Jump To Lightspeed Archive
Thread: Squadron Hangers A thought for further imersion and the GCW
Page 1 of 3
GranitePhoenix
Tue Jan 04, 2005 6:04 am
#1
Hi folks!
Recently, I've been placed in the unenviable position of forming a Rebel/Privateersquadron. I say unenviable because of the delimas foisted upon myself and my friends who want to participate. The things we want from this Squadron (Formal organization, Ease of Communication, Public Recognition, Blah Blah Blah) aren't possible without forming a new PA. The headaches arrise from several of the people involved already being in PA's with which they are quite happy. I've spent the last couple of days trying to figure out how to get around this problem, and while we do have a rather cumbersome solution, I've thought of another solution that could prove much simpler and much more fun: Add a new structure - the Squadron Hanger.
In thinking about this, I see a structure comparable in size to a PA hall (both in acctual size and lots consumed). Organization and Communication functions would be nearly if not identical to PA's as we know it. Of course, the mainstay of the Squadron hanger's floor space would be dedicated todisplaying starfighters and the tools needed to maintain them (A Droid Lift for installing an Astromech before Flight, the heavy equipment needed fora chassis overhaul,Blah Blah Blah), with maybe a couple of small offices and a breifing amphitheater. The main deviations fromthe PA systemwould be; 1> The Hanger would allow us to walk around our ships on the ground or place mock-ups of starfighters. 2> The Squadron would co-exist with PA affiliations. 3> Numerous little details that bring the realism of what goes into space flight home.
There are several different little touches that could be added to this. Such as the ability to choose from some pre-made Squadron Symbols that all members of the Squadron would have automatically added to thier ship's paint jobs upon joining. Or maybe even allow the Squad leader to design one for the Squadron? Perhaps allow players the option of landing at thier Squadron Hanger, in addition to the usual choice of starports at the Squadron's home planet? Have the Squadron Name occupy the spot the PA tag normally occupies on the ground when the player launches into space?
There are several different areas which this idea could be used to add further imersion and to help further the GCW. It would also add a level of detail to our starfighters that we currently don't have. We don't see the dirty side of spaceflight. We hit a terminal, we launch, we kill/get killed. We don't see the damage done to our ships. We don'tsee the grease monkeys hard at work on fixing the damage done to our ships and complaining about the paint job being chewed up because of our cruising through a nebula athigh speed. All of these little details that go into every flight are missing. This would help to bring these little things home for us.
While I understand the extra work for this idea represents fordevelopment team, I think this could be an ideal solution to allowing players to form squadrons. This would give us formal organization, communication, add a new level of imersion to the JTL expansion and the GCW, and take players off the hook of having to choose between Squadron and PA. I think that the addition of this kind of structure would give us something that we're lacking.
Ideas? Thoughts?
Rhyon Wraithborne
Message Edited by GranitePhoenix on 01-04-2005 08:07 AM
MichailArris
Tue Jan 04, 2005 6:42 am
#2
Thats ainteresting idea, 5 stars for you.
Maybe just to further expand the idea forestablished PA's. Is to also have a "Squadron Hanger" add on for a PA Hall. Say the idea would go as such. Placing a new hanger with out a PA would take up the standard 7 lots, but the if the hanger is added on to a exsisting PA Hall would take up 3 lots.
But overall I like the idea.
S-1-l2-H-C
Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:01 am
#3
i love it.
another cool thing they could have is a simulator where you could fight off increasingly difficult waves and get a top score at the end.
we would also need the ability to guild war in space with other squadrons.
another cool thing they could have is a simulator where you could fight off increasingly difficult waves and get a top score at the end.
we would also need the ability to guild war in space with other squadrons.
Message Edited by S-1-l2-H-C on 01-04-2005 09:05 AM
Jarulis
Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:11 pm
#5
Maybe instead of a "ground" based hall, have a Master Ship that works like an aircraft carrier. Require that the pilot of the ship be a master Squad Leader and can use some of the skills in space, or make new skills, like shield sharing between all group members, that sort of thing. This way he can create a group or squadron and people could still be in different PA's.
Have x amount of guns on it and make them all player controlled. If you are flying this beast and coordinating attacks, you can't spare the time to shoot anything.
Have more than 2 or 3 turrets on it also. Allow faction only or neutral ships the ability to dock with it.
There of course would have to be negatives associated with it, so some possibilities are:
1) canonly store ship atcertain ports. The Imperials would of course have more ports than the Rebels, it only makes sense.
2)instead of allowing the ship to be stored, make it so that once the squad leader logs off, it is now computer controlled like an npc ship. Only those pilots that have been authorized to land may continue to do so, anyone else will not be able to until the captaingrants them access. Since it would suck to lose your shipwhile you are not around, maybe make it generate waves ofnpc fightersif itis being attacked as well as defend itself. Not the best of ideas, but it is really hard to park a capital ship at a space station when it is the same size as the space station.
3) I'm out of ideas, it'salmost time to leave work and I'm burnt out. 
Think how cool it would be to have 2 or more capital ships facing off with each other, waves of fighters coming out and all of them player controlled. You want a Galactic Civil War and the Star Wars Experience, that wouldadd to it.
newwb
Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:22 pm
#6
o man, i was gonna post something like this!
great thinking though
Docbengal
Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:39 pm
#8
I love the original idea. Great way to be able to still be a part of your guild as well as a squadron.
Please put this in the in concept threads, make this heard.
5*
GranitePhoenix
Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:53 pm
#9
Thanks for the comments and the stars, folks.
For whatever reason, in case I was theperson being asked to do it (hint, hint, red/yellow-names make your presence felt plz), I can't drop a dupe/link to it in the concept forums, for whatever reason.
Frankly, I'd love to see some Dev input on this thought.
Rhyon Wraithborne
Message Edited by GranitePhoenix on 01-05-2005 10:54 PM
DayWalkerRori
Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:20 am
#10
Very Good Idea! 5Stars
Esp love the idea of having your fighter on display!
romuski
Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:50 am
#12
Awesome idea, some place to park our ships, some more things to fiddle with, something the Architects can build and of course, GCW Eyecandy. I especially like the Logo idea too.
OddjobXL
Thu Jan 06, 2005 6:03 am
#13
Absolutely. City of Heroes has the ability for 'team uniform' colors that adapt a hero's costume to that of the group (keeps the basic design but changes the logo and colors to the team's). Doesn't seem that hard to do for them. Not sure how hard it would be for SoE. Perhaps it could also change the colors of the basic flight suit and Rebel pilot's helmet to match? Probably would work in a more limited fashion for Imperials and Freelancers. Imperials don't have as much flexibility in ship appearance (though adding a colored strip to the side panel might work) or uniform. Freelancers are supposed to be a raggedy and disorganized bunch. Not sure they should have uniform color schemes but no real harm in leaving that choice up to the players. Also a place to check the, much desired, killboard and when, or if, they impliment games like holochess to hang out.
Page 1 of 3