Random Default Race on Signup
 

I'd like to see the default race random, or assigned as whichever race is least common - for universe balance.

I'll even write the perl if you are too busy Appocomaster :P

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

nice idea, but whats the point lol, just creating pointless server load :P

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Well for one when people are analysing the different races, terran numbers will not be the only fudged due to random noobs just playing the default.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

I dont think its the best thing to have new players playing as Ziks so I'm not sure its a good idea

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Terran for sure wasnt the easiest race last round :)

maybe just make the default the 'easiest' race then.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

How about just not having a default so players have to choose a race?

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

that seems like a reasonable idea to me - someone poke Appoco to this thread.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

As growly as he is today? NO WAY!!!
But you feel free to poke away on him, Kal. :D

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Defaulting to the race with the fewest players would be kinda funny. Might convince some new to the game players to try something they may not have normally picked on their own. I remember when I came back to planetarion I went with Terran cause it was the default and because I disliked the idea of Zikoninan Subversion®. Had I known more about the game I would have picked Zik. Still had fun playing Terran though.

You should still be able to pick a race when registering.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Terran are, in many ways, the safest race to play when you don't understand combat. Their high armour means mistakes are punished least. A couple of rounds ago, I wanted to change Xan to the default race, but was convinced otherwise. Xan are easier to defend with, and have more lower level ships that are cheaper. However, their armour means they can easily get trashed.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Indeed. Similarly, having a massive influx of small Cathaar players in the universe will only just make the new players get attacked more often - as it is less costly to attack them, and because Ziks will want their tasty EMP ships.

Xans arent the best race for new players either, as they are very unforgiving - a single mistake and you could loose your fleet. If you loose your fleet and feel disheartened, then what are the chances you'll stay around to try again? Especially with a free planet...

Terran is generally the best race for new players. Spam Destroyers and Battleships is perhaps the least complex guide to fleet building :).

If you wanted to make Terrans more accessable, you could play with the ship stats to move the emphasis away from DE/BA to something else. Like DE/FR for example (then imagine the fakes!! :D). Or perhaps make Terran FR/CR for a change - Terrans have had a long history of effective Cruisers and Frigates, so it wouldnt detract from them too much.

Anyway, for new players Terran is definately the way to go...

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

this is more useful in the beta tests rather than the main game

u wanna lose ppl forom the game make it random race sign up

im sure as hell dont anna play as Ter ... 1 in 4 chance i dunny wanna take that chance

(soz my typing is in txt form ... im a hapless speeler ne-one would vouch that)

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Umm, that's not quite the point - what we are discussing is the "default" race choice - that is, the race automatically selected from the pulldown menu such that if you just hit "register" you become that race. atm, its Terran which the majority of new players are.

Everyone can still choose the race they want to play - the pulldown menu is still there - just that if you dont actually make a choice you become a Terran with the current setup.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

I like K-W's idea about not having a default race the most

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

me too

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Me three

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

You could always make the game really interesting and not let anyone choose there race, just let it do random placement into the races so there's almost an even number of each.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

I think having a first option of 'Please choose a race' is the best idea.

Make it happen appocowoco !

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

I think a please choose a race bit wont make any difference even though it is a good idea :)
Everyone always coz for Terran/human because they are a safe bet in any game you ever play.
Newbs see:
Terran = heavy guns Hard as hell armour kills everything ... eventually.
Cat = girls who just pretend to shoot.
Xan = die easy even with hordes of them.
zik = robbings b*s*a*r*s. (prone to death coz there guns are slower than a mule with no legs)

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

I refuse to play anything but Terran :)

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

They could still keep the option on the Preferences page to let you choose what race you want to be as long as you haven't started any constructions or research. Then if you have only one race you play, you could switch to that if you don't get it.

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

That would make your first point kind of useless.
The best way to handle racechoosing at sign up would be just having no standard race and forcing ppl to chose the one they like. Maybe add a link next to the races which opens a pop-up box or so that tells you a little something about the race so the new ppl can check it out fast before all choosing ter :p

Re: Random Default Race on Signup
 

Even if it is not a default race, having terran at the top of the list you make the new signups choose from will make it the default.

random set races is bad unless someone can make 100% fair and even stats for each round, which to my knowledge there has only been 1 round where everyone has been happy. People will not want to play if they love terran but are forced into zik. Personnally I love xan and would not want to play ter or cat, and I certainly would not want to pay to play something I am not happy with.