Communications Consoles & Limited-Range Default Chat

[Ithirahad]

• Limit normal hit-enter-to-type chat to your vicinity, perhaps your sector and the ones adjacent to it.
• Implement Communications Console Blocks for world, PM, and faction chat channels (Comm Frequencies), as well as any custom Comm Frequencies players might want to create. It would open a GUI window when you activate it. If you're in your ship, a smaller version of the communications window appears where your normal chatbox is.
  
• Have some kind of alert that shows up if someone "calls" you using @Playername and you aren't at a console or in your ship.

This would make different conversations easier to separate out, and allow for multiple instances of RP not interfering with each other. If the Spacedock suggestion is implemented, then talking over world chat could be something to do while waiting for a ship to finish constructing... and if not, you could do it while waiting for your mining drones to finish their work, or for your factory to finish making those 20,000 Advanced Armor blocks you need. It would also be something essential and cool-looking to put inside ships (In crew quarters, in the bridge, etc.) and stations. Ideally, it would appear with a holographic screen above it that depicts an image of the default skin's head if someone's using it, but that may prove to be a bit complicated, in which case it could just be part of the texture.

 

[Zedrackis]

I would like the option to set the current chat window, and a local chat. But given most popular star-made servers have team speak or something similar. Your just asking to force players to use a third party global chat.

 

[Nebulon-B_Frigate_FTW]

I feel this would limit player interactivity. It's quite common to be multiple sectors away from anyone else unless in a faction with a lot of active members or near spawn.

 

[ImperialDonut]

The old forum had a huge suggestion on it concerning communication networks for factions, public chat would still be server-wide I think, but factions would need to build outposts and relay stations to pass on messages. Each of these would have a range of a few sectors allowing them to pass on messages between installations within that range aswell as allowing players to send/receive within that range. If one station or relay point is not connected to the grid or to the location of your intented recipient, they naturally will not hear that communique.

You could take out entire fleet networks by strategically destroying or hacking certain installations, or listen into said networks by bugging them.

The system would also transfer saved ship blueprints and the likes.

Im probably expressing my personal view on it, but here: http://oldsite.star-made.org/content/advanced-game-mechanics-v0005-mercur1c#Section 2

 

[Ithirahad]

The old forum had a huge suggestion on it concerning communication networks for factions, public chat would still be server-wide I think, but factions would need to build outposts and relay stations to pass on messages. Each of these would have a range of a few sectors allowing them to pass on messages between installations within that range aswell as allowing players to send/receive within that range. If one station or relay point is not connected to the grid or to the location of your intented recipient, they naturally will not hear that communique.

You could take out entire fleet networks by strategically destroying or hacking certain installations, or listen into said networks by bugging them.

The system would also transfer saved ship blueprints and the likes.

That actually sounds really good. And yes, this would reduce player interaction, but somehow I feel that it would feel more like being in space.

 

[Lidren]

Leave main chat available, but add a color coded "local" chat...in star system maybe.

 

[Sven_The_Slayer]

I think it would be a nice feature to have actual ship communications systems that you have to build into the ships. This would be perfect for RP and could be optional if you just use the main chat features. The better your communication array the longer it's range, and you could have options for frequency and maybe "encryption". It doesn't have to be real encryption and a system in game to hack encrypted communications would be a cool faction meta game.

Our suit of course would have a basic communication array built in and possibly the core as well.

 

[Izikiel]

Reducing chat range in any way would be...interesting.

As long as you can extend the range using blocks it would be fine. Especially if those comm systems increased the range at which you can be detected... Priority target #1 if I ever heard one before. Ships would just vanish without a trace. Even though the owner might know what happened, no one else would know until it's too late to do anything.

Also, that idea of limited range for factions would be great. This creates actual targets for faction wars, as a relay would be vulnerable and important. Defense and offense would be heavily focused around them, I bet (at least until that annoying invincibility for home bases is removed).

 

[Ithirahad]

Reducing chat range in any way would be...interesting.

As long as you can extend the range using blocks it would be fine. Especially if those comm systems increased the range at which you can be detected... Priority target #1 if I ever heard one before. Ships would just vanish without a trace. Even though the owner might know what happened, no one else would know until it's too late to do anything.

Also, that idea of limited range for factions would be great. This creates actual targets for faction wars, as a relay would be vulnerable and important. Defense and offense would be heavily focused around them, I bet (at least until that annoying invincibility for home bases is removed).

Comm system range can be infinite, to allow for faction communication, talking to people in other star systems, etc.

 

[Izikiel]

I had tried to cover that with the first line, but it looks like I failed miserably. To clarify, what I meant was simply that it would be intriguing there are any limiting factors at all to communications. I was also responding to some of the posts above mine, a couple of which mentioned a limited range for chat. My apologies for the confusion.

 

[Ixalite]

With the coming of the Fleet command panel, where a player can give orders to several AI ships, I think this idea needs to be re-visited.

Communications Gear is a big part of any ship's overhead, much more so for any ship coordinating the actions of several others. I propose a system of comm gear and antenna blocks that can be used for chat, and to maintain connection with AI ships. This would simulate radio signals, requiring exponentially greater power to reach farther; pinpointing a ship or station from extreme range; and being subject to both re-transmission and jamming. Multiple channels could be broadcast on, encrypted, and jammed. Larger strategic objectives could be implemented in the form of communications stations and listening posts. Fleet flagships would have to devote a large proportion of their capability to communication, rather than pure combat. Battles would take place over many sectors, rather than just the current system of line of sight. AI scout ships could be employed, and could send a warning to the player when enemies are detected. The current system of AI simulation could be extended under player control to add a larger strategic element for players who like that sort of thing.
Plus, it would make a great Roll-play chat setup.

 

[whooplaah]

There are several forums talking about a Chat redesign. My suggestion is posted here: http://starmadedock.net/threads/subspace-communications.6241/#post-90986