Galactic Command Online FAQ

[WarpCore]

I have a few questions for SC. If you leave your ship and enter a fighter and subsequently get shot down, will you be able to "beam out" of it before you die a la Star Trek? Will you be able to transport off of a planet's surface back to your ship? Also what happens after you build a base and sign off? Will the base automatically defend itself if it is attacked after you log off?

WarpCore

[Charles Lindsey]

I had a question then found this.

quote:

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Q. HOW IS TRADING HANDLED?

A. You can trade with NPCs or players in a traditional barter or financial exchange fashion.

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Still, other than trading and mining, how does one get money?

Can you sell your services? (IE Protection/escort as Mercenary caste)

How does the financial exchange work? Cargo for Cargo? Cargo for money? How does one drop money?

Will the trading still be dynamic between systems? (IE one station at 10% inflation while another at 40% inflation. ) You could then garner even more profit from your trade.

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Vice Admiral Chavik

ICV Phoenix, Sygan Starstation (Sygan)

Fleet Leader - Balor Fleet

Official BC3K Tester

[Rico Jansen]

Charles!?! You've got to know that allready! Or should be going to in the next few weeks/months. I recall several times the past months (maybe more like last year) things being said about BCM and how we can exchange money (with each other or with NPCs).

For example: (eventhough this entry doesn't say everything)

BCM info page

quote:

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┬À Numerous multiplayer options, incl player to player trading, co-op etc

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Cmdr. Rico Jansen

GCV de Ruyter, Genesis (Moon)

16 Squadron Leader - Prime Fleet, Gamma Wing, 1st Squadron

[This message has been edited by Rico Jansen (edited 03-13-2001).]

[Charles Lindsey]

You're half right Rico. I do know some of the answers. But I can't remember where I know them from so it's best to keep my mouth shut. Granted that the last one was a bit silly but I could just see someone asking it so I threw it out there.

We know cargo for cargo trading will be possible. That's a given. If anyone can make a cargo pod and there are multiple players it just follows that they will probably trade.

I thought they might make good additions to the FAQ. If they are too silly and they get ignored that's ok too.

[aramike]

Here's a question for you, Derek:

Will Alliance and Fleet commanders be able keep undesirable mercs out of their stations? I mean, we wouldn't want to restrict access to ALL mercs, because some may be working for us. So will we be able to restrict particular screwballs from accessing? Also, will we be able to set the automated defenses to look out for certain individuals while ignoring others?

Granted, it could take the course of just having to trash the guy's ship before he makes it to your station, but still - then we'd sell him fuel, repairs, supplies, not to mention, let him DOCK?

There's my question.

PS: If anyone has had any problems posting to this thread as of late, be advised that it is now fixed.

[Supreme Cmdr]

Steve: You won't be able to deploy your ship's AI marines. They are for in-ship use only. Marines running around the planet will all be PCs

Mikel: Yes

Epsilon5: Dunno yet

Warpcore:

1. No. But you can eject as normal

2. No. Besides, a carrier commander will NOT be able to command ANY other craft. GCO is *not* BCM.

3. Yes

Charles:

• You use your imagination. And while you're at it, you could read the FAQ for GCO.

• See above

• See above. You don't drop money. You initiate an exchange and a screen comes up, blah, blah, blah. You can still drop stuff, say a weapon, for someone to pick up.

• Silly question

aramike:

1. If its your base/city/station etc, you can do what the heck you like. My idea for this is to use a password or ID. Anyone with this can enter the site. Of course, if some nutcase passes it around, you can just change it. Of course you can also kick people out. I will revisit this once I've had time to think about it some more.

2. heh

[aramike]

I know I probably shouldn't keep going, but I'd like to offer a suggestion:

quote:

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If its your base/city/station etc, you can do what the heck you like. My idea for this is to use a password or ID. Anyone with this can enter the site. Of course, if some nutcase passes it around, you can just change it. Of course you can also kick people out. I will revisit this once I've had time to think about it some more.

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If a password/ID thing is used, I think that would allow anyone too much time to get within range.

I think that maybe something like a "ban list" would work. I mean, MERCS have got to be allowed to INITIALLY get within range to make the first contact, right? So, I think that being able to add certain individuals to a sort of ban list would allow station and fleet commanders to be more discriminant than a password system. And, it would be more effective because you wouldn't have to wait to see if the approaching vessel has the correct password. FURTHER, you wouldn't have a problem of password breaches. Another advantage is that the SECOND such a perp is detected within the system, defenses could go on high alert. Again, waiting to see if the guy has the correct password may take too long, and could prevent certain LEGIT people from making contact at all.

Oh yeah, it would also be great to make sure your PTA targets a particularly WELL KNOWN criminal, even if you've never encountered him before.

You know I don't give suggestions often, Derek. But I think this one is worthy of consideration.

quote:

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heh

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LOL!

[This message has been edited by aramike (edited 03-17-2001).]

[Supreme Cmdr]

Using a list is definitely a good idea.

