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Bridge officers, promotions, and those "Admiral" ranks
cuchulainn74
Member Posts: 831 Arc User
I have this idea bouncing around in my head (lots of empty room in there), and I wanted to sound out other players to help me put flesh to it.
Here's the idea stated briefly. What if, starting with your promotion to "Rear Admiral" at level 40, and graduating a step each at 50 and 60, you could promote a selected Bridge Officer to "Captain" and actually assign that officer to one of your ships that's not currently your slotted ship? In space missions, that ship would accompany you with AI piloting based on your "Captain" Boff's career and skills.
To discuss the idea a little more fully, I kinda envision a single Captain promotion at 40, another at 50, and another at 60. So at Fleet Admiral rank, you could be teaming with three friendly ships AI piloted by your promoted Boffs. I would suspect the simplest arrangement would be for those ships to launch with the default load-out that would come with the ship. So no worrying or tinkering of weapons and systems on the subordinate vessels. But for the first time, with a Fleet Admiral title, you'd actually feel as if you're in command of a fleet, albeit a small one.
I can't imagine this would require a ton of new code to make happen. We already have fully independent AI for Boffs on ground maps. We already have fairly intelligent (yeah yeah) AI flying NPC ships during content, even as allies. And between reusing Boff ground commands and space hangar pet commands, you could cover most desired fleet control. As I said, it would make sense and be reasonable for each ship to take on the four particular skills of the Boff promoted to Captain it. Not an overpowering array of abilities on par with a player, of course, but a significant contribution to your overall combat. And the strategic considerations that would go with protecting and using your Fleet would be really fun to explore.
Accordingly, the challenges of endgame content could rise as desired to match the increased potential and coordination of the player's Fleet. I also imagine that Fleet ship damage would work much like ground Boff damage. Once damaged too far, a Fleet ship could suspend in a "Repairing" or "Needs Assistance" state like some NPC ships do in certain content now. They'd remain so until you interact to assist them much like rezzing a Boff.
So, folks, help me work out missing details. If nothing else, it's an entertaining thought exercise for the imagination.
Here's the idea stated briefly. What if, starting with your promotion to "Rear Admiral" at level 40, and graduating a step each at 50 and 60, you could promote a selected Bridge Officer to "Captain" and actually assign that officer to one of your ships that's not currently your slotted ship? In space missions, that ship would accompany you with AI piloting based on your "Captain" Boff's career and skills.
To discuss the idea a little more fully, I kinda envision a single Captain promotion at 40, another at 50, and another at 60. So at Fleet Admiral rank, you could be teaming with three friendly ships AI piloted by your promoted Boffs. I would suspect the simplest arrangement would be for those ships to launch with the default load-out that would come with the ship. So no worrying or tinkering of weapons and systems on the subordinate vessels. But for the first time, with a Fleet Admiral title, you'd actually feel as if you're in command of a fleet, albeit a small one.
I can't imagine this would require a ton of new code to make happen. We already have fully independent AI for Boffs on ground maps. We already have fairly intelligent (yeah yeah) AI flying NPC ships during content, even as allies. And between reusing Boff ground commands and space hangar pet commands, you could cover most desired fleet control. As I said, it would make sense and be reasonable for each ship to take on the four particular skills of the Boff promoted to Captain it. Not an overpowering array of abilities on par with a player, of course, but a significant contribution to your overall combat. And the strategic considerations that would go with protecting and using your Fleet would be really fun to explore.
Accordingly, the challenges of endgame content could rise as desired to match the increased potential and coordination of the player's Fleet. I also imagine that Fleet ship damage would work much like ground Boff damage. Once damaged too far, a Fleet ship could suspend in a "Repairing" or "Needs Assistance" state like some NPC ships do in certain content now. They'd remain so until you interact to assist them much like rezzing a Boff.
So, folks, help me work out missing details. If nothing else, it's an entertaining thought exercise for the imagination.
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It's pretty much this hard to keep just one timeline intact. ♪