Stranger missions in PvE.

[Rithrius]

When and if Rockstar adds PvE servers for people to play in, do you really think they'll change the premise of stranger missions?

Right now, whenever you start a stranger mission, other players are notified they can join in and rain on your parade. It's clear Rockstar added this PvP element as a form of difficulty. As such, in a PvE server, this would make stranger missions far too easy to complete. I'm fairly certain that if Rockstar ever created PvE servers, players would still engage in PvP play whenever someone accepts a stranger mission. If not, people could exploit this reduced difficulty to gain levels the easy way, and balance has to be maintained.

My point being, even in PvE servers, PvP will still be a thing.

[fejkb]

1 hour ago, Rithrius said:

When and if Rockstar adds PvE servers for people to play in, do you really think they'll change the premise of stranger missions?

Right now, whenever you start a stranger mission, other players are notified they can join in and rain on your parade. It's clear Rockstar added this PvP element as a form of difficulty. As such, in a PvE server, this would make stranger missions far too easy to complete. I'm fairly certain that if Rockstar ever created PvE servers, players would still engage in PvP play whenever someone accepts a stranger mission. If not, people could exploit this reduced difficulty to gain levels the easy way, and balance has to be maintained.

My point being, even in PvE servers, PvP will still be a thing.

They could just increase number of enemy NPC x10 or something. There are plenty of solutions to resolve that issue

[Pocket Fox]

Stranger missions are a bad payout anyway. Bad money, meh gold and only okay for XP. You could do story missions and double your payout for cash/nuggets and no griefers. It's not like these are business sale missions or something where we're getting tonnes of cash.

 

If R* is worried a PvE environment will allow people to make tonnes of cash, it won't. I already make a fortune in PvP free-roam since I know how to work their matchmaker in my favor.

[Dr.Rosenthal]

Out of 50 stranger missions, maybe I get attacked once or twice. I can even deliver mail solo and other players just ignore the bags lying around. So in a PvE session, I’d assume players would be even more prone to ignore it.

 

But to answer your question, I guess they’d have to increase the number of npc enemies and remove the PvP element altogether.

[Jason]

Common sense says they remove the PvP only ones and increase the enemy NPC's for the rest but Rockstar logic means they'll probably remove them all, just like how cargo missions in GTAO don't work.

[Stretch188]

Honestly I dont really see PVE lobbies happening.

 

Seems like alot of work when they already went to the trouble of creating the best PVE experience of this generation - single player.

 

I get that people want to experience the world with their own character/with friends, but like you and Dr. Rosenthal said, you can already get pretty isolated by manipulating the matchmaking.

 

Also, if they made small fixes like: 

 

adding free aim lobbies

Eliminating constant player blips/when blips are visible they display honor level

Get rid of stranger mission notifications (go mess up this guys mission!)

Adding more butchers/towns and allowing you to give your pelts to cripps and have him sell them.

 

This would allow for a PVE playstyle without the need to create an entire new lobby type/progression system.

 

Hopefully they focus on improving the online to allow for different playstyles rather than merely slapping a band aid solution on.

[Pocket Fox]

10 minutes ago, Stretch188 said:

Honestly I dont really see PVE lobbies happening.

 

Seems like alot of work when they already went to the trouble of creating the best PVE experience of this generation - single player.

 

I get that people want to experience the world with their own character/with friends, but like you and Dr. Rosenthal said, you can already get pretty isolated by manipulating the matchmaking.

 

Also, if they made small fixes like: 

 

adding free aim lobbies

Eliminating constant player blips/when blips are visible they display honor level

Get rid of stranger mission notifications (go mess up this guys mission!)

Adding more butchers/towns and allowing you to give your pelts to cripps and have him sell them.

 

This would allow for a PVE playstyle without the need to create an entire new lobby type/progression system.

 

Hopefully they focus on improving the online to allow for different playstyles rather than merely slapping a band aid solution on.

It's really less work than you think. You also can't monetise single player as egregiously as you can multiplayer.

