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Thread: Docking Bay 94? My idea to do instanced starports! (This works too!)
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RogueCloudwalker
Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:13 am
#1
HAN: Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells
me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.
BEN: Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship.
HAN: Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?
BEN: Should I have?
HAN: It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve
parasecs!
HAN:I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local
bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships
now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?
BEN: Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions
asked.
HAN: What is it? Some kind of local trouble?
BEN: Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.
HAN: Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you
something extra. Ten thousand in advance.
LUKE: Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!
HAN: But who's going to fly it, kid! You?
LUKE: You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have
to sit here and listen...
BEN: We haven't that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand
now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.
HAN: Seventeen, huh!
HAN: Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're
ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.
BEN: Ninety-four.
HAN: Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This
could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready.
me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.
BEN: Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship.
HAN: Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?
BEN: Should I have?
HAN: It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve
parasecs!
HAN:I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local
bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships
now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?
BEN: Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions
asked.
HAN: What is it? Some kind of local trouble?
BEN: Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.
HAN: Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you
something extra. Ten thousand in advance.
LUKE: Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!
HAN: But who's going to fly it, kid! You?
LUKE: You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have
to sit here and listen...
BEN: We haven't that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand
now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.
HAN: Seventeen, huh!
HAN: Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're
ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.
BEN: Ninety-four.
HAN: Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This
could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready.
While a great conversation in a great movie, I'm amazed that Han said "Docking Bay 94." What? You mean Mos Eisley has 94 Docking Bays at least? If those things are big enough to hold the Millennium Falcon, then thats alot of of city that I'm not seeing in the game. But this is Star Wars and we need to see them. Therefore I propose instanced Docking Bays. Like the Corellian Corvette missions, Docking Bays could be instanced for the starports in the game. Heres my idea on it...
You walk into Mos Eisley and run into the starport. A fast loading screen pops up that just loads the starport. You find that the inside of the starport is a populated place with people trying to get off planet and various species trying to sell various items. In the darker corners you can find people selling the more illegal goods while Stormtroopers walk about, looking for suspicious activity. The starport is huge! The starport is divided into ten sections for quick loading. The main section has Docking Bay 1, which is the first docking bay at the other end of the starports entrance. Here, you can get public flights from the public transport. However, the other bays are here and accounted for as well.
The starport is set up like a ring, much like the current starport is. However, you will not see all of the starport at once, but much smaller parts. The first section entails the Main Lobby and the first ten Docking Bays. Near the first docking bay, you can click on a droid operating a small landspeeder like vehicle to take you to the second section that includes Docking Bays 11-20. The droid can take you to any section that you would like, or you can simply walk the distance, loading when you hit the next section for a second. There will be ten different sections. Each one would have ten docking bays.
Each bay would have a craft actually sitting in it. From X-Wings, to TIE Fighters, to the Millennium Falcon, craft will be sitting inside a Bay. Your ship would actually be left here. Shipwrights would no doubt maintain their businesses nearby the starport cities and work on ships docked in the starport. The great thing is that you could actually walk in the YT-1300 and any other ship. Your datapad will keep up with where your ship is stored. If you log off, your ship is stored in your datapad, but will load in an empty docking bay when you return. The ship will load only when you are in the starport. I doubt that there would ever be a line to load since there are 100 docking bays and people will be coming and going left and right. The bay you are using my also be a load deal for yourself but I don't think that will be needed.
The starports will maintain their current small look due to city size. However, they will be much bigger in reality once you load inside the starport.
The great thing about this is that you might actually cut down on the lag of Coronet and other cities by not having to load the surrounding environs except for the starport! You would actually load the planet when stepping out of the starport! Since you would only load small parts of the starport at a time, you would cut down on Coronet style lag immensely.
Please tell me what you think! (Please support me and be nice!)
AsrosDafari
Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:02 am
#2
Great post! (5 stars!)
Here are my concerns.
1. I think that instanced starports would be a good idea, but as far as server lag, how would that affect the gameplay? I think immersion is good, but if you would just go there to see your ship, or to launch, i would rather sacrifice immersion and get into space.
2. I think starports in general need a revamp. Id like to see them more like an airport, with shops, maybe other things, maybe multiple landing pads in one city. Keeps immersion, but also makes it more like a real thriving port. More comings and goings, more activity, etc.
