Sins Universe

Persistant sins 'Verse

from Sins Forums

This pertains to those of you who like big games.  Really big games. 

 

Has anyone ever thought of a large, real time persistant sins game?  Something on the order of 5000 stars and untold multitudes of planets? It could be set up much like EVE, With a nucleous of stable 'core' nations surrounded by Vast stretches of claimable space.  Of course, players would have to enter alliances in order to protect their own empires, else they'd be alone against a very large and hostile galaxy. 

Perhaps new players could start in dedicated "safe" zones, small Planet clusters that would nurse them until they gain a fleet that's big enough to step into the larger universe.  These starting systems could contain as few as 3 planets and could be guarded by 'one way' phase lanes.  The phase lanes themselves could lead to a large neutral nation, allowing for any number of potential "ways to go" keeping people from settling too close to the starting systems ( and prevent spawn killing ).  After a time, they would be kicked out of their starting system, much like a kid moving away from home.  After you have been booted, unless you already have moved your capital, a random planet is picked for you.  If you don't have any planets, well, you lose - rejoin the server, and next time find somone to ally yourself with.

Naturally, the more enticing places would be the ones hardest to hold. 

The hardest part would be tryng to keep things continous, and not making it overly easy for one faction to win. Perhaps opposing bounties on the two largest empires would do it.  Also, it might be helpful to limit alliance size to five members ( Perhaps more or less, pending research into how players would interact )

The main goal is for a more in depth experiance than what SoaSE currently offers.  It's great seeing you pit yourself against enemies and winning, but I, for one, think it would also be great to see the other aspects of the game come into play.  SoaSE might be a 4x game, but the other aspects are lost to the combat aspect.

Anyways, if you wish to hear more of this idea, let me know; I'd be more than happy to share. 

**This concept may have come up allready; if so, I'm sorry.  I'm not about to surf through every post just to be certain.

modding
5,480 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Maybe you should go to http://www.beyondprotocol.com

Sins won't ever be like you suggest.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I never said this would be realized. It's just an Idea. It's what I do... and you never know, it could happen - stranger things have happened. Thanks for the link.
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
You could pay for a a temporary neutrality ( Basically before you log out you are asked for a contract X neutral party will assume control of your territory for Y amount of hours. The cost of metal crystal and coin is then deduced from how long and how big [or small] your empire is ) The Bigger you are and more neutral forces you request the more you pay. Basically, for a set amount of time and payment, your country becomes neutral to all parties and both they and you are unable to attack. During this time however, you are unable to aquire any new wealth, Both necessatating your return, and ensureing that the more unscrouplulous players out there Don't take advantage of the system. Technically, if you knew of an incoming invasion you could freez your account... But this would only end up depleteing your reasources - you'd be better off to fight with a full bank than one depleted by freezing.

If you should return( log in ) before your contract is up, then the remainder of the neutral duration is returned to you ( in coin form ). Should you come back late, your empire is exposed to attack. Hopefully your allies will protect you ( If any are logged in ) Set you contract accordingly.

I realise the above has flaws - for example "What if I go on vacation, or an extended leave, and my empire can't afford it?" I'm not sure, I'd need to think more on it.

Also, I'm not sure what could prevent large players from anhilating small alliances and winning. Much is left ot be thought upon.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Nice idea.

How about when the player is not online (or hasnt given a command in a certain time in case they have been booted off the net without logging out, or a bandwidth issue is stopping them giving commands), the phase line into their space is "hidden". That way, no-one can touch the players space until they return. If enemy ships are in the players space when they log off, then all phase lanes lead out to a neutral. The most you lose if you log out while under attack, is the planet under attack.

The maps just need to be dynamic enough so that even if all players were absent, the map could be navigated around, perhaps all the neutrals space being explorable and the unclaimed space.

That way, the actual playable map would be dynamically changing according to who was online at any time. And offline players are fully protected.

So the only time a player is vulnerable is when they are actually playing.

Also, I like the idea of a starting core of a few planets, but if instead of one way lanes, you make the lane in hidden, then the core worlds are protected. That way no one player can ever totally take out any other player, and everyone gets the chance to start again if they get destroyed. You just ensure that all core worlds lead to a neutral that leads to unclaimed space.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Nice to see somone actuallly likeing the idea :)

How about when the player is not online (or hasnt given a command in a certain time in case they have been booted off the net without logging out, or a bandwidth issue is stopping them giving commands), the phase line into their space is "hidden". That way, no-one can touch the players space until they return. If enemy ships are in the players space when they log off, then all phase lanes lead out to a neutral. The most you lose if you log out while under attack, is the planet under attack.
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Whilst I am troubled by the idea of large players( say people who own 100+ planets ) just 'phasing out' the idea has merit. But what of enemy ships caught inside the territory as it phases out? And what if the attackers go deep into the defenders space, bypassing several occupied planets just to get to one that, say, has and artifact. when the defender phases out, they'd be trappped. That's why I like the idea of the neuytral contracts - it allows peopl to fly throught the space but not attack it. As for logging out while your under attack, since phasing out costs nothing, why not( if you are losing a battle ) just phase out until the attacker gets tired an moves away. Perhaps a cost to phasing out might discourage this?

The maps just need to be dynamic enough so that even if all players were absent, the map could be navigated around, perhaps all the neutrals space being explorable and the unclaimed space. That way, the actual playable map would be dynamically changing according to who was online at any time. And offline players are fully protected.
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I was aiming for a core of nations in the middle that you coulden't attack, but can in fact, pass through. and if all players are absent, I'd buy about a dozon colony class frigates and get moving. Or at the very worst, try to upgrade my space to be more profitable. Perhaps neutral nations could reward players who attack overly hostile alliances. Maybe to keep the game dynamic, small alliances who attack bigger ones might be rewarded cash. And bigger ones who stick around get special bonuses.

Also, I like the idea of a starting core of a few planets, but if instead of one way lanes, you make the lane in hidden, then the core worlds are protected. That way no one player can ever totally take out any other player, and everyone gets the chance to start again if they get destroyed. You just ensure that all core worlds lead to a neutral that leads to unclaimed space.
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Yeah, this is where your hidden phase lanes would work perfectly - it would be harder to camp if you couldn't see the phase lanes leading to your enemies base. "You just ensure that all core worlds lead to a neutral that leads to unclaimed space" - well said. I'm also a fan of keeping the players in the game and allowing them to start anew. Not many people would be fond of dieing and getting the boot in an MMO.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
One of the reasons I dont play them is that the bandwidth between me and most US sites is lousy, and prone to interruption. So at any random time, you could start a battle and suddenly have no bandwidth for 2 minutes and come back and find your entire fleet is gone because it never got any orders. Worse, you might not be able to get back on and find your entire empire wiped out because the game thinks your online, but your not.

While it would be frustrating to find your empire is gone, if your core worlds were protected, and your resource stockpiles and credit account intact, then you could begin again immediately.

Be nice if you could earn income even while your not playing :)
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Very true, but you run into the problem of people logging off just so they can get some cash... then logging on with massive amount of reasources to build a huge fleet. So much to think about...
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

While this is a good idea, and it has merit...  There is a lot of areas that would have to be looked at as a whole.  Historical wise...  Online or MMORTS has never had good experiences in the beta tests due to logging out or even at times one player taking over other people's sections and then having them log in on top of them.  The lane phasing has merit.  I think maybe you should only be able to phase a max amount of planets.  Force questions and make them pick the best places to phase out as a whole, leaving the rest of their planets at possible risk.

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

It's never a good idea to necro---there is no merit to this.