NINJAS, H4CK3RZ & Protection Bubbles.

[Anaximander]

Real neat suggestion, coming in three segments. Long post ahead. You've been warned.




1. PROTECTION BUBBLES SUSCEPTIBLE TO RDMS


  I believe it's a very reasonable suggestion. You set it up, therefore, it is meant to be under your control.  You own the Territory, now with the Add-On module, you can protect it from possible threats. The Protection Bubble would also be placed on the epicenter of the Territory, as it would make sense... as it is a bubble.


  2. PROTECTION BUBBLES EMIT PACIFICATION SIGNALS


Welp, the space illuminati can upload data from the Arkship, directly into your head. Tough luck, that can be also used to pacify you within the bubble's dome. An owner of a Territory Claim, can assign who can and cannot use weapons in his claim, heck, build, heck, they can even assign who can enter the Claim to begin with. You try to walk in through the Bubble's force field and you simply can't, as the power of Wi-Fi compels you to not cross the line. The only thing you can do is siege the bubble until it goes down... or...


  3. NINJA H4CK3RZ


Infiltrators. I know many of you just went like "That's so Twerkmotor" but here me for a second. Let's say you assign people in your org to act as a security within the city or have a bank in the city. That bank, would have a reinforced door to its vault. That vault itself, would have guards standing on watch (probably for a high pay wink-wink, nudge-nudge). This form of mechanic can be utilised in different ways, via indirect skill trees. 

One, is a Ninja (sort of). A soldier tree player, specialised into Stealthsuit, an insolating wetsuit that has minor protection and damage threshholds against very small caliber weaponry, some minor resistance to energy weapons and an overall paper of an armour. Its only use, is to make you immune to the transmission signa and negate people scanning for your cerebral implant's ID tag that would pop up with your name on it when they scanned you for your name and all that, but it has a minor drawback. You can't get feedback from your squad, therefore get no "buffs" from being in a party, like command bonuses, or cannot even see your own buddies on the minimap that you are in a group with, or any form of group-wide benefit or mechanics. Same player can be specialised into a sniper rifle ( or on a later expansion on swords? Pretty please NQ? ) ... or that soldier may like BBQ and is specialised in some nasty explosives. That way, the very few who specialise into this, can be legit spec ops operatives, who go into a city and sabotage the powerline to the Territory Unit that powers the Protection Bubble itself. Chances of success? Minor at least, anyone with a brain would probably set up a proper set of Blast Doors that lead to the Protection Bubble Element, or the Territory Unit itself. Does it have its uses? Absolutely, you can always sneak into a city and take out the Anti-Air guns before a major siege, or even worse, find your way into a city's Power Plant and let it go super boom. But there's another way to go about it.



Haxxors. A hacker, would not be specialised in heavy weaponry, or high explosives. They are the equivalent of a a tech wizard in the context of the game. They could

a ) make their name seem like they are someone else, which would have to be turned off manually, since they would not be even recognised by their own org's automated systems as a member of the org, so it's not perma name-change. The "illusion" can be taken away, if the Hacker was to be scanned by another hacker, who is specialised on the same field, using the "scan" feature available to all players, only amplified through the skill tree.

b ) they can ignore the hacking signal emitted within the Protection Bubble. They are not a direct fighter, they are there to do very tricky work, like scouting a city for the location of the Resurrection Node or they are there to access your Market Unit and start working their devious market witchcraft of selling WITHIN your market, therfore, sucking away money off your org's circulation. If you see someone acting suspicious, call a counter-intelligence guy to check the guy in the inconspicious black duster coat, sunglasses and vibrant green t-shirt, he's probably a spy. If his name is Hiro Protagonist and you got this referrence, congratulations, you're a turbonerd  .



Now, since I'm obviously clairvoyant, I will answer your apparent questions.


 

 

Twerkmotor, why would we want these kind of mechanics in the game? It's obvious you want to take over the world and turn DUAL Universe into Hello Kitty DUAL Universe.

Well, not exactly, I am just advocating for interesting gameplays for people who want to be into security forces and special ops. The real smart hackers will be only caught by real smart counter-intelligence agents in a city.

