- Joined
- Mar 18, 2015
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Okay, one problem we have with the game is that while the universe is effectively infinite, the realistic limitations are one galaxy per server. Devs have already said that they are intending to greatly reduce other galaxies as options, make it much harder to get to them, etc., so they basically acknowledge that this is a thing and are working to improve the galaxy.
Problem: Limited space in one galaxy means increasing competition for said space increases with server age, with the older the server, the less appealing it is to new players due to excessive amounts of time required to reach unclaimed space. Which leads to less new people joining said server, which leads to the server dying if it isn't wiped and restarted regularly.
Solutions? I dunno, lets brainstorm. Maybe somebody will hit on an idea that works.
Instanced Territory
Not the most desirable, and rather directly against the stated desires of the devs. However, if each player/faction had instanced territory, they could expand and grow indefinitely without worrying about being crowded out by other players, and without worry about being the ones to crowd out other players. Would also help break the game up into more manageable pieces, serverside.
Expanding Universe
Perhaps instead of a static sized fixed galaxy, the size of the galaxy could expand as territory is claimed. The more people, the more room becomes available for them. Still suffers from the problem of trying to get to the expanded territory from spawn, unless new space becomes available evenly distributed by inserting it between existing territories. Would be kind of weird to have entire star systems pop up between two factions out of nowhere though.
Random Starting Locations
If instead of having everyone spawn at the same place, perhaps each player could spawn inside of a random unclaimed system. There would then never be an issue of trying to strike out and find open space to claim, and it would reducing clumping. Could give the option of starting at a standard spawn point (like we do now) or picking a random spawn point, in case someone wanted to join a friend who could then come pick them up without them spawning in on the opposite end of the galaxy.
Random Starting Locations + Expanding Universe
Could combine those last two. As more territory gets claimed, more opens up around the outside edges of the galaxy. Then there is that much more space for new players to randomly spawn into. Of the ideas I've got off the top of my head, this one I like most because it lets established players have their boarder wars with each other, while new players are guaranteed fresh virgin space to set up shop in.
Unclaimed System Resets & Unfactioning
Another problem we currently have is even when someone stops playing long enough to lose their faction territory, their base is still left there invulnerable taking up space (unless custom server settings are in place to remove that). It also means that factions that damage the landscape (eating planets, destroying planets, etc) can potentially leave wasteland systems. Could be useful for systems that have been freed up to completely reset to untouched space (reload the default system entirely) in order to restore that space for the next person.
Same could apply to factions. We have problems with faction lists getting cluttered and good names taken by dead factions. Admin can't just delete the faction if it still has any ships/stations because it mucks things up. Would be useful to have factions automatically disband after their points go low enough.
Perhaps combine the two, if the system your home base is in goes untouched long enough to reset, your faction is erased as well. Simply delete any stray ships or objects associated with the faction at that time and make it like they never existed in the first place.
Problem: Limited space in one galaxy means increasing competition for said space increases with server age, with the older the server, the less appealing it is to new players due to excessive amounts of time required to reach unclaimed space. Which leads to less new people joining said server, which leads to the server dying if it isn't wiped and restarted regularly.
Solutions? I dunno, lets brainstorm. Maybe somebody will hit on an idea that works.
Instanced Territory
Not the most desirable, and rather directly against the stated desires of the devs. However, if each player/faction had instanced territory, they could expand and grow indefinitely without worrying about being crowded out by other players, and without worry about being the ones to crowd out other players. Would also help break the game up into more manageable pieces, serverside.
Expanding Universe
Perhaps instead of a static sized fixed galaxy, the size of the galaxy could expand as territory is claimed. The more people, the more room becomes available for them. Still suffers from the problem of trying to get to the expanded territory from spawn, unless new space becomes available evenly distributed by inserting it between existing territories. Would be kind of weird to have entire star systems pop up between two factions out of nowhere though.
Random Starting Locations
If instead of having everyone spawn at the same place, perhaps each player could spawn inside of a random unclaimed system. There would then never be an issue of trying to strike out and find open space to claim, and it would reducing clumping. Could give the option of starting at a standard spawn point (like we do now) or picking a random spawn point, in case someone wanted to join a friend who could then come pick them up without them spawning in on the opposite end of the galaxy.
Random Starting Locations + Expanding Universe
Could combine those last two. As more territory gets claimed, more opens up around the outside edges of the galaxy. Then there is that much more space for new players to randomly spawn into. Of the ideas I've got off the top of my head, this one I like most because it lets established players have their boarder wars with each other, while new players are guaranteed fresh virgin space to set up shop in.
Unclaimed System Resets & Unfactioning
Another problem we currently have is even when someone stops playing long enough to lose their faction territory, their base is still left there invulnerable taking up space (unless custom server settings are in place to remove that). It also means that factions that damage the landscape (eating planets, destroying planets, etc) can potentially leave wasteland systems. Could be useful for systems that have been freed up to completely reset to untouched space (reload the default system entirely) in order to restore that space for the next person.
Same could apply to factions. We have problems with faction lists getting cluttered and good names taken by dead factions. Admin can't just delete the faction if it still has any ships/stations because it mucks things up. Would be useful to have factions automatically disband after their points go low enough.
Perhaps combine the two, if the system your home base is in goes untouched long enough to reset, your faction is erased as well. Simply delete any stray ships or objects associated with the faction at that time and make it like they never existed in the first place.
