Okay, this has probably been suggested before, but I'm going to suggest it again. It wouldn't be easy to code, but I think it would be well worth it for the future possibilities. I would like to see holodecks on Earth Spacedock. These would function as a sandbox for players to test out new ships or new equipment without having to spend all the credits to buy them without knowing how they'll actually fare. Here's the list of features:
1. Player could walk up to the holodeck door, and use a panel next to the door to request the program they want to run. A menu pop up could allow the player to select what he or she wants to do. When the holodeck is configured, the player then uses the door to initiate the simulation, and is teleported to their own instance.
2. Players could create any space or ground encounter they wish (for ease of implementation, the exception would be the environment - choose ground or space, and the game picks what ground or space map you'll be using automatically, similarly to how exploration missions function now). They could choose the ship they want to fight in (assuming they have the rank to command it), the equipment that ship has, and the number, types, and strength of the enemy ships they wish to fight. For realism's sake, they could *not* choose different skills or bridge officer skills than what they already have. Sorry, this isn't "The Matrix."
3. Players could also recreate any mission they'd previously completed. This would be a great way to implement the mission replay feature that's currently in development that would mesh seamlessly with the game and Trek canon.
4. Players using the holodeck gain no experience of any kind and get no loot. Consequently, players would not be allowed to use real consumeable items while on the holodeck; they should have to request the appropriate consumeables when they initiate the program.
5. The player could elect to run the program with safeties on or with safeties off. If safeties are on, the player cannot be defeated (i.e. the player's ship doesn't explode when it reaches 0 hull and the player or their bridge officers aren't rendered unconscious when they run out of health). If safeties are off, being defeated ends the simulation, giving the player the option to start over again.
6. Using the holodeck should cost the player nothing - the whole point is to allow the player to try things before they buy.
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