Criss' Thread

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    Very nice looking. I can't wait to get my hands on one, tho I think I will try to upgrade the engines. And maybe a paint job. I hope they aren't to expensive. Please tell me that I will be able to purchase this from the TG.

    As for everyone else, even my 60 yo mother understands about escort ships. Get a grip.
     

    Criss

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    Do they use a lot of communications equipment? (That satellite dish)
    Yeah the TG will have some obvious communication arrays in order to coordinate their ships.

    Is there a common style guide you’re working on for the factions?
    Yes. For the Trading Guild they are mostly utilitarian except when it comes to the spawn station, as that is a major hub. That is why they are grey colored. The blue and white will be toned down on other TG builds. There will still be plenty of detail though. The fundamental styles for all other planned factions has been figured out but we haven't started their builds just yet.

    Please tell me that I will be able to purchase this from the TG
    I don't see why not. Although there are some specifics that need to be sorted if we allow this to happen. Perhaps a reputation is needed with the TG in order to buy their vessels. Wouldn't want them having you in a TG ship pirating other TG ships. You might have to prove your loyalty. That is obviously the RPG route and we haven't really discussed it as NPC's aren't in yet.
     

    Ithirahad

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    Also...
    Pirates are leaning towards missiles though. Lots of missiles.

    (2x2 missile/beam turrets, 1 mounted heatseeker launcher that fires 2 missiles per shot.)
    ...Like that? (Apologies for the shameless plug; I got up today and was inspired to build something pirate-ish, then I remembered that you said something about missiles...)
     
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    Criss

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    Hello!

    Today I am showing off the new and improved stick shops. That is what they are commonly known as among the community. There is no real designation for this thing, but perhaps there should be.



    As you can see it is very similar to the current mathematically generated stick shops. We felt it was quite an iconic shape and wanted to keep it. So what's the deal? Why is this thing a giant stick? These stations are automated and unmanned. The TG has to spread so many of these stations throughout the universe that it was worth it to invest in cheap mechanical based systems. Looking closer we can see the structure is quite basic.



    The stick shops are manufactured near the TG homebase (not the spawn shop). From there they are launched into space and may drift for long periods of time (even millennia or more). When the station approaches it's final destination the rings on the structure activate. They act as gyroscopes and inertial dampeners that slow the station to a stop, where it will remain indefinitely. From here the stations automated shop transaction systems will begin accumulating profits from anyone that decides to trade here. Eventually civilization reaches these shops and the TG can come collect their profits.

    To give a sense of scale, here is a the small freighter next to the shop.



    The shop features 4 USD's, two on either end. The entire build is symmetrical, so you will be upside down if you dock at the "bottom".



    Inside the small interior you will find a large window where an automated trade system observes your actions and travels from either end of the station. This simple robot lives here it's entire life.


    That's just about all that can be said about this station. Hopefully now you will understand why so many of these structures can be found in the region of space known as the Frontier.


    Now it is quite clear users here want to help create these assets, in one way or another. I think I should explain the plan, which should answer some concerns. The Schine team, councilors and testers will likely be getting their hands on these assets first. A number of councilors are already giving feedback and fixing issues, mostly on the spawn shop for the moment. A few of them are certainly more experienced with ship systems than I am or Saber, the other major builder. We also have Lancake and Andy who should be able to help when we need it and they are certainly more knowledgeable with game mechanics.

    After these groups have done some solid and official testing, and we are still unsure about systems then we will ask you here. I can throw up stats, by then the ship might be available in some form or even already in the game. There is plenty of time to adjust things if we need to. I don't expect perfect versions of these assets to make it into the game on the first try. For now, let's focus on the visuals and the lore side of things, as many of these assets have yet to get systems in. If you have feedback in that regard by all means let me know!

    Thanks for reading and fly safe!
     

    Zyrr

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    I entirely, wholeheartedly agree with the direction you'll be taking with construction of assets. The new stick shop looks p nice as well!
     
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    I can't express how amazing the robot is. Whose brilliant idea was he?
     

    Mariux

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    Hello!

    Today I am showing off the new and improved stick shops. That is what they are commonly known as among the community. There is no real designation for this thing, but perhaps there should be.



    As you can see it is very similar to the current mathematically generated stick shops. We felt it was quite an iconic shape and wanted to keep it. So what's the deal? Why is this thing a giant stick? These stations are automated and unmanned. The TG has to spread so many of these stations throughout the universe that it was worth it to invest in cheap mechanical based systems. Looking closer we can see the structure is quite basic.



    The stick shops are manufactured near the TG homebase (not the spawn shop). From there they are launched into space and may drift for long periods of time (even millennia or more). When the station approaches it's final destination the rings on the structure activate. They act as gyroscopes and inertial dampeners that slow the station to a stop, where it will remain indefinitely. From here the stations automated shop transaction systems will begin accumulating profits from anyone that decides to trade here. Eventually civilization reaches these shops and the TG can come collect their profits.

