Clay
	Currently, I feel that some of the naming conventions are a little too uniform across the various races and affiliations. What I want to know is how far can names for set game items be changed? For example, Flagritz pilots were always known as Navigators in BSE, but now they're just Crew, like every other race in the game. Obvioulsy changing the name now would effect every player that has FGZ Crew either on ships, or in starbases/outposts. But still, is there any reason why this could not be changed, if a request was made (via SA or whatever)? Further, could it be altered, for example, so that the basic crew remain FGZ Crew, but the Vet. Crew became Navigators. So FGZ Crew get promoted to FGZ Navigators. I feel that some small alterations in the naming conventions could make a great deal of difference in maintaining indervidual affiliation (and racial) identities. Maybe the RIP would like to research Buccaneers, instead of Crew. All the stats are the same as Human Crew, but they're called something different. I am only using Crew as an example here, but can it be done for other items aswell? Duplicate item, different name and such.
kilanuman
	As for myself I wouldn't mind if Hive Crew got back their old name, drones. Cheers, Peter
Frabby
	Early on in the game I did not like the item descriptions, I found them boring, misleading or plainly wrong. So I talked to Mica at Blackpool and drew up new tech manuals for all ore items (item numbers 1 - thirty-odd), which have been implemented since. Ground combat items are next on my list, and I hope to convince Mica/David that a number of items should be re-named. If you can come up with better names/descriptions then I believe you can easily get Mica to change them.
Clay
	QUOTE If you can come up with better names/descriptions then I believe you can easily get Mica to change them. I do remember this being mentioned now you say it. There are certainly some Tech Manuals that could do with a bit of sugaring up. The other half of the the question is one of duplicate items. Obviously having lots of duplicate items just with a different name could get a bit silly and somewhat confusing (especially for newbies). But what if I didn't want standard Photon Guns? I decided to invent Fusion Guns instead, which gives exactly the same item statisitcs for the Photon varient, but simply has a different name. It would be pointless researching Photon Guns AND Fusion Guns as they do the same job, but it may be that the BHD prefer having a Holylight Cannon, and the DNA want a Blammer Cannon. All the same thing statistics wise, but prehaps function slightly differently and with a different name. The DNA version uses superb magnifying techniques, while the BHD consider theirs to be a concentrated beam directly from the True-Ones undercarrage. Just examples, but is there room for this kind of variation, or is this heading down the road toward a very complicated universe (in game, and for Mica/David)?
llywelyn
	[QUOTE]"It would be pointless researching Photon Guns AND Fusion Guns as they do the same job, but it may be that the BHD prefer having a Holylight Cannon, and the DNA want a Blammer Cannon. All the same thing statistics wise, but prehaps function slightly differently and with a different name. The DNA version uses superb magnifying techniques, while the BHD consider theirs to be a concentrated beam directly from the True-Ones undercarrage. " An example of this is the Hyper Jump engines as compared to the Quantum Engines. Whats the difference (50tus, same mus) The possible difference may deal with the SA used to initiate the research into an item???? ttfn larry
Frabby
	Regarding Hyper JE and Quantum JE: I've seen and used both. They are two very different items. They have different performance parameters, are researched from different underlying techs and principles, built from different materials. But back to the topic of this queue: I think two items with exactly the same in-game parameters should be referred to as the same item in game terms. For example, a BHD Holygun and a DNA Blammer Gun should not exist if they are plain standard photon guns. Having several item numbers for virtually identical items just makes the game a nightmare when outfitting ships etc. Lifeforms, on the other hand, may perform the same function but stem from different species. I like the idea to refer to Hive Crew as 'Drones' or Flagritz Crew as 'Navigators'. Human Crew is human crew, though, so RIP Buccaneers as per your example is a no-no. There may be other items that perform similarly but have a vastly different background. See Mica's submission on tech in Phoenix: You may have a standard tech mkIII item and a rare ore based item. Both perform the same function but the rare ore is just as good (on mkI) as standard mkIII. A good example is quarters, bunks and cryopods which all perform similarly but they have vastly differen underlying tech and require different ores in production (standard/Jacium-thorlium base/collidium base). Same as with Mica's example of Stealth plates vs. Korondite plates. Jump engines, hyper JE and quantum JE is another example, or the various cloaking devices.
