Player locator/Chat screen

[Mr.Fabulous]

I just hatched up a very complex idea, but may help this topic:

...you could only do the locator in select stations...

stations, man.

It works like this: you're in Liberty. You know your buddies frequent this sector, and now want to know where exactly where they are, but you honestly don't know and can't on your own because you can't access the locator simply because it's not there... but you do have an alternative.

You decide to dock at Newark Station and access this window we call the "Comms-Array". He simply plugs himself on this window, and is shown the names of the ships IN SYSTEMS WHERE THAT STATION'S FACTION (or friendlies) HAS OTHER STATIONS INSIDE.

This means that, since Newark Station is IND, all other stations that are owned by IND or those other stations allied with IND will relay information on the whole systems they are in, and transmit them to the player(s) connected to the "Comms-Array" window.

Only specialized stations will own them, serving as communications and locator-stations, serving another purpose. These stations will be heavily frequented and can be strategically used according to how ingenious the users are.

A scenario where these stations will come in handy:

Lane hackers have stations sighted in a number of systems, in a secret location, transmitting information on trader traffic, police numbers and other stuff. All of these stations have Comms-Arrays, because it's a pirate faction, which relies VERY heavily on this tech.

One player would have to serve as the communications-dude for the whole faction, and relay information to those that have /invite themselves to this dude. The comms-dude would serve another RP-purpose as well, juggling many conversations all over the whole faction's active players. He would also help direct where the sweetest trade convoys are currently, where the nearest police patrols are, and make sure the people are informed.

And what if he's not there? Bad luck, then, possibly the comms-dude will RP that he has a lunch-break or something, and another player would have to take his place. The job could also be monopolized with how competant the guy is.

If you're not a pirate, then house sectors can still use this. Players can still know where their buddies are only IF they're in the systems that have stations allied with the station they docked in. Other than that, they would have to be forewarned, to preserve realism that you don't know exactly where they are. So you can know what's going on in the system you are in, but not other sectors, helping abate metagaming.

A summary of this idea:
-Players still have the chat window, but only showing those within scanner range or those /grouped before going out of contact; also, those in /group cannot also see their rank and location when out-or-range
-Player will constantly rely on a quick use of stations that have these special windows that let them enter chat window
---Players in these station-chat-windows will be able to see only as far as that faction's other stations' systems, or its allies' stations
---However players will be able to see the complete information about the other players within these stations' range; they cannot view the systems outside the stations' systems' range, therefore still keeping a balance of suspense and mystery
-The need for players to become Communications-officers for that faction or house will suddenly become a necessity, furthering complex and blossoming RP, and possibly strategic options

This is still a rough draft, made only in just minutes by my head... complex and jumbled, yes, but I feel it's a great idea.

---

Factions Involved In

| |


[Click the logos to learn more]

:::

Click the links below for more of my content!
>>> Roleplay Info & Character Feedback Thread
>>> DeviantArt
>>> Youtube