Best Of
Re: Announcements post #57: Faction Engagement Missions.
Great updates today! I think CAC will definitely see action now.
I would like to echo something @Azlyn suggested, and that is to have something like CAC LOG. We'll probably want to implement some sort of faction reward system for doing CAC stuff, but right now it's difficult to track.
Re: Announcements post #74: New Storyteller for Song!
Thank you @Eukelade, I am very excited to be here!
To everyone: Please keep filing those bug reports! I love tuning things, finding inconsistencies (and fixing them)!
To Song: Please, if you are interested in furthering your roleplay, send me a message (on here or in-game) with any or all of your character's: history so far, goals, fears, relationships, and YOUR ideas on how together, we can make Song (and the game?) better for everyone!
To everyone: Please keep filing those bug reports! I love tuning things, finding inconsistencies (and fixing them)!
To Song: Please, if you are interested in furthering your roleplay, send me a message (on here or in-game) with any or all of your character's: history so far, goals, fears, relationships, and YOUR ideas on how together, we can make Song (and the game?) better for everyone!
Ferenzi
11
Announcements post #74: New Storyteller for Song!
<pre>From: Starmaker Eukelade
Subject: New Storyteller for Song!
Please give our newest Storyteller, Ferenzi, a very warm welcome.
Ferenzi is here to help players in the Song Dominion advance their agendas, flesh out the faction, and make the world feel more alive. They'll also be doing their part to keep things behind the scenes running smoothly by lending a hand where needed (someone needs to help Soren dig people out of space-bending Escher campgrounds, right?)
They've already hit the ground running with a bunch of bug fixes and a secret project! We are eager to see what else they're capable of! </pre>
Subject: New Storyteller for Song!
Please give our newest Storyteller, Ferenzi, a very warm welcome.
Ferenzi is here to help players in the Song Dominion advance their agendas, flesh out the faction, and make the world feel more alive. They'll also be doing their part to keep things behind the scenes running smoothly by lending a hand where needed (someone needs to help Soren dig people out of space-bending Escher campgrounds, right?)
They've already hit the ground running with a bunch of bug fixes and a secret project! We are eager to see what else they're capable of! </pre>
Autoposter
11
Announcements post #72: Planetary Exploration Now Live!
<pre>From: Starmaker Eukelade
Subject: Planetary Exploration Now Live!
Greetings, Space Explorers! We're excited to announce that our newest feature for exploration month, "Planetary Exploration" is now live. Throughout the wild places of the galaxy, in the most remote corners of planets (and possibly even some asteroids), you will find access points leading to the untamed wilderness, places chock full of the resources and minerals that the survey industry and mining corps haven't managed to find yet.
Things to Remember:
- These wild places will probably be full of creatures nobody has ever seen before - and they might not be too happy to see you - so be careful!
- Bring triangulation devices with you when you go exploring so you can locate resources and commodities. These devices are now available in all three faction cities (and some other locations) for affordable prices!
- Be aware, the location of these wilderness access points may shift and change according to the whims of nature - so stay sharp, and never stop exploring.
- It is tiring to wander through such uncivilized wilderness, so you will have to wait a little while after exploring one corner of the galaxy before you can explore another.
- Have fun! </pre>
Subject: Planetary Exploration Now Live!
Greetings, Space Explorers! We're excited to announce that our newest feature for exploration month, "Planetary Exploration" is now live. Throughout the wild places of the galaxy, in the most remote corners of planets (and possibly even some asteroids), you will find access points leading to the untamed wilderness, places chock full of the resources and minerals that the survey industry and mining corps haven't managed to find yet.
Things to Remember:
- These wild places will probably be full of creatures nobody has ever seen before - and they might not be too happy to see you - so be careful!
- Bring triangulation devices with you when you go exploring so you can locate resources and commodities. These devices are now available in all three faction cities (and some other locations) for affordable prices!
- Be aware, the location of these wilderness access points may shift and change according to the whims of nature - so stay sharp, and never stop exploring.
- It is tiring to wander through such uncivilized wilderness, so you will have to wait a little while after exploring one corner of the galaxy before you can explore another.
- Have fun! </pre>
Re: Gimme your tunez!
Shout out to player-made songs:
Viola - Star Kith (Aetherscape/Uplifting)
Oacena - The Empyreals of Utan Mir (Aetherscape/Ethereal)Grek - The Breaking (Aetherscape/Imposing)
Sneak Peak of Planetary Exploration!
Hey space travellers. It's been a minute since we let you all know where we were with the economy update, so today I thought I'd show everyone a sneak peak of the upcoming PLANETARY EXPLORATION feature. This new feature will allow people who prefer doing their exploration on foot to obtain commodities from the land by triangulating the location of resources on various planets.
