This was also being "discussed" in another thread, can't be bothered to find it and link.
However, face it, the log off mechanic is being used in a way not intended, as a low risk way of having forces deployed in the field to log on when it is advantageous to do so, as well as escaping from pursuit.
The very concept of a mech just disappearing from the terrain when the player logs is ludicrous, despite the need to account for disconnects and the player’s ability to log when needed. Therefore, some other mechanic is needed.
If a mech shuts down, completely powered off, on terrain, you would still have a mech standing there. Fine, so how can the 2 issues meet, the ability to log, and a powered down mech on the terrain?
1) If a person logs on terrain, the mech goes into powered down mode, which means it emits no energy or signals. This means it would not show on radar, or the landmarks list, nor be targetable, and immune to AOE. It would only be “eyesight” visible on the terrain. In other words, you would have to be near it and “see” it on your screen.
2) When the individual logs back in, they would still have instability and syndicate protection equal to what you would have thru a teleport or undocking from an outpost
Now, what about all the old accounts that have never bothered to log back on or renew sub? Otherwise, you may find hundreds of these “logoff mode” bots all around teleports, which really will be an issue. Two ideas immediately come to mind:
1) Leave them where they are. This would create some hilarity, in that if one logs off in the middle of such a group, it would be hard to tell old from new. However, this would probably add to lag and other issues, so is perhaps not in the best interest of gameplay
2) After a set period of time, lets say a day for discussion’s sake, they finally disappear from the landscape, per the current mechanics. This would limit the amount of static mech statues on the landscape, while insuring that reasonably active players would still show up.
This still allows for logoff traps, btw. It just means that you have to “hide” you mech somewhere not in plain sight, or in terrain that is not frequented, but the possibility of being discovered still exists if a concerted search is made. You might have to resort ot scouts to find a time when it is safe to log in and get out, but that is what it is all about, teamwork.
And it could also have some hilarity involved, like walling in those logged off mechs… “…For the love of god, Montresor!”
In the gods we trust, all others bring data!