A Void Blueprint for the future

[Strail]

Below I have set out my vision for the future of the server, I would like your feedback.

After spending some time talking to players and looking at where we need to go, I'm setting out where I would like to take The Void in the coming months. Obviously I am interested in your comments and feedback, however, let me make this clear, where we are currently is.... nowhere. The current status quo isn't acceptable or viable.

The major move forward has to be the way we play the game. Currently 5 - 20 players in itself means we have to shift the way the game is played by people, so that we can encourage others to join the server. My viewpoint on this is to encourage a "relaxed" form of roleplay that doesnt exclude people who want to jump on the server for a while and play the game, whilst accomodating those players who enjoy role play but dont like the "forced" and debilitating aspect of hard core roleplay.

My concept of this is "Relaxed Role Play". This sits between the pvp server and the hard core RP server. Where both type of players can co-exist together. We must always keep in mind that strict roleplay only works if you have tons of rules, people tend to speak the same language and that there are significant "rules lawyers" pouring over rules and making pedantic points to win their argument. This is not what I want. I want to encourage players who want to Role play their characters without all the endless rules and nit picking, I want players to be able to enjoy the game. Sure, there will need to be rules and guidelines for this but for those who have RP'd before there is a disinct difference between enjoying the game and someone constantly telling you you cant do that, you cant do this etc etc.

I want to encourage players who want to role play within the boundaries and limitations of Freelancer, this is Freelancer not EVE. So, we have to look at Clans, Guilds, server rules player tags and the in-game functionality of making this work. This is a big task which we will need to take little by little to move in this direction. Not only will there be a lot of work, there will be a requirement for everyone who wants to shape the future here to take part and participate. I encourage you all to take part and shape the future. Doing nothing, means that the server will continue in its present form, which is not good for anyone.

I want to address clans now. I understand that many of you dont speak english as your first language, and I also understand that you might be concerned about all of this. Let me emphasise, I do not want to "force" any clans to do something they dont want to do, however, I do want to encourage "relaxed role play" clans. So there should be no real change for you, however, It is important that you participate in the discussions so that you can help us shape the future. I think you will agree that many clans seem to have lost purpose, in the main they dont have diplomacy or many other structures that mark a difference between a group of friends playing together and a clan that has a formal structure rules etc etc.

I have set up some forum areas to make sure we can get these discusions moving forward, server staff, Admin, clan leaders and players are all involved in this project and therefore I hope we can make some progress relatively quickly, which we can deliver to the community. If you want to be part of this and have constructive comments, opinions and feel that this is the right way for The Void, then I welcome you to get involved. I would prefer a policy of inclusion for people who want to help make a difference. I would also be keen to have people who have found the strict RP of other servers a shortcoming in their game play enjoyment.

I can tell you this, we have the mod makers on board, the player ingame features plugin (flac/hook) people on board, the Admin and server staff on board, now we need you, the community on board to make this place great again. I hope you will get involved and give this concept a vote of confidence for the future of The Void.

For the moment, once you have read this, please provide some feedback

Thanks

[Burn]

I agree on your thoughts about the "relaxed" RP but there is so much more the Void lacks right now and that's why player numbers have dropped in my opinion.

Mainly the lack of STATS (especially for PVP-ers) The "stats-whore" phenomenon which is present in most of the current games is missing here.
Most players actually play a game to see themselves (nickname) reach the highest level/rank/position as possible.This will also create concurenz and more in-game activity.
I am talking about a list wich should be viewed here on the website showing the kill/death ratio of pvp-ers and who is best accordantly.To not abuse this feature pvp-ers should only invite each other to a fight wich will be recognised by the stats system.Best out of 3 kills.(or similar)

Another lack is the Console messages:Godlike,Runs amok,Killing Spree etc Plus the messages "Clanbase X is under atack" Like Zyraxes mentioned this will contribute to in game RP action/activity.

Thirdly:The looks of the current voidserver webpaige.Honestly I don't like it- I really don't - never have (sorry about the negativism) but the looks of the Voidwebpaige was 100 times better 4 years ago.
What bothers me is the fact that the online registered users are being shown in a tiny window in wich you have to scroll down to see who's actually online.

The fact that some registered users have colored nicknames and thickened letters instead of looking the same as other normal users.
Lucky Luke mentioned that this was implimented so that player know whos an admin,void,faq,writer etc  BUT you could have very easily edited your Avatar section and write Void Admin,Guard,Writer+adding some stars like the case of vector-x for example to give users an insight.
This "unequality" had a negative impact on the users around here in my opinion
A good example would be Spacemarine_E wich had an average of 10 post a day but after his user color and letter thickness has been changes it went down to 1 post a week.
And i can provide many other user examples to show the bad impact of these ridicioulous and childish color feature.

