Author Topic: Ranks in the colony  (Read 21624 times)

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Hyper

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Ranks in the colony
« on: September 13, 2009, 12:03:38 PM »
So here is a question for everyone. How will we rank or name the rank of colonists?
Commander
Captain
etc

or

Mayor
Citizen
etc

A new person logs in for the first time and need to learn what to do and if we have a management system in place we can give them access to more things but how do we want to structure the heirachy in the colony?

thedubman

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2009, 02:25:23 PM »
Difficult one that is to answer..

Probally military rank is the most recognisable, Nasa 'ranks' would work and be more in line with the sim (Mission commander, 'flight/mission surgeon' , co-commander etc)..

How about if the option was given to mission commanders to either enable roles or allow everyone to do as they wish (would allow for serious planned missions, or 'open server')..
It may be the case that players would want to join and do there own thing, or players would like to start as rookie and build up there experiance to do other specific jobs..
It could be problematic to have 10 rookies running about, being frustrated cause they cant (not allowed) to use a rover etc, when the mission commander is offline, also in the same context you wouldnt want rookies running amok with rovers etc..

I say mission-commander can either allocate jobs(roles) to people they wish or players can join and 'rank up' (say by taking tasks/missions from hab PC ie 'grow 6 plants or collect 10kg ore etc') to allow them selves freedom of useage of gear etc..

skylabz0rz

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2009, 03:37:34 PM »
I would think NASA / Military ranking would be best fit. I also like the idea of having the option of ranks, but id rather have ranks than no ranks.

Hyper

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2009, 06:28:26 PM »
One of the methods I thought of to make sure the noobs dont mess up too bad is to check who all is on and make the temporary command fall to the highest ranking member online at the time. So if a higher rank logged on then they would assume some command duties. That would give points to who ever is in command towars promotions. Promotions would be a combination of time in game, jobs accomplished, command time.

NASA / Military style seems to be best IMHO so I think I will go with that.

thedubman

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2009, 02:12:41 PM »
@Hyper, that sounds like a solid solution to me!

geoffcartwright

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2009, 08:01:04 PM »
real nice thought there hyper, sounds good and workable

pad69

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2009, 01:15:47 PM »
One of the methods I thought of to make sure the noobs dont mess up too bad is to check who all is on and make the temporary command fall to the highest ranking member online at the time. So if a higher rank logged on then they would assume some command duties. That would give points to who ever is in command towars promotions. Promotions would be a combination of time in game, jobs accomplished, command time.

NASA / Military style seems to be best IMHO so I think I will go with that.

Nice Idea I like that Idea. :)
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rider

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2009, 03:14:08 AM »
I like what thedubman said i think that would work best
Quote
How about if the option was given to mission commanders to either enable roles or allow everyone to do as they wish (would allow for serious planned missions, or 'open server')..
It may be the case that players would want to join and do there own thing, or players would like to start as rookie and build up there experiance to do other specific jobs..
It could be problematic to have 10 rookies running about, being frustrated cause they cant (not allowed) to use a rover etc, when the mission commander is offline, also in the same context you wouldnt want rookies running amok with rovers etc..
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geoffcartwright

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2009, 03:42:44 PM »
ranks i think an overall mission commander and different levels of skills plus a few other ranks following on from nasa etc. Different permissions for different ranks, a cadet for instance shoudlnt be able to drive rovers... maybe use need the drivers skill to operate a rover.

rider

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2009, 04:18:42 PM »
Quote
ranks i think an overall mission commander and different levels of skills plus a few other ranks following on from nasa etc. Different permissions for different ranks, a cadet for instance shoudlnt be able to drive rovers... maybe use need the drivers skill to operate a rover

If hyper Could and that would be great like I was saying in the other post I made
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pad69

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2009, 11:48:35 PM »
Ok I am not sure if I was clear on the log stuff and rank. I am going to explain my idea here.

