[GrimGriz]

In jumpgate classic the playerbase was small enough that word of type was enough to keep players accountable for their action. People got reputations based on their actions, good or bad, and there was at least some level of accountability. As player numbers increase though, this will be an increasing problem. Further, what makes the situation even worse is that NetDevil has apparently decided to allow multiple pilots per account:
From DSD Special Report 3*

[-DT-] is it 1 pilot per subscription?
[Istvan] -DT- funny you should ask
[Istvan] we're doing multiple pilots per account, because that's standard in a modern MMO.

So, thousands of players with multiple identities. I'd sure like to hear how the "we can police ourselves" people think we'll be able to pull it off now.

[vorlon31]

Players cant police them selves. Let the mechanics do it.

[Badger]

I think it'd be great if the identities had an account tag, so that you could see if the same player was using two different pilot identities to manipulate others, or as a way of avoiding accountability for their actions (using a second account to launder pirated goods, for example)

I don't think that players have a "right" to deceive others. If they want to do it, then they should have to work at it.

[Jump]

I don't really like the idea of multiple pilots per account. It may be what other games do but in a game like this it is too volatile.

[Tritian]

I feel the player base can police itself, and has in the past when we had more online pilots.

Regarding the multiple accounts thing... I'm concerned about exploits, similar to the ones Doppleganger did. You could create a bunch of accounts, get them up to freighter level, and use them to store mass quantities of some specific item in order to drive the price up, then sell the items to the same station and get rich.

[Badger]

I agree that there need to be some economic safeguards, just like in real life. Perhaps some kind of "interstellar trade agreement" which precludes you from selling something to the AI which was bought from the AI within the last 48 hours, if you would make more than a 25% profit, or something like that. A similar protection would need to be used for player owned stations, if those stations use an AI to set their prices.

Alternatively, instead of prohibiting it, you just flag the behaviour and have a GM check it out. Abusing game systems is, on some level, surely a violation of the ToS.

Option three: Jump, a garden hose, and some very angry ferrets. That'll sort out any players abusing the system, right?

[Jump]

yeah but what's going to protect us from the ferrets?

[Wild_Bill]

I'm still not clear how this is going to work "multiple pilots per account". Is it as simple as the person paying for "Wild_Bill" could also have "Mild_Bill", "Slick_Willie" and "William_the_Lame" and just pick and chose who we want to be tonight, like your computer log on (using several folks on same PC)?

I don't have a second and know nothing about it other than you can buy/pay for different accounts. Obviously this player would have the same ISP and possibly even the same credit card (although I have 3 major cards I use frequently) so what is the difference? You are paying for multiple accounts, right? Or would it be you pay your $10 or $15 or whatever per month (like your internet account) and have the option of creating say, 4 or 5 different characters for the same $10/$15/whatever?

Considering the number of alleged multiple accounts historically in Jumpgate Classic, how is this any worse or even different? (Unless it's significantly cheaper as in paying for one account and having multiple pilot IDs). I admit there have been times when I've wished to have a 2nd account so I could do things that are anathema to Wild_Bill's character.

[Radi]

Even with multiple player accounts on one game acount, will we get multiple accounts on game forums?


@Tritan

Self-policing depends on players. And when Jumpgate Evolution will get much more pilots, I doubt it will work since we will get more of casual players that will not resemble pilots from Jumpgate in any form (think WoW or EVE).

With that said, I would love to see bounties being placed on people that try to manipulate economy for their own advantage according to the spirit of Jumpgate - you can do anything, but be prepared to take consequences of your actions.

[vorlon31]

The thing with self policing is that it requires that someone be weak, vulnerable and relatively defenceless in the first place. It requires them to be the victim, for them to be at the mercy of another player in order for there to be some thing for the others to feel the need to police.

Straight away your game mechanics are set to alienate that player role type most likely to be in the weaker positions and even if you start with a million players, that play style will decline because at the end of the day who will want to play a role that always deals them a weak hand? We witnessed that in Jumpgate Classic.

If Jumpgate Classic had started with something different to just 'self policing', if there had been another way, another mechanic that offered measured protection for certain play styles from the very onset, its player number fate would definitely have been different to how it turned out.

There are groups of players out there right now who to this day pop in and out of Jumpgate Classic from time to time checking to see if its climate of tolerated player/player abuse is still in place and when they see it is, they go again and that speaks volumes.

Jumpgate Classic as is has little room for those who want to play in a civilised universe, one where things like pvp are a choice you deliberately make.

So, I am looking forward to seeing how Jumpgate Evolution will be structured with regard to that. Will it have a place in its code for those who want to fly in a civilised universe? Or will it cater only for those who want or can tolerate organised chaos (as good a description as any).

To tell people who do not wish to play either of the two standard roles of aggressor or victim to 'go play another game' like what happened so many times in Jumpgate Classic just isn't good business sense, making a home for all styles in a Jumpgate universe however is.

[SingleShot]

I'd be less concerned about self policing (which is simple really - see person with bounty, kill person with bounty. Doesn't really matter if you know who they are or not), and more concerned about how it gives everyone a 2nd or 5th account to go be lame in. But that's assuming that it winds up being exactly the same as the Jumpgate Classic situation where a person pays for a couple different (and often secret) accounts.

[Jump]

Originally Posted by SingleShot

I'd be less concerned about self policing (which is simple really - see person with bounty, kill person with bounty. Doesn't really matter if you know who they are or not), and more concerned about how it gives everyone a 2nd or 5th account to go be lame in. But that's assuming that it winds up being exactly the same as the Jumpgate Classic situation where a person pays for a couple different (and often secret) accounts.

You're not keeping up on your reading. They are going to allow multiples per account in Jumpgate Evolution.