Another thing would be the fact that it currenty takes me up to 10-15 seconds until the webpaige has finished loading (i do have a wooden PC but other webpaiges with a simpler format load just fine)



Conclusion:Please provide some in-game features for players:Mainly Stats Ladder+Console Messages to increase/encourage players activity


Sorry about the negativism again.Have a nice day.

[die_volker]

My turn / today:
A hardcore RP server can easily host intense PVP activity as long as:
- there are several PVP exclusive systems - no NPC or heavy graphic challenges as the Spartan shield.In this manner the new or upgraded PVP systems can host several PVP ambients that can please all. A meteor cloud / a gas one / a dense one along with a free-space areas (each with its base) can consist in small rally points for PVPers as long as training in such art. EFZ 90% unused - Event  - never used... put some honey there - flies will come
- there are rules that are allowing RP to take its course without an intense forum activity that slows the entire process.
- Make a clear difference between evil clans, pirate clans, rogues (if they will return) and pirates (individual tags). Now everyone that plays the evil part groups somewhat randomly. Individual taged players should be what they have chose "lone-wolfs" against the world.
- we need to clearly set goals and define "targets" for different activities and make ppl buzzing to be accomplished. Even ALL SERVER events if necessary.

Marauders practiced RP or better said exactly the "Relaxed RP" that you are talking about ever-since its birth. I think there is not a player (mostly freelancer characters) that was ever bothered by Marauders offering assistance. We are some of the few that take completely new players to VOID or even the game and spend hours guiding them trough the space. We are doing our part as best as we can, and relax in PVP with fellow VOIDIANS being blown up in the finest fashion .

We will continue to do what we have in our agenda and we are willing to take any additional responsibilities if the community and its leaders decide to (in a fair amount.. of course)

[Vansen]

Good on you Strail, its about bloody time.

If you can get clans going again, the way they should be then bravo. No more of that casual PvP and chatter whilst sitting at docking rings. It will be a good day indeed for this server if we get clans going at each other again tooth and nail.

Ive hated how this place has become so pink and fluffy over the past year.

[Spacemarine_E]

I like the idea of the relaxed roleplay, IMO I have always thought of the void as a thing right in the middel between the pure PvP and pure RP that some servers seem to apply (you probably know which I am talking about). But making this even clearer and maybe soft forcing it into the game would be a good thing as far as I see.

Atm the Black Legion is an RP: we kill everyone, because we want to clan. But after some time I smell the lust for some RPing again, not hardcore RP ofc, but some soft rp shouting rp sentences into space etc. I can ofc do this in BL at the time, but there seems no reason for me to do so, because even if I were to shout: death to the emperor! I would get silence as the answer in about 90% of the cases. so some soft rp that would encourage players to answer my calls will in my eyes be a good addition.

I also agree to what Burn said, most games include some sort of Stats for the ones intereseted. I feel that if this could be implanted then pvpers would have something to fight for, clans would have something to look to, and players in general would see how their Kill / death Ratio rose in tact with their skills and time spent on server.

the Server messages that burn suggest (e.g. godlike etc) would be fun but that's it.
The Server messages that Burn suggested regarding the clan bases etc would be really cool, because then the clans would have to protect their base or atack the enemies, laying the foundation for tactis and strategies. (defend, attack, ambush? who knows)

another thing: systems that are currently clamied by clans can be claimed basically by saying: hey we claim it!
But what if you had to do something in order to control it? say you would have to apply for the construction of a small thing to be offically granted the control, and then from there you could pay to build e.g. a base or a weapons platform etc. Now if another clan wanted to take the system of another clan they would have to go in kill the control things and all the enemy structures. Ths would require the clans to try and keep a larger presences on the server at all times so that they can defend if their enemies were to attack. It would also require lots of money to build these things , therefore the clans over 9000 billion$ bank account could be used to something other than storing.

Just what I could think of atm, will probably be able to write more tomorrow

@Burn: the reason for my post count drops are not due to my new colour, just my genrearrly low activity due to thinking of other stuff than FL right now (exams are coming up soon and such.)

[darthnova]

I like the sound of this, there would be more point to being in clans too. As long as it is not hardcore RP like disco, where everyone seems to be more interested in moaning at people for not following rule 5.3 page 2 or whatever instead of playing the game. I think relaxed RP would be the best thing for this server.  I am sure the rest of syndicate would like this too  ;)

[BLAHA]

well i was waiting on something like this, although i had the felling nobody cares wht happens to the server..., wht would be very bad, after sometime on void i wouldnt change the server, others dont have the capability of void, beacause i always understood the server as a RR Server - something btw PvP and RP or
a RP with a good PvP value....

