My first complaint, resurrected (ANYONE up for Tug-towing?!).

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[Jayshum]

Hi guys, the reason I'm making this thread is because I've now had the game a good long time (half a year), and although I haven't been on normal British standard time recently because of work, I still have the same complaint with multiplayer that I did on the 2nd day of owning it:

No one uses tugs in multiplayer. Maybe that's stretching it, so I'll edit that statement. 99% of people who use container ships, tankers, and large ships generally online, will not allow those of us (or is it just me?!) to have our fun, and tow them into dock etc. This for me is ruining the game to be honest because it's the one thing I was looking forward to more than anything. So rather than mope about it, I'd like to organise a timetable for people who like to play realistically when online (as in actually use tugs). Please post here if you wish to take part in this, so that together, we can arrange a suitable time for us all to be on. We don't need a personal server or anything, the official New Horizon's ones will do just fine. So is there any 'big ship' people out there that would enjoy the challenge of acting as a true Pilot, using tugs to help your ship dock? Likewise, is there any tug people out there that would like in on this? I've got to be honest and say, this wouldn't be so frustrating for me if we could just have a barges/deadships in multiplayer with us, but hopefully this thread will be successful in it's goal.

Please post here if you're interested in this, so we can all agree on a time that's good for all of us. After I've had a few tows online, I'll have no problem about switching over to one of the big ships and bossing a couple of tuggies around (would like the practise anyway!).
Thanks.

Edited title to be more appropriate.

[pauljanaway1]

the reson many people dont use tugs isbecause the large ships are so esy to manover we dont need them as they just sit there fir hours on end getting in large ships way

[Ballast]

I think it's all about trust, i don't let someone tow me unless i know if that person is a serious player and has some (basic) experiences with towing. In the past i had some bad experiences with people who wanted to tow me, after they connected (mostly at the wrong position or with a 200 meter long towing wire  ) they screwed up because they think it's funny  . That's pretty anoying if you put some effort and time in it to get your vessel in a certain place.


I totally agree with you, that it is realistic and fun to use a tug during mooring operations.

[orcades]

I have tried to use a tug, but the ships are so easy to handle it's hardly worth it. I do work on real ships so I appreciate it's unrealistic for a Vermaas to berth on its own. But that's a fault with the game. However there are a few good Tug Captains out there, who do make it a whole lot more fun.

Regards,

[Jayshum]

You see, I don't understand you all one bit. Fair enough, prove your skills in Mission mode, but multiplayer is about the social aspect, and you should engage whilst you have the chance in my opinion. Otherwise, aren't you just using it as another version of MSN messenger? Far be it from me to tell anyone how to play the game, but multiplayer was put in for a reason, and I don't feel it's being used to it's full potential at all. So without seeming like a hothead, could we please keep this thread to a "I'll take part" type affair, and not a "I don't use tugs because I know how to use the ships" (which is what you're basically saying guys).

[Minime]

I have thougth about the same, I was thinking we could make a list of ship we would have some big ships, tugs, harbour master, emergency vessels, than people could choose what they would wan't to be. It would be like a multiplayer mission

[mvsmith]

I agree with Jayshum, in that those who are not interested in interactive, cooperative, operation should stick to doing missions or free-roam.
On the subject of ship assist: Any Docking Pilot knows that coordination between ship and tugs is a very difficult and demanding task, even among skilled professionals. A reluctance to put ones ship in the hands of someone of unknown ability is understandable. Perhaps the place to learn basic tug operation is not in MP, but in missions—perhaps those that you have created for that purpose.
The ship operators, also, need to learn how to work with tugs. Perhaps servers dedicated to that purpose with experienced docking pilots to give instruction would help.
Between lag and personalities, ship assist in MP is probably a more dicey proposition than in real life.
Marty

[Ballast]

You see, I don't understand you all one bit. Fair enough, prove your skills in Mission mode, but multiplayer is about the social aspect, and you should engage whilst you have the chance in my opinion. Otherwise, aren't you just using it as another version of MSN messenger? Far be it from me to tell anyone how to play the game, but multiplayer was put in for a reason, and I don't feel it's being used to it's full potential at all. So without seeming like a hothead, could we please keep this thread to a "I'll take part" type affair, and not a "I don't use tugs because I know how to use the ships" (which is what you're basically saying guys).

No im saying that if i know that the 'tugboat captain' is a serious player and dont screw things up on purpose, he can connect anytime. IF NOT, than i rather do it myself. I did plenty coorporation dockings on MP. 

[orcades]

Hello, Jayshum has a fair point, but for me the approach to, and departure from port is more interesting. I'm not that worried about the berthing bit. Each to their own I guess.

