Manning multiple stations!

Three14 · Joined: 23 Feb 2001 Posts: 575 Location: Hong Kong

Good point (about jerks), though I can't say that was ever a problem for me with sub sims (natural filter for jerks) in the Seawolves or when I occasionally played with Marauders.

I think you'd want flexible positions, but I expect 2-3 people with some autocrew assist. They would tend to allocate to sonar and maybe even 2 on TMA (could be fun). Most dives like this won't be that fast, because of all the effort you put into setting up the teams, so I see it being a pretty loose thing, with a person getting bored of one job switching with other people.

The aircraft should be really fun, too. Nice two person op.

Furia · Joined: 14 Mar 2001 Posts: 558 Location: Spain

We already discussed on an EARLY POST about the need to stablish some kind of Chain of Command within each platform and its different stations.
I requested the figure of the commanding Officer who would be able to overide other players imputs, kick them out, or limit their access to specific stations.
I proposed the Commanding Officer of each platform define what stations should have each player access.
However from Jamie we were told that was not the approach they were aiming and that they trust everybody will behave properly.
I still have serious doubts about this but we will see.

Neal Stevens · Joined: 25 Jan 1997 Posts: 3517 Location: Houston, Texas

We'll have to wait and see how the dev team sets it up. It could be that if 3 guys choose to team up aboard an Akula, for example, then any station abord that ship will be available to them; you coul have 3 guys all watching the bb and discussing what they see...

or they could have the stations assigned, so if you take the sonar assignment, you man all the sonar modes... if you get weapons, then you just ride along, waiting for your big moment...

we'll see. I think the players will set up a gentlemen's agreement on who has the conn and then let him run the boat. I'm sure there will be more than a few mutinies Smile

The "kick" feature is pretty common in MP games, maybe the host will be considered the Captain by default and he can kick smacktards...

Neal Stevens · Joined: 25 Jan 1997 Posts: 3517 Location: Houston, Texas

Neal Stevens · Joined: 25 Jan 1997 Posts: 3517 Location: Houston, Texas

skriblz · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 286 Location: Philadelphia, PA

Furia · Joined: 14 Mar 2001 Posts: 558 Location: Spain

TLAM Strike · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 3:36 pm Post subject:

rayespiritu · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 11

So what's to say the commanding officer wouldn't be one of these assinine players? Hmmm? Then he can lock all stations down or wait till you're in the engine room station, lock that down, and now you're stuck in a boring station?

Besides, with the focus of this game on trying to attract new people - i.e. people who don't usually play these games, the difference between a jerk and a clueless newbie is a very small one.

A clueless newbie may accidentally do things because he's pressing buttons trying to find out how to make things work. Yes, he probably should have read the manual. Yes, he probably should have played it offline to figure things out.

But, again the focus is on getting new people. And this is what new people do. Your best bet is playing w/ people who already play these kinds of games OR hosting a game yourself for the purpose of teaching newbies.

Ray

timmyg00 · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject:

That's where online gaming groups come in... they usually have a formal training program and several members willing to train new guys on an informal basis.

TG

Furia · Joined: 14 Mar 2001 Posts: 558 Location: Spain

The point is that unless we have some means to ensure no jerks or new players ruin games, we will probably end up playing in small, reduced groups. I will surely take no chances playing with public or unknown people that can ruin a game if I do not have means to prevent it.
I have experienced this troubles many times. The more people that play the game, the more means we should have to keep things organized.
Otherwise the only ones that will make full use of MP on same ship capabilities would be the Virtual Fleets, and belive me , they (we) will also welcome and make use of such features.

boomer714 · Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 14 Location: Branford, CT.

Hi Guys,

My vote is leaning to 3 on an FFG, 1 on Helo, and 2 on 2 subs. No matter what we do; we could never hope to realistically emulate a real world manning level of even a small U.S. Navy warship. That would be like min. of 125 for a sub and about 300 for a surface ship. I say think what kind of a virtual sailor you want to be; surface, subs, or airdale; then let your consience be your guide. I was a fully qualified, real world Submariner and also qualified in surface warfare. On a ship or sub with a small crew; all crew members need and had to be cross-trained to some extent, on what the other crew members do, for thier primary duty aboard ship/sub. Thier is also a Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill that determines what all hands will do for each situation that the ship/sub may find herself in, ie fire, battle stations/general quarters, missle emergency, etc. I was a Navigation Electronics Technician as my primary billet at my first Sub. I did many other duties than that. During Battle Stations Missile; I was the Navigation Supervisor responsible for making sure all our data, provided to Fire Control, was good and green. During Battle Stations Torpedo, surface transit, and periscope depth evolutions; I manned the ESM Receiver and classified/reported contacts to the OOD.

I think being flexible, within your choosen platform will make station manning easier. We could have squadron level units of FFGs, Subs, and Helos that just operate with one type of platform. This way you could get really good at what you like to do. We could take it one step further and, when you want to, integrate into a bigger fleet size unit.

Well, got to go, but this post has been fun.

Bravo Zulu,

Boomer714