Topic: Data Recovery Madness! Attention Evil Dave!

[IndyShark]

I really like what you have done with data recovery missions and planet assaults. I could just run, but I prefer to kill them all!

Great job!

Anyway, I noticed two things. I believe that if you capture a enemy ship in a data recovery, you lose points. I captured a ship and got 270 pp instead of 300. Can anyone confirm this?

Also, I noticed that if you blow up the defense station, the mission ends. That is a lot easier than running for the border! This works even if there are enemy ships left on the map.  

[NuclearWessels]

Thanks Indy, a revised data recovery mission should be out in the next week or so

The revised version of data recovery will have

(1) you only get the DV shift if you eliminate the enemy

(2) PP awards depend on both combat and data recovery results - i.e. you get some PP for getting the data and running, but not as much as for sticking around and winning the battle and collecting the data

(3) If the base dies then EVERYBODY loses, and the hex DV doesn't change (except the usual neutral space problems where everything but coop seems to drop the DV - argh)

(4) The briefings have been updated to reflect some of this

(5) It should be a little less common than it currently is

dave
 

[Corbomite]

Quote:
Thanks Indy, a revised data recovery mission should be out in the next week or so

The revised version of data recovery will have

(1) you only get the DV shift if you eliminate the enemy
 

I'm not sure I agree with this. Combat is not part of the mission description. Your mission is to get the data and get out alive.

[Dizzy]

So you get the data and get out alive... Cool, mission accomplished, prestige awarded, easy money.

However, you left bad guys behind. So why would you get a DV shift if you left bad guys behind?

I fully support Dave's new modifications 100%.

And STFU Corbo, you dont play this game anymore anyways, or am I wrong?

[Corbomite]

Quote:
So you get the data and get out alive... Cool, mission accomplished, prestige awarded, easy money.

However, you left bad guys behind. So why would you get a DV shift if you left bad guys behind?

I fully support Dave's new modifications 100%.

And STFU Corbo, you dont play this game anymore anyways, or am I wrong?  

Not online, but I use his missions in single player. My point is that we have enough combat missions. I always wanted a Data Recovery mission where you had to beam a boarding party over to get the info and then beam it back after about two or three turns. This would force you to stick around to make you fight for a time while keeping in proximity to the LP (not to mention having to drop a shield twice), but destroying the enemy would not be a requirement. In fact, my very first post on these boards suggested just that back in '01. More points for destroying the enemy would be cool, but it shouldn't be part of "winning" the mission.
And you STFU Dizzy - "I fully support Dave's new modifications 100%." Christ, do you think you could kiss up to Dave any more?  

[Dizzy]

Quote:
  My point is that we have enough combat missions. I always wanted a Data Recovery mission where you had to beam a boarding party over to get the info and then beam it back after about two or three turns. This would force you to stick around to make you fight for a time while keeping in proximity to the LP (not to mention having to drop a shield twice), but destroying the enemy would not be a requirement. In fact, my very first post on these boards suggested just that back in '01. More points for destroying the enemy would be cool, but it shouldn't be part of "winning" the mission.

Excellent points, Corbo. I support Corbo's idea 100%. Dave, STFU.

[FireSoul]

I guess I should STFU too, with my shiplist, eh?
-- Luc

[Dizzy]

yes firesoul, because I have no idea how your comments fit into this thread... At 1st I agreed with dave, but corbo decided to explain himself and his idea sounds better. I will tell them both to stfu if someone with a third answer turns out better... but you look as if you are changing the subject

But I do in fact have something for you... I have already tested it and it works great! You would be amazed at how much more adept at typing you are with a little less meat on your bones. Go take it for a hang and see yourself!

Before you do, know that my SG3 shiplist did this to me. My hats off to you for all the work you did on OP+ w/o going as far as I did... Just make sure you tighten the noose real nice and tight... It's not pretty when it doesnt snap. You just kinda hang there a while, veins all sticking out, face turning red... Soon, it wont matter, tho. So anyway.. here ya go:

     

[Soreyes]

I have to admit that I do love the new Data Recovery missions.  