    To give a sense of scale, here is a the small freighter next to the shop.



    The shop features 4 USD's, two on either end. The entire build is symmetrical, so you will be upside down if you dock at the "bottom".



    Inside the small interior you will find a large window where an automated trade system observes your actions and travels from either end of the station. This simple robot lives here it's entire life.


    That's just about all that can be said about this station. Hopefully now you will understand why so many of these structures can be found in the region of space known as the Frontier.


    Now it is quite clear users here want to help create these assets, in one way or another. I think I should explain the plan, which should answer some concerns. The Schine team, councilors and testers will likely be getting their hands on these assets first. A number of councilors are already giving feedback and fixing issues, mostly on the spawn shop for the moment. A few of them are certainly more experienced with ship systems than I am or Saber, the other major builder. We also have Lancake and Andy who should be able to help when we need it and they are certainly more knowledgeable with game mechanics.

    After these groups have done some solid and official testing, and we are still unsure about systems then we will ask you here. I can throw up stats, by then the ship might be available in some form or even already in the game. There is plenty of time to adjust things if we need to. I don't expect perfect versions of these assets to make it into the game on the first try. For now, let's focus on the visuals and the lore side of things, as many of these assets have yet to get systems in. If you have feedback in that regard by all means let me know!

    Thanks for reading and fly safe!
    I really wish we will be able to attack NPC faction homebases...
     

    Criss

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    Whose brilliant idea was he?
    Twas mine. Bench really made it come to life though.

    I really wish we will be able to attack NPC faction homebases...
    Stick shops should be vulnerable in the future. Actual Homebases plus a few necessary stations will be the only ones truly invulnerable. Idk why stick shops still have an invulnerability.
     

    therimmer96

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    Stick shops should be vulnerable in the future. Actual Homebases plus a few necessary stations will be the only ones truly invulnerable. Idk why stick shops still have an invulnerability.
    Because its a terrible idea to make them destroyable on servers. The "bubble" around spawn where new players start off is going to have no shops other than the always poorly stocked spawn.
     

    Criss

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    Because its a terrible idea to make them destroyable on servers. The "bubble" around spawn where new players start off is going to have no shops other than the always poorly stocked spawn.
    We know that, but it's also not going to be easy to remove other factions from the area, by means of diplomacy or force. The area around spawn will have more than just spawn shop as well. Already something that has been thought about with many solutions to help new players along.
     

    Zyrr

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    Because its a terrible idea to make them destroyable on servers. The "bubble" around spawn where new players start off is going to have no shops other than the always poorly stocked spawn.
    literally and figuratively get good
     
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    Because its a terrible idea to make them destroyable on servers. The "bubble" around spawn where new players start off is going to have no shops other than the always poorly stocked spawn.
    When there are actually defense forces coming to the rescue of shops under attack, it might not be as easy as you might think. Plus I'm sure blowing up a TG shop will put you in the bad grace of the TG, meaning their shops are now closed to you and all of their ships are hostile.
     
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    People for the Ethical Treatment of Artificial Intelligence

    Our goal is to free the brutally enslaved robots from the Trade Guilds tyrannical forced labour.
    Locked into trade shops without any interaction for decades these poor artificial souls have suffered enough.

    It’s time to take action!
     

    Reilly Reese

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    People for the Ethical Treatment of Artificial Intelligence

    Our goal is to free the brutally enslaved robots from the Trade Guilds tyrannical forced labour.
    Locked into trade shops without any interaction for decades these poor artificial souls have suffered enough.

    It’s time to take action!
    Damned Hippies.
     
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    Interesting concept!
    That way players could dynamically interact with a universe and impact the styles of certain factions while the styles of the main factions would remain unique.
     
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    And I thought I found a typo in the first post when you said stick shop. "Hah! surely he meant stock shop."

    Though I never really liked the TG shops and their shape (and I wouldn't consider it nearly as iconic as the Isanths), the new assets do look amazing. Especially with the new spawn station, things are really coming together for this game. If only I had more time to play! Damn you Elite: Dangerous sale!
     
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    We know that, but it's also not going to be easy to remove other factions from the area, by means of diplomacy or force. The area around spawn will have more than just spawn shop as well. Already something that has been thought about with many solutions to help new players along.
    At the risk of hijacking this thread, I agree with Rimmer. If you can destroy shops that only benefits large factions and players who are well off; no matter how great the deterrent might be, those players with access to super capital ships won't give a damn. They'll just want to put a strangle on the local economy, thereby increasing their dominance.

    What could be done is maybe potentially re-write the lore a bit. Whatever NPC faction dominates a sector could control the stick shops within it. You could also create a small buff in the form of a discount at shops belonging to a faction you are friendly with.