Rob Alexander
	QUOTE For example, a BHD Holygun and a DNA Blammer Gun should not exist if they are plain standard photon guns. Having several item numbers for virtually identical items just makes the game a nightmare when outfitting ships etc. Apart from the added complexity, I just find this kind of thing annoying. I've seen this in other games, with extra weapons and unit types being added "for completeness". I can't speak for anyone else, but I find this deeply unsatisfying, it challenges the integrity of the game universe and makes the game seem "thin". It's just wasting "game space" for no bonus in terms of "feel" - you only get that from actually distinct mechanics. QUOTE Lifeforms, on the other hand, may perform the same function but stem from different species. Yeah, the racial lifeforms have slightly different stats (they can operate different racial ships) so giving them different names is fine. rob
David Bethel
	QUOTE Maybe the RIP would like to research Buccaneers, instead of Crew. All the stats are the same as Human Crew, but they're called something different. I don't think this would be useful as rob says things get spread quite thin by doing that. However there is a lot of space for similar items that noone has really touched on yet. A buccaneer could well be a unit with less crew factors but more combat factors - a cross between a marine and a crew. Most items have a lot of parameters that can be changed without having to design completely new items types that have to coded in to the game. There are loads of things i can think of item wise that can be added BUT thats for ppl playing the game to decide via research etc.
Clay
	QUOTE I can't speak for anyone else, but I find this deeply unsatisfying, it challenges the integrity of the game universe and makes the game seem "thin". Thanks for the feedback. I was struggling with this myself, hence it being posed as a question, rather than a request of any kind. But you are right, as David's example shows..... QUOTE A buccaneer could well be a unit with less crew factors but more combat factors - a cross between a marine and a crew. ....why would you want to recreate an identical item, when you can tailor it better to your own needs - if (forwhatever reason) you find the "standard" item doesn't quite fit the bill. If it does fit the bill, then just use the dang thing and get on with it. Thanks.
Lord Scrimm
	Sorry Clay, but I'm not keen on the idea of several different descriptions for, essentially, the same item. The example of FGZ Navigators is fine, as that just means updates to Tech Manuals that people have maintained, but 4 different variants of weaponry that perform the exact same function is untenable for the following reason: The Agent Get Item Quantity order. If I'm looking at probing the defenses of a starbase for possible future invasion, I don't want to have to spend 10 weeks sorting through all the chaff of finding out how many Blammer Guns, Holylight Cannons and Fusion Guns the opponent has AS WELL AS the number of Photon Guns. As it is, having to sort through the various types of Photon Guns (Light, Normal, Cannons, Battery and Heavy Battery) is getting a little excessive - then add in how many of each Mk of each of the above is present and you can surely see that it becomes impossible to gain an accurate picture of the defenses of a starbase. I feel it needlessly complicates matters in an already complicated and diverse game. Just my 2p Cheers, Rich Fanning aka Lord Lawrence Scrimm CIA Intelligence Director
Clay
	QUOTE The Agent Get Item Quantity order. This is certainly something I hadn't considered. Even though I started the thread, I am now quite against the idea from the comments made thus far. I'll just drag my pear-shaped butt back into the dark corner it came from...
finalstryke
	QUOTE (Lord Scrimm @ Sep 15 2003, 03:49 PM) The Agent Get Item Quantity order. If I'm looking at probing the defenses of a starbase for possible future invasion, I don't want to have to spend 10 weeks sorting through all the chaff of finding out how many Blammer Guns, Holylight Cannons and Fusion Guns the opponent has AS WELL AS the number of Photon Guns. As it is, having to sort through the various types of Photon Guns (Light, Normal, Cannons, Battery and Heavy Battery) is getting a little excessive - then add in how many of each Mk of each of the above is present and you can surely see that it becomes impossible to gain an accurate picture of the defenses of a starbase. Maybe agents need an order 'analyse defences' or something similar instead of just providing an item by item stocklist?
Frabby
	Well just to smart off, there is the 'Find quantity of item type' order which should quite nicely list all types of energy weapons including Holyguns, Blammer Guns, Fusion Guns and Photon Guns. :-) But this order does have its own pitfalls. And despite of that I think Rich's point (which is the same as my own) still holds true, it was just a bad example. Equipping ships might be a better example.