Removal of TP's makes no sense unless also removing TP chips, and then it would just make everyone drive, make the planets even more cluttered with idiots that cant drive in a straight line, or park on your head.
I love Toulan just because it is vehicle free, and incidentally only has a very few TP's, but I am also very aware it only works there because the planet is small, and it doesn't take days to get from one side to the other.
I therefore don't believe we should destroy all TP's any more than I believe we should remove vehicles...BUT
I do believe we should have to earn the right to use them, I strongly believe that MA have gone too far down the road in spoonfeeding new players, they have unwittingly removed that sense of pride we used to get from achieving things on our own, and the sense of friendship and community that was formed by helping others.
Before vehicles were introduced planetside, new players had to explore on foot, had to learn the terrain, mob locations, and maybe mining spots along the way, in their hunt for the next tp (usually discovered when you died)
We got a real sense of achievement if at the end of a day we had 2 or more new ones on our list
so..
How can we in part turn the clock back, yet also improve player enjoyment
As a new player gaining an achievement in recognition of your development should be a genuine goal not some silly message in a log that no-one even looks at.
If we had unlocks for vehicle usage, unlocks for TP usage, and TP chips, then we would have a feeling of accomplishment.
1. Stop giving free vehicles to new players
2. No player may enter another players vehicle until they have reached the relevant unlock
3. Each vehicle type (or MF chip size) has one unlock point as passenger and another in order to own one.
4. Unlocks may be skill based and/or may be achievement based. This way different player styles can be accommodated. For instance crafter/traders may opt for gathering a number of locations in order to get unlock, rather than hunting/mining skill points, or completion of certain missions could get an unlock or tokens towards one
Positives.
Players will have to explore, they will have to learn how to avoid trouble, even to recognise what is dangerous and what is not.
Players will learn what is out there between TP's/cities/outposts instead of just asking for a pos and going straight there.
Older players may assist by showing routes to new folk (anyone remember old fashioned TP running groups, how many of you still have friends you met there ?)
Plenty of opportunity for some new and exciting structured missions to guide those that are not in a society or not met a helper.
Less vehicles being spawned in new player areas and therefore less lag
Perhaps even have TP's that charge a little until you reach certain goals, then price goes down. Possibly to zero once the main goal achieved
Negatives
Players will have to go find things for themselves instead of having it all handed to them on a plate. Well some may call this a disadvantage.. but maybe not.. Time spent doing and learning is not time wasted
New players may have to spend a little initially on ammo and early use of TP's, but they will not be spending on oil and vehicles so this may balance out
New players that select their planet of birth may find they made a poor choice. By not having the unlock that would enable them to be added to a space capable vehicle then they could be trapped and leave the game. This could be overcome by allowing 1 single relocation by either a special token to be handed in, or a specific once only game function, with appropriate warnings to encourage them to ask around in game before making their choice. Perhaps not available until at least 1 week old.
Transition
I hear you wondering 'But what about all those that have vehicles already ?'
Well in the same way that if you chip out skills you may lose skill unlocks, then some at the lower skills may lose the use of some or all vehicles until they gain the necessary unlocks. Doubtless there would be moans and groans, but they can always sell them if they don't wish to keep them and use them as a goad to go get those skills.
Before long most of todays newbs will have the skills and have done the unlock and newer players will never have known anything different so for them it will seem normal.
Following on from this you could even make certain vehicle upgrades (turbo, armour, weaponry even making it C instead of issue colour) dependant on unlocks or completion of specified missions
As for space, well time enough for visiting other planets or playing in space once folk have learned sufficient to have the skills to move on. Nothing quite so sad as new players begging for free rides to other planets just to get new player freebies. Then a few days on they find they actually have to work at getting resources or depo, and they quit.
Ok rambled long enough... time for
