test content
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc

Idea for extra bof involvement: equiptment and recruitment suggestions

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Much of the fun of this game, I am now finding, is contributing ideas for improving it. So here's another little idea:

When you've got some downtime, you should be able to go have a conversation with your bofs, and ask them for recommendations about ship, equiptment, or crew upgrades pertaining to their department. They could make a general recommendation (e.g., "Sir, away teams would bennefit from weapons upgrades.") or recommend a specific item ("Sir, if we installed a TRIBBLE console, we could acheive an X% increase in X). Your first officer could make recommendations about crew recruitment. As a captain, you would have to decide whether to follow the recommendation, or if funds are short, which recommendations to prioritise. The recommendations should be based on an algorythm that identifies which aspects of your ship, equiptment, or crew you've been neglecting. To follow a recommendation, you would just go about aquiring the item in the usual way. Or, you might decide not to be a consultative captain and to never ask your bofs for advice.

Bennefits:
- It would involve bofs in the game more, build your connection with them.
- Something to do in the ship interriors.
- Add another aspect of life as a captain that was part of the TV series
- Allow casual players to ensure that they are upgrading sufficiently, without having to study the upgrade 'math' too heavily if they don't wish to
- Doesn't remove player freedom to study the math themselves, and customise these things as they see fit.
- Would not become annoying, because recommendations would only be made on request.

Thoughts?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited July 2010
    A supplemental (but independent) idea:

    If you find you usually follow the recommendations of one of your bofs, you could elect to just give him/her an energy credit allowance to buy whatever he/she likes when it becomes available. Although, i expect the code for that would be a lot harder than my simpler original suggestion.

    I guess, the larger concept in all of these ideas is letting players choose to what extent they micromanage different aspects of the game.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited July 2010
    Should I take the silence as implicit agreement that my idea rocks? ;)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited July 2010
    Not going to happen.

    The level of dynamics involved would be insanely complex. Lets have every single playe have up to 10 - 14+ Bridge officers constantly offering suggestions about doing X and Y.
    Lets also try and code in scripted responses for every type of officer , race , piece of equipment, class and situation. It might be possible but I gurantee Cryptic devs wont touch that due to how complex it would be.

    The best your going to get out of Bridge Officers is individual missions or generic dialogue. Anything else is wishful thinking and extremely low on the priority list compared to getting more tangible benefits developed.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited July 2010
    J-Sheridan wrote:
    Not going to happen.

    The level of dynamics involved would be insanely complex. Lets have every single playe have up to 10 - 14+ Bridge officers constantly offering suggestions about doing X and Y.
    Lets also try and code in scripted responses for every type of officer , race , piece of equipment, class and situation. It might be possible but I gurantee Cryptic devs wont touch that due to how complex it would be.

    The best your going to get out of Bridge Officers is individual missions or generic dialogue. Anything else is wishful thinking and extremely low on the priority list compared to getting more tangible benefits developed.

    You may be right about the complexity of coding this kind of thing. But perhaps someone can suggest a simple algorythm for officers making some sort of suggestions, even if they're very general.

    I would argue that you shouldn't have the officers 'constantly' offering suggestions. They should only give suggestions when explicitly asked to.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited July 2010
    I like the idea's premise.... however they would only b able to add something like random, generic and identical dialogue options for all BO's,,,, due to there immense lack of motivation on immersion related mechanics that wont boost sales by any collossal margin.

    Oh and that would probably only be available for the federation if they did eventually in 4 years implement it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited July 2010
    I like the idea's premise.... however they would only b able to add something like random, generic and identical dialogue options for all BO's,,,, due to there immense lack of motivation on immersion related mechanics that wont boost sales by any collossal margin.

    Oh and that would probably only be available for the federation if they did eventually in 4 years implement it.

    Maybe we'll have to revive this thread in Season 99.

    But, what if it wasn't just about immersion. What if you could use it as an easy way to keep an eye on the availability of certain items. You tell your BO that you want to purchase something in particular when it reaches a certain price, or when there is a mission that will grant it, and they notify you when it's available or nearby with the template "Sir, I've just received notification via subspace that an TRIBBLE is available on TRIBBLE for TRIBBLE."
Sign In or Register to comment.