Friday with Means – September 24th, 2010 – Questions and Answers

[Ekarona]

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[Niles]

you missed my: when?

[trousers]

I’m not a huge roleplayer but from a story perspective it has always felt absurd that you could return to being neutral after taking a side in the conflict. This would be used to flip-flop between sides and we would definitely see a “bandwagon” effect in Notum Wars. From a technical perspective it also plays havoc with player faction levels. I have no plans for implementing Sided-Neutral changes.

It's not that Absurd. There's an Omni-Tek Employee who works for Omni-Com. This Employee's job is to maintain the Grid. He works for 40 years maintaining the Grid, never lifts a finger in the war. This employee retires and moves to Newland.

Being Retired he is no longer Omni. Living in Newland he would be considered Neutral.

This example can apply to any of a very large number of situations.

[Lisergia]

"Absurd" is that you can already flip-flop between sides you've previously betrayed, but you can't resign your commission.

So true.

[Ophiuchus]

"Absurd" is that you can already flip-flop between sides you've previously betrayed, but you can't resign your commission.

Neatly put. It makes no sense to be able to keep going back and forth to betray over and over, and aren't told that they're no longer welcome in either camp after a bit. Anyway wasn't there background story about people dropping out of the conflict and going neutral?

[Ekarona]

It's not that Absurd. There's an Omni-Tek Employee who works for Omni-Com. This Employee's job is to maintain the Grid. He works for 40 years maintaining the Grid, never lifts a finger in the war. This employee retires and moves to Newland.

Being Retired he is no longer Omni. Living in Newland he would be considered Neutral.

This example can apply to any of a very large number of situations.

Of course he got his retirement plan with Omni-Tek, Omni-Tek protects, Omni-Tek is your friend, Omni-Tek helps you even after retirement.

[Mekh]

Thanks for the update... Good to get some solid news across the range of subjects



And...

"Absurd" is that you can already flip-flop between sides you've previously betrayed, but you can't resign your commission.

[DocJones]

All hail Means!

Thanks for clearing so much things up in one single blow! Have a great weekend now!

[Aiken]

Ye Makers that's a wall of text. Thanks Means !

[Megasis]

The Hecklers, What about the hecklers JIM?

[Shrubberyman]

We have had some discussions here about the “laddering” that currently goes on at tower wars and we do intend to examine the issue more closely. With everything else going on I can’t commit to a timeframe on this one.

Delicious. Think of the PvM crowd when you will.

"Absurd" is that you can already flip-flop between sides you've previously betrayed, but you can't resign your commission.

QFT

[Phargus]

None of these ranges are “set in stone”. That being said the ranges will get a chance to run on the Live dimensions so we can monitor how it goes…and if changes are necessary they will be made.

Well it's good that you'll be paying attention to it, but it could take a good long while before the consequences of the changes are really known. Say in maybe 6 months when a sizeable number of people have leveled/made/remade their twinks you might have the full picture...

[Edta]

I’m not a huge roleplayer but from a story perspective it has always felt absurd that you could return to being neutral after taking a side in the conflict. This would be used to flip-flop between sides and we would definitely see a “bandwagon” effect in Notum Wars. From a technical perspective it also plays havoc with player faction levels. I have no plans for implementing Sided-Neutral changes.

As said by others, flip-flopping directly between sides is possible AND according to the timeline (which is official storyline afaik) neutrals emerged from Omni and Clan employees.

FIRST APPEARANCE OF NEUTRALS
The first "neutrals" appear when Omni-Tek employees - as well as clan members - abandon their affiliations and settle in non-political zones. Fearing more ICC interventions, OT authorities turn a blind eye to these neutrals.

I'm not sure what the technical issues with faction levels are exactly, but I bet a simple solution can be found (for example making a faction requirement to use the resignation form...? ) .

[Sama]

I’m not a huge roleplayer but from a story perspective it has always felt absurd that you could return to being neutral after taking a side in the conflict. This would be used to flip-flop between sides and we would definitely see a “bandwagon” effect in Notum Wars. From a technical perspective it also plays havoc with player faction levels. I have no plans for implementing Sided-Neutral changes.

i dont rp either, though according to rp history neutrals are all resigned sided folks. but i digress as my real concern is that people can already side hope in NW with the side change forums. someone pre 200 can at the moment side hope infinitely clan to omni to clan etc and nw has not suffered. finally for player faction if the player is choosing to go neutral again its their faction that they are gonna destroy.

if they are ever implemented they need to have the extreme time lock on them just like sided aps have now...


side note any idea when we will see next revision of bs ranges?

[Neista]

I’m not a huge roleplayer but from a story perspective it has always felt absurd that you could return to being neutral after taking a side in the conflict. This would be used to flip-flop between sides and we would definitely see a “bandwagon” effect in Notum Wars. From a technical perspective it also plays havoc with player faction levels. I have no plans for implementing Sided-Neutral changes.

Sorry Means, but the storyline supports changing to Neutral. Jobe itself is populated by (and was in fact founded by) former Omni-tek Scientists who broke away from the conflict.

I think everyone (post 200) should be allowed one side change wether it be to neutral, omni or clan but as no-one likes a flip-flopper it would be fair to say once you have changed your toon is stuck with that side forever as if he changed again no side would ever trust him.

[Gora]

Nano breed suit?

[Shareida]

The original perks certainly weren’t tested to the extent you are speaking about or we wouldn’t have the perks we do today. In terms of feedback I think that we know by now who is capable of providing us with good feedback and who is not. I don’t believe perfection is achievable with the perk systems…but we are confident improvement is a certainty.

/satisfied

Keep it up, Means

[darkwalkx]

Just a quik question: Won't this mean you will have to adjust stuff for both the old and the new version? Supporting 2 versions will cost time as well

[Autohead]

Just a quik question: Won't this mean you will have to adjust stuff for both the old and the new version? Supporting 2 versions will cost time as well

Yeah I think it's a really bad move to satisfy a minority of the players that refuse to upgrade their antique systems.

[Spluggorth]

Please don't touch and nerf my runspeed yet again!
i remember the days when i moved like lightning, jumped higher than the sky..and used my Yalm as a submarine!...Small changes to these normal things is slowly taking away some of the Edge that AO has in my opinion.