 

 

I DONT WANTS MY STUFFS STOLEN. I HAS TO HAS PLACE TO SAVE STUFFS. I WANTS TO NOT BE PK'D IN A CITY. I WANTS TO BE COMPLETELY SAFE

Dear scared-out-of-your-pants carebear, nobody is gonna kill you that easily. It's a stealthy gameplay. The Stealthsuit will block the player wearing it from SCANNING for your name as well, so even if the Ninja was to be in a city and is after for your bounty, he would have to devise a way of identifying you first. As long as you are not an abnoxious Hello Kitty enthusiast who's going for bright green and bright pink armor combo, you'll be practically not even remotely distinguishable in the group with the "scan for name" mechanism.

As for the Hackers... they are turbo nerds who like code, despite what the Blackhat movie may claim with Australian Thor pretending to be a haxxor. The Hacker in the game has no real chance of taking you out on his own, let alone if the RDMS can dictate you can use weapons as self-defense, with the Hacker being tagged PK-RED when they try to assassinate you. 

See? It's not that simple in both cases. 


 

 

Is that Irish Coffee you are drinking as you write this?

First, STRANGER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY APARTMENT? Apparently, you must be a Ninja Haxxor as well, because you clearly caught me off-guard with your creeping up to me so stealthily.

Second, yes.


 

 

I am Lord Cringeworth, of Carebear Island and I hath deemed thee a villain, of dishonorable tactics and foul subterfuge.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, if I am to quote Bronn from Game of Throens after his trial by combat for Tyrion Lannister.

Lysa Tully : "You don't fight with honor."

Bronn : "No... but he did" *points at the Moon Gate*.

I guess you don't want to be Bronn, milord Cringeworth, but many of us in the community do. :|


 

 

Twerk, are you going to send assassins for me?

Probably yes.


 

 

Will I survive the assassination?

Being a clairvoyant is a gift, not a superpower.



Here, for your effort of reading this, have a ninja potato.








 

[Kuritho]

Can we get over the fact that CaptainTwerkMotor has a Hello-Kitty Deadpool thing?

Anyways, love the idea. Possibly using the "pacifier" and recoding it to suddenly EMP everyone with its pulse.

hehe.

[Hotwingz]

Twerk, I have no real input on your idea beyond; why not.

 

But entertainment wise this thread delivers. Thanks, a lot.

[Shynras]

This is not really ot, but keep in mind that tiles are hexagonal, so maybe, "bubbles" are actually prisms.

[Anaximander]

This is not really ot, but keep in mind that tiles are hexagonal, so maybe, "bubbles" are actually prisms.

What's an OT? >.>

 

 

Also, even if they are prisms, it still functions as an idea.

[Kurock]

I prefer more sugar in my irish coffee.

 

 

Except for the "sometimes safe-zone" part, I can get behind this idea.

 

Also just a minor detail, once through a shield, why not remove your stealth suite so you can see who is whom and then put it on again quickly?  What prevents a stealth ninja also being a hackzor and taking off their suite once through the bubble and then disguising himself to "blend in".  Once target is acquired flips back to stealth suite to do the deed (sabotage/assassination etc?) Last step is optional.

[Anaximander]

I prefer more sugar in my irish coffee.

 

 

Except for the "sometimes safe-zone" part, I can get behind this idea.

 

Also just a minor detail, once through a shield, why not remove your stealth suite so you can see who is whom and then put it on again quickly?  What prevents a stealth ninja also being a hackzor and taking off their suite once through the bubble and then disguising himself to "blend in".  Once target is acquired flips back to stealth suite to do the deed (sabotage/assassination etc?) Last step is optional.

Suits = linked to carrying capacity. And once you removed your suit, TRIGGERED ALARMS, because you are :

 

1) WANTED

 

2) Enemy Org member.

 

3) Generally notorious Assassin, banned in Baconstone.

 

 

Stealthsuit guy = Agility Attributes and Stamina attributes, he's a soldier, not a code-monkey, the soldier's skills are effective as much as his attiributes allow.

 

Haxxor guy = Intelligence and Memory attributes, he's a code wizard, not a fighter.

