Marvin

Due to his/her lack of attendance, Trainee Kenshin (rouroni) has been disenrolled from the Academy and placed in casual status with the 1st Orbital Marine Battalion, Marine Basic Training (Boot Camp). Kalshion, please check the Fleet Database to insure I've reassigned Kenshin to the proper location ... we wouldn't want anyone wandering into null space.

The following cadets have until Sunday, 27 June, to complete Training Mission 1 and either post it to the Academy section of the Prime Fleet forum or send it to Commander "Mrxknown" Grayson. [*]Flax [*]Kenshin Non-compliance will result in disenrollment from the Academy and deletion from the Fleet database.

Why we should use RemoÔÇÖs rank structure. Incentive. With the addition of multiplayer to the universe of 3000 A.D., the possibility now exists for Fleet and Wing commanders to gauge the actual performance of their people. Actual. Not role-playing, where anyone can imagine himself or herself as the hero of the galaxy. Previously, promotions could only be gained either through participation at the website or, more likely, through attrition. Granted, participation can still be considered when a command position opens up but performance on-line must now also be considered. As the Fleet grows in ranks, the number of available slots very likely wonÔÇÖt keep pace with the need to recognize outstanding performance in multiplayer. Ergo, we need other methods of recognizing extraordinary combat skill. The most obvious (and the most military) is promotion in rank/grade. It is simply another reflection of moving from a single-player, R/P universe to the multiplayer world of Universal Combat. Btw (FYI), the actual ranking system for the U.S. Armed Forces (and most anything else military) can be found here: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/blrank.htm Note: We recognize that not everyone can perform extraordinarily on line; some consideration must also be given to time-in-grade. For this reason, a promotion schedule could be set up to reflect the merit of ÔÇ£just sticking with the FleetÔÇØ (e.g. Promotion to Lieutenant comes 30 days after graduation from the Academy).

quote:Originally posted by Cartmanbeeps: I am getting Battlecruiser mellenium gold edition and i would like to join.... I was going to suggest you should buy Universal Combat ... then decided to check your computer specs first, to make sure it would run on your machine. Guess what?

Curiouser and curiouser.

I would never take a thread off topic. So ... what SC said.

quote:Originally posted by Annihilator: ... then put you AE in a shuttle. Give your CC the halt order ....Give the "Halt" order first. While you're still at the Tactical computer, after assigning your AE, the CC's autopilot might try to comply with an old order and re-orient itself. Then you're stuck until your AE returns to the bridge.

Checkride results: Cadet Dennymala Denny has successfully completed his multiplayer checkride. "Lessons Learned" include the following. 1. When using TacOps to set waypoints for his shuttle, Denny targeted a hostile planetside base. The flow of target data resulted in excessive lag, making it extremely difficult to continue using TacOps. To compensate, we flew to the next region of space where Denny successfully used TacOps to plot waypoints in an unpopulated region of the planet. 2. Towing a damaged commander requires that certain procedures be followed, otherwise the relationship between towed craft and towing craft confuses the server. The following procedures work most of the time. [*]The ship to be towed should transmit SOS. [*]The towing ship should engage tractor beam in the usual manner. [*]Upon approaching the starstation, the towing ship should not initiate docking. Instead, he/she should fly under the station so as to assure a zero (0) range from towed ship to the station. [*]If possible, the towing ship should then disengage the tractor beam. Confirm from the towed commander that he is in range. If not, re-engage and lock back on. [*]The towed craft must have the starstation targeted in the TDD. If all sensors are off line, attempt to get a "blind" lock by cycling through the targets and checking the range -- then using Ctrl+F to insert the flight path info. If the FP target does not indicate you are locked on to the station, cycle to the next target and try again. [*]Attempt to dock. Distance to the station will probably fluctuate; try to time docking so that that the range is zero. [*]If it was necessary for the towing craft to keep a tractor lock-on, the towed craft might still indicate being towed after launching back into space. This problem can usually be solved by having the towing craft cycle his/her tractor beam while the towed craft turns off the SOS. Then the towing craft should re-engage tractor beam and approach the towed craft; if necessary, have the towed craft again transmit SOS, tractor the craft, then disengage the beam. 3. If you have been towed to a station for repairs, collect the items you need and launch back into space in a timely manner but make darn sure your Logistix computer is operational. If it is not, assign all ten station engineers to the job -- then depart the station in a timely manner. If you depart with an inop Logistix computer, you cannot assign your own (low AI) engineers to make necessary repairs.

