way helps the community grow, discourages dialogue, and suppresses the free and frank exchange of ideas.
 
The OP, and @EagleOne in another thread had either valid concerns (which Devs have addressed - they don't need our help) or suggestions (which were flamed down rather than being taken on-board and passed on to NQ with a thanks for the idea) - frankly, the Community response has been a little disappointing.
 
It's going to be a long and lonely 2 years if we're not welcoming and constructive. Yes - the threads frustrate you all, but you win more friends with honey than with vinegar.
 
2 cents.

That would certainly be an interesting thing to see, I hope someone at least tries.

I don't mean to be that guy, but you're kind of perpetuating the problem Anonymous highlighted earlier.
 
In any event, I will say that if you have a problem with the payment model for Dual Universe, you should probably message NQ Nyzaltar directly rather than post it on the forum. A lot of people here have very strong opinions about the topic, which often leads to schisms and people leaving the DU community.

Please - before there's another round of forum bashing people for having opinions, concerns or otherwise - let @NQ-Nyaltzar sort it out.
 
Flaming every thread about the business model in know way helps the community grow, discourages dialogue, and suppresses the free and frank exchange of ideas.
 
The OP, and @EagleOne in another thread had either valid concerns (which Devs have addressed - they don't need our help) or suggestions (which were flamed down rather than being taken on-board and passed on to NQ with a thanks for the idea) - frankly, the Community response has been a little disappointing.
 
It's going to be a long and lonely 2 years if we're not welcoming and constructive. Yes - the threads frustrate you all, but you win more friends with honey than with vinegar.
 
2 cents.

Please - before there's another round of forum bashing people for having opinions, concerns or otherwise - let @NQ-Nyaltzar sort it out.
 
Flaming every thread about the business model in know way helps the community grow, discourages dialogue, and suppresses the free and frank exchange of ideas.
 
The OP, and @EagleOne in another thread had either valid concerns (which Devs have addressed - they don't need our help) or suggestions (which were flamed down rather than being taken on-board and passed on to NQ with a thanks for the idea) - frankly, the Community response has been a little disappointing.
 
It's going to be a long and lonely 2 years if we're not welcoming and constructive. Yes - the threads frustrate you all, but you win more friends with honey than with vinegar.
 
2 cents.

Please - before there's another round of forum bashing people for having opinions, concerns or otherwise - let @NQ-Nyaltzar sort it out.
 
Flaming every thread about the business model in know way helps the community grow, discourages dialogue, and suppresses the free and frank exchange of ideas.
 
The OP, and @EagleOne in another thread had either valid concerns (which Devs have addressed - they don't need our help) or suggestions (which were flamed down rather than being taken on-board and passed on to NQ with a thanks for the idea) - frankly, the Community response has been a little disappointing.
 
It's going to be a long and lonely 2 years if we're not welcoming and constructive. Yes - the threads frustrate you all, but you win more friends with honey than with vinegar.
 
2 cents.

Monumental station in the shape of a Kangaroo.
Gotta represent Australia, yo'.

Sounds like a very nice, but also complicated to implement feature... maybe anyone can repair up to a certain percentage of module/voxel damage, but only those with rights/authorised blueprints can fully restore a ship. That could also lead to some very cool looking, run-down pirate ships, some parts already replaced, maybe some weapons crudely added... so many thoughts, so little time...

Hi ChipPatton and welcome to our forum.   There has been indeed a few people on the Kickstarter saying DAC was a "Pay to Win" feature. We also replied to why it wasn't and why we went for this feature.  We also agreed that it probably wasn't a perfect model, but it was the best we found until now.    This was our official reply:    
The DAC/PLEX/CREDD system isn't at fault there. The problem is elsewhere because without this system, the problem remains: it's just hidden. And it's not because something is hidden that it doesn't exist.   The people we got in contact with (probably your officers) turn a complete blind eye on our point of view. They didn't try to understand our position or even suggest an alternative. It's always easy to blame or criticize something without trying to come with a better option.   In this situation, how could the discussion go anywhere? Threatening to cancel the pledges (and doing so) won't change the situation either if there no dialog and just threats. We want to listen to feedbacks from all people interested in our game and take them into account, but without constructive feedback helping to find a good compromise for both sides, it's not possible. Also, while we want to satisfy as much players as possible, We are also aware that we can't satisfy everybody.    In any case, we remain open to discussion if you have more to say on this topic.   Best regards, Nyzaltar.