 

Whether it's your cup of tea or not, there is a significant amount of the player base that wants to play an online game in a strictly co-operative fashion, or even solo/lone wolf. Take Two is welcome to ignore this paying demographic as they see fit, only it's ignoring the easy to fulfil requests of paying customers.

 

As I wrote in another thread, Misery tweeted about invite/friendly lobbies and fun said they exist, but are locked. So don't know if that is both, one or the other. But Take Two and R* would be absolutely out of their minds to ignore an entire paying player base.

 

While I can mess with matchmaking and server hop to get to my desired area and have it be empty, anyone can spawn in and force me to do it all again. Further to this, super sh*t matchmaking and networking means I can be kicked constantly (as can others) from a lobby. Purely because the game thinks taking me in Australia and putting me in a server with someone from India, South Africa, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. Guess what happens? Super crap ping/lag and someone if not many people get kicked.

 

People won't be forgiving of constant kicks, crashes and AI glitching out due to lag etc when RDRO loses it's little 'Beta' shield of protection. More lobby types, specifically invite only lobbies are the answer.

[Stretch188]

13 minutes ago, Pocket Fox said:

1. It's really less work than you think. You also can't monetise single player as egregiously as you can multiplayer.

 

2. Whether it's your cup of tea or not, there is a significant amount of the player base that wants to play an online game in a strictly co-operative fashion, or even solo/lone wolf. Take Two is welcome to ignore this paying demographic as they see fit, only it's ignoring the easy to fulfil requests of paying customers.

 

3. As I wrote in another thread, Misery tweeted about invite/friendly lobbies and fun said they exist, but are locked. So don't know if that is both, one or the other. But Take Two and R* would be absolutely out of their minds to ignore an entire paying player base.

 

4. Further to this, super sh*t matchmaking and networking means I can be kicked constantly (as can others) from a lobby. Purely because the game thinks taking me in Australia and putting me in a server with someone from India, South Africa, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. Guess what happens? Super crap ping/lag and someone if not many people get kicked.

1. Im not a game designer so maybe you have more insight into this than I do, but skimming around you can see that the general consensus is that its much easier to play PvE. So they would have to balance it in a way that the much larger PvP portion of the player base doesnt feel like they are getting the short end of the stick by playing on what is essentially a higher difficulty. Seems like opening a whole new can of worms.

 

2. Funnily enough, it is my cup of tea lol. Im a free aim player and find the insta headshots infuriating, so I spend most of my time with the Sundance Kid to my Butch Cassidy, working my way around the stranger missions and avoiding other players at all costs. I invite pretty much any person I run into into my posse, and if anyone in my posse antagonizes people minding their own business, i kick them out, sticka machete in their skull, and ride for New Austin lol.

 

3. I dunno who Misery and Fun are but ill take your word for it! I still believe that the changes I proposed would allow for the playstyle you mention, and would mean that rockstar is in fact not ignoring that section of the player base. For example you mention that someone could just spawn next to you even if you found an isolated area - well if there are no player blips, then even if they spawn in the same general vicinity, they would have no way of knowing you were nearby, or that you are a player and not an NPC.

 

4. This is what I mean by how I believe it is more important they fix these kinds of issues - I would rather server stability, matchmaking and networking be addressed first and foremost - as opposed to the bandaid solution of letting everyone play by themselves and therefore never forcing rockstar to deal with their unreliable servers.

[Reyvar]

I personally would love a non-pvp version of online. Getting randomly shot in the face adds nothing to the experience but frustration, and can easily result in the loss of god only knows how much work if you're carrying pelts.

 

Stranger missions are just worthless. The payout without anyone interfering is miniscule, literally anything else makes more money faster. If someone decides to ruin it? It's almost certain they'll succeed, as it's too easy to do so. I managed to ruin one guy's stranger mission and I didn't even mean to. A random stick of dynamite blew up his cart as he was driving by, and I didn't even know he was a player doing a mission.

[ALifeOfMisery]

4 hours ago, Stretch188 said:

I dunno who Misery and Fun are but ill take your word for it!