3. What about starports for player cities? Or repair bays, something like that. Id like to hope that there is something to repair ships lik garages for vehicles. It will be interesting to see if there is something like a player city starport or drydock or something.
Who knows!
Lets keep the discussion going!
dewolow
Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:10 am
#3
I think that this is thread #1853 on this issue. There is no such thing as a 'fast loading screen' since you have to load everything in the starport (from the terrain, to the ships, to the people there). Also this is not good for the people who simply want to board the shuttle (such as the people who did not buy JTL), since it will add time to their wait (loading and navigating the area). Also when you load into an area, you load a certain raduis of the surrounding terrain, which means the lag on Coronet will still persist.
Kiyoshi2002
Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:26 am
#4
I like your idea, I really do. I want it to work. I do see some problems and I want to confront and work around them to make this happen.
Problem - Overt system. Overts may be able to use these instanced starports as a means to escape. Let's say some Imperials show up in Coronet, gun some Rebels down, then enter the starport and jump on a droid shuttle to docking halls 70-80. Starports in this system will be popular for making a getaway.
Possible workarounds -
---Starport Security
Violence be prohibited within the starport. If you have a TEF you cannot enter the starport and while inside, all players will be labled with white letters and unattackle like how inactive battlefields work. Overts can walk around in the starport but cannot initiate combat. This prevents dueling in the starport as well.
Problem with this - Stalkers. Ronald the Imperial walks around the starport Overt. Jake, John and Jerry the Rebels are also Overt and they spot him. They follow Ronald around, waiting for him to step outside so they can jump him.
Solution - Your droid shuttle works into this nicely. With 10 different halls to go to, Ronald can easily jump to several halls until he successfully ditches his persuers and continues onto his target docking bay.
---Docking Bays = Outside of Starport Security
In Knights of the Old Republic, there was a starport that prohibited violence in the facility but once you entered the docking bays you were notified that the bays themselves were considered outside the starport's responsibility. And of course once you entered the docking bay you could attack the Sith troopers within to no consequence. Assuming that "anything goes" when inside a docking bay, this also works for when Han Solo and the stormtroopers have a shootout inside docking bay 94 and Han makes his getaway on the Falcon. Also, when Han confronts Jabba in the docking bay, Boba Fett and the other hired guns made it look very much like Jabba could have had Han shot in the docking bay as well if Han didn't charm him out of it.
Problem with this - Naturally, this may mean that fighting will flag you so you cannot go back into the docking halls. Whoever survives the fight will have to wait for the TEF to wear off before they can go back into the starport (assuming they don't just fly out themselves). In the wait for your TEF to wear off, you can easily get jumped by revenge-seekers.
Solution - Just wait for your TEF to wear off or jump ship and go! You wanted to fight in the docking bay, accept the consequences. Perhaps a sign in front of every docking bay entrance that says "WARNING - PLEASE READ." Upon reading the sign in the radial command, you will be warned of the terms of fighting in docking bays. Therefore, there is fair warning.
Conclusion -
That should settle GCW issues. Aside from getting the players to support it loud enough for the devs to make it happen, I don't see any other problems with this as part of the JTL. Those who do not have JTL can still use a public docking bay for shuttles.
Problem - Overt system. Overts may be able to use these instanced starports as a means to escape. Let's say some Imperials show up in Coronet, gun some Rebels down, then enter the starport and jump on a droid shuttle to docking halls 70-80. Starports in this system will be popular for making a getaway.
Possible workarounds -
---Starport Security
Violence be prohibited within the starport. If you have a TEF you cannot enter the starport and while inside, all players will be labled with white letters and unattackle like how inactive battlefields work. Overts can walk around in the starport but cannot initiate combat. This prevents dueling in the starport as well.
Problem with this - Stalkers. Ronald the Imperial walks around the starport Overt. Jake, John and Jerry the Rebels are also Overt and they spot him. They follow Ronald around, waiting for him to step outside so they can jump him.
Solution - Your droid shuttle works into this nicely. With 10 different halls to go to, Ronald can easily jump to several halls until he successfully ditches his persuers and continues onto his target docking bay.