quote:Originally posted by Gudihl: Those are, well, rewards, for experience points. Even if you gather enought EPs to be "Supreme Cmdr." (in MP), there's no chance that you ever become The Supreme Commander[GALCOM].

quote:Originally posted by Cmdr Chavik: Marvin popped in and I promptly killed him. Hope i didn't make him mad 'cause I didn't see him the rest of that evening.No problem, Chav. We were having problems with electricity last night and I had to shut down the computer.

Logged on and no problems. Posted to the Academy section and no problems. Sent you a PM and no error messages. So far, good to go.

quote:Originally posted by Gudihl: If you fired a weapon, you become visible for a short time. Enough for modern station defense systems to fire a few shots on you. If they (the shots) hit you, you stay visible (for another short time)... After a few more tests, I realized that it also isn't a good idea to launch a missile without altering your course quickly thereafter. The station's defenses will attempt to destroy the missile and, if you continue to follow it on its merry journey to the target, you will most likely catch a few stray energy bolts meant for the missile.

Prime Fleet Academy Grading Sheet CHECK RIDE -- Cadet Patrik Vanda 1. Deploy Mining Drone. _X_ Deploys shuttle (AI pilot assigned). _X_ SC hyperjumps to correct target (planet/moon). _X_ SC successfully makes planetfall (day side). _X_ SC Maintains shallow approach to landing area (waypoints set correctly). _X_ SC lands successfully. _X_ Mining drone deployed. _X_ SC returns to command craft. 2. Deploy Fighters for Protection. _X_ All four fighters deployed. _X_ Two fighters (lead and wingman) patrol area together. _X_ Two fighters escort instructor's CC. 3. Recall All Fighters. _O_ Wingmen RTB prior to lead. -- Wingmen and flight leads were allowed to RTB together, inviting a possible midair. Flight lead should be ordered to "Halt" while wingman docks with CC. _X_ All four fighters RTB successfully. 4. Deploy Cargo Pod for Pickup/Resupply. _X_ Docks with starstation to purchase 500 units of radine. _X_ Departs starstation in a timely manner. _X_ Deploys cargo pod containing 500 units of radine. -- Currently, contents of cargo pod are only visible to commander who owns the pod so grading of this item is strictly on the honor system. ___ Delivers cargo pod (via SC) to instructor's CC. -- Not tested; not even sure if it's possible. 5. Deploy Fighter for Recon (Patrol). _O_ FC charged and ready. -- Fighters were not immediately prepped after RTB. _X_ FC remains in area after launch. 6. Defends Against Cloaked Ship. _X_ Detects cloaked attack (shields dropping). _X_ Maneuvers at high speed. -- Very high speed. Hyperspeed, in fact. Led a merry chase. ___ Utilizes EMD against missiles/continuously. -- Not observed. _X_ Cloaks. _X_ Successfully exits the area. _X_ Successfully counter-attacks (destroys attacker)/forces attacker to retreat. 7. Request Assistance. _X_ Activates SOS (Ctrl+Alt+T). _X_ Accepts tow. _X_ Docks with station. _X_ Launches from station in a timely manner (all repair items aboard CC). ___ Initiates in-space repairs. -- Unnecessary. 8. Order SC Tow. _X_ Launches shuttle. _X_ Directs SC to tow command craft. _X_ Successfully obtains tow to starstation. _X_ Successfully docks for repairs. 9. Attack As Cloaked Ship. _X_ Cloaks prior to jumping. _X_ Disengages PTA. _X_ Utilizes missiles (successfully targets "friendly" instructor's CC). _X_ Pursues/destroys target. _X_ Disengages cloak A/R. Note: Failed to insure "weapons safe" after instuctor called a cease fire (knock it off), resulting in fatal damage to instructor's ship. 10. Render Assistance. _X_ At cadet's option, uses available resources to assist disabled CC (instructor). 11. Attack Starstation for Capture. _X_ Cloaks prior to jumping. ___ Disengages PTA prior to jumping. -- Not observed. ___ Jumps to supply station (arrives closer to starstation). -- Not observed. _O_ Successfully destroys station's shield. _O_ Successfully forces station to transmit SOS. _O_ Captures station. _O_ Destroys station. _O_ Retreats. Note: Starstation capture isn't as easy as it used to be. Student fired a missile at relatively close range. As seen from TacOps, it looked as if the student's CC then decloaked for a couple seconds ... just long enough for the station to lock on and destroy the craft. The cadet insists he never de-cloaked. Final Grade: Passed.

