Free to play and spies.

Dorest0rm · 2012-01-09, 10:38 AM

Ohi.

So last night i was wondering about the Free to Play aspect and the problems this might bring up regarding spies, I'm not sure if this has been discussed yet, but I believe it should be.

Since both the subscription and the game are F2P I could easily create three accounts, one TR, one NC and my main on VS. Whilst I'm playing on my VS character I would have the other empires sitting somewhere chillin and checking out command chat.

The only logical way i see to counter it is by charging for the initial purchase, or restricting empires based on IP.

SgtMAD · 2012-01-09, 10:46 AM

there is no command chat plus you would have to level that char up as a squad leader to unlock any "command chat" or any of the other skills on the leadership tree.

Stevo IRL · 2012-01-09, 10:48 AM

I don't think there is one solution beats all to this problem. At the end of the day are we talking about one spy planted in one Outfit relaying their movements to another account? I don't think there is anything you can really do to prevent this bar making it too much hassle to do in game (IE if you have a insufficient leadership skill you won't see all the outfits members on your map (which it could be sorta cool if a leader of a outfit could assign groups that appeared "invisible" to other members map))

Ailos · 2012-01-09, 10:48 AM

If you're willing to spend six months getting those two alts to a high enough command skill to be an effective spy, be my guest, but I think there would be ways for us to spot something like that.

Either way, your nick is now on my watch list.

EDIT: Also, I imagine you'd have to use a station account to register, and I think address information is mandatory for that. So that could be another way of keeping track.

Sirisian · 2012-01-09, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Dorest0rm

or restricting empires based on IP.

Kind of futile. Not saying everyone can do this, but tethering a smart phone for two IPs on a single or multiple computers isn't rocket science.

That and I know friends that live in an apartment and share Internet to play games with/against each other.

I think you're just going to have to put up with it. This has been brought up a few times. Personally I'll have multiple accounts to play the factions. I lack the dedication though to use more than one at a time.

SniperSteve · 2012-01-09, 11:06 AM

You could limit it to one empire per computer. (using the local MAC address or some other equivalent) That would prevent multi-empire.

(I guess the real limitation would be one account per computer--but that doesn't work well for those who share computers.)

My guess is that the outfits that are worthy of having spies join them will take on the challenge of securing their outfit. It just adds depth to the game.

ArmaGetItOn · 2012-01-09, 11:10 AM

We're just going to have to roll with the spies issue. I remember getting a few spies in our outfit - we'd recruit a guy, he'd run with our gal drop operations, we'd suspiciously be met at our drop location with boomers/ect repeatedly. We'd then kick the new guy and it would stop.

Afraid that's going to happen more often now.

Stevo IRL · 2012-01-09, 11:17 AM

In reality spying in PS2 isn't as big of a deal as it is in say EVE where the stakes are much higher. However we may as well learn from the procedures that CCP did to at least assist corps in dealing with spies.

The simplest thing to do is that a player will have a "Outfit history" section somewhere (Don't know exactly how much info we will have available for a given person). Thus if you see one person who repeatedly has joined and been kicked from outfits you can make a make a bit more assured decision on whether to let them join or not (could easily whisper to a previous outfit asking why the person left etc).

EDIT:

Then it simply comes down to Outfits command structure, it is up to those in charge to decide on whether every member should know where they are going etc

CutterJohn · 2012-01-09, 12:18 PM

Practice opsec. Don't tell the troops where they are going until the last possible moment. Play EVE some time. Keeping things close to your chest is the only way to succeed, because there are *always* spies in big alliances. The fleet commander never gives out more information than absolutely necessary until the last possible moment.

Raymac · 2012-01-09, 12:22 PM

Yeah, spies will be a reality no matter what, just as they were with PS1. As Cutter said, opsec goes a long way.

acosmo · 2012-01-09, 12:24 PM

install opsec

Johari · 2012-01-09, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Stevo IRL

The simplest thing to do is that a player will have a "Outfit history" section somewhere (Don't know exactly how much info we will have available for a given person). Thus if you see one person who repeatedly has joined and been kicked from outfits you can make a make a bit more assured decision on whether to let them join or not (could easily whisper to a previous outfit asking why the person left etc).

I like this idea. Global Agenda did a pretty good job tracking Agency(guild) History for all players on whatever their website for it was called. My Agency routinely checked the background of incoming recruits during the interview process to see if what they were telling us was checking out. Had to say no to a couple of people because of their murky past.

Like SniperSteve said, those outfits worthy of having spies will view it as a bit more depth in the game and deal with it accordingly.

NewSith · 2012-01-09, 01:01 PM

THE NETWORK SHALL EXPAND... NONE SHALL STAND AGAINST IT.

NewSith · 2012-01-09, 01:05 PM

http://youtu.be/00KSBpGBwmo?t=27s

Chufty · 2012-01-09, 01:14 PM

Espionage, awesome. Why not introduce game mechanics specifically for it?