1. for a pvp server there should be a ratio like on other server (DFLS) who counts ur real kills not the npc´s dont see any point in shooting npc´s...for a ratio^^

2. laggs: most time u fight laggy ppl so if there is a balance btw pvp and roleplay
first priority is to gain the possibility to pvp...if ppl dont understand the lagg issue they should be kicked not a ban just for the moment from the ppl on the server this leads me to the major point and the reason why void is the best freelnacer server

3.after all we are multikulti so laggs will happen this is the dark side but the right more important fact is that we are a unique community we should hold this up this is wht void makes great^^
so only a strong community and ppl who love the game and wanna play this for fun can hold this together
for this it needs also clear rules and values
about wht is a good freelancer/clanmate/clanleader
this ppl should be protected and they should protect others of this nature off-line which clans this ppl belong or if they are freelancer

4.also to EFZ...atm im too bussy and still not 100% back on my feets...running some wet shoes
but my AFSC Char is ready and almost parked in EFZ and NY
http://www.voidserver.com/modules.php?n ... ic&t=24095
i hope i can make it in future more 80% EFZ presents :DD

hope u guys have more luck with this and cya out there
and : Death to the Emperor!

[AMROD]

To give my 2 cents, or 4
Burn you posted majority of my thoughts what needs to be changed here.
By that I especially mean on website, I agree with you 100%.
Too many flashy colours etc etc, not to mention intro loading + I can't skip it, so it's boring, and if I'm new player, I'd quit and never come back in first 5 sec. (ok I might stop by again to see is it fixed )
So intro is "a must" thing that need to be changed + reducing usernames colours, as Burn said, childish + no usergroup has more "power" here than normal user, except staff.
Simply usergroup without need to change the colour of users name, except server staff of course.
+ all what Burn said next about site.

Now, in game. Relaxed Role play is the way to go! Remember 2015 mod!? Nuff said.
Concerning PVP stats, well that's a no future feature.
The killing spree, runs amok and godlike are suficient, why, because if you add that frag counter, you'll again have a mess round here.
Bunch of frag hunters, and same story again, moaning, accusing etc etc, we need to learn on our mistakes, so I vote NO for PVP stats.
Without it you simply enjoy your play, PVP without thinking what your stats will look like, and then when you see you logg off untill some new player arrives to get your stats better.
It's about fun, relaxing, to get out of RL problems, not to make it more stressable + what's the point of showing all what your stats are, if you're good you're good, if not, well practice.
If you want to brag with your stats, go kill NPCs.
Again, remember 2015 mod!!

EDIT: I just remembered Events. Aren't here an Event team, and what about staff, nothing, I think you need to wake up, or you should have sooner.
Remember rewards given by [VOID]-Aigle and [VOID]-Amrod + number of events .

P.S. To make sure, I'm talking about current situation, and in the past year.

[anoyingnomad]

The intro can be skipped by typing /index lol. www.voidserver.com/index. No annoying intro anymore.

Well everyone summed up what i wanted to say. Ill keep thinking <):)

[minustri]

For me Freelancer is shooting game and as a clan member, RP is only a list of hostile, neutral and friendly clans, just a guidelines whom to shoot and whom not, doing RP is shooting hostiles, chasing off trespassers from home system and defending it.
I log on hoping to shoot at targets preferably live ones, if not npcs are good too. I played on one vanilla server, before Void, for a month or so where were few players, so I don't know anything about RP on Freelancers servers other than what I did here.

I don't know what would be considered under relaxed RP. If this is a shooter server that it would mean some restrictions, if this is a hard core RP server (and it is not ) than that would mean loosing up.
'Nomad exclusive' for me means forced RP, that way nomad stuff that add to diversity of the server, are pushed aside by their equivalents for ships that are most in use. Forcing RP is something like ships for new clan patrols, 'good' clans can have ships and weapons from 'good factions' and 'evil' clans from 'evil' factions. In that way some patrols will be weaker than the others, why we can have the same? If number of turrets on bases are reduced if too many or added if too few so every base should be equal, why then having unequal patrols?
If relaxed RP would mean that good/evil clans will be restricted to ships and equipment from corresponding factions than I am against it.
Adding new and interesting content in systems and areas would interest players to see and probably use them.

Maybe sending e-mails to players who left Void to speak here why they left should bring some needed answers.

[LTHamlet]

I think we have the PVP aspect down on this server even with its gripes and complaints. No pun intended towards anyone we all get irritated from time to time .

