Supreme Cmdr

This was sent to me by DeSylva and I approved it. quote: Hi Derek. Just a quick note form me to let you know that we are currently discussing this issue of new fleets and multiplayer gaming groups (which we are referring to as Squadrons, as opposed to Clans). Just letting you know my personal position on the matter - which is that I vehemently oppose any attempts to regulate the formation of multiplayer squadrons. My reasons? I believe it would be a serious blow to the multiplayer credibility of the game if the testers, etc. started harrassing players and telling them not to call themselves anything they want because it's "not official". I think it will give the game a bad reputation and send gamers scuttling back to Descent or whatever other flavour is currently popular. I believe that the entire scene will be self regulating anyway. Serious multiplayer gamers get into the spirit of the universe they are playing in because it aids their concentration and effort. Non-serious gamers who try and create ridiculous squadrons such as "X-Wing Rogue BC3020AD" will not be taken seriously, will end up playing only each other, and are likely to be harrassed off the major servers anyway by all the other players. I also don't believe this need impact on the fleets at all. The fleets have a right to field multiplayers using the fleet name and that will bring those players a lot of respect because the other players will realise they've been around long enough to become a member of that fleet. However, multiplayer squadrons don't automaticaly become fleets and have the same rights. The big difference between fleets and squadrons is that fleets are officially recognised in the history of the BC universe and in the game itself with fleet starstations, etc. There doesn't need to be any modification to the current structure, because squadrons don't belong in that structure. So my vote is for absolutely no regulation at all. The squadrons that become really good, and develop a strong history and one that is consistent with the BC universe, may eventually become affiliated with current fleets; or may become so popular and so original that they become fleets of their own, subject to your approval, of course. What more control needs there be? To try and impose any more restrictions just leads to a lot of hard work for us, and very little fun for the players. The squadrons WILL stick to historically consistent names and activities, especially if there is a good, juicy, and varied history for them to choose from. Speaking of which, did you receive my proposal concerning the BC3020AD history? Yours, ______________________________________________________________________ Commander DeSylva GALCOM Fleet Command Geocities Email: [email protected] Personal Webpages: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/9206 ISS Fleet Coordinator Fleet Email: [email protected] ISS Webpages: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/9206/iss "Serve - with Honour."

I'm surprised that Mech3, SpacePhish and Chris Blair are still able to post. Though I have authority over the site, Rattler hit the note spot on. I have appointed moderators and admin personnel for a specific reason. It seems that they are more lenient than I am. Look, this site is supposed to be fun. It has been but for the odd moron or two. I'd like to keep it that way. BC3K players are regarded in the industry as an elite group of players just by association with the game because of its difficult, high-end and advanced nature. The same way Falcon 4 players turn their noses up at Novalogic 'sims'. This is for a reason. Its because the average BC3K player, regardless of age, race, color or creed, is a disciplined person, eager to help another and willing to uphold the regs of this site as well as the integrity of the 'game' premise. I don't take my game world lightly because it took me years to build it. This franchise has cost me millions of dollars, though it is a drop in the bucket that other companies spend to promote their own franchise. In the industry 'brand name' is what sells products and gain recognition. It has to be solid, secure and fun for those who stand by said franchise. This is why, I protect it. DeSylva sent me a proposal via email regarding the creating of groups in the multiplayer. As I suspected, it contained all the necessary ingredients to appease all sides and not lock out newbies or those who want to exist outside the normal framework of the game. I accepted and authorized it and I asked him to post it here. He has not done so, and I suspect that he is busy, so I will post it in the appropriate thread. That said, there are two ways of locking people out of this site for conduct unbecoming a disciplined BC3K commander. One is to restrict posting access and the other is an outright ban and which prevents you even entering the site, so you won't be able to read nor post. Chris, you came this close to being locked out. Mech3 just came back from a 7 day stint in the brig. Though he was able to read but not post, imagine what it feels like to be on the outside looking in and not being able to participate. This will be your final warning. Of course, if Rattler and the others deem that you should be disciplined, then its up to them to carry that out, I won't veto their decision. Multiplayer is coming and like the game itself, is going to be a remarkable experience. Its going to take everything you know about the game and the alliances you make on and offline, to be an elite. In fact, though time prevented me from doing the SDF campaign, I will be using the multiplayer universe to handle ranks and ratings, in short, our own dynamic roster which the server has the ability to track and update the main page here on the site. So, everyone will get a chance to be somebody in the universe, be it a commander of an elite team or a renegade raider in the outer rim. It won't do you much good if you can't access the official server to play because if you are banned from the site, you won't be able to log on any official server either, you will have to create your own and play with your friends. If you then decide to create your own rank structure, I won't care because you are not on any of my official servers. Though BC:3020AD won't be out until Q1 2000, I have been toying with the idea of putting in basic multiplayer in the WIN32 port of BC3K v2.0x, slated as BC3K v3.0 (its a free upgrade) once Steve is finished his current task list. I don't have time to do it and since I've got the WIN32 port already finished, all thats needed is for him to put in the D3D renderer from BC:3020AD so that D3D and Glide 3D rendering are supported. I have been negotiating with the Roger Wilco guys to use their voice transmission engine (I got it for free) into BC:3020AD and I decided to use BC3K v3.0 as a test bed for it by using their voice recognition engine as well as their networking protocols to do it. This means that BC3K v3.0 will most likely have multiplayer and voice recognition as a test platform and will be used to fine tune BC:3020AD though it uses rTime, a different networking engine with support for a persistent universe and up to 1000 players per server (BCK Online). Why am doing all this? Simple. The BC3K community is one which I built from the ground up and which I treasure. As I've said over and over, whether I gain a new user or not, is irrelevant because I have a large enough install base that I am comfortable with and as long as the titles in the series continue to provide enjoyment and push the limits, they will be the ones spreading the word and enhancing the experience. But, morons can't do that. There are a lot of things going on back here that I don't talk about for a lot of reasons and I intend to keep it that way. The industry is highly competitive and full of copycats and wannabes, that alone is reason enough to strive for excellence and anything and everything that gives the edge. Oh, about Freespace2 demo. I played it, like the graphics. We're creaming them. They can compete with Starlancer, Tachyon, B5 etc. Nice looking shooters. We will remain the elite group and now that we have graphics to match Mrs Jones and the gang, we've already got the edge from a gameplay, multiplayer and longevity standpoint. ------------------ Supreme Commander D. Smart GCV-Warmonger GALCOM Prime Fleet

