Anax wrote:In anycase, if you we stuck in the middle of nowhere with no system in sight, no ships around, and no jump drive, what would you do?
(personally i'd be starting a new game)
In game/in character? I'd whip open my panel for my tachyon-navcom, and call CPBA for a tow. (Confederate Privateers Backup Association.)
A contract would be put up on the roster of non-hostile privateers, and I'd get someone to tow me or fix me in place.
Heck, I'd expect that after particularly long or energetic dogfights, folks would be wanting an emergency service like that. Someone walking up with a gas-truck and refilling you in the middle of nowhere when you can't get to a station or jump somewhere to refill would be nice.
Oooo, I think I just came up with an idea that might solve a few single-player game problems, now didn't I?
As for how the LAN situation is so popular, there are a number of solutions to getting a LAN ready and working for gaming:
1) Borrow a work network.
2) Set up a network at a person's home using a couple thousand dollars worth of cheap computers.
3) Bring laptops!
4) Use a cybercafe or other public-rentable LAN.
I've done all four, but must admit I like 1 and 2 the best.
A lot of CSers hold tournaments at cybercafes though.
Vega Strike works well for this with its 5 second installation and easy configuration (for standard options - others you would have to write out a config file and copy it).