Planet size...

[Wolve]

I understand the game will launch with 4 factions (more to be added later), 1 planet (more to be added later).

So how big are the planets going to be? In relation to other games are we talking WoW/SWG size playing areas or bigger?

Reason I ask, is we are going to have player cities and even tho there will be a limit to how many cities may exist, I just hate to see a landscape full of player houses and or resource collectors.

[Hamilton]

Planets:
Right now, we're considering K-9WD as a large planet, with future planets being smaller (even though we're using 1:1 scale).
K-9WD's map is 4,000km by 4,000km; or about 2/3rds the size of Mars.

In relation to the world maps of:
Dark and Light - 200km by 200km
SWG - Each world (10 worlds) was 16km by 16km
WoW - ~30.8km by ~30.8km
EQ1 - 12km by 12km


Now not all of K-9WD can be freely explored.  There are fuel limitations in use.

[texmechs]

As to the player housing:

If you're thinking about the landscape in SWG, that's probably not going to happen.  Player housing will most likely be instanced, and possibly orbital.

[SunTzu]

As to the player housing:

If you're thinking about the landscape in SWG, that's probably not going to happen.  Player housing will most likely be instanced, and possibly orbital.

Instanced? I like the fact that I can stand around in my home city and I can talk to any potential visitors.

[Hamilton]

Depends on the house.  Own an apartment in a dome city, then yes it will be instanced.

[Ravano]

Regarding resources:  resource nodes should be finite and the equipment to harvest them mobile (or at least redeployable)

As for missions, will they be instanced, and if not, how accessible will they be to non-party players?

[Cavadus]

Please, please, please don't instance missions.  In fact, don't instance anything unless it's impossible not to instance.  One game world, one player base.

[Ravano]

I agree with Ike.  Instancing missions removes the risk of encountering hostile players in the field.

While we're on the topic, have you considered making mission generation dynamic?  By that I mean, missions are offered via faction command to anyone who's willing to try them (with a few restrictions).  First come, first served.  The mission is removed from the database once accepted, but should the player or group fail, said mission is reoffered. 

Missions could also be designated PvE or PvP,  with PvP missions being offered to players from different factions.  I'm not implying that PvE missions be free from interruption, only such missions wouldn't be broadcast. 

[Hamilton]

Some instances will be use, mostly for special GM events.  For example one GM can take in a group of 10 players.  All GM's will then execute these events at the same time (though there will be some shifts to allow different times for players).

Now as for static instances, no, those will not be use, or used sparingly. 

Some quests may be static, but the NPC giving the quests will not remain in a static position.  Other quests will be dynamic in nature.

Missions will be dynamically or randomly generated, depends on the situation.

[Markius Proxim]

please make every player thing destroyable, especially resource collectors.

and while your at it don't make resource collector heavily maintenance based, rather make defending them the task.   A stationary structure should be able to maintain itself quite well especially if you have it near your player created terraformed city.

[SS2Maximilian]

I'd prefer capture these facilities rather than destroying them, unless its a hit and run attack to weaken the defenses of the enemy or deny them the resources they need. 

[Markius Proxim]

capture seems like a reasonable options.. but damage and salvage seems more likely....

[Falcon]

I can't say I'm happy with the idea of automated harvesting tho.... sounds a lot like a botter's paradise.

[Wolve]

I can't say I'm happy with the idea of automated harvesting tho.... sounds a lot like a botter's paradise.

That was one of the things I hated in SWG......holy bejesus....there were fields as far as the eye could see of resource collectors....and sometimes outside of our city when our borders were about to expand and they took up lots.

Hopefully there will be a way to "remove" these pests or make it so players must actively collect resources....

[Hamilton]

I would say, harvesters are open for attacks.  Thus place harvesters in safe areas or places that hardly anyone will travel to.  Or figure out some way to protect such areas...