 

You can learn both skill trees, although don't expect to be good at hacking with 1/100 Memory Attribute or be able to run for long periods without high Stamina/Endurance Attributes. 

 

 

Both are not exclusive, but they are not really efficient at learning both of them and operate them at 100% capacity at the same time.

 

You can be a mage and a warrior, but you won't ever be a real mage, or a warrior. It's the same logic. 

 

 

 

 

Also, it opens the gameplay to security forces and Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence gameplays. Safezones beyond the Arkship are not 100% safe. They are like EVE High-Sec. Sure, it's very stupid to go in there and assassinate someone as you'll die, but it's something that CAN happen by dedicated assassins.

[Dygz_Briarthorn]

Well, yeah, this has been my expectation since the description of Arkification was first shared by NovaQuark.

Main pillar of my gameplay will be acting to patrol and secure the artifacts that keeps the bubble active.

I'm expecting there will be players trying to deactivate those artifacts.

 

I hope the design is not as simple as one central location for the controls.

I'm hoping there will be several locations beneath the bubble.

No fun to just sit in one spot hoping someone will appear to start an adventure.

 

The devs will figure out the details.

 

(I also hope Arkification is not like Eve.)

[Anaximander]

Well, yeah, this has been my expectation since the description of Arkification was first shared by NovaQuark.

Main pillar of my gameplay will be acting to patrol and secure the artifacts that keeps the bubble active.

I'm expecting there will be players trying to deactivate those artifacts.

 

I hope the design is not as simple as one central location for the controls.

I'm hoping there will be several locations beneath the bubble.

No fun to just sit in one spot hoping someone will appear to start an adventure.

 

The devs will figure out the details.

 

(I also hope Arkification is not like Eve.)

First, that's the point of my suggestion as of "how to take down Ark zones", as it creates jobs in-game for security guards and so on.

 

Second to that, there will be multiple locations as "objectives" in a way. The central tower for the Bubble is just the last piece of the system, you need a power plant, a Resurrection Node for your security forces in the case of an attack, a perimeter wall, a gate, etcetera. You can take down the power plant and take down the ark field, or the people infiltrating may actually go after the bank's vault in the city. They would be digging without permission underneath everyone's feet and one day = Vault empty. So you would have to put people to protect a vault with patrols even for the perimeter.

 

I know it sounds complicated, but it is also fun. IF the Devs manage to make create a Cops & Robbers sorta gameplay for a City on a planet, or even better, Space Station 13 in DUAL, that would be amazing. That's quite Emergent Gameplay to me.

[Dygz_Briarthorn]

Resurrection Nodes, perimeter wall gate, etc do not power the Bubble.

I'm hoping that the Bubble will rely on multiple devices in multiple locations spread out across the TU(s), rather than just one power plant in one central location.

[Anaximander]

Resurrection Nodes, perimeter wall gate, etc do not power the Bubble.

I'm hoping that the Bubble will rely on multiple devices in multiple locations spread out across the TU(s), rather than just one power plant in one central location.

Well, if an invasion was to start, an infiltration group would certainly go in and try to blow up RN(s). And as of the wall gate, the Bubble pacification signal could even turn off your jetpacks and the stealthsuits would have to be as light as possible, so, no jetpacks. It makes for a ground combat gameplay and the reason behind it is plausible for why a stealthsuit guy can't go over the wall as long as the field is working.The Jumpack infact can be simply an accessory on the suit, with the Stealthsuit changing it for an "active camouflage", turning you transparent (not invisible, think of a glass form), that consumes energy. And let's face it, the stealthsuit's main protection is that your name tag won't show up if someone's crosshair goes over you, but if they have a sharp eye they may deduce your form, so an active camouflage accessory would be quite handy.

 

As for hackers, well, if your guards are aware that only they can use jetpacks and the hacker uses their own jetpack, that would be a dead giveway, not to mention a hacker won't probably have much access of effectiveness with combat skills, the hacker is a "mage" sort of class meant for real dedicated people, who forfeit all direct combat abilities for the waiting game, able to go in and out of safezones like proper rogues.