quote:Originally posted by Kalshion: Roger that boss, uhh does that mean we have to change our sigs? This is a TDY (Temporary DutY), Kal. You continue to wear your own patches ... because you still represent Prime Fleet.

Thanks, SC. Now I can go back to doing the "paperwork."

quote:Originally posted by Shingen: Is there any possible way to make the default AI in a UC MP game 50+ or above? ... TOs under 50 AI will not disengage launch control when intruders are present.... What intruders? Even on the NPC servers, I've never encountered an intruder. Have I just been lucky?

quote:Originally posted by Grizzle: Jamotto was on and we had some fun hunting each other, but the cloak issue prevented him from seeing me for the only kill I got against him. I guess I'll stop cloaking until it's fixed.When Patrik and I first entered Server 2, it was as stable as a submarine on a calm day. A big part of his checkride dealt with attacking while cloaked and defending against a cloaked ship. The tests were conducted without any problem at all. No lag. None. No problem targeting. No problem cloaking or uncloaking. No problem seeing each other when either/both were uncloaked. Personally, I think the problem only crops up when the action gets hot and heavy ... perhaps old data packets are confusing the server's processing of data. But, that issue will be resolved elsewhere. Until it is, I suggest you use a relatively "clean" server if you want to battle it out as a cloaked ship. Hopefully, I'll have time to give you a hand.

quote:Originally posted by Mrxknown: Marvin are you handling the senior cadets? Yup. And if the Prime Fleet website isn't up by this afternoon, I'll be creating a temporary "Backlogged Fleet Business" thread, here, so I can get some Fleet "paperwork" off my desktop and into the pipeline. You're welcome to add anything you feel necessary.

quote:Originally posted by Grizzle: Is there some code of conduct for engaging or should we feel free to open up on anyone of an opposing team? I don't want to ruin someones game if they are just learning the ropes, but at the same time I don't want to float around waiting for folks to do battle with.Last night I used the previously seldom-used Server 2 to conduct a cadet's checkride. 2.5 hours later, the server was crowded but the current "gentleman's rules" of conduct allowed us to complete the check unmolested. Thanks to all players for that. quote:I'm sure if I joined a Fleet I'd see more coordinated gameplay, but I don't think I can commit the time to do such a thing.Prime Fleet is working on some test MP scenarios for anyone interested. They will start out simple, with one or two primary objectives. As soon as the issue with cloaked ships is resolved, we will try to organize one of the test games.

"Redeye" was not among the names of new recruits or on my list of pending cadets; I contacted everyone on the list by email ... those who did not reply were deleted. Check the Fleet DB to see if you're still registered. If not, register again, please. Mrxknown is starting up a new class of cadets and I believe the first training mission is scheduled for early next week.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: Besides, I was just going to back it up and delete it. That would've freaked him out to no end. Don't tell Remo, but that had me on the floor, laughing ... just thinking about it. Thanks to Gordon, all my own images are stored elsewhere ... just in case. Time to take a break.