Rank
Rank should be time and experience it is that simple. In example not so much today but being a journey-man in some skill in RL took seven years of training and experience under a trade journey-man or an expert; of the field. Today we are inclined to call it certified and or a degree in something. Well in example bachelor of science with emphasis or majored in or on engineering in electronics engineering or some such thing. You all know the drill.

Let me get to my argument. I have played many so called MMORPG games online just to name a few that most should know are Anarchy online, EVE, and there are many more and I am not going to explain more as you are all very smart to know what I speak of. Every game has had to argue the very same points we are arguing here or discussing it however you want to say it. The big question is rank and experience and how to allow the players with most playing and experience of playing to control how the play or the simulation works to a pleasant game play while staying true to a true simulation. Face it all games must come down to this decision!

Now then what do we need to formulate and accomplish this for a simulation game that we wish to emulate as close as we can to RL as we can and still make “game value”; after all it is still a game. Remember I think that the author of this game Hyperkat’s intention was to make a simulation of a Mars colony like no other game or simulation that has ever existed before. So far that is the result but it or the game is at the decision place as maybe other games that have been before came to; sell you idea for money or stay true to an idea.

Rank and experience must emulate real life. None of us must or will accept some snot nosed kid running helter skelter through all our hard work to make a colony work just to in seconds kill everyone off by messing food stores up or farm production up because of turning temps up or turning pumps off or over fertilizing plants or whatever that person does that makes the colony fail.

It is easy to say ban them but if rank and experience is established in the players so they can’t do this then you have solved the problem. A player must have built into the program their rank to be able to do certain jobs! This will eliminate disruption of the simulation. Take the decision process out of the hands of the players buy using Rank and experience for different levels of command and work. Let a main computer allow work assignments according to rank and experience. Allow commanders of the simulation give orders because they earned it not because they logged in.

How do we program this I am not sure but many games do it all the time. This is why there are levels.

Ok well how do you do this Hyperkat? I didn’t pose that as a question without an answer. Make the beginning of the game just like the two part demo you already have. Allow players to get a ranking that allows them into the mars plan of the colonization schedule of NASA. That will allow someone with rank and experience just like RL. This is to say everyone chosen to go would have to go with a basic rank and have to learn to survive together and build rank accordingly. You could have some extra tasks for special abilities like science, bio, med etc to help with the specialties needed. This way when you get to the basic mars colony you have a rank established. Jobs now become more equitable and assignable by a ranking officer. Make no mistake a ranking person will be in charge in colonization in Rl so the simulation will need and must reflect this or it is just a first person shooter game not a simulator. Also people will or must train for the mission of colonization. I remember a game called system shock two and at the beginning of the game you needed to train army navy or marines then you needed to train special abilities before you began the game. I suggest the same thing be done here.

I said take a lesson from history. Don’t try to solve problems that have been solved already. Just use the past experience for your problems today. Someone said it if we ignore the past we are doomed to make the same mistakes again. Hyperkat can make things easier by remembering someone had these problems before Hyperkat did and they solved them.
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geoffcartwright

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2009, 12:00:56 AM »
how about as a test team we try a few options informally like, without it being coded in...
say have our good friend dubman as mission commander and he delegated a few task or maybe appoint a few people different levels temp like to see if this would work..
we have about ten or so testers online now for each test run weekend so thats a good start.
i for one should be not allowed to drive at all LOL but am a solid botanist.

Zaneo

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2009, 12:41:23 AM »
for one should be not allowed to drive at all LOL but am a solid botanist.

I can drive fine.... if i am actually there... and not afk letting auto drive taker over.... shhh. It wasn't me who crashed that rover... twice... I swear.

rider

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2009, 01:19:08 AM »
Pad69 that clear's that on up that is what i was thinking but I couldn't put it in to word but yes that is what was thinking so
Thank You for clearing that up for me
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thedubman

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Re: Ranks in the colony
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2009, 01:36:36 PM »
@pad,  agree!! great explanation :D