ATS Multiplayer Discussion.

[dkasper00]

It's time to have this discussion on here since we know that it is coming.

[rbsanford]

I wonder if there will be any new game mode for MP, like where one player drives a truck with an oversized load and two others drive the escort vehicles, or where two players have to move a load each between the same depots at the same time.

An issue that comes to mind is with DLCs. Say if someone with all map DLCs starts a server; will anyone who joins also have to have all DLCS, or would a player without a map DLC be able to join and see the unowned roads on the UI map but be kept out by barriers? And then what about paint job and accessory DLCs/WoT prizes? If you don't have one but another player does, will the accessory or paint job appear?

[flight50]

Cool topic to start. Although I was never one to ask for MP, I think I can get behind private server play if SCS is supporting it. I think VTC could actually be fun. I tried TruckersMP once and hated it. Although the AI is bad in ATS, I can't go without them.

@rbsanford I like your idea of a convoy moving parts from the same depot. This would look pretty sweet for hh transport. Perhaps, wind farms, oil rig setups, construction site and maybe some other organized freight hauling that I can't think of right now. It kinda ties into the links I posted in this post here viewtopic.php?p=1419263#p1419263. I think quest/missions/contract could be perfect. If I had to guess, that might be why there is an events team. Maybe to start, convoys could be missions/contracts for MP. Its a start and is better than nothing. But I don't think an escort will be involved in MP. That sounds like something someone will have to mod it. The SCS video at the end of the stream pretty much just showed all trucks and they were not special transport or heavy haul.

I'm guessing the setup will be up to the host. The host sets the rules/requirements. There could be a pull down to setup the maps, dlc's and mods. That is the only way I see people being able to join private servers. If you don't have all map or mods, your game could crash because it can't load the proper content. It would be the responsibility of every player to make sure they meet the criteria set by the host. Skins could be different. There can easily be a default skin to see if you don't have a skin someone is using. But if 6 people on on a private server and everyone has all the current dlc's and if everyone is updated to the exact build number............except John Doe, then he gets kicked out the server automatically.

I bet this is why SCS made a new portal to enter the game. The host for MP sets up everything. If everything can load up before entering in the game, the game can read every players content and let you know our are not compatible with everyone else. This is when only that person gets kicked out. Otherwise, that person get in the game and could crash everyone. Just a guess. I could be wrong, I could be right. But I fully support this feature even though I'm not overly wide about it. I'll try in but I am glad SCS is bringing it for those that want it. I don't see this being any different than other features like getting out the truck. I see zero reason to do so. Rolled down windows, I like it some think its a waste. Trailer cables. Some think it was a waste of time. Viewpoints. Some think its a waste. We all have opinions but just because you may not like it or want it, does not mean its a waste of time or that it shouldn't come. Don't like it, don't use it.

[Freeze338]

I'm wondering will they make mod supported or DLC supported versions. In TruckersMP you can play the game if you have no DLC at all . If you are missing skins, tuning packs or trailers you cannot see it. Truck looks white, colour to you while it has a skin, trailer is looking a box which says buy Krone DLC and custom parts not looking it's existing. if you are missing map DLC's you cannot travel there at while other players can.

About the mods, they supported promods only. On ETS2 you have to enter promods only servers. You have to enter seperate servers because Promods changing the vanilla roads. But Promods Canada won't effect the Vanilla roads so it's compatible with all servers.

Now, what can SCS do. First of all, even you don't have tuning DLC's, skin DLC's or trailer DLC's, you should see that on other players who has it. Otherwise it would be a bad experience for players who don't own DLC's. Also it will be a good advertisement for them especially if SCS wants to sell some trucks as the DLC. Currently Digital Combat Simulator is working on that way and it's pretty good.

They could make mod supported multiplayer as well. As @flight50 said if you don't own the mod, you cannot enter with a warning that you require a mod. But there is a better way to do that. All mods has to be released on steam workshop and when you enter a server which has mods while you don't, it'll automatically download the mod on workshop and activate it. But it has to be a limit for mods. Because some players has a mod junkyard which can crash their game guaranteed in close time. I saw people who uses over 30-40 mods. So creating a server max 10 mods would be a good choice. My reference game to that version is unturned. When you missing a mod which server has, it'll download on loading screen from workshop.

And if a map missing on those servers it warns you and you have to download the map mod by yourself. It won't download automatically. So paid mods or promods couldn't be downloaded automatically but free mods can on loading screen.

Doing events and etc. would be great with that way but I hope SCS increases speed limit in World of Trucks to 80mph.

[Graf_Boinenn]

My god. I was out due to final exams and SCS tells this? :O.

First of all, great solution to go for the private lobby. It's the best option right now.

About missing DLC's:
- If it is a map, you can't reach that region.
- If it is textures, accessories and so on... you will only see it but not own it.

About Mods.
- I think it will have certain mod support, but not everything. I think about this more like rFactor. You need to have the same mod/version to make your lobby with friends work.