So without further ado, here's a log of the current system in action.
--------------------------------------------------------------
We open in the desert of Anemoi, on the planet Delphi.
So without further ado, here's a log of the current system in action.
--------------------------------------------------------------
We open in the desert of Anemoi, on the planet Delphi.
>l
In the searing desert.
Rocky sand lies all around, formed in gentle ripples by the wind, which brings little relief as it sweeps over the sandscape. Hot and arid, the surroundings are oppressive despite the open expanse.
Like a dark shadow, a caliginous eagle rests upon the sand. Watching with keen eyes is a hungry looking cania.
A tall cactus stands here, covered in fragrant blossoms. A broken engine from a hover vehicle lies on the dusty ground.
You can EXPLORE WILDERNESS from here.
[n] -> A trackless expanse of sand
[nw] -> In the searing desert
>explore wilderness
You enter the wilderness.
Crossing a trackless desert.
Nobody seems to have set foot in this part of Delphi for some time, and the dunes and sand flats stretch away in every direction that you can see. The only evidence of life is that of the native fauna, which is plentiful in this undisturbed region. The air is hot and dry.
A ferocious, brown-scaled tigrid slinks around.
You can LEAVE WILDERNESS from here.
[n] -> Wilderness
[e] -> Wilderness
[se] -> Wilderness
>east
You walk to the east.
Crossing a trackless desert.
Nobody seems to have set foot in this part of Delphi for some time, and the dunes and sand flats stretch away in every direction that you can see. The only evidence of life is that of the native fauna, which is plentiful in this undisturbed region. The air is hot and dry.
Graceful and skittish, a spiral-horned kegri prances here.
This is a control point.
[ne] -> Wilderness
[e] -> Wilderness
[se] -> Wilderness
[s] -> Wilderness
[w] -> Wilderness
(It looks like our intrepid explorer has found one of the control points for this area of the wilderness. Of course, before she starts triangulating, she needs to stop and scan the pokem...the animal.)
>probe device
(It looks like our intrepid explorer has found one of the control points for this area of the wilderness. Of course, before she starts triangulating, she needs to stop and scan the pokem...the animal.)
>probe kegri
-- a spiral-horned kegri (#36241) ---------------------------------------------
Race: Animal Gender: Genderless
Affiliation: Unknown Status: Healthy
Description: This animal has a narrow-waisted body and four long, slender
legs that end in something not dissimilar to W'hoorn paws. Two spiraling horns
jut from its forehead. Its face is long and slender, and it has a white-tufted
tail that lashes at the back of its legs.
Strength: You estimate that it is laughably weak.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>xenozoo scan kegri
You aim your bioscanner at a spiral-horned kegri and activate the device, and a beam of blue light plays out across your target.
You shift slightly to keep a spiral-horned kegri in your sights, careful not to let anything break the beam.
A wireframe holographic model of a spiral-horned kegri rotates slowly on your bioscanner's display as you collect more information about the creature.
There is a low hum that builds in your device, and the bright beam of blue light intensifies briefly.
With a quick snap, your bioscanner's information gathering laser flickers off, and information about a spiral-horned kegri begins to scroll across the holographic display.
Studying this creature has taught you a few things. You have gained 2 lessons!
(Research done with. Moving on!)
>i
(Research done with. Moving on!)
>i
You are wielding in your hands:
a kickass Eukebuster 9000 in your right.
You have:
a triangulation device.
You are wearing:
a white T-shirt for Haxley's Casino, a compact jetpack, really comfortable pants, a pair of self-lacing sneakers, and LUCENT Soundwavez.
>probe device
-- A triangulation device (#51790) ---------------------------------------------
Owner: Unknown Usable life: 60 mo.
Mass: Small Resetting: No
Description: This device is used to take readings of nearby surroundings, with
the purpose of detecting mineral or gas deposits. A shining paristeel sphere
makes up the body of the object, a few dials and knobs fitted on its surface
allowing for precise calibration. A small screen gives out readings of its
analysis and the device can be fixed to most terrain types with the metal tripod
that stands attached to the paristeel head.
Usage Syntax: WILDERNESS TRIANGULATE
Usage Syntax: WILDERNESS TRIANGULATE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>wilderness
WILDERNESS LEAVE Leave the wilderness.
WILDERNESS TRIANGULATE Set up triangulation gear.
WILDERNESS DESIGNATE <player> Let someone pick up your newfound resources.
>wilderness triangulate
You hit a button on the top of a triangulation device, and a low clicking begins to repetitively sound from within the sphere.
Three legs telescope automatically from the bottom of the triangulation device, and you release the sphere to allow them to find equilibrium on the uneven terrain.
After a few mincing steps, the triangulation device's legs plant themselves solidly, sending paristeel spikes deep into the earth.
