[Wild_Bill]

Using my concept that the Conflux ran us out of our old sectors a long time ago *we've lost our maps*; each faction is surrounded by unreg space *there's a bunch of sectors we've never been to* and regulated space is rather circumscribed *only a couple of stations and a dozen sectors or so*, here is a proposal for Jumpgate Evolution. I haven't played a D&D RPG in ages and that was a single player game, so I don't know what the current conventions are but one of the things I did like was having to discover and map my way around. Granted that a 50kd radar doesn't leave you exactly "feeling your way around", if the gates were placed a minimum of 60kd from each other things could get VERY interesting once you left faction space. So that's the "discoverable space" part of the concept. It could be even more fun if there were no 50kd radars when the game first starts out. (okay fun=some frustration here).

Right now in Jumpgate Classic the gates, beacons, anomalies, etc are always visible, no matter how far off they may be. What if... they were not? Pilots could take rangers or scouts and get a mapping mission to find the gates / anomalies. If they take a TRI/Faction (or whatever it's called) mission, then once they complete it, those gates become as they are now visible at any distance IF you buy a map. I'd thought first about the gates, after they are "found" and "mapped" (with some new form of compass/rotacol that would give x/y/z directions and coordinates) would then be visible to ALL pilots, but that takes the sense of discovery and exploration away from anyone coming into the game later on. Sort of like it was if you started out mining with a sz 1 or 2 radar, there were a good many 'roids you simply could not see.

This is not just something for the PvE folks either! With all the new AI that's possibly going to be in the game (flux, pirates, possibly non-faction NPCs?) an explorer would probably need backup's and/or escorts. All of these ships would need a logistics support ship, since they are going out a LONG way from home *that's IF the fuel and logistic ship ideas are implemented*.

Also this leaves open the idea of using DSS that might have maps on them for new gates/connections/sectors that could be added in to the game as time goes on and the game grows and progresses.

A variation of this would be something like JGRotPro where we can buy or make "maps" of 'roid locations, as missions "for the factional good" or for private use or sale.

At any rate, I want to keep nearly everything that's in Jumpgate Classic and then add on a lot more stuff in Jumpgate Evolution. I like this idea, obviously, but I need some of you to look for the flaws I've undoubtably missed in my enthusiasm.

[Jump]

So we have built gates that we don't know exist?

[Wild_Bill]

Good point Jump! Thank you. As an explaination, some of the "gates" would exist from our retreat from our original home sectors. We had to build the gates as we fled. Then again, I'm not opposed to a "build the gate" Mission similar to the Beacon mission thread. It would just mean sectors start off with more than one anomaly and as it's entrance/exits are mapped out, a more permanent gate would have to be built.

[Jump]

I am opposed to anything less than current. This is supposed to be a next phase in the Jumpgate universe. I really have no interest in doing all the same things over again. I want something new that expands on what has already been accomplished. Otherwise it's just a graphics update.

But new sectors might be fun to discover and build gates for.

[dahalb]

I disagree Jump. It could be RP'd the way WB describes. Doents mean the gates dont exist, just that we have "forgotten" where they are and where they lead. I like the idea of discoverable space. I also like the idea of saleable maps and map data. Factions might buy the information in the beginning but then it would not be freely available to everyone. N00bs may have to buy segments of the galactic map from their own faction or from other factions in order to have a completed map. The other thing is that once we have re-discovered the old maps we could move onto the outer rim of the galaxy as we know it. Sectors could be put in that need discovering and missions could be generated to explore these new sectors.

[netburnr]

Im with Jump, this seems to be moving backwards

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by netburnrol

Im with Jump, this seems to be moving backwards

+1

We already had one collapse. That's about enough. We don't need no soap here. Discovering new sectors - yes, sure, could be fun.

[Lordopic]

Originally Posted by Jump

But new sectors might be fun to discover and build gates for.

Like this but with the others in the er other stuff we are here but Im all up for finding some more space.

[Wild_Bill]

Ummm... okay. I'm cool with dumping the backstory, it was just a means to get new, discoverable sectors and a reason to go there. I just want to have new stuff and not have it instantly laid out for me. First time in game and I knew where all the sectors were. That may be immersive but it's not conducive to exploration. Either saleable/buyable maps or else for something to show on your internal ship map you actually have to go through that sector gate.

"Your" map only shows the map of the gates you have gone through. Don't want to go there yourself? Buy a map from someone who has. Want to get the map to the new Quantar faction sectors but don't want to waste the time flyling to each and every one of them? Fly to Quant Core and buy a factional map (but no guarantee this map would show you everything there is to find in Quantar space. They have secrets you know! Maps for MT pilots might include stuff that's not on "civilian" maps. Once your tour is over, those "extras" might disappear from your internal ship map (although you MIGHT have written down the directions/coords to those extra gates/ sectors/features). You might have to have a certain minimum faction PR to get access to maps for other factions, etc.

Perhaps your newb factional map would only show you the sectors you could "safely" go to (based on danger from flux, pirates, etc or on the presence of patrols or whatever). As you level up you might take the equivalent of "beacon patrols" that would lead you to explore other sectors, etc thus expanding your internal ship map. Or if you take a Scout Mission from Great Pillars to Oct Core requiring you to take photos of Oct Depot, it would show your outgoing map from GP to Imperial Crossroads, to Dark Fork, to Vorgus2 to Oct Depot. On the way out it would show you the sectors highlighted as Vorgus2, Dark Fork, Imperial Gates and Oct Core. After you completed the mission all those sectors would be added to your internal ship map.

My point is I just don't want the whole of creation laid out for me the first time I log in. Why go to Inner or Outer Third? I've got them on my map and can find no good reason to go there. Same for Orrus Major or Minor or Mokks Battlefield. That's another thing. There should be reasons to go off the beaten path from Tripoint to Oct Core or Hype to Corridor.