True exploration, through true player decisions: you decide, which direction to go.
Exploration quadrant is hidden to all players...you only see sectors which you, and only you (or you fleet) entered once.
You decide, which path to choose. If you enter a new sector, you may be the first ship to do so.
Nothing needs to be generated randomly (because i think cryptic hasn`t the tech yet)
all players/fleets start at the same location
or: we can put same salt into the soup and make every player start on different locations, so you can`t tell other players where you are, or which way you took to new species etc. You will need a reference point to map the sectors together...
exploration step by step: you need to do all missions in a sector until nearby sectors are unlocked
dead crew members remain dead, so you need to refill your crew at a star base from time to time. So your exploration-range is limited (by the crew-size of your ship). You will lose crew members in fights.
sectors are only discovered player-wide or fleet-wide, so it would make sense to coordinate your fleet-exploration in the quadrant with a standard search-pattern
Cryptic could expand the exploration sector by adding new space stations or let fleets build space stations
discovered sectors could by empty or filled with ressources or new species or player generated content
difficulty could increase "deeper" in the outer sectors of the exploration quadrant
Cryptic could rearrange the sectors every 12 month or so...so new exploration could start.
There could be unique anomalies or vendors in the discovered sectors
That seems rather linear and grindy. Why is that true exploration?
Exploration should be somewhat liner, after you are looking around trying to "Boldly go" after all, and if you do it in a logical fashion it would be somewhat linear. the base concept, is interesting, it could be fleshed out more to make it a little less linear and grindish of course, but to be honest, that's real close to exploration as it is out here in 3d land. which could be interesting.
The exact same system is used in the X series. Each sector was explored and colonized before and had a set number of factories installed.
It never worked, I had zero sense of exploration going through the map. I always felt like someone simply forgot to update my star charts.
The exact same system is used in the X series. Each sector was explored and colonized before and had a set number of factories installed.
It never worked, I had zero sense of exploration going through the map. I always felt like someone simply forgot to update my star charts.
hehe love that game that one system heaven's end or something had a killer sound track
That seems rather linear and grindy. Why is that true exploration?
Because the exploration quadrant is hidden...and if you enter a new sector, you could be the first ship to see this sector...you just don`t know. The sector remains secret to all other players...so you even will have a slight advantage if there are cool vendors or anomalies...and you can decide which path you choose, so how could that be linear?
You don`t need to do a sector more than once...so there is no grind.
Because the exploration quadrant is hidden...and if you enter a new sector, you could be the first ship to see this sector...you just don`t know. The sector remains secret to all other players...so you even will have a slight advantage if there are cool vendors or anomalies...
Yes, but the issue I see in it is having to clear the entire sector before moving onward. It seems very grindy and linear (like most MMOs quest hub progressions: do all x missions in area y to move to area z to do all w new mission).
Granted, you're offering discovery but the exploration mechanic feels force and directed, instead of branching and organic.
Yes, but the issue I see in it is having to clear the entire sector before moving onward. It seems very grindy and linear (like most MMOs quest hub progressions: do all x missions in area y to move to area z to do all w new mission).
Granted, you're offering discovery but the exploration mechanic feels force.
Yeah, you will have to do it once...so there is no grind. And there may be empty sectors, or peacefull sectors...but i think exploration without some enemy-encounters would be...unrealistic.
Yeah, you will have to do it once...so there is no grind. And there may be empty sectors, or peacefull sectors...but i think exploration without some enemy-encounters would be...unrealistic.
Don't get me wrong: there's a sense of discovery and progression but there's also gating of relatively simple content that I'm too fond of.
I agree with you, there are better ways to make exploration, but maybe not within the given parameters, which are cryptic tech and cryptic staff. So i think my suggestion is a good start.
True exploration is impossible for Star Trek games. The best of the best out there still suck because the only way to make THAT MUCH content would be with random generators which really aren't good. And your system you suggest isn't an exploration system.
Yes it is. But i know what you mean. Someone always did the content before it could be discovered. But if the handmade generated content is large enough and the exploration quadrant big enough, it could take months to come to the deepest corner of this maze...especially if crytic places some block-sectors...
Actually, random system generation is precisely the way to go. The universe is filled with empty star systems and having to chart 20 or so random systems before we make one discovery of life would be pretty epic.
To some.
Other would whine non stop that it is a waste of time. I want my new shiny now or I will tell on you to my momy...
You can take a wild guess who will Cryptic listen to.
To some.
Other would whine non stop that it is a waste of time. I want my new shiny now or I will tell on you to my momy...
You can take a wild guess who will Cryptic listen to.
Comments
Exploration should be somewhat liner, after you are looking around trying to "Boldly go" after all, and if you do it in a logical fashion it would be somewhat linear. the base concept, is interesting, it could be fleshed out more to make it a little less linear and grindish of course, but to be honest, that's real close to exploration as it is out here in 3d land. which could be interesting.
It never worked, I had zero sense of exploration going through the map. I always felt like someone simply forgot to update my star charts.
hehe love that game that one system heaven's end or something had a killer sound track
Because the exploration quadrant is hidden...and if you enter a new sector, you could be the first ship to see this sector...you just don`t know. The sector remains secret to all other players...so you even will have a slight advantage if there are cool vendors or anomalies...and you can decide which path you choose, so how could that be linear?
You don`t need to do a sector more than once...so there is no grind.
Yes, but the issue I see in it is having to clear the entire sector before moving onward. It seems very grindy and linear (like most MMOs quest hub progressions: do all x missions in area y to move to area z to do all w new mission).
Granted, you're offering discovery but the exploration mechanic feels force and directed, instead of branching and organic.
Yeah, you will have to do it once...so there is no grind. And there may be empty sectors, or peacefull sectors...but i think exploration without some enemy-encounters would be...unrealistic.
Don't get me wrong: there's a sense of discovery and progression but there's also gating of relatively simple content that I'm too fond of.
Yes it is. But i know what you mean. Someone always did the content before it could be discovered. But if the handmade generated content is large enough and the exploration quadrant big enough, it could take months to come to the deepest corner of this maze...especially if crytic places some block-sectors...
Other would whine non stop that it is a waste of time. I want my new shiny now or I will tell on you to my momy...
You can take a wild guess who will Cryptic listen to.
Nobody will be forced to do exploration ;-)