Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Repost from the General Discussions forum:

I was docked up at a station the other night along with a few friends while we waited for the last guy in our little missioning group to arrive, and I thought "wouldn't it be cool if we were in the same room in-game". But barbie-dolls in space is not my focus, so I was cool with sitting on my couch while my buddies sat on their couches waiting.

Then it occurred to me: "The whole fleet is docked. Wouldn't it be cool if I could see the whole fleet from my balcony?"

From this thought evolved what I think should be the first room "beyond the door": The fleet lobby.

Basically, this room is the captain's quarters scaled up a bit. A large room with a balcony and some really big screens. There would be a couple of key differences though:

1. Any member of the fleet docked at the station could get there from their quarters.
2. Beyond the balcony would be the entire fleet currently docked, in formation according to squadrons and wings, TO SCALE.
3. There would be several terminals to access ship details, so that fleet fits could be worked on from the lobby.
4. FC can specify a URL that the screens show. Basically a browser window.
5. A podium would be at the front. When the FC takes to the podium, whatever his browser is currently showing displays on the screens.

That's it. Keep it simple.

I think that this space would be useful in several ways:
1. For small, casual groups, it's just a place to hangout while waiting in station. Just an alternative to ship spinning and pacing your quarters.
2. For larger fleets, it becomes a place to A) Survey the awesome fleet you are about to fly with, to scale, and B) a place for briefings, Op information, and INSPIRATIONAL SPEECHES!

When I think of some of the FC's I have flown with, giving them a chance to stand in front of their assembled pilots with the fleet as a backdrop, powerpoint over their head, and give a speech would produce some incredible "I was there moments".

From a technical perspective, the scope of this is relatively small:

1. Limited population. Fleets have a limited size, and the room would only have to support that many. No "Oh God what about the most popular bar in Jita" cases.

2. Few new assets. These really are the the captain's quarters writ large. Simple spaces, and with the exception of the screens and podium, no new functionality.

3. Value added. There's nothing here that should detract from gameplay. No one has to use it.

4. Potential for emergent events. If the players want to, this functionality could be used for ship trading, classrooms, alliance meetings, and all sorts of other meetings. By analyzing how this space is used (or not), CCP can better chart the future of Incarna.

I welcome your feedback on this. I think that given the absolutely correct focus on in space gameplay, this is something that could be put together by a small team that would incrementally move Incarna forwards without sacrificing in Space PewPew.