Actually an MMO whilch was a blockchain driven DAPP would be very smart and up NQ's alley - everything is both client side and authoritative - no central server to speak of.
 
Nerd wankering - driving game development since forever.

Don't be so quick to write the idea off - what is DAC if not a type of digital currency, (which is how Entropa Universe operates), and that's not to be confused with crypto-currency. While I believe they (EU) have toyed with the idea of using blockchain to secure and verify transactions - this is mostly because they deal with real wold money in their economy. I for one vomit into my mouth a little at the thought of that kind of game, and I don't believe DU or NQ want to take that path.
 
However, taking the "bitcoin / make real money" bit out of the equation - blockchain driven markets using normal fake in game DU currency (not DAC's which are just another trade commodity in that sense - i.e. - you DON'T want to make a situation where the game is people mining DU "Bitcoin" rather than having fun playing) would be both doable and cool.

<< I don't know why you insist on this course of action. You are only going to die >>
 
"Fugoff." The words blended into one as I grunt, moving another rock.
 
<< You are reacting emotionally. You should accept that there is no place for you here. You are not listed. There is no record of you >>
 
"Fuck. Off." Two rocks are heaved, punctuating the words. The sentiment is lost on my tormentor. Programming kicks in and it corrects my semantics.
 
<< I am bound to the Novark. I cannot 'leave', per se >>
 
I stop, standing, stretching the kinks out of my muscles and joints. Is this the simulation? The endless-media feeds in the last days had said that colonists would be put through a simulation upon waking. I decide not to engage it. This was my reality - simulation or not - working out if it was real was pointless.
 
In silence I continue building, one rock, then another. For half an hour I am left alone to my own devices, but I can sense it, watching. When it speaks again, the voice in my ear has lost some of its irritation - replaced by... curiosity? Did it "feel" things like that? 10,000 years is a long time for an Artificial Intelligence to change in so many ways.
 
<< What are you doing? >>
 
"You don't know? That's funny. You act like God but you don't grok"
 
There is silence again in my ear as it processes this.
 
<< Stranger in a strange land. Heinlein. Nineteen hundred and sixty one in the old time. What else do you remember? >>
 
There is definite curiosity now. I answer it with a question, keeping it occupied, relying on it's programming - responding to queries is apparently a first order sub-routine, over-riding other activities.
 
"Who am I?"
 
<< Do you mean, you remember who you are? Or that you do not, and require this information? >>
 
Another few rocks, another few precious minutes and I answer, repeating myself. "Who am I?"
 
It responds again, inferring that I meant the former.
 
<< I can find no entry for you in the colonist register. This is... concerning. Perhaps planet-fall has affected the quantum integrity of my data stores. I will run a diag... >>
 
"5421135-2"
 
Again, minutes of silence.
 
<< I have a record of that string - it is the serial number I have against Environmental Test Unit 26 >>
 
I had once heard that a thousand years ago, well before drones existed, energy miners would take small animals in cages down underground because poisonous gasses would kill them before the miners. "Environmental Test Unit? Fancy name for throwing me off the Novark with nothing. Remember that?" It was a stupid thing to say. AI's didn't forget.
 
<< Standard operating procedure is to validate all environmental and atmospheric readings with a testing unit before allowing Alpha Teams to venture into the safe zone.>>
 
The curiosity it had shown briefly was replaced with cold machine logic again.
 
<< As there is no corresponding record - you are not slated to be re-purposed as a colonist and your function is therefore complete. You are no longer required in order for the wider mission parameters to be met >>
 
Was this some sort of cruel test? Probably. It was designed by humanity after all. "Well if you don't need me, all the most reason for you to fuck off and leave me alone then." My small bivouac of rocks and foliage is finally complete and I stand back, admiring it. "It's been fun. Goodbye". I remove the small bud from my ear and crush it underfoot.
 
Crawling into my shelter, I grunt with the pain of muscles getting used to working again. Can you feel pain in a simulation? I banish the thought. Perhaps it's the air, but I feel bold - the pain made anger, determination. 'Assume it's all real - why would it do more than it has to. Your mind isn't needed to test human suitability to a physical environment'.
 
I look out over the impact crater, as on the horizon, past the towering Novark casting it's long shadow over me, the first sun sets while lighting up the cloud filled sky. Summits covered in blue snow catch its last rays. It’s not exactly like on Earth; the geometry and the colors are inhuman; the temperature is warm enough to not worry about needing a fire (even with the tattered utility suit I wore - a garment for modesty more than usefulness) and the gravity a bit lighter than on what I was used to.
 
