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Thread: Racing in space
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Kid_Tusken
Thu Mar 03, 2005 2:30 pm
#1
This is an idea thatevery species of every faction of every guild/ PA can participate in and enjoy:
Lets face it, the idea of competing over a faster speed has influenced societies, movies, and games ever sinceman first learned thatdifferent lifeforms and items have the ability to move at different speeds relevent to a stationary target.
Kid_Tusken
Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:47 pm
#2
Sorry, starting over because I cannot edit my posts on the SWG forums........
This is an idea thatevery species of every faction of every guild/ PA can participate in and enjoy:
Lets face it, the idea of competing over a faster speed has influenced societies, movies, and games ever sinceman first learned thatdifferent lifeforms and items have the ability to move at different speeds relevent to a stationary target. The developers of the Star Wars Galaxies team saw that aspect of life on Earth and in the movies of Star Wars and added a new and exciting way to play the game. The only problem was that on ground vehicles people always travel at same speed, so it was really a matter of pilot error being the only true factor of win or loseon these race courses. With the recent wonderful add ons of player event NPCs that lend out anything from a huge starport shuttle to a tiny juke box for 8 hours, I suggest that an in-space race course point maker be added to these NPCs as well. Of course these would be purchased for a fee that is in close proximity to that of the other prices that these player event coordinators sell other various items at.
HowWould This SystemWork?
-DeployingThe Various Waypoints:
*This would work by creating the amount of Waypoints given to anysingle person by showing the waypoint icon in theirinventory menu along with a number of how many left there is to place in the examine menu of thewaypointicon. Theperson deploying the waypoints( the deployer), wouldfly over the spotthey wish to indicate as a "checkpoint", go intotheir inventory menu, click and hold the mouse button over the icon untill the radial menu pops up, and then select the "place" button on the waypoint in the inventory. Soon after the "deployer" places the waypoint, or "checkpoint" in the indicated spot in space, it would appear on their screen. The first waypoint in the "deployer's" inventory will not disapear, but that will be explained later. This waypoint would look exactly like a standard space waypoint. Imagine placing these like /waypoint in space, it just shows a standard waypoint for you. The numbers of how many can be placed for what cost will have to be decided by the developers.
-Traveling From Waypoint/Checkpoint To Waypoint/Checkpoint:
*Once the "deployer" has become the LEADER of a group, anyone in the deployer's group will be able to see the starting waypoint to begin racing at. Note:This starting waypoint will not disapear untill untill the leader of the group selects the waypoint in his or her inventory and selects the button marked "start race" in the radial menu. Once the deployer selects "start race" on the icon, every group member will see a message indicating the race will officially start in 3 seconds. The text for the group members would appear much like that of what a Squad Leader can do,imagine the countdown of the race like that of the hyperspace calculation timer. Once the race has offically begun, the starting waypoint would disapear from the screens of the group members( the racers), andthe second waypoint thedeployerplaced in space would appear in its place. The would work like the patrol mission waypoints for somespace missions, when one is touchedby a space craft it dissapears andanothermarker replaces it. Each group member( racer) would see thestarting waypoint dissapear and the second one appear at the same time. Fromthe second waypoint on, the replacing of each waypoint with a new one would be indavidualized by each person, dependent on whenthat person touched( flew into) the waypoints. This would look exactly like that of a patrol mission( when one is touched,itdissapears, and a new oneappears and takes its place). This system would work this way untill the end waypoint is touched( flew into).
