Forums » Suggestions
Some ideas for persistent non-traveling NPCs in Capitol and Mining sectors
When the player first jumps from the training sector to the capitol, there is an abrupt extinction of the number of NPCs to be found flying around. Traveling convoys come and go, however the expectation set by the training sector is that drones may be found flying around the asteroids in station sectors. The effect this expectation may have on the new player experience may be illustrated by this video.
In order to maintain the player's expectation of being able to find all sorts of cool bots flying around the asteroid fields (cough*alpha*cough) it would be neat to add some in to Capitol and Mining station sectors. Here are some brief ideas on how it may work:
In Capitol sectors some Revenant and Centurion explorers may be flying slowly around the asteroid fields outside the No Fire Zone. When approached, the explorer would stop, turn and face the player. This could be in preparation for when NPCs are able to give out assignments. If fired upon, the explorer would return fire until the player is destroyed or leaves the immediate area.
If the player is able to kill two of these explorers in the same sector one of the station guards might send them a message saying something to the effect of "Better stop behaving hostilely toward members of your own nation or we'll make you an outlaw." If the player continued to kill these NPCs eventually their standing would drop below hated, and they would likely be destroyed. Upon waking up in the Corvus capitol they might receive a UI message like "Your actions have garnered the attention of the authorities and you have been banished to the lawless wastes of Greyspace." This would be a quick road for new players to take choosing to live as an outlaw.
In Mining sectors, have some EC class ships undock, choose an asteroid at random, and go mine it. When their cargo holds are full they would return to the station to unload, and repeat the process. The same No Fire Zone and faction rules would apply.
This might make traveling to the Capitol feel like less of an extinction event and more of a gradual integration to the world.
In order to maintain the player's expectation of being able to find all sorts of cool bots flying around the asteroid fields (cough*alpha*cough) it would be neat to add some in to Capitol and Mining station sectors. Here are some brief ideas on how it may work:
In Capitol sectors some Revenant and Centurion explorers may be flying slowly around the asteroid fields outside the No Fire Zone. When approached, the explorer would stop, turn and face the player. This could be in preparation for when NPCs are able to give out assignments. If fired upon, the explorer would return fire until the player is destroyed or leaves the immediate area.
If the player is able to kill two of these explorers in the same sector one of the station guards might send them a message saying something to the effect of "Better stop behaving hostilely toward members of your own nation or we'll make you an outlaw." If the player continued to kill these NPCs eventually their standing would drop below hated, and they would likely be destroyed. Upon waking up in the Corvus capitol they might receive a UI message like "Your actions have garnered the attention of the authorities and you have been banished to the lawless wastes of Greyspace." This would be a quick road for new players to take choosing to live as an outlaw.
In Mining sectors, have some EC class ships undock, choose an asteroid at random, and go mine it. When their cargo holds are full they would return to the station to unload, and repeat the process. The same No Fire Zone and faction rules would apply.
This might make traveling to the Capitol feel like less of an extinction event and more of a gradual integration to the world.
+1
Fuck yes
[Captain Nice Hardrive's Stamp of Explicit Approval]
+1
It's always bugged me how the NPCs in Hive Skirmishes never return to the stations. It would be cool if they traveled to barracks stations and back in between missions. Something similar in Deneb would be good too.
It's always bugged me how the NPCs in Hive Skirmishes never return to the stations. It would be cool if they traveled to barracks stations and back in between missions. Something similar in Deneb would be good too.
Aye, fair point .
+2 for more traffic in general
Also add mining bots in every station, and a few capships allways circulating around capitals!
Also add mining bots in every station, and a few capships allways circulating around capitals!
+1.
I'd love to see the 100 reaction when noobs are flying around Dau and a connie jumps in. Extra capships +1.
I'd love to see the 100 reaction when noobs are flying around Dau and a connie jumps in. Extra capships +1.
Yeah this would be cool. It never made much sense that there were only NPC miners in hive skirmishes.