I can see small lights moving tentatively around the Novark's base - the structure is so large they don't even notice each others existence, seemingly having exited from a variety of locations - it is the Alpha Teams, starting to venture out. Kadpacks and morphers making them a soft herd, reliant on their new 'God'. I can barely make out a figure at the top of the Novark. I wonder what that person makes of all this? Do they notice the same things? Doesn't matter...
 
'Fuck 'em all and good luck to them - won't be long till reality sets in. Not me. I'll survive. Gotta survive...' I mumble to myself as I close my eyes and slowly drift off to sleep, exhausted. For the first time in 10,000 years, I dream.
 
---------------------------------------------
 
"NO!!" My eyes snap open, and I bolt upright in a sweat, before swearing, my head connecting with the roof of the bivouac. It is daylight - the sun, oddly tinged, seeps into my refuge.
 
<< Good morning. Do not be alarmed. Your cortical region indicates you were dreaming. Anamnesis is to be expected. What do you remember? >>
 
The voice is everywhere, in my head and without - my senses can't tell either way. "HOW THE... !?!"
 
<< The communication earpiece was required only to instill a feeling of comfort in you. As you have destroyed it, the need for pretense is removed >>
 
"How are you... I'm in the simulation, aren't I?"
 
<< Communicating? I infer that is what you mean. It would appear that you have been equipped with implanted communication and tracking functionality at some point in your existence. While those pieces of hardware are now otherwise redundant from their previous purpose, I can access it> >
 
It pauses again, processing the second question.
 
<< Be aware - colonists undertaking the simulation are only told it is a simulation if it is necessary >> the AI says, it's 'voice' taking on an almost comforting yet patronizing tone.
 
<< Now. What do you remember? >>

I don't know, how did Ultima, Lineage 2 and any other open world pvp game didn't turn you Red after striking back? It's easy to determine who initiated the fight good sir.
 
But still a good security guard may have people putting bounties on their head.
 
Imagine being Texas Ranger in space, kicking ass from one end of the galaxy to the other. All them pirates may put a lot of bounties on your head for revenge. After all, a PK is a PK. One side's hero is the villain to the other.

(Cheers! Only reason I didn't reply earlier is that I've been here a while now. I was just lazy about intro's )

Just a little over a year ago, I somehow stumbled upon the website. I can't remember what I was googling for, but it was something gaming related. Saw what they had on the front page, grew interested, and then read the devblog. Now I'm hooked, and I might have a problem now.

Welcome to the forums

The BlockChain.  I threw myself into cryptocurrency awhile back, reading everything I could, playing the crypto markets, etc.  Ethereum is an interesting one.   Often wondered if crypto could be useful as an ingame mmo currency.

Nothing lasts forever. Metal fatigues and rusts. Complex systems break down. Machines have to be maintained. I wish/hope there would be some approximation of entropy in the game as an overall balancing/leveling force. It should not be possible to create highly complex systems and hope that they will work perfectly and last forever - especially if they are exposed to harsh conditions - g-forces, combat, multiple atmospheric re-entry, etc. While a stone pillar can last 1000 years with no problem other than a little erosion, an F-16 cannot fly more than a few dozen hours without extensive maintenance.
 
If there is some way of tracking the complexity of a construct and the materials it is made of, this should be fed into some sort of algorithm that degrades effectiveness over time or increases the probability of a functional/structural failure. Better still if forces, loads and stresses are tracked - then this usually should be the point of failure - where the stress is highest.
 
This would also force people to build redundancy into their constructs. You wouldn't want your vital systems to fail in the middle of combat, for example...

The Tempest Mission
 
The Tempest Mission is an inter-alliance effort to develop an advanced self sufficient deep space vehicle under a joint effort to map out space before the advent of Interstellar Stargate Networks.
 
 

 
 
 
The supporting game feature behind this mission is that players will have the ability to fly manually to another star system instead of using probes, although the journey would be extremely difficult it could be a very unique experience. It may take weeks or months to reach another star, but in doing so manually you would be separated from the rest of the players by several weeks time at the very least. 
 
We aim to provide a path to colonize deep space before stargate networks can be created, and to provide a heavy role-play focused experience for people who want to embark on a mission reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek. This may actually be one of the closest things to a Star Trek type experience, going on a year long mission to go where no man has gone before
 
I do want to stress that this is not an organization for everyone, as it will require a heavy amount of dedication and focus to see it through to the end. However, for those that stick to it, it may end up being an extremely rewarding and unique experience that could not be had in any other game that exists. 
 
