I also voted for 9.4 despite the improvement in graphics and atmosphere.
(I'm too lazy to read ALL posts here, even forget if I posted here already but I need to get this off my back).
I.m.h.o, one really crucial element missing from 12.4 that we had in 9.4 is the TP Run. It bonded players and gave new players hand-on experience and the "unknown" at least kept the players here for a few weeks while trying to get all TPs. For the TP Run Leaders it was just simply fun to watch new players discover their new environment.
It is now lacking because of new players hitchhiking with vehicles (often also for free). These days, I never see anyone TP running anymore, they're either morbidly stuck in some remote outpost conjuring up strange thoughts (i.e. slowly going "wtf") or hanging around PA molesting other players. That must change.
That vehicles replaced TP Runs is however probably not directly the fault of the EU designers but an unforeseen side effect.
I have one suggestion on how to bring back TP Runs but without prohibiting new players from using vehicles if they want to: Simply prevent a new player from acquiring new teleporters when he has entered a vehicle on his last
TP Run.
How could this be implemented?
As soon as a player attempts to enter a vehicle, the following message pops up:
If you enter the vehicle, you will not be able to discover new teleporters and outposts.
If you enter the vehicle anyway, you must return to any teleporter on your list before discovering new teleporters
Enter the vehicle? Yes / No
and of course, most importantly of all:
The checkbox with the "Do not display again" label.
... and of course the code to go with it (just one boolean variable per player to implement this code
). MA, see me for workflow if you have any questions.