All items unidentified

[OddBob]

Some ideas we threw together on IRC - a corollary to betel's random item names thread, with the benefit of keeping the item names.

Basically the idea is that all items are unidentified at first. When you shop, you see the actual item, but it still does not identify it. So when I dock as the rasiermesser store I can pick out a smartcannon if I want one, but should I choose not to get it then when I come across one in a pirate station it will show up as "a bumpy looking weapon" or whatever.

There can be several ways to ID an item: first is the obvious - installing it.

Then you can also use an identify ROM on it. Of course there can be verious flavors including defective (deletes it from your database, i.e. un-IDs it) and extra (IDs more than one)

Then, finally, many stations oculd offer an ID service - tinkers, salvagers, ringers, teratons, the occasional shop, etc.

What do you think?

[Betelgeuse]

it would be cool to id them by destroying one that you had. That way even if you had no roms you can still id stuff.
I don't think commonwealth would have the ID services, corp would have it (appraise) and maybe tinkers.

I like this idea due to several effects it has. It takes money out of the system due to selling un id'ed stuff is always much lower than normal. It also makes people think twice when dumping stuff.

This could be a solution to the dumping illegal stuff problem. You don't know its illegal when you pick it up without IDing it. But the station would know and would confiscate it.

[Fossaman]

I'm not entirely certain I'm a fan. One of the things I most dislike about Nethack is the need to identify items. Besides, as for weapons and other devices, I have great faith in the corporate system's copious warning labels and brand name logos emblazoned on every inch of these sophisticated devices. With ROMs, barrels, and alien items, that's fine. I wouldn't even mind it on the occasional obscure trade good. But I want to know what exactly it is I'm hooking into my ship systems, especially if you want to add in defective weapons.

[OddBob]

You might then be a fan of an earlier draft of this idea where items in shops (except roms, barrels and etc of course) are automatically completely identified. Thus only rare/nonsold items will be commonly unID'd.

[Fossaman]

That could be interesting. So, what sort of things would be unidentified then? An example or two would be nice.

[OddBob]

Basically nothing, which is why it was rejected as an early draft. Almost everything is in a shop somewhere.

If there were more enemy-only weapons they would be.

[digdug]

What about doing half and half ?

I mean, you pick up a laser cannon, that's fine it's written on it, but which one you picked up? The powerful blue one, the faster yellow laser, or the standard red laser ? You won't know until you identify it or try it on your ship.

Another example, you pick up a plasma cannon from a wreck, you don't know if it is the Ares or the standard one...