-On Screen Group Messages:
*A total number of4 different types of messages will appear on each person's screen at the appropiate time. First, the "3...2...1...GO" style of starting text would appear on the group members' screens, after the deployer presses the "start race" button the waypoint icon in their inventory(explained above). The second text to appear on each person's screen would be number out of number of waypoints completed on the circut. For example, if there were a total of 10 waypoints on the track from start to finish, and you just touched(flew through) the 3rd waypoint, a message that would look like 3/10 would appear on your screen. This would help the racer indicate how far he or she isinto the race and would help out the racers on different racing tactics, such as booster usage. The third type ofmessage thatwould appear on the screens would be individual for each group member(racer), just like the"3/10" waypoint status is. This would appear to thegroup member(racer) when they have succesfully completed the course provided by the deployer. An example of thisindividual message would be "You Have Completed TheRace...Congratulations!" and wouldfollow to list their place in therace by adding another line of on screen textsaying "3/14". This "3/14" indicates that the finishing racer came in 3rd place out of a total 14 people. The 4th message to appear on the screens of the group members(racers) would be the names of those who finished thedeployed course. This would appear oneveryscreen at the same time, just like the "3...2..1..GO" on screen message. An example ofwhat thiswould look like is "Darth VaderHas Finished The Race..".
-Calculating The Final Positions Of The Race
*This is by far the most controversial part of the race. This would be calculated by the computer, not a human eye. The computer would calculate this by the amount of time it took to travel from one waypoint to the next, and adding up all the times. The person with the lowest time on the race would win and come in first place. This is because of the problem of rubber banding in space and the shoot back some people in their space craft. The computer, just like the ground races could ignore some rubber banding and calculate the time it actually took(server time) to complete the race. This would solve the problem of lag and rubber banding hindering some players and vissually showing them from coming in first place to last in the middle of the race. To actively complete an entire race with the end calculations of who came in first and in last, EVERYBODY would have to finish, so the computer(the server) could calculate all the times and display the final positions at the end of the race.
As I posted this, I kept in mind that while I was at the fan fest, a developer said to the audience "that what may seem easy to you, is actually more complicated than it looks when it comed down to programming it and implimenting it in the game". I hope that my idea uses most of what is already in the game to make this idea possible, thankyou.
DeepFatFryer
Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:31 pm
#3
I haven't the time to read the full thread, but wouldn't this essentialy become a war of numbers?
All that affects your speed in JTLS is your throttle and engine speed. There are no outside forces, so it would be pretty dull.
Of course there might be something in there that makes me look like a fool for not reading it
.
All that affects your speed in JTLS is your throttle and engine speed. There are no outside forces, so it would be pretty dull.
Of course there might be something in there that makes me look like a fool for not reading it
.
Kid_Tusken
Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:41 pm
#4
This is an MMORPG the entire game is a war of number. But as an outside force, there are nebulas, astroid fields, abandened space staions, debris fields, enemy pirates, and many more things to liven up the race. Also, please read the entire thread, you will see that this is all player made so there is no limit to how diverse a course can get.
Venom1300
Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:43 pm
#5
You could have your course run through an asteroid field, but other than that it sounds like a drag race
DarvenBeyor
Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:45 pm
#6
The acceleration of a vehicle, the ability to turn tight at a slow speed and then speed up ASAP is also a known factor is racing. As for a constant drag race, that is one possibility if you were to make the race a set of waypoints in a straight line, but other than that I do not see how it is justa matter of speed. Sounds like a great idea to me, certainly cannot hurt the game in any way.
Message Edited by DarvenBeyor on 03-03-2005 03:54 PM
ValiantHalibut
Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:45 pm
#7
Why do people always assume that this will be boring? It's not like going from point A to point B - you have to go from A to Z and hit all the other points in between. There are alot of interesting courses that could be set up - going through asteroid fields or enemy spawns, flying past or through space stations, skirting nebulas - the course designer just needs to use their imagination.
quadpers0n
Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:48 pm
#8
I love the idea of racing in JTL, and have hosted a few events attempting to get a viable and fun race going. I have thought long and hard about a multi stage race and while this is a superb implementation of it, I do agree with other's assessment that it's more of a drag race. Not that that is a bad thing, it doesn't have to be, but I wanted a race to have a bit broader appeal initially, with more variables thrown in to reduce it being soley on booster management and engine speed.
So I decided to go with a simpler race, with no shields, no armor, and no guns, but overt from a starting point to a finishing point. Inspired by "The wacky races" cartoons, I made the rules governing cheating purposefully lax. Really the only real rules were 1. show up on time 2. start on time 3. overt withno shields, no armor,andno guns.