Hi, I'm Misery , and @Fun 2 is a well known data mining wizard. If Fun says something is in the game files I'd bet my left nut it's there.

 

Whether or not that something is used is a different story.

 

But to answer 

8 hours ago, Rithrius said:

When and if Rockstar adds PvE servers for people to play in, do you really think they'll change the premise of stranger missions?

No, I don't, I fully expect R* to remove Stranger missions from any lobby type without PvP, because R* logic.

 

However, as I've said before, I really wouldn't care, IMO they're almost invariably sh*t and I wouldn't play them in an invite only lobby even if the option was available.

Edited December 26, 2018 by ALifeOfMisery

[Stretch188]

7 minutes ago, ALifeOfMisery said:

Hi, I'm Misery , and @Fun 2 is a well known data mining wizard. If Fun says something is in the game files I'd bet my left nut it's there.

 

Whether or not that something is used is a different story.

Hey! Thats awesome. God knows relying on rockstar for info is a slow, painful process lol, so good to know we got a Colombo or two on our side haha. Have either of you seen anything about free aim lobbies in your datamining?

[ALifeOfMisery]

12 minutes ago, Stretch188 said:

Hey! Thats awesome. God knows relying on rockstar for info is a slow, painful process lol, so good to know we got a Colombo or two on our side haha. Have either of you seen anything about free aim lobbies in your datamining?

Oh I don't data mine, R* should consider themselves extremely lucky that I'm technologically inept lol.

 

I see myself more of a professional b*tch & moaner when it comes to the infamous R* logic, either that or an intolerable c*nt if what my wife says is true .

 

I'm sure that if there is anything regarding free aim lobbies that we should know, but R* won't tell us, Fun would share any information they have.

Edited December 26, 2018 by ALifeOfMisery

[Tez2]

It's nothing significant, when @BlackScout shared his findings about the PC version on the companion app.

I did the same thing and found:

rage::rlScRpcMessages::QueueForSession_OnCall = Quick Join
rage::rlScRpcMessages::QueueForSession_Private
rage::rlScRpcMessages::QueueForSession_Seamless = Free roam
rage::rlScRpcMessages::QueueForSession_Competitive = Showdowns and Races ..etc

You can spot which one was left there.

[CrimsonFolo]

As others said, just slap a lot of enemy NPCs in it or maybe even add different a.i that go for your objectives or have armour or something and there you go.

 

I'm kinda disappointed that Rockstar hasn't bothered to enable private sessions or even free aim sessions (which were in GTA 4, 5, and RDR......). Calling it a beta doesn't really excuse them for this lol. 

 

Adding extra enemy NPCs could increase the time taken to do the mission and maybe they could slightly nerf the completion XP reward (On PvE servers) to compensate for the people who would play on the PVP servers (if the system of PvE and PvP was added) so PvP could do stranger missions faster and at a better rate but have the threat of other players while PvE can do it safely but slower.

[Tez2]

1 hour ago, The FoolYT said:

I'm kinda disappointed that Rockstar hasn't bothered to enable private sessions or even free aim sessions (which were in GTA 4, 5, and RDR......). Calling it a beta doesn't really excuse them for this lol. 

I'm pretty sure they are on Rockstar to-do list or maybe already done.

[DonnieVega]

59 minutes ago, Fun 2 said:

I'm pretty sure they are on Rockstar to-do list or maybe already done.

Private sessions already get enabled when starting some of the stranger missions for the first time.

[FreeMaxB585]

Ive only been attacked a few times doing stranger missions. Most people arent assholes and also realize its not worth it

[RayD70]

There's already a proven model for this. WoW has had pve servers forever. No one can attack you unless you're flagged for pvp. And that never happens by accident. You choose to flag yourself by attacking someone already flagged, or engaging in an activity or zone you know will flag you.

 

No reason Stranger missions can't stay. They can even balance it out by offering a challenge to other players to stop the posse doing it - which, of course, flags them too. Otherwise, they can't compete.