As for the PTA. Can't do it. They are totally independent systems which prioritize targets. If I can think of any other way to enhance them (assuming such is needed), I'll think about it. Once you start giving the option to flag a particular target for PTA acquisition, you start running into MORE micromanagement.

[Epsilon 5]

Well, you could have a "PTA ignore" and "PTA forced attack" for those that would not need to be shot or vice versa.

You said it was fine if a bunch of Ter/Mil and Insurgents went on a party togheter, but they don't want to shoot on each other ny mistake (if they are caught by a raider wing, for example), eh?

Anf If a Military need to kill a merc, they couldn't do it with the PTA if there is no PTA forced attack list.

This is no micro-management, it's just LPTA (Less passive...)

Could you change your caste? Like Gallion being a military switching to insurgents, or a trader changing for commercial? Without making a brand new character? If yes, you wouldn't be able to switch to goody hostile caste without special permission (like Gallion coming back to the military, or a reaider becoming a merc)

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Commander Epsilon 5

GCV - StalkerIV, Orion Starstation (CENTRIS)

Deterrence Battle Group

www.orionfleet.com

'This Far, No Farther!'

[LordDavid]

What about the Ping? How is it going to be with some people having a 500 ms ping during a fast paced dogfight or 1st person shootout? During Everquest, it didn't really matter quite as much because all you did was target someone and it auto attacked.....

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Commodore lordDavid

ICV Dark Saber, New America (Midae)

Satation Commander, New America

Eversor Fleet

Official BC3K Tester

[This message has been edited by LordDavid (edited 03-19-2001).]

[Supreme Cmdr]

E5. Which part of my post about the PTA was unclear?

Ping will be as any normal game. Have fast connection, you'll be fine. Play on low connection, you're screwed. Again, I am NOT interested in the lowest common denominator. In fact, I'll probably have a broadband only suite of servers and have fewer 56K only servers. I am NOT prepared to deal with the headache of trying to cater to everyone.

[Pioneer]

Regarding the issue of disconnections, I wanted to serve a warning based on experiences that I am currently having in another closed beta space sim.

If you disconnect in combat, what happens?

Will the server be able to differentiate between a connection lost, and a hard shutdown?

If you disconnect while travelling, will your ship continue heading where it was or will it stop in place?

If you are on a time sensitive mission and you disconnect, will the server pause the timer?

Just a few random thoughts...in the other game discos have become a huge problem and combat exploit...I fully believe in learning from others' mistakes =)

~Pio

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Commander Pioneer

ICV-Striker, Spectre (Antis)

Spectre Fleet

"If you're thinking about losing, you're already dead."

[This message has been edited by Pioneer (edited 03-20-2001).]

[Epsilon 5]

Ok, I'm reviving this "old" topic to ask one very important question:

Imagine this. A city on a planet, with lot of buildings, and people. I don't know yet if a city will be a no-guns area , but anyway. A raider comes by in a cruiser. With it's turrets and everything else it start blowing everything around. Those poor gunships aren't that fast and aren't shielded, but the cruiser is. Next, you have a bunch of marines who comes out and start shooting with bazookas (PRL units). But those kids get killed by the turrets, so sad .

My question: does ground and atmospheric vessels and tanks actually have a chance against cruisers and carriers? I mean, I can't imagine a dozen ter/mil marines shooting with PRL units and actually destroying a battlecruiser without being destroyed back first. That would be over-power . But it also inbalance the game . And what about the Sunflash, equipped with 12 turrets? That's one deadly weapon.

And yet, I'm not speaking of OTS weaponry.

[Guest Commander Hamblin]

How will military lift work? I understand that our AI marines are for in ship use only, but what about PC marines? Furthermore, can we deploy vehicles and other equipment with them, as long as our ship can carry them?

[Baloogan]

In GCO will there be the Jhornalist caste for PC? And can you write stories for like the GalComCableNewsNetwork, GCCNN, heh, that would be so cool, a whole city devoted to jornalism, giving news update when ever i log in, wchich is always!

[Epsilon 5]

[rp]

"This is Baloogan, from GC-CNN, good day."

"Just hours ago, the Orion fleet had an impressive victory over the spectre fleet. We have report from many people that the New America station in Midae was destroyed by a vessel called the GCV-StalkerIV, piloted by commander Epsilon 5. This..."

[/rp]

[aramike]

quote:

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Originally posted by Epsilon 5:

[rp]

"This is Baloogan, from GC-CNN, good day."

"Just hours ago, the Orion fleet had an impressive victory over the spectre fleet. We have report from many people that the New America station in Midae was destroyed by a vessel called the GCV-StalkerIV, piloted by commander Epsilon 5. This..."

[/rp]

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Heh.

[Hector Socas Navarro]

quote:

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My question: does ground and atmospheric vessels and tanks actually have a chance against cruisers and carriers? I mean, I

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The carrier would need to be in orbit before doing planetfall. Since any respectable city should be equipped with surface-to-orbit weaponry, the carrier would need to send first a team to take them down.