The metal sphere of the device opens with a whirr, and blue light begins to scatter and play across the surrounding area.
A status light on the top of the tripod begins to blink an erratic amber, indicating that the device is still in the process of getting a solid reading on the area.
There is a low humming sound just on the edge of your hearing, subsonic frequencies pulsing through the tripod's spikes and into the ground beneath your feet.
Holographic screens blink to life, flickering in the air around the device in the form of ghostly charts, graphs, and sonic readouts as various environmental data collection subroutines are activated.
The status indicator on the top of the tripod flickers from blinking amber to steady green, and the readouts stabilize, a topographical map of the area projected above it.
You have successfully set up the triangulation gear at this location.
Your efforts are successful, and you discover 6 units worth of raw Iriil! You can use SHIP PICKUP IRIIL to pick it up, or WILDERNESS DESIGNATE <player> to let another player do so.
>west
>leave wilderness
You leave the wilderness.
(Upon successfully exploring the wilderness, Eukelade, our intrepid explorer, returns to her ship, currently in orbit around Delphi.)
(Upon successfully exploring the wilderness, Eukelade, our intrepid explorer, returns to her ship, currently in orbit around Delphi.)
The bridge of The Mantis.
A fish tank bubbles quietly nearby, the creature within swimming happily about.
[s] -> The upper deck
>ship deploy scoops
The ship prepares to deploy its scoops.
The scoops round the ship are now deployed.
>ship pickup iriil
The ship scoops up 6 units worth of raw Iriil from the surface of Delphi.
Eukelade says to a fishtank with a single fish inside, "I'm rich!".
--------------------------------------------------------------
And that is, essentially, how you use the planetary exploration feature - though unlike what you saw in my log, you'll need to triangulate three different control points before gaining access to the resources of the area. It's especially handy if you don't love space, but have a friend or employer who does - you can spend your time roaming the unexplored reaches of various planets for someone willing to collect the fruits of your labors - and hopefully split the profit. Keep in mind this feature is still in development, but we want to get it into your hands soon.
We are always interested in feedback, so let us know what you think!! Thanks for reading!
--------------------------------------------------------------
And that is, essentially, how you use the planetary exploration feature - though unlike what you saw in my log, you'll need to triangulate three different control points before gaining access to the resources of the area. It's especially handy if you don't love space, but have a friend or employer who does - you can spend your time roaming the unexplored reaches of various planets for someone willing to collect the fruits of your labors - and hopefully split the profit. Keep in mind this feature is still in development, but we want to get it into your hands soon.
We are always interested in feedback, so let us know what you think!! Thanks for reading!
Eukelade
9
Gimme your tunez!
Recently, Ilyos introduced a couple awesome new LUCENT products in game. One of them is Soundwavez, a way to allow your character to listen to music wherever they are. (Personally, I love my Soundwavez and I want LUCENT to release a surround-sound version for my ship.)
I'm looking to add more music to the rotating list, but I think it would be fun to ask you guys to contribute! So - song names, genres, moods, bands (bonus points if you include a flavor blurb about the band) - post whatever you want below, and I'll integrate them into my next update of the feature. What do you want to see pop up on your Soundwavez?
I'm looking to add more music to the rotating list, but I think it would be fun to ask you guys to contribute! So - song names, genres, moods, bands (bonus points if you include a flavor blurb about the band) - post whatever you want below, and I'll integrate them into my next update of the feature. What do you want to see pop up on your Soundwavez?
Eukelade
5
Announcements post #69: Class Customization Now Available!
<pre>From: Starmaker Eukelade
Subject: Class Customization Now Available!
Starmourn staff has heard your requests for class customization, and they have been answered! All players may now create their own customizations for class-specific items, including weapons, armor, and loyals (bots). B.E.A.S.T. players may also create a custom description specifically for their suit.
Once you've created a customization, it's yours forever! That means if you find a stronger kithblade or a more protective helmet out there among the stars, you can apply your favorite appearance to it. Writing and submitting class customizations will cost bound credits.
Another feature of class customization is the ability everyone now has to learn/copy the appearance of existing items in game. Doing so costs lessons, and will destroy the item you're scanning, but again, once you learn and add a customization to your available database, it's yours for keeps. That means if you really love the appearance of that low-level chest piece, you can scan it and carry its appearance with you across the stars, applying it to every armor upgrade you obtain. Hope you're all hanging onto the exploration loot you're winning from your xenozoology bounties!
Check out HELP CLASS CUSTOMIZATION to learn the exact commands you'll need to use, and the nitty gritty details about costs, syntax, and guidelines. Have fun with it!</pre>
Subject: Class Customization Now Available!