 

 

And yes, I guess a Bubble would require a powerplan whch would have to be within the city and isolated, a military base in case shit hits the fan and of course the Bubble itself won't be in the open, so a citadel around it, with an emergency battery in case the power plant goes down for X, Y, Z reason, so the Bubble can be up until the plant can go live again.

 

 

The Bubbles probably will be like the EVE high sec most likely. A place that you are 99% safe, but not from suicide attacks, cause let's face it, if an assassin comes into a city looking to kill you, chances are they won't make it out alive, from a mechanism that, for example, won't make their character disappear from within the game as long as they remain within the hostile territory, so, the assassin got to either get out, or risk fighting an army.

[Anopheles]

With the proviso that of a ninja or hacker is caught then his suit is 'remembered' by your security settings. If rhe ninja/hacker wants to try again he has to modify is suit which should take up time and rsources.

 

This stops the 'kill, find, kill' process that could be tedious.

 

Maybe bubbles could have degrees of sec? Full blaring horns sec diverts energy and manpower away from other tasks so couldn't be kept up for long.

 

No sec

Low sec

medium sec

high sec

oh god oh god they're coming over the walls sec

 

Something like that?

[Anaximander]

With the proviso that of a ninja or hacker is caught then his suit is 'remembered' by your security settings. If rhe ninja/hacker wants to try again he has to modify is suit which should take up time and rsources.

 

This stops the 'kill, find, kill' process that could be tedious.

 

Maybe bubbles could have degrees of sec? Full blaring horns sec diverts energy and manpower away from other tasks so couldn't be kept up for long.

 

No sec

Low sec

medium sec

high sec

oh god oh god they're coming over the walls sec

 

Something like that?

Well, Elements (3D Mesh Objects in-game) will have Tiers of quality, like tier 1, tier 2 etcetera. So yeah, maybe the degree of a suit can allow for certain infiltration. Capital cities will have the highest Tier of Bubbles, thus requiring a wetsuit that costs more.

 

Althoug the idea is it's a stealthsuit blocks implant signals from other players from bouncing off of your body, thus not giving them any chance of ID'ing you by scanning over you in a dark place. It's not a matter of memory. It's a wetsuit, and not a unique one at that.

 

 

[mrjacobean]

...If his name is Hiro Protagonist and you got this referrence, congratulations, you're a turbonerd  .

Snow Crash, one of my favourite novels  , Wintermute will be take note of your knowledge

 

Also known as why hacking (skill group) will be my thing. Changing your displayed name will help IMMENSELY in my operations, also gives counter-intelligence officers a chance, say, they make a skill check against the target's stealth hacking skill (decreases chances of your hacks being noticed) using their hack detection skill (increases chances of detecting other hacks)

 

Being able to scout whilst inside a protection zone will allow things like resistance fighters and will require actual guards that can't be hacked instead of just turrets everywhere. Areas deemed as completely secure will not be for long, as they are prime targets (enemy hubris helps with this).

[Anaximander]

Snow Crash, one of my favourite novels  , Wintermute will be take note of your knowledge

 

Also known as why hacking (skill group) will be my thing. Changing your displayed name will help IMMENSELY in my operations, also gives counter-intelligence officers a chance, say, they make a skill check against the target's stealth hacking skill (decreases chances of your hacks being noticed) using their hack detection skill (increases chances of detecting other hacks)

 

Being able to scout whilst inside a protection zone will allow things like resistance fighters and will require actual guards that can't be hacked instead of just turrets everywhere. Areas deemed as completely secure will not be for long, as they are prime targets (enemy hubris helps with this).

Mind you, the hacking / stealthsuit idea is that you are ignoring the Territory Unit's RDMS signal sent to your cereberal implant. You don't get authority over a construct

 

Just saying... it will be handy for entering a zone without a handicap, but it won't make you Gandalf

 

But yeah, in tradecraft ligo what you refer to is a "tourist". If you ever heard of the Arma devs that got arrested in Greece, it was because they were tourists who were taking photos of military bases. :| It works both ways. Nothing says Emergent Gameplay like paranoia in a city.

