Hacking Configuration and Hacking Cores as a Player

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by zztong, Nov 13, 2019.

  1. zztong

    zztong Rear Admiral

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    I mentioned this in the Base Attack feedback, but it better belongs here as a suggestion.

    I had plenty of time to think this weekend and play through the EXP game. For the Base Attack feature, this occurred to me...

    Make the range configurable:
    4m
    8m (default)
    16m
    32m

    Make the hacking time configurable:
    30 seconds
    1 minute (default)
    2 minutes
    5 minutes

    And I think that might satisfy both folks who want the AI to have to get close to a Core before hacking it, and those who would like the AI to be able to hack a Core from a long distance. It also lets a player express how much time they have to stop a hacking attempt.

    Then, instead of having players destroy enemy cores, implement a hacking option (perhaps on the PDA screen) as two buttons:

    Locate Core
    Hack Core

    The Locate Core button searches for a Core within 1/2 the distance allow via the configurable range above. The distance is smaller because the Zirax use better technology. (It makes the player work harder.) It should take a few seconds to locate a Core.

    The Hack Core button is only active when a Core has been located. After the configurable hack time passes, the Core is converted to the hacker's faction. You should be unable to move/fight while hacking, or the hacking attempt is aborted if you do move/shoot.

    This would provide an explanation for what the Zirax are doing. Also, I hate having to carry around a Core when cracking POIs. :)
     
    #1
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2019
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  2. zztong

    zztong Rear Admiral

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    As a note, the player experience for attacking POIs is really changed should a long range be chosen. Players could conceivably hack a POI from the outside. (Just like the Zirax could.) Perhaps the player PDA only ever works at a max range of 2m. At that distance you can destroy a POI's Core with a placed charge regardless of how armored its shell is.
     
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  3. geostar1024

    geostar1024 Rear Admiral

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    Alternately, have a core-hacking suit booster, with the number of boosters installed decreasing the time required and increasing the maximum distance.
     
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  4. zztong

    zztong Rear Admiral

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    Or perhaps a suit booster is needed to even be able to hack a Core.
     
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  5. geostar1024

    geostar1024 Rear Admiral

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    Yes, that's what I meant, actually :).
     
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  6. zztong

    zztong Rear Admiral

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    I had suggested the PDA since it seems to represent a portable computer that the player already has.
     
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  7. nanomatrix

    nanomatrix Ensign

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    This is an obvious Idea that should have been implemented years ago.
     
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  8. IndigoWyrd

    IndigoWyrd Rear Admiral

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    I would LOVE to have a player tool for Hacking NPC cores, even other Player Cores, but to a different end result.

    Hacking NPC or Player cores should award either Tech Points or unlock a technology the hacked player has, or random technology for NPC cores.

    Alternatively, or after a considerable length of time spent core-hacking, the core could be turned off, rendering defenses inoperative, etc. While this wouldn't allow for access to locked doors and such, it would make it a bit safer to move about. There should be either a "cooldown" time, or the core could be re-enabled manually by NPC's or Players. Just my thoughts on this.
     
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  9. Khazul

    Khazul Rear Admiral

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    Easier to just det pack it?

    Tech unlocks for hacking make sense though.
     
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  10. IndigoWyrd

    IndigoWyrd Rear Admiral

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    Unless it's an Admin Core, in which case, unless pre-damaged, it is invulnerable.

    There are plenty enough reasons to want to leave a core intact but disabled.
     
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