02-29-2008, 08:56 AM
OK, let's start talking taxi.
LVP 2.8 has 3 different taxi mechanisms:
Now I like the current mechanism, particularly the /newtaxi, but people who actually fight
have some complaints. (See some of the responses in [ S] Longer Taxi Command and [IDEA] better Taxi system for example.) The main complaints related to "taxi abuse" are
Some Possible taxi implementations:
A /newtaxi like system is very easy to implement, and the locations can be put in a .map file for easier modifying. In fact, we can also easily do a system that combines the /taxi <id> possibility with the /taxi <name> possibility. I've already done a similar thing for warping to interiors for my own use as one of my first MTA experiments.
A GUI menu listing all the taxi destinations (possibly with prices to go to each) should also be easily implementable. This could either be invoked with the bare /taxi command as it is in 2.x, or with a special command or subcommand like "/taxi menu".
One possibly ridiculous idea is to make the taxi command call an actual taxi. Since ped "bots" seem to be an upcoming feature of MTA based upon many of the wiki entries, it may become possible to spawn a taxi nearby that drives you to your chosen location. This would be a drastic change and would answer the abuse concerns (since your atttackers could shoot at the car) but the much slower transportation method might make this too unattractive for players to use much if there are other options like /tp and /tune.
Dealing with taxi abuse:
I'm not real fond of the idea of a mandatory delay between invoking the command and the actual move to the target location, but the idea of disabling the taxi commands for 5-10 seconds after you take damage seems reasonable and should prevent the worst "abuse."
If possible, perhaps not making you invulnerable while the menu is up would work too; if that's not possible, one (possibly drastic) option is to actually cause damage to the player periodically while the menu is up. (e.g. lose 10 health points every 5 seconds or whatever set of numbers balances best)
Locations:
Single locations for all the country towns and a few special locations like Mt Chiliad and Area 51 as with the current /newtaxi command is a good idea and gives pretty good distribution throughout the map. LS and SF should probably have like 3 locations each (e.g. airport, "downtown", and another spot such as NE LS and the West side of SF). LV, should have several locations as in 2.x since it's the base of the mode.
One interesting idea that may or may not work well is to have some custom locations that vary based on situation.
Ex 1: a gangbase taxi location if (and only if) your gang owns the base.
Ex 2: a "home" location taking you to your house if you have one due to donations
Any thoughts?
LVP 2.8 has 3 different taxi mechanisms:
- 1) the "/taxi" menu which freezes the player, and lets you pick a destination from a list of 6 locations then takes you there (if you have enough money)
- 2) the "/taxi <num>" command which immediately takes you to the destination with the given ID num.
- 3) the "/newtaxi <string>" command which immediately takes you to the destination that matches the given string (if unique; can match partial names)
Now I like the current mechanism, particularly the /newtaxi, but people who actually fight
have some complaints. (See some of the responses in [ S] Longer Taxi Command and [IDEA] better Taxi system for example.) The main complaints related to "taxi abuse" are - People using the menu as a way to quickly become invulnerable to avoid dying
- People taxiing (actually completing the taxi rather than simply bringing up the menu) to escape fighting (similar to the above but slightly different)
Some Possible taxi implementations:
A /newtaxi like system is very easy to implement, and the locations can be put in a .map file for easier modifying. In fact, we can also easily do a system that combines the /taxi <id> possibility with the /taxi <name> possibility. I've already done a similar thing for warping to interiors for my own use as one of my first MTA experiments.
A GUI menu listing all the taxi destinations (possibly with prices to go to each) should also be easily implementable. This could either be invoked with the bare /taxi command as it is in 2.x, or with a special command or subcommand like "/taxi menu".
One possibly ridiculous idea is to make the taxi command call an actual taxi. Since ped "bots" seem to be an upcoming feature of MTA based upon many of the wiki entries, it may become possible to spawn a taxi nearby that drives you to your chosen location. This would be a drastic change and would answer the abuse concerns (since your atttackers could shoot at the car) but the much slower transportation method might make this too unattractive for players to use much if there are other options like /tp and /tune.
Dealing with taxi abuse:
I'm not real fond of the idea of a mandatory delay between invoking the command and the actual move to the target location, but the idea of disabling the taxi commands for 5-10 seconds after you take damage seems reasonable and should prevent the worst "abuse."
If possible, perhaps not making you invulnerable while the menu is up would work too; if that's not possible, one (possibly drastic) option is to actually cause damage to the player periodically while the menu is up. (e.g. lose 10 health points every 5 seconds or whatever set of numbers balances best)
Locations:
Single locations for all the country towns and a few special locations like Mt Chiliad and Area 51 as with the current /newtaxi command is a good idea and gives pretty good distribution throughout the map. LS and SF should probably have like 3 locations each (e.g. airport, "downtown", and another spot such as NE LS and the West side of SF). LV, should have several locations as in 2.x since it's the base of the mode.
One interesting idea that may or may not work well is to have some custom locations that vary based on situation.
Ex 1: a gangbase taxi location if (and only if) your gang owns the base.
Ex 2: a "home" location taking you to your house if you have one due to donations
Any thoughts?