 

Space Station 13? More like Space City 13.

[mrjacobean]

Space Station 13? More like Space City 13.

 

 Neuromancer, Wintermute is the AI that hired the protagonist (Case) to help get rid of his shackles.

 

In terms of the guards required, turrets can only target signals, but guards can see and report people who don't have a signature (say, stealthsuit). Also due to the fact that what's the point of hacking without being able to change a turret's IFF? (once you get in, hack a terminal to gain access to the construct)

[Anopheles]

Well, Elements (3D Mesh Objects in-game) will have Tiers of quality, like tier 1, tier 2 etcetera. So yeah, maybe the degree of a suit can allow for certain infiltration. Capital cities will have the highest Tier of Bubbles, thus requiring a wetsuit that costs more.

 

Althoug the idea is it's a stealthsuit blocks implant signals from other players from bouncing off of your body, thus not giving them any chance of ID'ing you by scanning over you in a dark place. It's not a matter of memory. It's a wetsuit, and not a unique one at that.

 

 

I suppose...but once a infiltrator is caught or killed his 'dna' or oc game identifier can be stored so that the same infiltrator can't keep throwing himself at a bubble hoping to get lucky. Him or his organization wull have to send another ninja or modify his 'dna' so he isnt imediately flagged as an intruder.

 

I'm presuming, naturally, that sensors and auto defences will be a thing. Also that 'dna' has to be manually entered into the system to allow for human cock ups or inside jobs.

[Anaximander]

 Neuromancer, Wintermute is the AI that hired the protagonist (Case) to help get rid of his shackles.

 

In terms of the guards required, turrets can only target signals, but guards can see and report people who don't have a signature (say, stealthsuit). Also due to the fact that what's the point of hacking without being able to change a turret's IFF? (once you get in, hack a terminal to gain access to the construct)

That's a good point, but I don't think turrets will have their terminals next to them. Turrets will be most likely operated via a Comand ^ Control Center.

 

As of the Guards, well, you gotta get behind the mentality of who will be living in cities. RP / PvPers. They are still carebears but at least they bite

 

Also, a guard will be able to fire at you, but they won't be able to see your character's name. Think of Planetside 2 and how tagging works there (sorta)(, but when the playe wears a stealthsuit he won't sent back a signal of identification as of their name.

 

The hacking idea is to conceal said ID, or even make you look as part of an organisation. That'd be some serious Hitman gameplay in DUAL

 

"Wait, I thought Jeff was not gonna log in today, what is he doing by the power plant?"

 

"Oh my ... call the guards, that's not Jeff!"

[Anaximander]

I suppose...but once a infiltrator is caught or killed his 'dna' or oc game identifier can be stored so that the same infiltrator can't keep throwing himself at a bubble hoping to get lucky. Him or his organization wull have to send another ninja or modify his 'dna' so he isnt imediately flagged as an intruder.

 

I'm presuming, naturally, that sensors and auto defences will be a thing. Also that 'dna' has to be manually entered into the system to allow for human cock ups or inside jobs.

Mind you, nobody is "killed" in the game. When you are about to die you simply teleport in another dimension where you haven't (from your perspective at least ).

 

Well, the idea of the DNA can be interpreted as you avatar's ID in the game.

 

The good thing with that is, that if you were to hire a person in-game to have an overhaul, you would be able to make yourself look like another person entirely.

 

The bad thing with that is that is that everyone will start getting DNA samples and would make the gameplay on hackers impossible. That's why I kept it on cerebral implants only.

 

Also, the whole idea is to have players looking after the city, not automation. Automated defenses, sure, automated detection, that's like autoomated mining.

 

[mrjacobean]

That's a good point, but I don't think turrets will have their terminals next to them. Turrets will be most likely operated via a Comand ^ Control Center.

To be good a hacker, you need understand the system and find the weaknesses in the system you are trying to hack (usually by trying everything). The actual hacking is like 1/5th of the job. No system is safe from my grasp.

[Anaximander]

To be good a hacker, you need understand the system and find the weaknesses in the system you are trying to hack (usually by trying everything). The actual hacking is like 1/5th of the job. No system is safe from my grasp.

