Taken from HELP ARENA:
17.1.2 AETHERSHIP SIMULATORS
I. SIMULATORS
-------------
The Parallax Simulator was a gift from the technologically advanced
Gnomes, allowing any algontherine and her crew to experience the sensations
of aetherspace combat without the penalties normally associated with it,
such as experience loss, ship damage, and power consumption. The Parallax
Simulator functions when two or more algontherine docked at the Aetherplex
Chamber link their senses to the central overmind, and appear to enter a
neutral arena in which their crews are pitted against one another for fun
or glory.
Each city and commune has the chance to purchase their own Simulator, which
allows algontherine at the nation's dock to engage in mock battles.
Any Commander locked into a command chair can challenge another crew at the
same dock with SIM CHALLENGE, providing their algontherine has the
required 5% reserves which will be consumed on initiating the simulation.
Other crews which are seeking simulator battles will be displayed on the
SIMWHO listing.
The simulator is also used for a number of group events, such as Free-For-All,
Wargames, Gnomish Treachery, and Aetherspace Invaders. During any of these
events, SIM STATUS will give you some information about the event.
Additionally, if you go to the Pool of Portals near each dock, you
may SIM SCAN any ship or SIM DIAG any player currently participating
in order to see how they are faring.
Players level 9 and under are never able to participate in any simulator group
events. Starting at level 10 (or higher, if set for the individual simulation)
players may participate in any simulator group event.
While inside the simulator, player death does not cost experience but will
eject you from the Portal system, and ship implosions will not drain the stored
reserves. All consumables that are not used up in a regular arena will not
be used up in the simulator.
You will leave the arena with the same levels of endurance and willpower as you
entered it. The same is true of many such things, like Karma, Devotion and
the damage level of ship modules.
The simulator is a device to battle outside of normal reality thus anything that
happens within the simulation should not be carried to the rest of Lusternia.
II. SIMULATOR COMMANDS
----------------------
SIM CHALLENGEÂ Â Â Â Â Â : Challenge an algontherine to a mock battle.
SIM STATUSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â : Get some information on whatever simulation (if any)
                          is currently taking place in the Simulator, including
                          a list of participants.
SIM WATCHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â : Experience an algontherine's simulated struggles.
SIM UNWATCHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â : Cease watching an algontherine.
SIMWHOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â : See a list of aether crews looking for simulations.
III. PURCHASING SIMULATORS
--------------------------
Cities and Communes, and only those, may purchase, own, and operate simulators.
Contact your city patron, or estarra@lusternia.com, for more details.
So essentially, it costs 5% of a ship's reserves (10 power) to use for a normal challenge, works just like arenas in that you can't lose anything inside, and could be quickly coded as a very small little region of aetherspace that you enter when someone accepts your challenge (and there would be no spawned creatures in this environment).
This way, crews could practice aethership fighting without dying over and over again. Oh, and if NPC gnome algontherine can be coded for the Gnomish Treachery group event, there might be a way to use them to add handicaps to powerful ships against smaller ones.
CODE
17.1.2 AETHERSHIP SIMULATORS
I. SIMULATORS
-------------
The Parallax Simulator was a gift from the technologically advanced
Gnomes, allowing any algontherine and her crew to experience the sensations
of aetherspace combat without the penalties normally associated with it,
such as experience loss, ship damage, and power consumption. The Parallax
Simulator functions when two or more algontherine docked at the Aetherplex
Chamber link their senses to the central overmind, and appear to enter a
neutral arena in which their crews are pitted against one another for fun
or glory.
Each city and commune has the chance to purchase their own Simulator, which
allows algontherine at the nation's dock to engage in mock battles.
Any Commander locked into a command chair can challenge another crew at the
same dock with SIM CHALLENGE
required 5% reserves which will be consumed on initiating the simulation.
Other crews which are seeking simulator battles will be displayed on the
SIMWHO listing.
The simulator is also used for a number of group events, such as Free-For-All,
Wargames, Gnomish Treachery, and Aetherspace Invaders. During any of these
events, SIM STATUS will give you some information about the event.
Additionally, if you go to the Pool of Portals near each dock, you
may SIM SCAN any ship or SIM DIAG any player currently participating
in order to see how they are faring.
Players level 9 and under are never able to participate in any simulator group
events. Starting at level 10 (or higher, if set for the individual simulation)
players may participate in any simulator group event.
While inside the simulator, player death does not cost experience but will
eject you from the Portal system, and ship implosions will not drain the stored
reserves. All consumables that are not used up in a regular arena will not
be used up in the simulator.
You will leave the arena with the same levels of endurance and willpower as you
entered it. The same is true of many such things, like Karma, Devotion and
the damage level of ship modules.