 
 
The long term goals of The Tempest Mission involve creating either a web series based on our lives onboard, or blogging or something along those lines. We want to make our journey feel like we’re really going where no man has gone before and living day to day somehow.
 
The findings made aboard the Tempest Mission will be made publicly available after they have been screened by the participating alliances for sensitive information. We want to incentivize other groups to contribute to the project, although many groups are probably working on a similar idea.
 
What sets Tempest apart from other larger organizations is that we are entirely focused on this single mission. From day one, even if it takes us several months to get into space, we’re going to be focused on doing whatever it takes to make this mission become a reality.
 
 
 
We welcome (and are actively looking for) colonists, who are free to travel with the Tempest to ultimately depart to live on uncharted planets for the establishment of colony worlds. These colonies will be separated from the Alioth system, and it is undetermined if they will once again gain contact with the home system.
 
Some of these colonies may become abandoned landmarks lost to time, and some may even become wealthy and powerful centers of commerce for their regions of space. If you think what we’re doing is hardcore, think about the people who want to live on a planet separated from the rest of the game alone for who knows how long. The ultimate survival game?
 
This may be one of the easiest ways for players who want to go 100% solo to get what they want.
 
The Tempest Mission is expected to take 1 full (real life) year to complete in order to meet the standards to be set by the planning committee.
 
The Tempest will not immediately depart for deep space on its year-long journey however. Instead it will first make a 1 to 2 week journey into deep space to test the operating capabilities of the vessel, as well as the ability for the crew to work together in confined conditions.
 
After an evaluation and findings analysis period, Tempest will continue to ramp up its expedition periods until a 1 month survey has been completed satisfying all guidelines and protocols determined by the various planning committees involved in the project. The idea being that we want to know how hard it is to survive out there alone, and we want to know exactly what it’s going to take for us to go out there for a one year journey. It’s likely that the entire design of the ship may have to be re-evaluated if issues are found, but that’s part of the risk of taking on the project.
 
Over the course of the project, The Tempest crew are expected to provide updates, either in the form of “machinima” RP-style videos chronicling their week to week lives, or blog posts on the project website. We want to keep the entire journey feeling alive and worth being active in.
 
 
We will carry out the Tempest Mission in several stages of development, many of which will be disclosed over time.
Staff and Media - [We Are Here] - This stage is focused on assembling a small group of players who are interested in helping to develop the media and organizational structure of the mission planning committee. This may also   involve creating a website for the organization, and promotional material for youtube, etc. Mission Planning Committee - This stage is focused on producing well-written documentation on the plans for the mission. This stage will involve creating a command structure for the vessel, as well as procedures for handling threats both off and on the vessel. Much of this work may involve creating templates and other written material for later use in the mission. Crew Guidelines  Logistics [To Be Disclosed] [i will continue to update this post over time as the outline for the project evolves and becomes more complete.]
 
 
It goes without saying that an interest in this project would have to involve an interest in Roleplaying, as there will likely be a large emphasis on that during the duration of the journeys. This is not a mission to take on lightly, it’s going to require a lot of dedication and time put in, but I am positive that when we return home from our journey that we’re going to have a story to tell that no one will ever come close to. That’s of course, if we can pull it off successfully.
 
We’re looking for people who can do the following, but not limited to:
Programming Freight Logistics Construction Logistics Design Warp Drive Maintenance Security Crew Navigations Crew Science Crew Ship Counselor(s) Engineering Crew Shuttle Maintenance Crew Janitorial Crew (yes) Research Crew Bridge Crew Colonists (very important, but extremely difficult role) Heads of Staff  
You can be creative with what you want to do, so long as it is not disruptive to the goal of the mission. For example, I want to be the ship chaplain with my character.
 
This mission is also not limited to players from any single organization. People from any organization are welcome to join, as I expect the formation of this mission to be an inter-alliance agreement as it matures.
 
 
 
I am asking any interested parties to message me directly on Discord before applying to join the Tempest community.
 
https://discord.gg/FRDShpt - Yamamushi

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I didn't want theft to be a part of the game, because it absolutely should be. What I was trying to say was that it shouldn't be as easy as "buy a ship, change 1 block, re-sell at a lower price than the originator", because that would kill the building gameplay in 2 seconds, not to mention flooding the market with a thousand ship types that are nearly identical.