Regards, 

[pauljanaway1]

You see, I don't understand you all one bit. Fair enough, prove your skills in Mission mode, but multiplayer is about the social aspect, and you should engage whilst you have the chance in my opinion. Otherwise, aren't you just using it as another version of MSN messenger? Far be it from me to tell anyone how to play the game, but multiplayer was put in for a reason, and I don't feel it's being used to it's full potential at all. So without seeming like a hothead, could we please keep this thread to a "I'll take part" type affair, and not a "I don't use tugs because I know how to use the ships" (which is what you're basically saying guys).

but if you are sailing for over an hour it is realy anyoing for a tug to come along and crash into me or pull me into somthing

[Jayshum]

Well Paul, I could argue back at that by saying play single-player, and every 20 minutes or so, pause, press the windows key, and check msn. I'm not being a sod by the way, just proving my point.

Orcades, you say the approach/departure is the best bit, I agree. Shipsim's collision physics are a little touchy, so unless damage is off, it's very tricky to undertake a complicated docking move. But going back to approach/departure, Marseilles has the massive dock entrance, yet no one ever allows tugs to help with that.

To reiterate the fact that I'm not moaning about nothing, I'll list the tows I've had altogether online.

First 2 weeks: Destrega as the Vermaas, me as the small tug.
Just after New Horizons came out: Sadsid let me try to dock his Latitude at Fawley, I was the Bugiser.
In the same session, I tied onto some guy's Agile Solution, escorting him to the Southampton docks, but he quit/lagged out just as we were approaching the pilots house.

And that's it.

[pauljanaway1]

when i used to play pm all the time i was getting rammed 3 or 4 times a week somtimes by the tugs that where serpost to be helping me it was then i made up my mind never to let a tug tow me or let any shiips get close to me

[IRI5HJ4CK]

I'm always up for a good tow, as you can see And i've spent most of my time here towing, so, whats gone wrong?

Jack.

[pauljanaway1]

I'm always up for a good tow, as you can see And i've spent most of my time here towing, so, whats gone wrong?

Jack.

i dont know it was after 5 weeks of allmost continual ramming that i started not going on mp as much

[Jayshum]

In that case Jack, are you in?! Maybe you, Nathan and a few others would help me organise this then. Maybe host a private (but open) server for it, with damage off.

Not to go off-topic, but what exactly is the cheating option? If someone could answer that when replying generally, that'd be great.

[Minime]

I'm in if I can be towed, in Latitude or Vermaas

[orcades]

Hi, well ok I did try the towage thing before the servers had the no-damage option, and then at least it was a pain, to be sunk after 25 minutes getting the ship to Marseille. However with the no-damage option I appreciate what Jayshum is getting at.

[IRI5HJ4CK]

In that case Jack, are you in?! Maybe you, Nathan and a few others would help me organise this then. Maybe host a private (but open) server for it, with damage off.

Not to go off-topic, but what exactly is the cheating option? If someone could answer that when replying generally, that'd be great.

Sure, i'll set up a server for you lot! let me know when you want it to go online, via pm.

The cheating option is to allow the "Ducky" and all other little cheats etc.

Jack.

[Thruster]

I'm all for towing and being towed. I think that's what multiplayer is really about; towing and helping other captains. I'd like to be towed ( I'm not very good at towing yet ), so you guys have something to tow. It's just that I haven't got New Horizons (yet), and you guys would probably rather play on a NH server I guess. But I think it's a great idea of towing and being towed, as i said, that's exactly what the multiplayer in this game's all about (at least that's my opinion ). When I've got the add-on, I'll be glad to be one of the ships that let people have the fun to tow.


Regards,

Thruster

[Jayshum]

Okay well let's arrange a time now for tomorrow, at 7pm British time? I'm not sure of the timezones, so that would be roughly 27 and a half hours from the time I posted this. I'll leave the details up to you guys if you like as regards servers etc, although a private one might be better as damage would be off.

Can't wait.

[orcades]

Sounds like a good plan.

[pigdog]

Hi all,

Good idea, I've been thinking about this alot too, I'm definitely up for a bit of towing as some of you are aware and I have found it hard to get a tow job on MP, so much so I don't even bother asking now as you end up sounding so desperate, sat there in your tug saying "anyone want a tug?" I just wait to be asked now (if you can find anyone on MP that is)

I'd definitely like to be involved with this as Irishjack will tell you it used to be pretty good in Marseille at one time with lots of towing going on.

If we add some real world rules to this type of server it could be quite interesting, I've got some ideas, when I've got time I'll pm you with them.

pigdog

[TerryRussell]

You should have been on the Master's PEC today. The challenge for today was to tow a defective Vermaas into the terminal in Rotterdam. Lots of towing work there! Repeated next week.

[Jayshum]

Date and time please Terry.

[pigdog]

Yes I keep missing the PEC slots always seem to be working I'll make it one day!

I think organized events are far more interesting than unmanaged ones