I think it will be necessary to have a WoT account in order to play it, to push people to buy the game and have new players.

And, one thing that come to my mind. With an official MP, VTCw will grow. I know they already exist, but now it will have more visibility. As it happened in sports games, where you have the e-sports team... what if this makes real truck companies get into the game? I think that can be a chance.

If 2020 is THE YEAR for ATS... can't wait to see what 2021 delivers to both games!

[flight50]

Hmmm. Yeah I guess I didn't think too deep about mods. If SCS wants this to take off, mods has to be a part of MP but I agree with Freeze338. There has to be a limit for at least certain mods. There are a ton out there and not all are good. I like the steam only mods. That is a good idea. I'd limit map mods for sure. Too many of them, the loading order can cause issues and some of us (me) will not touch certain map mods. So that control should all be setup my the host imo. Map mods is very tricky in this regard though. There could be some requirement or certain approval rating by the community to consider safe for use. If TruckersMP supports ProMods, everyone will expect at least ProMods compatibility. Excluding a mod like them would hurt and that would reduce the numbers playing MP perhaps. If no mod support, that too should be up to the host. The host can choose vanilla or mod play as an option to setup the server.

Trucks, I can see default trucks getting substituted in for mods that some may not have. I will not download mod trucks just so I can see what others have. There are several nightmare trucks. Everyone's pc may not be up for the task. I don't see this mod trucks factoring in as a must have mod. Trailers could be in the same boat actually. I don't think I'd be interested in downloading a lot of these cargo trailers or what not. I stopped using the mass majority of them due to too many quality differences. Same with trucks, same with maps. Quality differences that I am not fond of seeing. I am fairly picky on mods I use. A default has to go in place for people that don't have particular mods. Skins would be iffy. If one does download certain trucks or trailers, there should be defaults in place.

So I wonder if there will be a special open beta for this. There should be imo. MP should definitely be its own entity which is why I always thought that is why SCS made the new game interface to get into the game. This beta shouldn't affect the rest of the game and it will need a fairly lonnnnng testing period imo by the public community as well. This shouldn't hold up the rest of the game. I'd love to try it out though considering I think it would be more like the single player campaign we have now, just with MP support. I am liking the VTC idea a lot. If SCS's MP is VTC driven, that would be cool. Pavel has mention VTC on a few past streams before. We don't even necessary have to convoy for MP either, that's optional. But if its like missions/quest for the team to meet that would be cool. Maybe everyone can't play at the exact same time or someone arrives late. As long as the host leaves their pc running, the team can always play with or without the host perhaps.

Honestly, I think SCS might setup MP just like lets say, the xmas event. Make it a community goal effort. Everyone has to meet personal goals/tasks/delivery as a team to complete the contract. Goal to be set by the host. Example, if I hosted a game for 2hrs (or infinite time) and set a goal of 15 deliveries, then as a collaborative effort, we as a team has to meet that goal in order to complete the mission/task before accepting a new contract.

Perhaps this is a way to introduce static weather conditions too. This new lighting system is bring lots of changes. All assets are touched up. I've mentioned before, that it would be a great way to seasonalize assets for the future with weather/seasons in mind. I remember very well back on the June 27th 2018 stream, Pavel mentioned they could do seasons thru missions/quest. Dynamic could indeed hold until its more realistic for regular game play. A pull down for weather conditions for MP would be awesome to see. Its like using a weather mod, its load on demand. I can see more people jumping into MP with more innovative things supported by SCS. Perhaps more hardcore elements as well could happen with MP. Pavel did say that the same team working the new World of Trucks is also doing the events. He also mentioned they would like to do more events and that the events team has to balance things out between more events and still working on the new WoTr. I wonder if that same team is also in charge of MP now in regards to setting it up? More specifically, if it would be like missions/quest. It sounds like it fits under their belt. This MP stuff could get fairly interesting in my opinion as I think more about the possibilities and what all this could mean for the community and for SCS. Even if they only get as far as private servers, that is still a win win.

[samuelchoi]

SCS said they are creating 2 version of mp right? One is like world of trucks, and one is small version of mp

[bryntrollian]

I'd actually consider playing MP if I'm not forced to suffer with the standard sounds.

[Bandit & The Snowman]

Mods are a very dangerous thing. They can introduce so many possible pitfalls that SCS can only leave it to the players/the host. From load order to inter-mod incompatibility to game versions... imagine there's a game update that makes a mod update necessary. IMHO they'd have to be at least as picky as TMP.

I sincerely hope server picking/matchmaking is done via WoTr and NOT Steam friends. I would absolutely hate having to become Steam friends with people I don't know at all, because it means more than just data from SCS' games. WoTr would be fine.

[Freeze338]

I'm wondering how they are gonna manage the time skipping ( teleporting, sleeping etc.). Will the time flow depending on the host ( when host sleeps, instantly 10 hours will be passed ) or will it be aa stable time like truckersmp. When you convoy getting tired and pulling up in a truck stop for sleeping would be a good edition.