42 replies to this topic

[Felicitatem Parco]

I'm posting a 3-part poll here to get people's opinions on an Idea I just had... HPG-mediated communication between players and factions/corps. Here's how it would work (as I envision it):

1.) HPGmail would work just like regular in-game email, only messages would be sent in batches just like "real" HPG broadcasts work. So, for instance, global HPGmail is sent only once every 24hours (not continuously, like regular email works).

2.) I think we could add in a wire-transfer scheme to send cash to and from players/factions. This can help you shore-up your less-fortunate buddies, or perhaps be used to bribe people for various things (defection, information trading, mission sabotage, etc.). This would reflect the real state of the Inner Sphere where all the factions have spies, and defection and sabotage is not uncommon.

(edit: It's possible that PGI ComStar could impose a "tax" on HPG wire-transfers such that the sender has to pay a small real-world cash fee in an effort to inhibit gold farming... but that's up to the guys in suits to decide)

3.) And here's the kicker: since this is all mediated by the HPG network, I suggest we have ComStar agents who can have access to all these emails and wire transfers. They own and operate the stations, and we all know that ComStar has their fingers in everybody's pies. These Agents can only be game employees or specially-designated community members, and ComStar agents can do anything they want to your HPGmail... then can send messages to anyone (secretly, I assume), but they can also read or monitor any kind of messages or wire transfers sent out by the main Houses, Merc Corps, or individual players; they can delete messages that have been sent without informing the recipient or sender; they can edit your message text; and they can forge false messages or secretly send money "on someone's behalf" without that person knowing it and without the recipient being any-the-wiser... This could be used "creatively" to advance the plot as the in-game Universe's timeline progresses.


EDIT: Point of Clarification - players cannot "sign up" to be ComStar agents, this will be only for the Devs for the purposes of molding the way this Universe timeline unfolds and enforcing their will upon us. Admit it... ComStar Agents in the Inner Sphere regularly mess with peoples' communications, frame units for actions they didn't commit, and do myriad other unscrupulous things.

Of course, there would have to be safeguards to prevent regular players from posing as ComStar agents. The easiest way to do this is to keep regular HPGmail as plain as possible (use a single sans-serif font that cannot be formatted in any way), and only ComStar agents can send messages with a fancy-formatted font (so if you receive an email from someone claiming to be a ComStar agent, you will know if they're genuine or not based on the formatting of their text). And if ComStar agents want to play dirty and mess with peoples' messages or forge fake ones, then they can use the plain text.

How do we feel about this?

Edited by Prosperity Park, 12 December 2011 - 04:13 PM.

[GaussDragon]

Prosperity Park, on 10 December 2011 - 10:57 AM, said:

1.) HPGmail would work just like regular in-game email, only messages would be sent in batches just like "real" HPG broadcasts work. So, for instance, global HPGmail is sent only once every 24hours (not continuously, like regular email works).

I think something like in-game mail is too utilitarian to subject to canon-style restrictions. If you're going to have an in-game mail system, make it an in-game mail system geared to convenience and usability, that's why it's there. Just my preference on the matter.

Quote

And if ComStar agents want to play dirty and mess with peoples' messages or forge fake ones, then they can use the plain text.

How do we feel about this?

Too much grief.

I like topic idea in general though.

[Orzorn]

I would love to see an in-game mail system and c-bill transfer. What I also hope to see is in-game trade of items, mechs, and other parts or accessories.

I'm not keen on others being able to see my mail, and that isn't really necessary to have a ComStar group still feel like they're in the game. They could still seen money "on someone's behalf" without being able to snoop through my mail.

[Mchawkeye]

I like the idea of in game emails and a like, and i think money transference is probably quite a good idea, so long as it's secure.

But absolutely no to anyone reading my emails. waaaayyyy to creepy.

[CaveMan]

C-bill transfer would just lead to abuse/goldfarming.

[Orzorn]

CaveMan, on 10 December 2011 - 11:21 AM, said:

C-bill transfer would just lead to abuse/goldfarming.

Well, unless there is some sort of PvE in the game, I doubt this could happen without some serious effort. If it was all PvP, the only way I could see this happening would be farming group taking control of a planet that the other half of their group (in another faction), then takes over. Then they keep passing it back and forth to generate cash.