You'd better run your app through a spellchecker before sending it off to GALCOM

Bager, thats some pretty cool stuff. Anyway, all intercetors are 2 (tandem) seaters. You use of a first generation MK1 BC is fine and I can allow you some artistic freedom. The cloaking tech is available on all BCs but are more advanced in the MK2 and even more advanced in the MK3 prototype.

This is a serious thread and if I see one more off-topic rant like the ones from Chris and Sebastian, I'm deleting them. DeSylva and Lynx Pherett are accurate in their testimony and this is what I had in mind. I just do not have the time to screw around with this right now. So, I will monitor this thread and will refer to it when the time comes to decide how to do it. Until then, DeSylva's model for creating new branches from existing fleets (depending on what the users want), is now in effect. In the case of Mechwarrior and a squadron not based on an existing fleet, I will wait to hear DeSylva's suggestion further. Until then, the permission for Mechwarrior to proceed, remains denied and on hold until I get a good proposal. Also, the term clan, is hereby outlawed in this universe. Fleets, Squadrons and Wings, are the norm and this is the structure that should be used. Remember also that you do not have to play BC:3020AD multiplayer in a craft. Because there is first/third person control of personnel, you can also log on as a marine, medic or engineer (class based) or as an ATV driver. This restricts your engagement to the surface (you will get to pick a planet/moon based on the server you joined) so you can run around blowing shit up (marine), treating your injured comrades (medic) or repairing destroyed units (engineer). In BC3K Online, you will also be able to jump in an drive an ATV unit if you find an empty one. So, this means that you can also have squads that are planetary based only. I think DeSylva and co already had this structure somewhere. So, you and some friends could have "Interstellar Infantry Division 1" or something like that and are part of say, the Orion Fleet. In which case you may have the air/space/surface branches of the Orion Fleet, engaged in space/plantary combat against say a group from the Spectre Fleet. I've discuss this before in the past, and I think you folks forget. This is how it is designed and this is how it is being implemented. In BC3K Online, if the server is running a 'world' that contains space and planetary regions, they will be active and updated at the same time and players will be able to transition from other to the other (if you are flying a craft of course). In BC:3020AD, you will only be able to play either in space or on a planet (depending on the unit you choose to control) without being able to transition from space to planet and vice versa. This is why voice communications (as well as the normal typing) with different channels, will be supported so that you can still communicate, though you can't see each other if you are in different regions. You will also get real-time updates from the server so that you know what the heck is going on in either region you are not playing in. Imagine a game that just ended in which some newbies were supposed to take out a base on the planet surface and they didn't but the guys in fighters in space were able to take out all the opposing force. You could lose the game (at final count) because the guys on the surface screwed up. This could also happen the other way around. In BC:3030AD, you could potentially fly to the surface and give your friends, running around as marines, ground cover from a fighter etc. A virtual battlefield. If you've played Tribes, then you get the idea. But like all things the BC3K does, I plan on going overboard and creating a truly immersive multplayer world as I have the single-player. Anyway, Desylva, if you still have the fleet, squad etc, heirarchy somewhere, please put it together with a proposal (as the one you listed here) in a file and send to me via email when you have it all sorted out. Before I forget, Antti, when the call was made for you to sign up for beta testing, you were not available. This is your problem, not mine. I put Lynx in your slop. Apart from that, a few minutes ago, I ran a scan of your posts and you do not meet the criteria for being a good tester/assistant because helpful posts to newbies and vets alike, are few and far between. This is the reason why I picked Lynx and will be sorting out my new list when the game goes Beta sometime later this year. Also, it is not so much about the quantity of the posts but the quality. Lynx, Canusa etc and other people here, help each other and are generally involved in the activities of this site. This helps reduce my involvement and I don't have to worry about responding to everything that I see because I know that someone will, in my stead. So, this has nothing to do with your status as Fleet Leader and you are the only exception to the rule that fleet leaders are all testers. Sorry, but thats the way it is. Why was Tac the exception (he was also absent during the casting call)? Simple. He has been helpful and I did get a response back the day I realized he was AWOL. [This message has been edited by Supreme Cmdr (edited 08-06-99).]