I was hoping opposing combatants in the zone would interfere as well as npcs and other obstacles. It was a corner to corner race across kessel. The few times the race succeeded it worked well, although we never had any real disurbances.
I don't want to impugn what you were doing, it's a great idea, but I thought I would throw out the appeal of having more variables than equipment in there when making a race.
Of course, if Sony would implement a course like found in the old X-Wing games we wouldn't really need additional implementation aside from that. I'm honestly a little surprised that kind of thing is missing, as it would serve as a great place to race, as well as being a training facility for new pilots. But I digress...
Kid_Tusken
Thu Mar 03, 2005 8:19 pm
#9
ValiantHalibut wrote:
Why do people always assume that this will be boring? It's not like going from point A to point B - you have to go from A to Z and hit all the other points in between. There are alot of interesting courses that could be set up - going through asteroid fields or enemy spawns, flying past or through space stations, skirting nebulas - the course designer just needs to use their imagination.
Truer words could not be spoken, that is why I propose a player made course idea, the possibilities are virtually endless.
Rebelcapt
Thu Mar 03, 2005 9:20 pm
#10
I think a good example of a space race is an episode of Sargate SG-1, episode called "Space Race" in season 7. The race consited of several parts. First they navigated through a swarm of attacking drones who would try to disabel (not destroy) the ships. This was a test of a pilots defensive/offensive abilities. They then had to fly through the coronasphere of the sun ( i beleive test of sheilds, i havnt seen the episode in a while). Next they proceded through a massive ice field in which the chucks of ice were massive commpared to ships, which tested their skills at piloting. And lastly it was an open race to the finish line.
While the sun part may not work really in JTL, i think its a good example of what a race in a RPG like this should be like.
and 5* to original poster, its nice to see good well thought out ideas on the forums.
Message Edited by Rebelcapt on 03-03-2005 10:24 PM
MonsofoLexius
Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:01 pm
#11
Great idea and ***** from me.
I really like it, and after reading it twice and some of the comments I had an idea on the whole "numbers" game....
- Add 2 options for race timming
- Flat out run: Best time wins as you have in your original post
- Top Speed adjusted: Take the top speed of each ship (factor in drois commands) and do a (Final_Time=Time\adjusted_Top_Speed)*1000 {or something like that, its late for math}
I don't even know if this is possible, but gives the race "provider" an options to do the "numbers" game or have all entrants a even chace.
But I even like the idea as it is too.......
Kid_Tusken
Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:24 am
#12
Rebelcapt wrote:
I think a good example of a space race is an episode of Sargate SG-1, episode called "Space Race" in season 7. The race consited of several parts. First they navigated through a swarm of attacking drones who would try to disabel (not destroy) the ships. This was a test of a pilots defensive/offensive abilities. They then had to fly through the coronasphere of the sun ( i beleive test of sheilds, i havnt seen the episode in a while). Next they proceded through a massive ice field in which the chucks of ice were massive commpared to ships, which tested their skills at piloting. And lastly it was an open race to the finish line.
While the sun part may not work really in JTL, i think its a good example of what a race in a RPG like this should be like.
and 5* to original poster, its nice to see good well thought out ideas on the forums.
Message Edited by Rebelcapt on 03-03-2005 10:24 PM
That episode of Stargate SG-1 is what originally gave me the idea of racing in JTL. I'm glad someone else saw that episode and can relate to it JTL
VemaGara
Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:15 am
#13
If you make sure that waypoints go near spawns, then dying becomes a real possibility.
I'm a big fan of "newbies ship" racing. Everyone can get involved. The mass limits are comperable. And most importantly, NPC's can take you out in just a few shots. That adds a wonderful dimension to the race.
I'm a big fan of "newbies ship" racing. Everyone can get involved. The mass limits are comperable. And most importantly, NPC's can take you out in just a few shots. That adds a wonderful dimension to the race.
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