Edited December 27, 2018 by RayD70

[Pocket Fox]

I don't even play Stranger missions for money or gold. I play them for a 'fun' gameplay loop. I can make more cash in free roam pvp hunting/fishing and now have ability cards (and intelligence) where I can avoid being griefed and sell my goods. Then switch session if it becomes too risky. It is super boring though.

 

Christmas Day, I said no more farming, play the game. So I did Flaco's stranger mission up in Ambarino. Had to track some NPC's through the snow and kill them. I could actually follow their trail in the snow, physical trail. Killed all 4, it was awesome! Then I cleared a gang hideout where you start SP. Then I went down to Rhodes and stole a horse from the Braithwaites for a stranger, hijacked a wagon for another. Then assassinated some more npc's for Joe.

 

2 hours of playing maybe made 60 dollars on stranger missions, minus 10-15 dollars for ammo, supplies and camp/stable. Call it 45-50 dollars profit for 2 hours.  Hmmm, I can make A LOT more than that doing missions or hunting/fishing. So I can't see why R* would not allow these in a private or pve server. I was actually making less money doing these, but having more fun. I felt like a proper bad ass gunslinger.

[Callahan44]

1 hour ago, Pocket Fox said:

I don't even play Stranger missions for money or gold. I play them for a 'fun' gameplay loop. I can make more cash in free roam pvp hunting/fishing and now have ability cards (and intelligence) where I can avoid being griefed and sell my goods. Then switch session if it becomes too risky. It is super boring though.

 

Christmas Day, I said no more farming, play the game. So I did Flaco's stranger mission up in Ambarino. Had to track some NPC's through the snow and kill them. I could actually follow their trail in the snow, physical trail. Killed all 4, it was awesome! Then I cleared a gang hideout where you start SP. Then I went down to Rhodes and stole a horse from the Braithwaites for a stranger, hijacked a wagon for another. Then assassinated some more npc's for Joe.

 

2 hours of playing maybe made 60 dollars on stranger missions, minus 10-15 dollars for ammo, supplies and camp/stable. Call it 45-50 dollars profit for 2 hours.  Hmmm, I can make A LOT more than that doing missions or hunting/fishing. So I can't see why R* would not allow these in a private or pve server. I was actually making less money doing these, but having more fun. I felt like a proper bad ass gunslinger.

You could start missions,just complete it in time and hunt in the meantime without any risk. Maximum profit. Id be fine with it if pvp payout would always be max then.

[Stretch188]

1 hour ago, Pocket Fox said:

I don't even play Stranger missions for money or gold. I play them for a 'fun' gameplay loop. I can make more cash in free roam pvp hunting/fishing, it is super boring though.

 

Christmas Day, I said no more farming, play the game. So I did Flaco's mission, had to track some NPC's...I could actually follow their trail in the snow. Killed all 4, it was awesome! Then cleared a gang hideout, went down to Rhodes and stole a horse for a stranger, hijacked a wagon for another. Then assassinated some more npc's for Joe.

 

2 hours of playing, call it 45-50 dollars profit for 2 hours. 

 

I can make A LOT more than that doing missions or hunting/fishing. So I can't see why R* would not allow these in a private or pve server. I was actually making less money doing these, but having more fun. I felt like a proper bad ass gunslinger.

 

I play the exact same way! You on PS4? You should join up with Americas Most Wanted, we work from east to west (&vice versa) along the lannaheche river, specializing in bad honor stranger missions, obliterating gang hideouts...and mail delivery! Lmao.

 

Im kinda surprised you only make 25/hr though - a single on the hunt mission takes about 10 minutes and pays between 15-20$ and .2 gold bars. My 2 man wrecking crew makes about 50$/hr each, as well as at least .3 gold bars/hr. Toss in a couple deer carcasses everytime you are nearing a town w a butcher, and you can easily get over 75$/hr. These are all estimates though and I am out of town/a couple coronas deep, so I could definitely be off lol.

 

I make alot more racing (i get destroyed in showdowns lol) but its just fun to me gathering a small group of trustworthy guns and systematically turning all those little orange dots grey. I guess I just enjoy mapping my route, strategizing so as to maximize time making money and minimize time in pointless PvP battles. 