Permission to create a new fleet is DENIED. And until BC:3020AD is released, there won't be any new fleets or race/castes created. Any commander not belonging to a registered fleet, should use the UCV designation until further notice. Once BC:3020AD+mp are out, I will have a dedicated and redesigned fleet page here. The BC3K universe is not a free for all. I will later allow the creation of new fleets but with specific designations, rules etc which augment what DeSylva already has. So, if MechWarrior wants to create a Raider Fleet (he won't be allowed to), he will have to demonstrate leadership etc. In fact, now that I think about it, for new official fleets, I will list them all, including the allowed race/caste affiliations, have people enroll and then pick a leader based on some criteria that I will cook up in my sleep. All the fleet leaders here, did not spring up over night. They are dedicated vets who know the game and its universe inside out. They are leaders. It would be insulting to have some upstart just spring up overnight (especially one such as Mechwarrior who has been discipined once and was only re-instated last night) and form a fleet. The next person to create a fleet, think of a new fleet, dream of one of even hint that he's doing any of the above, is going to get disciplined. All the fleet leaders here are official testers and therefore, I will work with them in constructing a criteria for creating new fleets, assigning stations, wings etc, when the time comes. For now, DeSylva, Spcfx, Akira, Tac etc, why don't you guys send me a proposal for the new fleets with a diverse selection of race/caste affiliations? That is all. ------------------ Supreme Commander D. Smart GCV-Warmonger GALCOM Prime Fleet [This message has been edited by Supreme Cmdr (edited 08-05-99).]

OK, everyone, say goodbye to Mechwarrior whose priviledges have been reduced to reading but not posting for a week. MW, if you create another alias and I detect it, I'll ban you for life and you won't be able to get in, let alone read or post.

Oh boy, this oughta be good. Anytime you guys want me to intervene, just say the word. From all accounts and for the sake of {RP}, I think MW is up for court-martial anyway. ...I'd better just get this out of way now that I'm here.... Jon's take on the Insurgent creed and cause is right on the mark and in line with my game universe. MW, take note. MW, if the Insurgents won't have you (no, you cannot create a new fleet), then you are reduced to a Raider or some other game caste (there are lot of hostile castes to chose from, read your manual). When multiplayer is released in BC:3020AD, you and your friends can create an 'online fleet' which will only exist within that world and not part of my game universe. At any rate, in light of these developments, you are now stripped of your GALCOM designation. Please remove the GCV tag from your sig. Since we don't know where you are, I guess you can keep the ship but you are neither GCV nor ECV or even ICV designation. You should use the UCV (Unregistered Command Vessel) tag from now on. That is my ruling. So, next time you post, you should be using UCV-DARK RIFT (Raider) in your sig. You can change the caste to anything you like (other than GALCOM, Earthcom, Military, Insurgent, Diplomat, Police) I only used Raider as an example. There is a new Mercenary caste in BC:3020AD anyway, so, you can use that now if you like. Yes, I just made that whole UCV thing up as I was typing it and have updated the BC:3020AD manuscript accordingly. Anyone not belonging to a fleet, can use this and select any caste they like. You will be able to do the same thing in multiplayer anyway. Supreme Commander D. Smart GCV-Warmonger GALCOM First Fleet [This message has been edited by Supreme Cmdr (edited 07-26-99).]