---Docking Bays = Outside of Starport Security
In Knights of the Old Republic, there was a starport that prohibited violence in the facility but once you entered the docking bays you were notified that the bays themselves were considered outside the starport's responsibility. And of course once you entered the docking bay you could attack the Sith troopers within to no consequence. Assuming that "anything goes" when inside a docking bay, this also works for when Han Solo and the stormtroopers have a shootout inside docking bay 94 and Han makes his getaway on the Falcon. Also, when Han confronts Jabba in the docking bay, Boba Fett and the other hired guns made it look very much like Jabba could have had Han shot in the docking bay as well if Han didn't charm him out of it.
Problem with this - Naturally, this may mean that fighting will flag you so you cannot go back into the docking halls. Whoever survives the fight will have to wait for the TEF to wear off before they can go back into the starport (assuming they don't just fly out themselves). In the wait for your TEF to wear off, you can easily get jumped by revenge-seekers.
Solution - Just wait for your TEF to wear off or jump ship and go! You wanted to fight in the docking bay, accept the consequences. Perhaps a sign in front of every docking bay entrance that says "WARNING - PLEASE READ." Upon reading the sign in the radial command, you will be warned of the terms of fighting in docking bays. Therefore, there is fair warning.
Conclusion -
That should settle GCW issues. Aside from getting the players to support it loud enough for the devs to make it happen, I don't see any other problems with this as part of the JTL. Those who do not have JTL can still use a public docking bay for shuttles.
FlaviusFlav
Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:35 am
#5
I have to agreea bit with what dewolow said: the increase in server lag (which is already horrendous anywhere near a major starport) and the increased hassle/time for people who either don't own a personal ship or are only concerned with hopping a shuttle make it unlikely that this idea could be implemented as fleshed out in the initial post.
That said, I do think it's an interesting idea, and think it deserves more discussion to try and find a system that works for everyone.
Dynonychus
Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:43 am
#6
I think it looks more thana bit like an idea I already posted almost a month ago, which is currently in an activethread on this very page:
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=lightspeed&message.id=10903
Message Edited by Dynonychus on 06-23-2004 08:52 AM
RogueCloudwalker
Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:08 am
#7
AsrosDafari wrote:
Great post! (5 stars!)
Here are my concerns.
1. I think that instanced starports would be a good idea, but as far as server lag, how would that affect the gameplay? I think immersion is good, but if you would just go there to see your ship, or to launch, i would rather sacrifice immersion and get into space.
2. I think starports in general need a revamp. Id like to see them more like an airport, with shops, maybe other things, maybe multiple landing pads in one city. Keeps immersion, but also makes it more like a real thriving port. More comings and goings, more activity, etc.
3. What about starports for player cities? Or repair bays, something like that. Id like to hope that there is something to repair ships lik garages for vehicles. It will be interesting to see if there is something like a player city starport or drydock or something.
Who knows!
Lets keep the discussion going!
Yeah, my intention was definitely to make it like an airport in some ways. As for lag, I don't think it will be that bad since the starport will be isolated from the main planet so to speak. When inside the starport you will not generate the terrain of the rest of the planet. Just the starport. Also, the devs do add servers to support load as when they helped out Dantooine a little bit. So really, the starport will be much smaller than the planet so it will load fast like "fast loads." Heck, you may not even have to split up the areas if you don't have to load so much in the first place.
RogueCloudwalker
Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:14 am
#8
Kiyoshi2002 wrote:
I like your idea, I really do. I want it to work. I do see some problems and I want to confront and work around them to make this happen.
Problem - Overt system. Overts may be able to use these instanced starports as a means to escape. Let's say some Imperials show up in Coronet, gun some Rebels down, then enter the starport and jump on a droid shuttle to docking halls 70-80. Starports in this system will be popular for making a getaway.
Possible workarounds -
---Starport Security
Violence be prohibited within the starport. If you have a TEF you cannot enter the starport and while inside, all players will be labled with white letters and unattackle like how inactive battlefields work. Overts can walk around in the starport but cannot initiate combat. This prevents dueling in the starport as well.
Problem with this - Stalkers. Ronald the Imperial walks around the starport Overt. Jake, John and Jerry the Rebels are also Overt and they spot him. They follow Ronald around, waiting for him to step outside so they can jump him.