Good luck then going through five security doors and a checkpoint

[Anopheles]

Mind you, nobody is "killed" in the game. When you are about to die you simply teleport in another dimension where you haven't (from your perspective at least ).

 

Well, the idea of the DNA can be interpreted as you avatar's ID in the game.

 

The good thing with that is, that if you were to hire a person in-game to have an overhaul, you would be able to make yourself look like another person entirely.

 

The bad thing with that is that is that everyone will start getting DNA samples and would make the gameplay on hackers impossible. That's why I kept it on cerebral implants only.

 

Also, the whole idea is to have players looking after the city, not automation. Automated defenses, sure, automated detection, that's like autoomated mining.

 

Well, automated detection woukd be a blacklist rather than a whitelist and you'd only be able to add id's of chracters who, willingly or otherwise, have given up their unique id's.

 

Nobody wants bubble monitoring to be a 'job' that takes away from actual fun playtime.

 

Also a new to the bubble hacker could always wipe the blacklist ot manipulate it so the bubble turns on it's own if tou have the right id's.

 

In fact, id refreshing may need to be a regular thing for hardcore bubblers.

[Anaximander]

Well, automated detection woukd be a blacklist rather than a whitelist and you'd only be able to add id's of chracters who, willingly or otherwise, have given up their unique id's.

 

Nobody wants bubble monitoring to be a 'job' that takes away from actual fun playtime.

 

Also a new to the bubble hacker could always wipe the blacklist ot manipulate it so the bubble turns on it's own if tou have the right id's.

 

In fact, id refreshing may need to be a regular thing for hardcore bubblers.

On one hand, sure, it would hammer in the notion of politics and profiling.

 

On the other hand though, you got to understand that people who are into RP will congregate into cities. They will be the people running the shops there and will probably be the guards.

 

If you have guards who do nothing, you got a boring gameplay.

 

If you got guards that have to scan for people who look suspicious, you got a compelling gameplay. It will be like the best game of hide n' seek. Think of the tagline for the job :

 

"Do you like unexpected scenarios? Do you like chasing down infiltrators? Do you like paranoia?! Come join the Baconstone Security Detail!"

 

But if there's ID identification, then the guards become obsolete. The idea is that if a hacker acts without keeping their cool, another hacker can tag them for ID and drop their "illusion". If an ID scanner is in the game via the DNA route, the counter-hacker is obsolete.

 

Why take time to check out the people and find the one who is acting weird, when you can find the ones not registered and manually tag them?

 

Plus, if a city has "no jetpacks" as a rule and a hacker tries to jetpack over a wall into a building, that would be a dead giveaway to any guards inside the building that said person is NOT any regular person

 

Timing, it's all about timing

 

[mrjacobean]

Good luck then going through five security doors and a checkpoint

Most people will not be as good at system security as you Twerkmotor 

 

If there is a wireless connection point, boom, I'm in.

If there is an ease-of-access terminal outside the control room, boom, I'm in.

 

And anyway, if I have the signature of someone with access to the control room, I can waltz right in. I may not have access to the system using that signature, but the doors will allow me through and I am too good for the checkpoint to see that I am not who they think (or at least, that's what I pay them to say). If I need a distraction, explosives will do.

[Anaximander]

Most people will not be as good at system security as you Twerkmotor 

 

If there is a wireless connection point, boom, I'm in.

If there is an ease-of-access terminal outside the control room, boom, I'm in.

 

And anyway, if I have the signature of someone with access to the control room, I can waltz right in. I may not have access to the system using that signature, but the doors will allow me through and I am too good for the checkpoint to see that I am not who they think (or at least, that's what I pay them to say). If I need a distraction, explosives will do.

Maybe even have an identity theft mechanism, like copying a person's credentials or RDMS rights if you stand next to them for a certain time.

 

That will make important people have bodyguards satelliting them. Or, they never go into the public. I mean, why bother walking amongst us peasants

 

More gameplay the better. In fact, (Number of Game Mechanics)^Paranoia = Emergent Gameplay. That's legit math. Trust me, I'm a math doctor.