Actzoltan wrote:JoshParnell wrote:I rewrote the hardpoint system to incorporate the notion of "fixed" hardpoints, i.e., things that are factory-installed and cannot be replaced or removed. These fixed hardpoints will include a hull, thrusters, a basic sensor, and a basic power grid.
JoshParnell wrote:I think we've gotten a bit derailed here, and I think people have slightly misunderstood what I'm saying. What I'm saying is this: I will not allow you to strip all components from your ship, to the point that it is not functional. When you buy it, it will be functional, period.
JoshParnell wrote:So, let me re-phrase this. All ships will come with basic factory-installed equipment that will make sure your ship is functional as soon as you buy it. As far as you are concerned, these do not take up hardpoints or affect you in any way, except for the fact that you don't have the "freedom" to build a non-functional ship.
JoshParnell wrote:The argument against this seems to be "but that limits my ability to use the fixed hardpoints." But what I'm saying is, no, it doesn't, because these are extra hardpoints that would not exist in the other system. I am providing extra slots that the factory equipment will use. It does not have to change the number of usable hardpoints.
These quotes contain the heart of the issue.
In order to understand what is happening we need to focus on one category:
- 1. Ships have been bought
Ships that have been bought:
JoshParnell wrote:The game would still require that you place at least 1 engine, 1 power gen, etc.
- Will have functional with factory installed equipment by default (1 sensor, 1 power grid, 1 thruster, etc.)
Will not be able to go below the minimum allowed factory installed equipment.
From the added information Josh has provided above replaced or removed means to me:
- There will be a restriction on the minimum amount of parts a ship can have but you can replace those parts to upgrade your ship.
This understanding has solved a lot of problems i have had with this change.
Agree with:
- The need to standardize every ship which has been bought with a set of factory installed equipment.
Issues:
- Can not go below the minimum allowed equipment.
(conditional issue: if i am misunderstanding and i can not replace the factory installed equipment as to upgrade my ship)
Comments:
- I am nitpicking but i can think of ways allowing the freedom to go below the minimum allowed equipment could be beneficial along with allowing player to experiment with the extra hardpoints provided.
Examples:
- 1. A player has bought a small carrier along with 5 small fighter with the intention of striping down the fighters factory installed equipment to only use what is necessary to complete its purpose. The small fighter's purpose is to defend the carrier from other fighter who plan to duck under the carriers shield to attack. This small fighter only needs 1 engine, 1 hull, 1 power grid, weapons. other defenses/offences it can equip. Sensors have been removed as the fighter wont stray far from the carrier and could receive sensor data from a up-link with that carrier's sensors.
2. A player has bought a large fighter which serves as a small carrier along with 4 small fighters with the intention stripping down the small fighter to serve as kamikaze ships. The small fighters would only need 1 engine, 1 hull, 1 power grid more engines could be added along with hull reinforcements. The sensors wont be useful as a line of sight would be established with the target.
3. A player has bought a large carrier and 80 small fighters with the intention of stripping down the fighters using them as weaponized beacons to notify the carrier if anyone has breached the players territory. The small fighters only need 1, hull, 1 sensor, 1 power grid along with shields, weapons. The carrier would simply detach the fighters from the hanger and they would drift out of the carrier as the carrier moves away. The carrier would do this until the border of the player territory has been established.
Geez!
Way to miss the whole point.
Okay, every ship has a set of basic sensors, engine, etc.
Accept this fact, THEN IGNORE IT. Your ship will fly around. Your ship will not leak air.
Worry less about the details.
Your ship also has a fixed number of hard points - call it four, eight, whatever. I assume the number goes up or down depending on the size and possibly the quality of your ship.
From your perspective, when you buy the ship, THEY WILL ALL BE EMPTY.
You will be free to install your upgrades: engines, shielding, or whatever in these hard points. You can make the ship be the best it can be, spend a million creds on the upgrades in those slots, to make it the baddest thing in space, whatever. The point is, you will not miss "other" hard points at all, because from your perspective they will
not even exist.
The only difference here will be the fact that your ship, when you strip out all your fancy upgrades, and leave all the hard points empty, will
Still Fly Around. It will
Still Not Leak Air.
When you talk about "stripping down" fighters, you're still pretty much listing the basics as still needed - engine, power, hull plates, sensors. You need very basic versions of all that stuff? Great,
easy, just
don't install any upgrades, use the really basic stuff the fighter came prepackaged with.
Is that clear enough? I could draw diagrams. Abandon your arguement. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
If you want more hardpoints to play around with, just straight up ask for more hardpoints, don't wuss out.