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

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Imagine this. A city on a planet, with lot of buildings, and people. I don't know yet if a city will be a no-guns area , but anyway. A raider comes by in a cruiser. With it's turrets and everything else it start blowing everything around. Those poor gunships aren't that fast and aren't shielded, but the cruiser is. Next, you have a bunch of marines who comes out and start shooting with bazookas (PRL units). But those kids get killed by the turrets, so sad .

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Weapons will be off-limits in cities. And all cities will have some defense mechanism. Also, I am going to place restrictions on planetfall. So, you can't just approach a planet, enter, bombard, leave. You'd need clearance from the station above first. Of course, if you sneak past, then you should have to deal with the planetary forces.

But no, just taking a cruiser (you'd have to have been playing a heck of a long time to gain the experience to even command one of those, to begin with) and going to a city and laying waste to it, will NOT be as easy as 1-2-3.

quote:

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My question: does ground and atmospheric vessels and tanks actually have a chance against cruisers and carriers?

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It depends on the type of craft and the fire power that the troops have on hand. For one thing, STOs are very effective and don't miss. So, as long as there are functional STO silos down there, coupled with the new anti-ship firearms I am introducing in GCO (for troops etc), its not going to be easy to just lay waste a site as integral as a city or base. Sure, a team of players can do it, but it will take team work...something we all know is quite difficult to obtain, in online games.

quote:

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In GCO will there be the Jhornalist caste for PC? And can you write stories for like the GalComCableNewsNetwork, GCCNN, heh, that would be so cool, a whole city devoted to jornalism, giving news update when ever i log in, wchich is always!

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The journalist caste won't add anything meaningful to the game. And when you add in a variable like that, you run the risk of some factions spreading false rumors, useless groundbreaking news, and....oh wait, our real life news sources already do that.

Actually, a sort of news service would be a good idea but will probably be abused by the Insurgents for spreading propanga. I suspect that news sources could be external to the game itself and hosted by a website. So, even if I allowed a journalist caste, they won't be permitted to carry weapons and that in itself, makes them a target for PKs...unless they remain within the city limits (where weapons are ineffective and not allowed). And if they are confined to a city, scared to brave outside the realms of the planet, how are they to get news from other cities on the planet or other planets?

The ideal journalist, like medics, would be one who could venture anywhere (as long as they have the methods of travel) and report news findings, take screen shots etc. Though I won't host this service IN the game itself, I could put in support for the caste

and with special protections. Then, some journalist player could travel, collect news etc, then go update his website with that when ready. If it is a popular site and is reliable, then of course, folks will be going to that website to get the latest breaking news and scoops.

This, btw, is a really good idea. I will make a note of it, and see what I can come up with in the upcoming months.

quote:

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How will military lift work? I understand that our AI marines are for in ship use only, but what about PC marines? Furthermore, can we deploy vehicles and other equipment with them, as long as our ship can carry them?

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I don't understand the question. Try again.

quote:

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The carrier would need to be in orbit before doing planetfall. Since any respectable city should be equipped with surface-to-orbit weaponry, the carrier would need to send first a team to take them down.

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Yep

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

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But no, just taking a cruiser (you'd have to have been playing a heck of a long time to gain the experience to even command one of those, to begin with) and going to a city and laying waste to it, will NOT be as easy as 1-2-3.

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Do you mean I (playing ter/mil) will have to go from nothing to commander to have any decent vessel? Or this only applies to non-military castes?

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

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Do you mean I (playing ter/mil) will have to go from nothing to commander to have any decent vessel?

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Most likely. It depends on your career path. e.g. if you want to be a military space craft commander, you get to be a pilot first.

[Guest Commander Hamblin]

In today's terms, military lift means the troop and associated equipment carrying capacity of an Amphibious Assault Ship (A ship with a hull designation of a variant of LS or LP). For instance, the military lift of a Tarawa class LHA is 1,900 troops and varying numbers of Landing Craft (LC) of varying capabilities, as well as necessary fuel to operate them.

Each ship in BCM has a certain military lift capacity. I'm not worried about that, what I want to know is, in GCO, will military lift still be possible in terms of players who are marines being carried and deployed on planets and/or in space by a player who is the captain of a certain class of ship? And when deploying players (who are marines) on a planet, can equipment also be deployed with them, such as vehicles?

[Hector Socas Navarro]

I think the answer to that question is yes, judging from the GCO design specs that the SC has been sharing with us. You can have your buddies hop with you on an ATV, a shuttle, or a cruiser and take them for a spin.

[Baloogan]

quote:

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The ideal journalist, like medics, would be one who could venture anywhere (as long as they have the methods of travel) and report news findings, take screen shots etc. Though I won't host this service IN the game itself, I could put in support for the caste

and with special protections. Then, some journalist player could travel, collect news etc, then go update his website with that when ready. If it is a popular site and is reliable, then of course, folks will be going to that website to get the latest breaking news and scoops.

This, btw, is a really good idea. I will make a note of it, and see what I can come up with in the upcoming months.

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3 cheers for GC-CNN!

[Baloogan]

SC i was wondering,,, could Baloogan.com become GC-CNN probillity not but an idea,,, wait a min,,, my 50th post! Commander Baloogan now!!! HA