 

I dont have anything against PvE lobbies as an idea, I guess I just (selfishly) would rather they focus on making PvP lobbies as fun and conducive to role playing as they should be first and foremost. And clearly, as you just demonstrated, it is possible to go hours without having interference from other players, even with the current blip/aiming system in a PvP lobby.

 

Good luck, i hope you guys get what you want! - and anyone in this thread who likes the sound of working from Tumbleweed to St. Denis doing odd jobs, feel free to add me! Stretch188

[Pocket Fox]

38 minutes ago, Stretch188 said:

 

I play the exact same way! You on PS4? You should join up with Americas Most Wanted, we work from east to west (&vice versa) along the lannaheche river, specializing in bad honor stranger missions, obliterating gang hideouts...and mail delivery! Lmao.

 

Im kinda surprised you only make 25/hr though - a single on the hunt mission takes about 10 minutes and pays between 15-20$ and .2 gold bars. My 2 man wrecking crew makes about 50$/hr each, as well as at least .3 gold bars/hr. Toss in a couple deer carcasses everytime you are nearing a town w a butcher, and you can easily get over 75$/hr. These are all estimates though and I am out of town/a couple coronas deep, so I could definitely be off lol.

 

I make alot more racing (i get destroyed in showdowns lol) but its just fun to me gathering a small group of trustworthy guns and systematically turning all those little orange dots grey. I guess I just enjoy mapping my route, strategizing so as to maximize time making money and minimize time in pointless PvP battles. 

 

I dont have anything against PvE lobbies as an idea, I guess I just (selfishly) would rather they focus on making PvP lobbies as fun and conducive to role playing as they should be first and foremost. And clearly, as you just demonstrated, it is possible to go hours without having interference from other players, even with the current blip/aiming system in a PvP lobby.

 

Good luck, i hope you guys get what you want! - and anyone in this thread who likes the sound of working from Tumbleweed to St. Denis doing odd jobs, feel free to add me! Stretch188

I play X1X. People have misread that I'm making low amounts of cash. I'm saying I make low amounts of cash on Stranger Missions - so I can see no valid reason why R* would not allow these in private/friendly lobbies.

I make between more per hour hunting big game and rare birds. To compare, an hour doing story missions I would make $75-$100. Doing stranger missions for an hour $40-$65.

 

My point is, not allowing stranger missions in private/friendly lobbies would be a pointless move by R*. They actually provide me with less money and gold than my other less risky activities. They do provide more XP than hunting of course, but story missions still give more xp and gold and cash with little to no risk other than noob teammates dying.

 

I do the stranger missions for the gameplay loop they offer, to feel like I'm in the west and to have fun. I've just about lost my sanity hunting birds and big game, but I keep forcing myself to do it to build up a nest-egg of many thousands of dollars.

Edited December 27, 2018 by Pocket Fox

[Stretch188]

37 minutes ago, Pocket Fox said:

3 hours ago, Pocket Fox said:

2 hours of playing maybe made 60 dollars on stranger missions, minus 10-15 dollars for ammo, supplies and camp/stable. Call it 45-50 dollars profit for 2 hours.

People have misread that i'm making low amounts of cash. I'm saying I make low amounts of cash on Stranger Missions...Doing stranger missions for an hour $40-$65.

No i didnt misread lol you said 60 dollars for 2 hours of stranger missions originally, then doubled the potential income on your next post. Maybe you meant to write per hour in that earlier post. Or maybe just exaggerating a little to emphasize your point? But yes, as you said in your next post, 40-65/hr seems more in the right range.

 

I cant be bothered to farm the same 6 story missions for hours at at a time, and I would assume thats the case for the majority of the player base, so I dont know that offering that up as a feasible alternative to Stranger Missions holds much water.

 

I also cant help but think its a bit ironic that your position is that having fully functional Stranger Missions in PvE offers no significant advantage over PvP players, because they could always do Story Missions (PvE) to more effectively farm gold and xp.

 

In that scenario all the people making gold/xp the fastest would be in PvE.