Ships & Modules

I might just point out at this moment that "She" is actually a he...

:)

Sorry, I didn't comment on it for a few reasons:
At the time the discussion was still about using Upgraded/Limited/Experimental/Prototype for the meta names and trying to keep things consistent. Correct me if I am wrong but your suggestion was about using religious names for the meta level. I liked the idea but at the same time didn't because it would not be applicable to other weapon types. If we go with putting a short handed name at the front of the weapon, like GSPL-01, to indicate meta level then this becomes possible. Not saying it will happen, just that it becomes possible.

I think it is important to point out there are kinda two parts, and two discussions to be had, about weapon names.

One is how we go about handling the meta level names, currently the Afocal/Modal/Anode/Modulated mess.
The second is the actual weapon names themselves, Gatling Pulse Laser, Dual Pulse Laser, Medium Pulse Laser (which is a small weapon).

Of the three above the only weapon name I want to change is Medium. I however still want to come up with a meta scheme that is consistent throughout all of the weapons and modules.

Does that make sense?

Yes by all means change medium pulse lasers, to something else that makes sense, and sounds more deadly...

Please don't use the same Meta name scheme for all weapons and modules. I would much prefer a few meta schemes, at the very least one for weapons and one for modules.

Preferably a couple more, could do it based on slot. that could actually add information. If you've been playing a while then that would help you search. While being consistent.

If you add the shorthanded name please put it at the end of the name like you do with implants. It just looks wrong in front.

Thanks for all the time your putting into this.

I'd say that the only thing you should bother yourselves with is the gameplay-affecting side of changing the names. Apart from that i really could care less.

Clearing up unecessary confusion can be a good thing and will help younger players.

At the same time EVE is a game that rest on it's complexity where knowledge is power. Shift that so much that you overdo it and the game will lose it's charm for many players as well.

I'm not saying either way when it comes to this isolated issue, i'm just saying you should keep that in mind now that you create new and powerful information tools.

What you should ask yourselves is what gameplay-value this hold and wether these obstacles are arbitrary or ehancing.

Take the hoovering tooltips for example. Learning various tackle-distances or weapon-distances is significant for the game and has traditionally been one very basic way to determine the difference between "good" and "bad" players. With that information readily available you erase part of that distinction. That's an issue you should keep in mind when you simplify the game, so it doesn't become simplistic.

It's always valuable to remember that this game have less apeal than many other outside of the knowledge-spectrum (less of other components like micro or twitch), so removing knowledge-intense portions of the game will also remove part of it's depth. Powerful tools are not always or exclusively good: Look at the standings mechanics.

Why not have an icon depict meta level 0-4, just like T2/faction/etc. It could be 4 bars 0 filled for meta 0 and 4 filled for meta 4, kinda like how it's done in EVEmon. That would make sense as and it would free up room for names.

But it works for Soundwave and all who were involved in the Unified Fubar that is the new inventory...they promised many things...most of which never happened.

-On Topic-
But seriosuly, can we please stop making the name of each module as long as a sentence? The market screen is becoming increasing harder to distinguish between items w/o making the window huge...

What exactly is the mess you're trying to sort out with these meta-level names? Taken just as they are now, I think they're fine. The only potential thing I can see is that blasters also use the "Anode" and "Modal" meta names. I'm not sure that this is really so much of a problem that the whole meta-scheme for lasers (or blasters) needs to be altered.



Again, the only problem I can see here is choosing something to replace "Medium" with - there's nothing wrong with "Gatling" and "Dual". In fact "Medium" actually makes sense if you read it in the context of the entire progression of laser turrets, from the frigate-sized "Gatling", "Dual", "Medium" to the cruiser/BC "Focused", "Heavy", the battleship "Dual Heavy", "Mega" to the capital "Giga". So it's not just finding a word to substitute for "Medium", but also one that makes sense in the overall laser scheme.



I really hope you don't mean finding something along the lines of the "Upgraded", "Limited", "Experimental", "Prototype" nonsense and applying it to all modules. If you're talking about having a set of meta-names to apply to all turrets and a second set to apply to all modules then that's really just as bad. At the very least, each type of turret (laser, projectile, hybrid, missile - yes I'm including missile launchers here since they're a weapon and they fit in a high-slot) should have a unique meta-scheme.

Ideally each type of module (propulsion, ewar, armour, shield, and so on) should have a unique meta-name scheme that makes sense for the type of module being named.

Laser turrets are an Amarr-designed weapon so why would they have the same nomenclature as projectile weapons which are a primarily Minmatar weapon? Let's not forget here that the two empires in question have historically been at war, and are still technically in conflict, so would be unlikely to want to adopt a naming system used by the other. Likewise, ECM modules are primarily a Caldari type of EWAR, so why would ECM modules use the same nomenclature as weapon disruptors (which are primarily Amarrian)?

I know that creates more work for you, but the names/scheme should really be chosen for what makes the most sense in-universe, not for making devs' lives easiest (sorry)!

I also know you've also stated above that your intention with the module renaming is not to destroy flavour, but I think it's important to make the point that most of the ideas that have been discussed so far will have destruction of flavour as a consequence, whether intended or not.

FakeEdit: I like the religious meta-names posted by Sudelle. Something like this would make sense for a weapon system designed and used by an empire of religious zealots who are on a crusade to rid heresy from the galaxy

Name the modules anything you want (except drop the stupid Medium nomenclature for small lasers)...just make sure ALL modules have M1 - M4 in the name. Problem solved.

People forget that originally lasers were classed as an "oversized" weapon platform, thus why small lasers were named "medium". The PG and Cap usage made the devs in '02 / '03 to class them this way. Whatever happens, the community will not be very happy with any change to be honest. Good luck.

For all that is holy, please, please DO NOT apply the same naming scheme to all weapons and modules. With a "!" and a few "111"s on top. There's already little enough distinction between playing different races, aside from ship model style. Don't take away our imaginary, non-gameplay impeding flavor as well.

A set of names for weapons and a set for modules is the bare minimum. Really, it would be ideal for everyone to have weapons named differently for each race. I like the religious idea for the Amarr- I'd love to have a meta 4 tachyon laser named a "Reclaimer." :) Anyways, at minimum, don't vanilla-fy the flavor text on racial items. There's not much flavor left as it is, with cross training and everything (which for the record I do approve of for gameplay reasons). At least give the illusion that the races are significant within the universe, to keep New Eden a cool, otherworldly place.