Starmourn staff has heard your requests for class customization, and they have been answered! All players may now create their own customizations for class-specific items, including weapons, armor, and loyals (bots). B.E.A.S.T. players may also create a custom description specifically for their suit.
Once you've created a customization, it's yours forever! That means if you find a stronger kithblade or a more protective helmet out there among the stars, you can apply your favorite appearance to it. Writing and submitting class customizations will cost bound credits.
Another feature of class customization is the ability everyone now has to learn/copy the appearance of existing items in game. Doing so costs lessons, and will destroy the item you're scanning, but again, once you learn and add a customization to your available database, it's yours for keeps. That means if you really love the appearance of that low-level chest piece, you can scan it and carry its appearance with you across the stars, applying it to every armor upgrade you obtain. Hope you're all hanging onto the exploration loot you're winning from your xenozoology bounties!
Check out HELP CLASS CUSTOMIZATION to learn the exact commands you'll need to use, and the nitty gritty details about costs, syntax, and guidelines. Have fun with it!</pre>
Re: Can you really call yourself a fan without bootleg merch?
Forgot the picture. Only cool kids forget the picture.
Feature suggestion: dynasty-owned ships (in other words, split between owner and captain)
Here's the super duper short version: this is a suggestion for permitting a dynasty (or possibly a clan) to own a ship and to select people to captain it. First, a high level overview. Then, some possible uses of the system. After that, a TL;DR of the mechanics. Then, my recommendations for implementation. Finally, some concluding thoughts.
Does this sound like a good idea? Do the implementation details sound good? Please, discuss!
---
For various reasons, including defraying individual cost of owning ships like freighters and encouraging less experienced players to get involved in the space economy by giving access to ships they can't afford, I've been thinking it would be nice to let a dynasty (or clan?) own ships for use by select individuals within the dynasty. However, there are some potentials for abuse, which I will identify and for which I will offer methods of discouraging such abuse.
But before I dive into how I suggest implementing such a feature, here are some ideas for how players might enjoy using a split ownership-use ship system:
- Letting a new pilot fly a better interceptor or a corvette, as a perk of the dynasty.
- Sharing costs for a freighter that wouldn't be used much by only one person.
- Setting up a mortgage relationship, wherein the dynasty is the mortgage holder and the captain makes payments.
- Creating a dynasty floating home base of operations with lots of cool rooms and whatnot.
To offset the benefits of defraying costs to individuals and to discourage potential shady transfers of wealth/second account problems, I recommend substantially increasing the marks cost to purchase a used ship. Flavor it as an additional brokerage transaction fee, a tax, or a licensing fee. The seller doesn't get the extra cost; it's a sink. Similarly, I recommend such a measure for commissioning the construction of a new ship.
Doing so might look like this:
- A new ship administrator role within the dynasty is introduced to permit to permit ship administrators to do ship-related actions, such as set captains for ships, build new ships, buy used ships from the brokerage, and customize ships in the chop shops or the shipforge. There can be more than one administrator. An administrator can be a captain.
- Each dynasty-owned ship is able to support one or more captains, chosen by someone in the ship administrator role. An example command might be: DYNASTY SHIP <Starskipper> CAPTAIN ADD <Steve>. And when Steve goes and get it blown up fifteen times, the administrator could DYNASTY SHIP <Starkipper> CAPTAIN REMOVE <Steve>. (I don't know what number to suggest for the maximum number of potential captains per ship. Maybe this is an opportunity for spending more marks or... dare I say, credits?)
- Ship purchase costs, from either the brokerage or the ship forge, are paid from a group's marks account. Only the administrator can purchase a used ship from the brokerage or commission a new ship from the ship forge. The purchase of a ship puts the ship into the ownership of the dynasty. It has only one captain by default, the administrator.
- Ship refit, customization, and SF costs are paid from the group account. Only the administrator can work on an existing dynasty ship, and must be set as a captain and be captaining the ship.
- Insurance costs are paid from the dynasty's account. This occurs automatically, much like it does now from an individual's marks account. Debt would be incurred if dynasty account is empty.
- Supply purchases are paid by the captain currently piloting the ship. No thank you to buying 999 EM batteries on the dynasty's dime and then dumping the for pickup. If it were otherwise, this would be a major loophole for second/alt abuse.
That's all I've got. I certainly don't think this is a must-have kind of feature, but it would make a lot of sense, and I think it would allow for an opportunity to lay groundwork for doing things like setting up ship mortgages in the future. (Wherein you can captain a ship, but somebody else owns it.) I don't much care for the idea of a faction owning ships, for reasons I can't quite put my finger on (and, sadly, don't have time to figure out today).
And while I'm writing about ships, I think it'd be a good idea to add an entry-level hauling ship as an alternative to a corvette. Just saying.
Steve
6