But today in the Litterbox there was a bit of a hickup in this mission. Gornrule took me under his wing on this mission. Our side was a G-CA, and me in a Z-DD.  Against us was a L-CA, L-SA, L-FFP with two Intercepters, and a L-DD. We decided to go after the L-CA first. Did we get a big suprise. We both got hit with a range 12 ESG?, then we got hit with fire through our green shields. It was at this time I noticed that I went from a full load out of Drones to just 6, 4 T-Bombs to 0, and both my shuttles went AWOL.

Gornrule said RUN and we did. He went one way, and I another towards the platform. Gornrule had the CA, SR, DD,FFP after his tail. All I had was the Intercepters shooting at me through my down rear shield. I got the data and at this point Gornrule left the map and the mission ended(Thank the Gods)

Our reward? A Draw....0pp. I don't know what gornrule had to pay to fix his ship. I ended up forking out 210pp to fix and restock my ship.

As I said. I believe that this was just a little hickup in the programing today. If not, then Dave that is one Truly EVIL mission

 

[FireSoul]

Quote:
yes firesoul, because I have no idea how your comments fit into this thread... At 1st I agreed with dave, but corbo decided to explain himself and his idea sounds better. I will tell them both to stfu if someone with a third answer turns out better... but you look as if you are changing the subject

But I do in fact have something for you... I have already tested it and it works great! You would be amazed at how much more adept at typing you are with a little less meat on your bones. Go take it for a hang and see yourself!

Before you do, know that my SG3 shiplist did this to me. My hats off to you for all the work you did on OP+ w/o going as far as I did... Just make sure you tighten the noose real nice and tight... It's not pretty when it doesnt snap. You just kinda hang there a while, veins all sticking out, face turning red... Soon, it wont matter, tho. So anyway.. here ya go:

     

Just trying to lift spirits..
.. telling people to STFU is not a good way to do things.. so I joined in.

[jdmckinney]

Dave, in case you're trying anything out on Reclamation, we have AI DV change set to 0, so even if a solo player fights an AI and loses, the DV doesn't change. So far, I haven't seen any problems with this setting, but I wanted to make sure anyone reporting odd mission results takes it into account.

[NuclearWessels]

Cool Nomad, I didn't realize that.

Corbo - I agree on the "beam over and hang around" version - that's been a goal for awhile now, I just haven't had the chance to sit down and implement it properly.  Think of this as an interim approach   Once in awhile I'd also like the "data" to be something immediately useful - say a way to drop one enemy's shields for X seconds one time in the current mission, or  get the base to join your side for the rest of the mission, or ???  (ideas welcome, just remember the missions can't pull info about the dynaverse )

The reason for the non-DV shift is the online ramifications - it creates a no-danger, 4 minute, guaranteed hex flipper as long as you crank up the speed to max (and you're not flying a WE).   Hmmmm .... we could also make it a probabilistic thing - if the data turns out to be really useful then the DV changes even without combat, say a 25% chance or something.

dave
 

[jdmckinney]

There are two major effects of having 0 AI DV change. One, players who lose early in their home space to AIs while trying to get out of crappy ships don't hurt their own hexes. Players have to attack hexes and win for them to drop. Two, no more patrol bug-style running away against the AI to lower neutral hexes. This also means you can't use the Rotting Fur exploit so easily anymore. I knew I'd find a way to make up for that one someday.

Another positive is if you use map-generated AIs (Reclamation doesn't), then you don't have them running around weakening or flipping hexes. Instead they are draftable allies/opponents and not a map-altering nuisance.

I like the idea of a chance for DV effect on particularly useful information, but it would have to be pretty rare. After all, why would you weaken or even gain control of a sector just by gathering information? Unless it's the full security codes for all ships and bases in the sector, you still have to fight to gain control. Thus, the data has to be really good stuff. Also, if you don't eliminate the enemy ships, they're just going to tell command you have sensitive data and then they'll change their battle plans or codes.