Ranger Archive

I just finally came across some discussions on rifleman's /cover skill. It makes you invisible on the radar??? I remember getting chastised well over a year ago for even bringing that up as a ranger skill --- allegedly it was "technologically impossible" for some reason.

Ah, maybe that's why I keep crashing every 5 min. I wonder if someone at the starport is using it.

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Keatsnam wrote:
Ah, maybe that's why I keep crashing every 5 min. I wonder if someone at the starport is using it.

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As soon as I got away from the starport I stopped crashing. I do get an occasional crash while travelling too... but not nearly as many CTDs when I'm alone and there's definitely no one covered up nearby.

It'll either be fixed before going to Live, a patch will be ready to roll out a couple of days after Live, or development on it will be 'suspended' until they get it sorted.

fwiw, I don't think it was ever said that it was "technologically impossible" but that introduction of a stealth mode was impractical as it could be circumvented by a geek with packet sniffing software.... uhm, yeah.

Presumably they've found a way round that concern or have ralised that if somebody was goign to go to those lengths to get 'the upper hand' you're going to have problems with them no matter what.

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Mandalaia wrote:

Technologically impossible? More like... Technologically Lazy

Has anyone here ever played Ultima Online? There's not only a Hiding Skill (and an Invisible spell) but a Stealth skill that lets you walk around invisible...

No one can see you (except the Game Masters) not players, creatures, NPCs... no one. Not unless they step on you, that is.

UO is *FAR* less technologically advanced as SWG. I think the "Technologically Impossible" excuse is just another way of saying "Yes, we can do it, but we're just that damn lazy."

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Just because one game engine is written in such a way that implementing a new feature is relatively easy, does not mean it will be that way in all engines. It is quite possible that, at the time of that quote, hiding one from the radar would be next to impossible, and over time it has changed to become much more simple to implement. Game engines can change drastically over time, especially in the world of MMO's.

I played UO for several years and hide/invisibility/stealth were really useful and functional. As many hacks as that game had, I don't think anyone ever discovered a way to circumvent a hidden player. They also caused a player to be transparent to him/herself and invisible to all others.


At first it bothered me, but now I really don't care that riflemen get /cover. Because it's in game now, it just gives rangers a better chance of having this skill -- but something even more useful.

I picture /conceal as being a cross between SWG /cover and UO's "stealth". It removes us from radar, makes us invisible/transparent on screen, but we aren't limited to staying in the /prone position. Ranger stealth would have the ability to stand and walk around, but with slowed movement (like UO).

I agree completely with what you are saying. I think it would be a nice thing to have, but I just didn't want complaints to be thrown out just because of the developers' original statement on the matter. Instead, I would think it would make more sense that people discuss the changes as you have just done.