Oolite Bulletins

My next clan (no3) "360 Degrees of Murder (3DOOM)" are going to be a sneaky bunch of ba... bad lads.

I already have three tricks they will be using...

The Fake Boulder: You get withing a certain range and white boulder turns into red pirate.

The Little Ship that could... kill. A biggish ship (Boa) which putters along harmless towards you suddenly explodes/disintigrates outwards leaving you surrounded by peices of alloy and about a half a dozen small pirate ships.

The Honey Trap: Fake Trader calls for help and you become the victim.

Any other sneeksum ideas?

Some ideas from the Thargoid sneak manual (declassifed).

• Honey-trap beacons that put a mysterious entry on your advanced compass.
• Beacons that act as fakes for the compass station entry, luring ships away from stations into ambushes.
• Ships using scanner cloaks (or cloaking devices) to make a little squadron around a bait ship (perhaps a false thargoid ship).
• Missiles which cause no damage but trigger a cargo dump.

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nice.

Maybe missiles that make your escape pod launch? Muhahaha.

Additionally -

• Chaff bombs - fill the area (and your scanner) up with a blizzard of chaff, so you can't see/scan where you're going.
• A "fugitive" transponder, causes police and others to attack you regardless of your status (temporary, have it time-out or end at next docking or something).
• Missile which temporarily randomises or generally screws up your controls (pitch/yaw/acceleration) or just spins you about
• Free-floating cargo bait ambushes
• Exploding cargo pods - change to missile action when you scoop them up

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Yeah, now we're cooking with gas! /endexcitablenineteenseventiesman

Also pirates disguised a police squadron (or maybe just crooked police?)

Stations taken over by pirates. You dock and all your creds and goods are robbed. There would be clues like markings on the outside of the station, 'dead' police ships floating about, crackly distorted 'Blue Danube' and a bouy that isnt 'flashing'. Maybe they steal your ship and put you in a rust bucket with only a fuel scoop (to make the game playable).

Maybe a random thief nicks some of your equipment while you're out shopping, based on a timer (but only in multigovs and below).

You guys are really, really twisted.


...and that's why I keep coming back to this website....

Just keep in mind, Gameplay...

Frame's got a good point. There's nothing wrong with the occasional (definitely occasional, otherwise it becomes predictable) trap, but there are few things more irritating in a game than random "Ha ha, you're dead/broke/stuffed/etc." situations. If it's fun, that's fine: and nasty shocks can be fun. But just having a piece of equipment nicked, not because of anything the player did but just because of bad luck, wouldn't be much fun. Oolite isn't technically player-centred; but, like every game has to be, effectively it is. Everything is there solely for our enjoyment and entertainment.

/me reminds himself never to install an OXP by these guys!

I'm always amazed when I read folks saying things like "IMHO this game is just too bloody easy" or "I need to make things more dangerous". I guess I'm just a crappy player, but the ooniverse seems plenty dangerous enough as it is. Maybe after a couple years of playing, I'll see it differently.

caracal wrote:

I'm always amazed when I read folks saying things like "IMHO this game is just too bloody easy" or "I need to make things more dangerous".

It means that they don't have enough OXP's installed, always stay clean and don't visit any "dodgy" places. Perhaps they should try defaulting on a Black Monks loan........

Yeah, I understand the importance of gameplay and so everything I want will have player 'copability' or sufficient warning to anyone paying attention (as in the fake station ploy). Hopefully, the player will learn not to be quite so complacent next time.

Plus its nice to have a something to revenge at when you become an iron ass.

Amen Brick wrote:

Stations taken over by pirates. You dock and all your creds and goods are robbed. There would be clues like markings on the outside of the station, 'dead' police ships floating about, crackly distorted 'Blue Danube' and a bouy that isnt 'flashing'. Maybe they steal your ship and put you in a rust bucket with only a fuel scoop (to make the game playable).

Already exists. Have you ever tried to dock with a Renegade Station from Anarchies.oxp (while having a clean legal record yourself)? Do it, and see what happens.

As for some of the other surprises: I proudly announce Flying_Dutchman.oxp. Follow the tracks of a ghost ship that is said to cause disasters to those who are following it...