[Felicitatem Parco]

I'm only suggesting the ComStar agents because it would give the Devs a chance to do stuff like secretely send information to select players who represent factions or merc corps, and they could do things like incite strife between groups who are supposed to become enemies, prevent alliances from becoming too strong and dominating the gamescape, and that kind of Moderator stuff. It could even be used to block wire transfers and communications from groups/individuals under "probation" or who have been reported for unfair/unsportsmanlike conduct.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 10 December 2011 - 11:43 AM.

[Mattiator]

It could be interesting. The wire transfers could be abuseable, but with proper moderation and examining by 'ComStar Agents' it could be mitigated.

[Silent]

Prosperity Park, on 10 December 2011 - 11:41 AM, said:

I'm only suggesting the ComStar agents because it would give the Devs a chance to do stuff like secretely send information to select players who represent factions or merc corps, and they could do things like incite strife between groups who are supposed to become enemies, prevent alliances from becoming too strong and dominating the gamescape, and that kind of Moderator stuff. It could even be used to block wire transfers and communications from groups/individuals under "probation" or who have been reported for unfair/unsportsmanlike conduct.

I don't like this idea because you'd be railroading the community instead of just letting it organically play out. You don't need developers and community managers messing with e-mails and wire transfers in order to incite drama and strife between groups and factions. The drama, strife, and policing is all going to happen regardless.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

I'm expecting great drama & strife - it's why we have ***** great mechs - to back us up

[CycKath]

All for the above, and not just saying that because its all ComStar related...

[Felicitatem Parco]

Silent, on 11 December 2011 - 07:41 AM, said:

I don't like this idea because you'd be railroading the community instead of just letting it organically play out. You don't need developers and community managers messing with e-mails and wire transfers in order to incite drama and strife between groups and factions. The drama, strife, and policing is all going to happen regardless.

Actually, the FAQ and Dev Blogs say that the Devs will forcibly drive the canon-correct Battletech Timeline...

[Silent]

Changing the status of certain planets to coincide with what's going on in the canon isn't the same as eavesdropping on everyone and forcing them to falsely accuse each other. Anyway, I don't see how it'd be fun or interesting because if it was implemented it wouldn't even be something that's visible to the community.

[Torment2]

First 2 points: Absolutely. The only issue I would see with point 1 would be griefers spamming mails and lagging things out every 24 hours.

I think having a player driven economy is good. Works for a lot of games out there.

The last point is taking things a bit too far. However I wouldn't be opposed to an extremely low chance that your dealings could be dug up by the media and broadcast on the news networks that you get a chance to comment on. THAT would be hilarious I think. Unrealistic, but hilarious all the same.

[GaussDragon]

Silent, on 11 December 2011 - 07:41 AM, said:

I don't like this idea because you'd be railroading the community instead of just letting it organically play out. You don't need developers and community managers messing with e-mails and wire transfers in order to incite drama and strife between groups and factions. The drama, strife, and policing is all going to happen regardless.

Especially when there are Goons nearby

[Silent]

GaussDragon, on 12 December 2011 - 11:46 AM, said:

Especially when there are Goons nearby

I have no idea what you're talking about, sir!

[TheRulesLawyer]

Currency transfer between players = cbill farming. Especially on a F2P game. No thanks.

HPG transmissions every 24hrs= me often not having what I need when I can get on to play. Immersive, yes. Fun and playable, especially to people not familar with it, no.

Comstar messing with people? Only on a strategic level and to drive plot. Messing with personal comms is dumb since we can just talk via regular email.

[Black Sunder]

TheRulesLawyer, on 12 December 2011 - 12:23 PM, said:

Currency transfer between players = cbill farming. Especially on a F2P game. No thanks.

How? There is no PVE to farm anything from. What if i want to help a friend get a new mech? What if someone in my corp needs help getting ammo or a new weapon? So tell me. how?

[TheRulesLawyer]

Black Sunder, on 12 December 2011 - 12:38 PM, said:

How? There is no PVE to farm anything from. What if i want to help a friend get a new mech? What if someone in my corp needs help getting ammo or a new weapon? So tell me. how?

Simple. They just have someone play pvp. If there is a way to transfer cbills, there will be gold farmers in the game.

If you want to help a friend get a new mech, etc I'm sure there will be in game currency that you can only gain by buying it with real money. No harm in transferring that between people as it will be impossible to farm.

[Jack BeFLippen]

you really limit the game the moment you CAN NOT make a CONTRACT in the game.

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