I agree with Austin’s (wonderful!) reply: you may’t stop out-of-game communications, and having in-game tokens to symbolize in-game communication is a strong choice.
However, there’s one other angle: incentives.
Are there any options on safeguarding towards meta communication between gamers in an enormous multiplayer recreation?
Sure: make it dearer to make use of a side-channel than an in-game technique.
Austin’s reply talks about utilizing time because the expense: that having an in-game token that represents in-game communication makes issues quicker. That is an awesome choice in quite a lot of circumstances, however there are different choices which might be value contemplating; they embody:
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Discover: fast-travel mechanics permit extra particular concentrating on (ie., shorter journey occasions) when you’ve got map, and sensors work 5% quicker in the event that they’ve pre-loaded some base information. A false map lands you within the unsuitable place (presumably a very unsuitable place), and provides time to the preliminary sensor scan because the computer systems attempt to reconcile the scan information with the pre-loaded information.
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Broaden: sources movement 5% quicker when you’ve got a pre-arranged contract with the opposite participant. A false contract slows the movement of sources as ships present as much as empty docks (or are refused docking, and many others.); ships may even return empty.
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Exploit: each minute of mining yields 5% extra ore when you’ve got a map of the vein, or the seller provides a 5% low cost to individuals who put on a sure pin or know the key handshake. A false map reduces the yield (presumably to 0%), factors to a unique useful resource, and many others.; a false handshake will increase the worth as the seller thinks you are attempting to get one thing over on them.
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Exterminate: your weapons and/or shields are 5% higher when you’ve got detailed scans of the goal class/sort of enemy. False scans lower the effectiveness of your gear by 5% as your weapons goal the onerous factors as an alternative of the comfortable ones and your defend harmonics are all unsuitable.
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Pyramid Scheme: if I provide you with a map of sector 001, then I get a 0.5% fee in your exercise in that sector; if I educate you the key handshake, I get a 0.5% fee on these trades; and many others.. I am truthfully undecided what false info would do in a Pyramid Scheme situation, however I’ve solely been interested by it for about half an hour over lunch. However, possibly simply losing the opposite particular person’s time is enough?
Word: the odds are pulled out of skinny air and could also be horribly unsuitable in your explicit recreation.
If I am attempting to get my pal to play the sport, it behooves me to provide them good maps and scans in-game; doing so provides them a leg up and quickens their path to with the ability to assist me with in-game stuff. Certain, I can inform them to go to the Iron Ore System’s third planet for ore over e mail, however an in-game map helps them bootstrap simply that a lot quicker and may get me just a few cash for my bother.
If I am a streamer attempting to run a group occasion, I am positively within the Pyramid Scheme choice so I can afford the brand new shiny simply that a lot quicker. The opposite choices are nonetheless going to be value giving out for the occasion so the occasion has a greater likelihood of being profitable and enjoyable for all concerned.
And, the values must be sufficiently small that the in-game problem of sending maps and scans world wide is not definitely worth the quantity of real-world foreign money one may be prepared to pay to get that slight edge – particularly if the client can spend a while (and probes?) to get the info themselves.
Social Issues and Technical Options
It’s nearly all the time not possible to implement a technical answer to a social downside. Technical options may help, to make sure, however they’ll very, very hardly ever really clear up the issue. And, OP’s bought a social downside on their fingers. Social issues require social options. Right here, that answer is “do not attempt to block out-of-band communication, simply make it worthwhile to make use of in-band communication channels”.
