Awards
FROM: Captain Sphynx, CINCWEAPONSDIVISION
DATE: 2007.05.07
The original Wing Commander added to the immersive feeling it created by allowing the player to earn medals through exceptional performance in missions. As a part of our efforts to emulate the overall feel of Wing Commander, Saga will also feature the ability to earn medals. We've included a screenshot of the medals that will be featured and they can be accessed in game by viewing the player's pilot profile.
-Sphynx
How to get promotions?
Promotions are a good idea but what I always disliked in FreeSpace 2 was that the only way to get a high rank is to kill capships. That means you get promoted for dealing more damage to the ships than your wingmen even if it is completly pointless.
You damage the ship for one 1% and the friendly cruiser deals the remaining 99% damage but you get hundreds of promotion points because you are the only fighter who damaged the ship. o_O
Fighters on the other hand only give 5 or 10 points. You can kill every fighter in the game but it wont bring you any promotions past \"leutnant junior grade\" because you get much more for \"killing\" capships
Maybe promotions should only depend on completion of mission objectives.(including secondary and bonus objectives)
Promotions are a good idea but what I always disliked in FreeSpace 2 was that the only way to get a high rank is to kill capships. That means you get promoted for dealing more damage to the ships than your wingmen even if it is completly pointless.You damage the ship for one 1% and the friendly cruiser deals the remaining 99% damage but you get hundreds of promotion points because you are the only fighter who damaged the ship. o_O
Fighters on the other hand only give 5 or 10 points. You can kill every fighter in the game but it wont bring you any promotions past \"leutnant junior grade\" because you get much more for \"killing\" capships
Maybe promotions should only depend on completion of mission objectives.(including secondary and bonus objectives)
Awards
Hi Sphynx
Excellent Idea about medals - they were a very cool part of the original WC.
Can I make two suggestions?
1. Would it be an idea to model the awards in Saga after the honor system used by some countries where there is a distinction between medals, decorations and orders?
(following lifted from \"the Canadian Honours System\")
An order is a society of honour to recognize exemplary service of the highest calibre over a long period of time. Example: Order of the Garter, Order of Canada.
Decorations are divided into two sub-groups: Bravery (for a specific act of bravery - eg. the Star of Courage) and Meritorious Service (for a specific act of meritorious service - eg. the Meritorious Service Cross).
Medals are divided into four types: service medals (awarded for service in a particular mission or operation) - the South West Asia Service Medal, commemorative medals (awarded on the occasion of a special event, such as a coronation or jubilee) - Queen\'s Golden Jubilee Medal, long service medals (for long service and honourable conduct over a set period of time), and other awards such as the Queen\'s Medal for Championship Shot.
2. Can the design of the awards reflect allegorical scenes rather than the star or planet motif? For example, check out the recent South East Asia Service medal issued by Canada where the allegorical image is of a greek hydra (greek symbol of evil) transfixed by a Canadian sword.
More info on the Canadian honour system is at:
http://www.dnd.ca/hr/dhh/honours_awards/engraph/med1_e.asp?cat=3
Of course, all of this would require a lot more work for what is probably not that big a part of the game....
However, just an idea (from one who received the Golden Sun on more than one occasion!!)
Cheers
Patrick
Hi SphynxExcellent Idea about medals - they were a very cool part of the original WC.
Can I make two suggestions?
1. Would it be an idea to model the awards in Saga after the honor system used by some countries where there is a distinction between medals, decorations and orders?
(following lifted from \"the Canadian Honours System\")
An order is a society of honour to recognize exemplary service of the highest calibre over a long period of time. Example: Order of the Garter, Order of Canada.
Decorations are divided into two sub-groups: Bravery (for a specific act of bravery - eg. the Star of Courage) and Meritorious Service (for a specific act of meritorious service - eg. the Meritorious Service Cross).
Medals are divided into four types: service medals (awarded for service in a particular mission or operation) - the South West Asia Service Medal, commemorative medals (awarded on the occasion of a special event, such as a coronation or jubilee) - Queen\'s Golden Jubilee Medal, long service medals (for long service and honourable conduct over a set period of time), and other awards such as the Queen\'s Medal for Championship Shot.
2. Can the design of the awards reflect allegorical scenes rather than the star or planet motif? For example, check out the recent South East Asia Service medal issued by Canada where the allegorical image is of a greek hydra (greek symbol of evil) transfixed by a Canadian sword.
More info on the Canadian honour system is at:
http://www.dnd.ca/hr/dhh/honours_awards/engraph/med1_e.asp?cat=3
Of course, all of this would require a lot more work for what is probably not that big a part of the game....
However, just an idea (from one who received the Golden Sun on more than one occasion!!)
Cheers
Patrick
Re: Awards
The usual Freespace 2 system will be disabled. The player will advance in rank only when it is required by the story. Current plan is that Sandman will advance to the rank of Captain in the course of the campaign.
Same goes for medals.
We tried to stay as close as possible to the original images from the Claw Marks.
