[Karash]

One of the great things I have learned to like in the WWII Online Simulator Aces High II is that you never know exactly who you are fighting until you kill them or they down you (referenced by a kill message). One of the primary problems in Jumpgate PVP is the ability to call a "primary target". Often this target is the known leader of the enemy group or someone that is known to be ultra dangerous.

Instead, for Jumpgate Evolution I would love to see just the ship classes listed along with the squad. There could be special ECM equipment that allows you to scan that ship to see who is piloting it, along with current mission, etc...but it would be nice to see two squads mixing it up furball style.

Now, defensively it would stay the same. A squad should always know who he is flying with and who to help. So if Ikeprof needs help with a dirty quant, the squad knows where to respond to.

Thoughts?

[Chicod]

I would let this be something that a pilot could turn on or off. You could CHOOSE to broadcast your name, etc. But for someone wishing to fly without broadcasting, a special ECM should be able to be used to gather that intel.

It's a little cloak and dagger, but that's what's great about an open ended game like Jumpgate, and what I hope will be great about Jumpgate Evolution.

[Karash]

I agree actually...having it user controlled would probably be much better. Just a switch that broadcasts your ship ID in sector or something...obviously combat pilots would turn that off, but haulers and explorers trying to find each other in sector would want to turn on their ID.

[vorlon31]

it would make a good stand alone ecm on its own too, plus the other ecm to see past it.

[Karash]

Well my hope is that the ship designing will be totally revamped so we dont get simplistic slots in our ship constructions....but that is another issue entirely.

[vorlon31]

hehe whereas I'm hoping it doesn't drift too far, I like Jumpgate enough as it is, jumpgate evolved is one thing but it has to still be jumpgate.

[alphabet]

Originally Posted by Chicod

I would let this be something that a pilot could turn on or off. You could CHOOSE to broadcast your name, etc. But for someone wishing to fly without broadcasting, a special ECM should be able to be used to gather that intel.

It's a little cloak and dagger, but that's what's great about an open ended game like Jumpgate, and what I hope will be great about Jumpgate Evolution.

Cant have it both ways. What he is talking about is a fundamental gameplay change. Who would ever turn it off? No one.

Its either equal footing or nothing.

Ive play wwiiol right now, and i agree that this is a great feature. Your squadmates and factions names are visible, but the enemy is not. The same for the other side. You never know who you are up against until the fighting is done and you check the stat page.

The sense of unknown would keep a lot of people from firing. Is that some lil lvl26 oct that just got his fighter, or is that an opti that is an experienced vet?

[TexMurphy]

By default I say YES YES AND YES to this....

It works brilliant in AH2. One thing that is a problem is that good pilots in Jumpgate tend to draw sooooo much PvP attention, they enter sector and they have 10 enemies on them. Good pilots are supposed to be able to handle that yes but when it comes to the point where the pilot is only flying evasivly for all the battles it becomes booring. This results in good pilots starting new accounts just to fly under "stealth names".

Another thing is that you dont get exposed to the "waaaaahambulance" nearly as much.

So even though I see soooo many good reasons to hide names there is one that makes it tricky. The "Rollio effect". As long as "criminals" are tagged as such then one can run in the sight of a criminal but as soon as that pilot looses the pirate tag, or what ever way criminals will be identified, then he is anonymous and can backstab.

One way to handle this is that Squad name is shown if the pilot is squaded and pilot name if he is unsquaded.

Knowing "this is a dangerous squad or dangerous pilot" is the same thing and sufficient information.

Tex

[Tim]

Maybe switch it around.. if you want to hide your identity, get a special Jamming ModX that would cause enemy sensors to fail to register the identity of the pilot, probably even the squad of the pilot.

[Karash]

Or you could have a ship that specializes in ECM type warfare, hiding names, ship classes (from HUD, not visiual), anti-missile, etc...

I agree Tex with the Rollio effect (although I never understood why people hated him so much)...If you hid the name but NOT the criminal flag, it might work. I agree though with the squad aspect.

[Radi]

Yes and no.

Yes. Well, perfect for criminals, mercs, bad, guys, and good pvpers.

No. This is still MMO. Seeying just nameless ships is like seeying AI's all over the place. Not the feel you really want to have in a MMO.

Bad: skilled PvPers will be able to kill more w.o getting ganked too often.

[Karash]

I also just thought of the idea in if you talk on local/sector chat then your ship could be ID'ed for a minute or two (or 30 seconds)....it would be a peak of arrogance for a top ace to enter in "Hello Boys, XXX Pilot here..." before entering a fight with some enemies letting them know exactly which ship he was in.

[Sephiroth]