The simulator is a device to battle outside of normal reality thus anything that
happens within the simulation should not be carried to the rest of Lusternia.
II. SIMULATOR COMMANDS
----------------------
SIM CHALLENGE
SIM STATUS
                          is currently taking place in the Simulator, including
                          a list of participants.
SIM WATCH
SIM UNWATCHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â : Cease watching an algontherine.
SIMWHOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â : See a list of aether crews looking for simulations.
III. PURCHASING SIMULATORS
--------------------------
Cities and Communes, and only those, may purchase, own, and operate simulators.
Contact your city patron, or estarra@lusternia.com, for more details.
So essentially, it costs 5% of a ship's reserves (10 power) to use for a normal challenge, works just like arenas in that you can't lose anything inside, and could be quickly coded as a very small little region of aetherspace that you enter when someone accepts your challenge (and there would be no spawned creatures in this environment).
This way, crews could practice aethership fighting without dying over and over again. Oh, and if NPC gnome algontherine can be coded for the Gnomish Treachery group event, there might be a way to use them to add handicaps to powerful ships against smaller ones.
Someone give this guy a medal, and then a truckload of credits.
AWESOME
But wait, we need to learn a bit in aethercraft to use it or not?
But wait, we need to learn a bit in aethercraft to use it or not?
Not to be a nitpicker, but there already is a Help 17.1.2. 
Awesome idea, though. The main thing preventing me from buying a ship and exploring Aetherspace for myself is the combination of the uncertainties and the dangers. This simulator would help remove a little of the uncertainty, at least, and give us a chance to practice our flying.
Awesome idea, though. The main thing preventing me from buying a ship and exploring Aetherspace for myself is the combination of the uncertainties and the dangers. This simulator would help remove a little of the uncertainty, at least, and give us a chance to practice our flying.
QUOTE(Zarquan @ Sep 22 2006, 06:34 PM) 334468
Not to be a nitpicker, but there already is a Help 17.1.2.
Awesome idea, though. The main thing preventing me from buying a ship and exploring Aetherspace for myself is the combination of the uncertainties and the dangers. This simulator would help remove a little of the uncertainty, at least, and give us a chance to practice our flying.
Heh, I was just about to point that out, also.
I like the idea.
Yeah, part of the reason I don't go out as much as I should is because I need to find a crew, and then worry about getting killed while testing skills or learning some basic things. 
This idea is really good. I would explore aetherspace more in-depth, even though I've been nearly everywhere up there. I just don't have the time nor the credits to explore or purchase modules. Plus the threat of being destroyed via lag...
I'd probably explore more with this.
I'd probably explore more with this.
QUOTE(Lightzout @ Sep 22 2006, 04:58 PM) 334434
AWESOME
But wait, we need to learn a bit in aethercraft to use it or not?
You would have to, yes. But with just 30 or so lessons, you can crew in almost any module in a basic sense, and aethership combat is much more about teamwork and strategy than individual skill (mostly).
Just think of it, you would zip around the small simulated patch of aetherspace, filled with twists and turns and ambush points until you chance upon an enemy ship, then blast them to smithereens! Or, if you want to make things really interesting, you could try to disable them long enough to ram and board, and while half your crew is still battling to keep your ship alive, another half is fighting hand to hand at the breach, desperately trying to keep the invaders from the ultimate victory - taking control of your ship.
Example games -
Gnomish Treachery: Ships form up to 5 teams, each with their own Gnome outpost. The goal is to find and collect diamonuts from diamonut nebulae, and be the first to supply your outpost with enough resources to bribe the others into submission. Be careful to guard your own supply, or your enemies might steal away all your effort! (Optional addition - for every x diamonut loads you collect, you get a small gnomish scout NPC ship, that follows the closest ship on your team and can do minor damage to any enemy in range.)
Aetherspace Invaders: This is a race for survival, where all ships face progressive waves of aetherbeasts that gradually increase in number and strength. Who will be the last to remain airtight? Will you form alliances to help defeat the beasts together, or will you turn on other ships and risk facing their creatures as well as your own? (Optional addition - this could actually be a ranked type of battle, with high scores!
)I don't know, any other suggestions?
Oh, and for the nitpickers, it could be helpfile 17.0! 
I think it would also have to have the special rules that modifying a ship in the simulator (either by manse commands or upgrades) wasn't possible, and that you couldn't store flashpoints.
I think it would also have to have the special rules that modifying a ship in the simulator (either by manse commands or upgrades) wasn't possible, and that you couldn't store flashpoints.
QUOTE(Anonymous @ Sep 22 2006, 09:41 AM) 334395
For a moment I thought this was an actual help file, and was like, "Oh my God that's awesome."
Edit:It also would help out a lot with gathering crews and testing things, as others have stated.
Me too. Elryn, stop getting my hopes up. 