-Tolwyn
The usual Freespace 2 system will be disabled. The player will advance in rank only when it is required by the story. Current plan is that Sandman will advance to the rank of Captain in the course of the campaign.Same goes for medals.
We tried to stay as close as possible to the original images from the Claw Marks.
-Tolwyn
Understood right: Medals to come with St
Hi Tolwyn,
did I understood it right? The Medals will come in the Storyline, not for good flying Skills or a high Killrate?
Because you said: \"The usual Freespace 2 system will be disabled. The player will advance in rank only when it is required by the story. Current plan is that Sandman will advance to the rank of Captain in the course of the campaign.
Same goes for medals. \"
Same goes for Medals...sounds like it does not matter, how good or bad the Player is.
Hmm...would be...strange I think.
Greetings
Frank
Hi Tolwyn,did I understood it right? The Medals will come in the Storyline, not for good flying Skills or a high Killrate?
Because you said: \"The usual Freespace 2 system will be disabled. The player will advance in rank only when it is required by the story. Current plan is that Sandman will advance to the rank of Captain in the course of the campaign.
Same goes for medals. \"
Same goes for Medals...sounds like it does not matter, how good or bad the Player is.
Hmm...would be...strange I think.
Greetings
Frank
Re: Understood right: Medals to come wit
That\'s the current plan. Or we come up with more medals.
Still, it is not very common in the WC universe to be awarded a medal, so...
That\'s the current plan. Or we come up with more medals.Still, it is not very common in the WC universe to be awarded a medal, so...
Quote : Still, it is not very common in the WC universe to be awarded a medal, so...
Yeah. Thats right. The only games with medals are Wc1 and WCP and the only one witch rewards you with medals depending on your performance in mission was WC1.
Personally i wouldn\'t mind if the medals are given in the storyline. I was never the type of player who replays a mission a dozen times only to get that last dralthi and a silver star.null
The suggestions that have been made are excellent, Patrick. While I myself would love to do something like that, one of the things we have found to be necessary in creating a Wing Commander fan game is sticking as close as possible to official Wing Commander lore without taking too many artistic liberties. The Wing Commander fan base is very loyal, and they really know their stuff, and like loyal fans they want to see WC projects honor the offical sources as much as possible. We want to tell an original story, which allows us a lot of freedom, but we also have found that where precedents have been set in offical Wing Commander materials it is best for us to stick with what has been established. We are adding the medals and promotions to help enhance the immersiveness of the project and to include those aspects which were a part of WC, but after considering all of our options we have decided that the approach that Tolwyn has explained is the best for our particular project, all things considered. I hope that helps to clarify things a bit.
@ Ltcrusher
I forgot one thing. Ltcrusher, if the player does too badly, he will end up on the loosing path, which will have an impact on things like awards, I\'m not sure about promotions.
I forgot one thing. Ltcrusher, if the player does too badly, he will end up on the loosing path, which will have an impact on things like awards, I\'m not sure about promotions.
Re: Understood right: Medals to come wit
To clarify things a bit: if the player is successful then he will proceed with the storyline and (on rare ocasions) will be awarded with a medal for outstanding combat skills. If he fails mission objectives he\'ll either die or the next mission will become harder.
At any rate, major awards will be embedded into the story, which also means that an automatic system is out of the question.
To clarify things a bit: if the player is successful then he will proceed with the storyline and (on rare ocasions) will be awarded with a medal for outstanding combat skills. If he fails mission objectives he\'ll either die or the next mission will become harder.At any rate, major awards will be embedded into the story, which also means that an automatic system is out of the question.
Are these all?
Are you going to implement only this awards you\'ve shown (bronze, silver, and gold stars and i belive medal of valor or what is it exactly called), or ar you going to add other medals mentioned in wing commander cannon, like the flying cross (Archer and Maniac are recommendet to it by Tolwyn in WCA episode \"waking Wounded\")
Are you going to implement only this awards you\'ve shown (bronze, silver, and gold stars and i belive medal of valor or what is it exactly called), or ar you going to add other medals mentioned in wing commander cannon, like the flying cross (Archer and Maniac are recommendet to it by Tolwyn in WCA episode \"waking Wounded\")
Re: Are these all?
Quote :
Quote : ar you going to add other medals mentioned in wing commander cannon, like the flying cross (Archer and Maniac are recommendet to it by Tolwyn in WCA episode "waking Wounded")a very good question! Let\'s just say that it is very likely.
Awards
I saw the picture of the 4 Medals posted above, Iwas wondering if there is a link to see what all the Awards (Medals & ribbons look like?
With having an interest in the Heraldry system, this is information I would enjoy seeing.
I saw the picture of the 4 Medals posted above, Iwas wondering if there is a link to see what all the Awards (Medals & ribbons look like?With having an interest in the Heraldry system, this is information I would enjoy seeing.
Medals are a good Idea. I loved that in Wing Commander 1 + Secret Ops. And how about higher Grades, I mean Promotion?
Greetings
Frank