As far as the RP here: What I think could connect them both... NPC's with clan tags- fighters, transports, BS and traders that if destroyed give a % of [cash+ammo+weaps ect] to the attacker. these clan tagged npc's would actively patrol clan systems and associated allies of NPC RP.(example Marauder taged npc in Junker controlled space would assist each other even with out a RL player)  Say if a base was attacked they would react to any and all hostiles.  

This would add an element of raiding on clan supplies making certain weaps  unavailable for purchase on clan bases and allied NPC bases until shipments reach base again. This would have the affect of where our PVP takes place when clans are waring adding an element of surprise with a sense of urgency. With out telling people do this or do that it is more of a reaction do or do not protect your resources. Of coarse the reps would react to this also. this allows each clan to plot and plan their own type of RP.

I think you can see what I intend by this, whether or not you should include reps of non clan members who shoot Clan tagged NPC's is up to the rule makers.

Any how its just my humble opinion of what I think un forced RP should be on The Void,


   

[geromix]

Well you know my views on this,complete support from me.

-Geromix

[Burn]

-Clan Ladder (refering to organised clanwars) 4 members of one clan fighting against 4 members of another clan  (or maybe 5v5) - no regen allowed  -no cruiser or battleships necessary - just VHF and HF -all weapons are allowed+raks+torp+cruise distruptor+mines etc

Basically a ladder system which should be viewed here on the Website showing the win/loss ratio of clans in these organised events.
Clans should be able to challange other clans on the website.



-Rewards for in-game merits:Players should be awarded some sort of reward (medal,throphy,stars etc etc wich should be viewd in their Avatar section) if they acchieve an in game "merit"

for example:if they manage to kill 10000 Battleships (a medal for that)
          if they manage to kill 100000 VHF npc (another medal,throphy etc)
          if they reach 120000000 credits in game (financial award)
          if they kill 200000 light fighter npc kills (reward)
          if they donate money to the server (stars etc)
          if their pvp kills reach 1000 VHF player kill (trader ships should not be incuded as kills in stats system)
          if clans have more than 50-100 victories in clanwars
          if they find/access all the jump holes/gates (explorer reward)
          if they dock on a surten number of base/plantes (pathfinder reward)
          if they manage to kill 15000 VHF Nomads (nomad slayer medal) 15000 VHF Corsair (corsair slayer medal) etc etc to encourage everything from a RP point of view

This can be updated/upgraded if some players reach the maximum reward etc
         
and the list can go on and on with many more suggestions/examples

edit:this will also incourage posts by some members wich will want to "show of" their in game merits to the community
Nothing wrong with that as it is their "work-merit"

[Blazin_uk]

I always liked the idea of having destroyable clan bases, with a universal messege to say its being attacked/destroyed. Would bring the clans to actually fight between themselfs and creating RP so battles, we would even hopefully see RP related battle threads by clans who have destroyed so and so bases. Or they will be raiding a certain clans base.

To make another way to RP is to make mining more better, once thats done you would see (hopefully) traders mining, meaning that would bring pirates in to try get the loots, and then navy should follow suit and come after the pirates, even clans would be battling out for control of the most luxurious of mining places, afterall they will want to have the most money to be able to buy mass of ammo, and possibly to look good.

Only other thing i can think off for relaxed RP is to have a licenses, which are already sold. Maybe have them put to use, possibly add a trader one, freelancer and get rid of the rogue one or change it to terrorist or even nomad. Maybe also have a kinda rule depending on what faction you want to RP as you have to use one of their ships but still can use any weapon? not sure how that would look but its only a suggestion.


Cya in the black

[Dynasty]

[quote="Burn";p="226397"]

-Rewards for in-game merits:Players should be awarded some sort of reward (medal,throphy,stars etc etc wich should be viewd in their Avatar section) if they acchieve an in game "merit"

for example:if they manage to kill 10000 Battleships (a medal for that)
          if they manage to kill 100000 VHF npc (another medal,throphy etc)
          if they reach 120000000 credits in game (financial award)
          if they kill 200000 light fighter npc kills (reward)
          if they donate money to the server (stars etc)
          if their pvp kills reach 1000 VHF player kill (trader ships should not be incuded as kills in stats system)
          if clans have more than 50-100 victories in clanwars
          if they find/access all the jump holes/gates (explorer reward)
          if they dock on a surten number of base/plantes (pathfinder reward)
          if they manage to kill 15000 VHF Nomads (nomad slayer medal) 15000 VHF Corsair (corsair slayer medal) etc etc to encourage everything from a RP point of view
[/quote]

Now that! is a great idea