I've more feedback for you. Since BC3K is primarily a DOS program, you may be able to get the sound to work by using a program which allows DOS sound emulation under NT. You can find this file at this URL. I would suggest that you disable MIDI music in the game and just concentrate on getting SOUNDBLASTER (or SBPRO) working. I would be interested in knowing if it works. www.softsystems.demon.co.uk

I don't think it would work, especially because of the sound drivers. It *may* work without sound but you would (I understand that you said you have it working on a WIN95 machine) have to disable the sound in the CONFIG on your WIN95 rig and then copy the SETUP.CFG file to the NT rig. Disable the intro as well and set it to keyboard for control (you can try joystick later). If that works, let me know.

quote: I've tried everything they suggested in the troubleshooting FAQ, and nothing works. Thats probably because it doesn't say anywhere that it would work on NT.

Interesting spcfx, send me a detailed proposal via email.

...about those promotions, forget it. I will handle all promotions even for fleets. We don't particularly want a bunch of morons running around as Supreme Commander anytime soon. So, for now, the fleet leaders are at Fleet Commander rank and everyone else is at Commander rank until I figure out how to handle this without it being abused. Suggestions are welcome. The first person to post a brain-dead suggestion is going to get axed.

LOL, no problem.

Today, after deleting/ignoring each and every intrusive email that Antti has sent me, pestering me about this, I have decided to promote all fleet leaders to the rank of Fleet Commander. With this promotion, all fleet leaders can add this rank to their sigs and they can, with the help of Spcfx and other GBS vets, organize their own TODs and promote their members to higher ranks. As Supreme Commander, I reserve the right to strip GALCOM personnel of their ranks as I see fit. So, fleet leaders, don't even think of promoting any members, without first holding a GBS campaign and sending me the results. Failure to do this, will most definitely result in me stripping you of your rank. GALCOM has nothing to do with the Insurgent fleets but I will oversee all rankings. For simplicity sake, Insurgents will have the same ranking structure as GALCOM (for now) until I come up with their own ranking for BC:3020AD. Newbies, no, you can't create new fleets. The fleets are fixed. When I figure out a worthy person, I will appoint a Fleet Commander for the Prime Fleet, seeing that I don't have time to worry about that right now. I will also be doing spot checks at the websites of all Fleet Commanders. You have two weeks in which to have an updated roster of your members. If I check in two weeks and there isn't a single page with the member rosters (similar to the one I have here), I'm busting all fleet leaders back to Commander. Yes, the SDF will happen at some point soon. I just have to look over the script and make sure that it is foil proof but good enough to be a challenge. I have been coacking Spcfx on how the scripting works and he should be able to help out with the GBS stuff once he is fully up to speed. I will, when I find time, update the manual some more. Thats that. Antti, if you send me one more email or ICQ message...

How'd u guys manage to screw up this thread's formating?

I never get involved in this forum but the one time I show up, I find trouble. Anyway, Ron, the forum's all yours until DeSylva gets back. Parias is all yours..good luck.

Who the heck gave you permission to create a new caste and alter my property? Parias, I just let you back in, the next time I kick you out, you are never coming back. I don't have time to babysit you. DeSylva, am holding you responsible. If you can't maintain the integrity of this forum, let me know and I'll appoint another moderator. Hopefully by the time I come back to check, Parias would have edited his post. Thanks Tac [This message has been edited by Supreme Cmdr (edited 05-16-99).]

{RP} SC, Karl Reines, going thru a log of ship departures that he had requested, stared at the screen and noticed that the Starflight had cleared for launch. Curiously enough, there no flight plan was filed with CENTCOM. He made a mental note to talk to operations about that later. The Starflight was one of the last ships to be upgraded and the new Commander, Shadowstar was, well, a curious sort. {/RP}

The SC is thinking of something to type.... [This message has been edited by Supreme Cmdr (edited 05-14-99).]

I agree with Echo, the work uniform does seem bulky.

Welcome back Antti! Hope you are feeling better. Nothing much has changed except that Interplay missed the ship date - again, some pirates are getting geared up in Europe to benefit from my v1.00 to 2.01 patch, I'm really pissed at Interplay for the lost revenue (everyone can kiss their Christmas bonus goodbye) and the Insurgents are just as arrogant as ever. Yep, a lots happened.

LOL, I heard that was some sort of treaty in the works. Ha!, I'd like to see how long that one lasts

Welcome back!...er 'ang on a minute, I didn't know he was gone. Reminds me of a Rodney Dangerfield joke. "....yeah, been in the entertainment industry for a long time, so I quit. To give you an idea of how well I was doing when I quit; I was the only one who knew I quit."