Solution - Your droid shuttle works into this nicely. With 10 different halls to go to, Ronald can easily jump to several halls until he successfully ditches his persuers and continues onto his target docking bay.
---Docking Bays = Outside of Starport Security
In Knights of the Old Republic, there was a starport that prohibited violence in the facility but once you entered the docking bays you were notified that the bays themselves were considered outside the starport's responsibility. And of course once you entered the docking bay you could attack the Sith troopers within to no consequence. Assuming that "anything goes" when inside a docking bay, this also works for when Han Solo and the stormtroopers have a shootout inside docking bay 94 and Han makes his getaway on the Falcon. Also, when Han confronts Jabba in the docking bay, Boba Fett and the other hired guns made it look very much like Jabba could have had Han shot in the docking bay as well if Han didn't charm him out of it.
Problem with this - Naturally, this may mean that fighting will flag you so you cannot go back into the docking halls. Whoever survives the fight will have to wait for the TEF to wear off before they can go back into the starport (assuming they don't just fly out themselves). In the wait for your TEF to wear off, you can easily get jumped by revenge-seekers.
Solution - Just wait for your TEF to wear off or jump ship and go! You wanted to fight in the docking bay, accept the consequences. Perhaps a sign in front of every docking bay entrance that says "WARNING - PLEASE READ." Upon reading the sign in the radial command, you will be warned of the terms of fighting in docking bays. Therefore, there is fair warning.
Conclusion -
That should settle GCW issues. Aside from getting the players to support it loud enough for the devs to make it happen, I don't see any other problems with this as part of the JTL. Those who do not have JTL can still use a public docking bay for shuttles.
Er, I really don't see a problem with overts escaping. What, Overt Rebels escaping? I should hope so as they will have the Stormtroopers that are patrolling the starport on them! You could have a cool gunfight like Han does in the escape in Episode IV. Overt Imperials could be there as a show of force. If Rebels manage to take the starport than thats good for them! They will have to split up and cover all the possible bays which would mean they would not hold it for long. I honestly don't think it would be bad for you to escape in the starport. It would be cool! Controlling starports would actually be important to in the GCW...
RogueCloudwalker
Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:25 am
#9
dewolow wrote:
I think that this is thread #1853 on this issue. There is no such thing as a 'fast loading screen' since you have to load everything in the starport (from the terrain, to the ships, to the people there). Also this is not good for the people who simply want to board the shuttle (such as the people who did not buy JTL), since it will add time to their wait (loading and navigating the area). Also when you load into an area, you load a certain raduis of the surrounding terrain, which means the lag on Coronet will still persist.
Umm, where to start? I'm glad you are voicing your concerns on this. Let me make something clear though about this.
The starport will be entirely instanced. In other words, it will kind of be like loading another planet, although much smaller. Since it is so much smaller, it will not have much terrain to load other than the starport. Heck, the each area of the starport won't be bigger than Mos Eisley itself. Therefore, with very much less to load, you will get much faster load times. As well, people standing outside the starport in Coronet will not get lag as they are not loading what is happening in the starport. The starport is like a whole other world unto itself. The people who do not buy JTL can still go inside the starport, they just have to take the public shuttle and cannot enter the docking bays. Picture this like an airport. I think it will be more immersive overall to the game to have this. Just because people still have to buy a ticket and wait for the shuttle like normal is not a good enough reason to scrap the whole thing. They still have to wait in the end, they might as well wait there.
pimpbyblud
Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:33 am
#10
LMAO! More evidence that the economy is screwed in SWG. Somehow I don't think that the price of a new ship is gonna cost 10000 credits when JTL releases. It will be more like 10000000 credits....classic
RogueCloudwalker wrote:
BEN: Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.
HAN: Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you
something extra. Ten thousand in advance.
LUKE: Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that price!..............
Kaelle_DB
Wed Jun 23, 2004 10:04 am
#12
I love this idea, but maybe it would be better if these instanced starport were done in player cities. There should also be a option to just launch without loading the docking bay.
EmpDrome
Wed Jun 23, 2004 10:24 am
#13
I'd like to see huge towers, and much bigger starports (like the command towers)
we could also have a parking lot too, and a wp to where it is
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