Why the 2.1 Mission Revamp Will Disappoint Me

[CAPT. Ho Chi Minge]

I think a lot of the proposed changes are bringing the game more in line with some of the concept art from the early stages , this is indeed a welcome improvement and adds quite a lot of polish to the current system. personally speaking I would love a bit more in depth missions that can draw me in with some arbitrary storyline or a feeling of being connected to the whole thing somehow, that in my own small way I can make a difference (however small and insignificant). What I dislike about the current system is that we have an array of mission types and activities but it only changes some random numbers and from our perspective it doesn't seem to change anything (ie flip the controlling faction or change the system state and on the surface nothing looks any different) all we really see is trade number changes with the systems in place on an impersonal level and feels very disconnected.

Like some others have said this is the early stages and its a long road, the path we are heading down seems to be going in the right direction as far as im concerned.

 

[xondk]

TLDR:

FD is incorrectly marketing the "mission revamp" feature in 2.1 because they aren't actually doing a revamp of the missions, they are just enhancing the missions by adding reason to do the missions. The actual missions themselves will remain the same.

They are reworking everything but what mission types and such there are? that seems like a revamp? and nothing says they aren't adding more types, or scenarios? or could be down the line.

In terms of 'change of scenary' it is space, there are indeed even now planetside missions?
You are basically asking for it seems "I am the hero" missions Elite doesn't quite work like that. And though your suggestion for a mission type is great, I have to wonder what you see missions as being like, because they are very diverse currently, they are just broken? more diverse then many other games out there?, and yet you are disappointed? what were you expecting?

 

[Marc_Hicks]

I'm not basing my info off of a screenshot. I read what I posted on this thread from text BETWEEN the screenshots. From what is said in that text, there is NOTHING about how the actual missions themselves will change. ONLY the BGS that happens BEFORE and AFTER the mission.

To be more specific, they said they had 2 key goals for revamping the missions.

1. Interactions with minor factions.

2. Better illustrate the impact of the missions in the galaxy.


If they were actually going to change some of the mission's actual content, I'm sure that would have been the third key goal. But as far as I can see, it's non-existent.

Like I said, try reading the Dev Updates, & you'll see that that is only 2 of the 5 key goals that Michael Brookes has detailed for the mission overhaul-variety of missions was one of the other stated goals. Also, there is 1 or even 2 more Newsletters *and* at least 1 more Livestream before the Beta, so your assumptions are massively premature. Your claim would be like me saying "All they've shown with Engineers is *weapons*, ergo there will be no opportunity to modify other modules". I know that's not the case, but my claim would be just as valid as yours.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

They are reworking everything but what mission types and such there are? that seems like a revamp? and nothing says they aren't adding more types, or scenarios? or could be down the line.

In terms of 'change of scenary' it is space, there are indeed even now planetside missions?
You are basically asking for it seems "I am the hero" missions Elite doesn't quite work like that. And though your suggestion for a mission type is great, I have to wonder what you see missions as being like, because they are very diverse currently, they are just broken? more diverse then many other games out there?, and yet you are disappointed? what were you expecting?

Indeed, even if no extra mission types were being added, fixing all of the problems with the existing missions, giving players a greater sense of context for their missions, & improving on Branching & Multi-part mission mechanics (to create more of a narrative, like I illustrated above) will still make it a *major* overhaul (and add a huge amount of flavour. Yet Michael Brookes has indicated that new mission types will be coming, & even let slip something about "running blockades" in the Live-stream the other day. That suggests a *huge* update in my books, & so I still fail to see how the OP can claim to be disappointed about a mission system he hasn't even seen in-game. You know what they say: when you assume, you make a ASS out of U & ME!

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This is lifted directly from the Dev Update (04/02/16), from Michael Brookes

Missions are a key component of the game and we reviewed how we can make them more meaningful for gameplay, in particular how the player interacts with them and their effects on the galactic simulation. With our review we identified five key goals that we’re tackling for 2.1 The Engineers:

1. Personalisation

2. Progression

3. Variety

4. Consequences

5. Rewards

Note item #3, which I have highlighted for your convenience.

Just because something doesn't turn up in the Newsletter, doesn't mean it won't be part of the update.

 

[Raven38911]

Maybe they should talk more about their vision for the mission system. Other "visionary" features like walking in ships/stations and landing on atmospheric planets have been communicated much better. I fear that they are more or less satisfied with the current mission system and won't put the needed love into it.

 

[xondk]

Note item #3, which I have highlighted for your convenience.

Just because something doesn't turn up in the Newsletter, doesn't mean it won't be part of the update.

Yeah, add the crime/punishment system that will be implemented with 2.1 as well, I don't think people can grasp how gigantic 2.1 really is, well other then those that will say "Yeah now they are fixing all the problems and giving us what we want" without realizing that the vast majority of this has been stuff planned from the beginning.

 

[Iskariot]

Why the 2.1 Mission Revamp Will Disappoint Me

I really feel your suffering.

I myself already know now that update 6.4 in 2020 is going to disappoint me terribly.
It's a disaster.

 

[Derath]

I'm not entirely sure they should have bundled missions in with this update, its probably the part of the game that needs the most improvement and while better dressing is better, they run the risk of people jumping the gun on mission updates and thinking thats all there is to it (which it might be).

A broader depth of missions would be wonderful, convoys, raids, hit and runs, base assaults, smuggling speed runs, emergency deliveries, target specific piracy, kidnapping etc all rewarded correctly for their time investment are completely lacking at the moment, if they are adding them along the line its probably ok, if they think having go blow up ships of faction X/Y/Z as the only combat mission is ok then its trouble.

But by releasing a mission update early people will question, I like the changes but i hope theres more!

 

[Kylby36]

Indeed, even if no extra mission types were being added, fixing all of the problems with the existing missions, giving players a greater sense of context for their missions, & improving on Branching & Multi-part mission mechanics (to create more of a narrative, like I illustrated above) will still make it a *major* overhaul (and add a huge amount of flavour. Yet Michael Brookes has indicated that new mission types will be coming, & even let slip something about "running blockades" in the Live-stream the other day. That suggests a *huge* update in my books, & so I still fail to see how the OP can claim to be disappointed about a mission system he hasn't even seen in-game. You know what they say: when you assume, you make a ASS out of U & ME!

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This is lifted directly from the Dev Update (04/02/16), from Michael Brookes




Note item #3, which I have highlighted for your convenience.

Just because something doesn't turn up in the Newsletter, doesn't mean it won't be part of the update.

Right but in the past, their terms of variety are the missions we currently have. WHAT makes them more of a variety, ya know?

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I really feel your suffering.

I myself already know now that update 6.4 in 2020 is going to disappoint me terribly.
It's a disaster.

It makes me wonder how people like you get a high rank on the forums when you give the most non-constructive posts possible. Either way, your argument, if that's what it should even be called... Doesn't make sense. We don't know anything about 6.4, (yet again some random pointless info) while in 2.1 we know quite a bit as far as what it's going to include.

 

[Derath]

It makes me wonder how people like you get a high rank on the forums when you give the most non-constructive posts possible.

Because rank is given from popularity not post validity, generally speaking i've recieved the most reputation for jokes in threads, you really don't get much for constructive feedback. If you go post in support of the traders in a pirate clubbing thread for example you just get free rep for behaving like an echo chamber lol.

Still I should point out I have no idea if Iskariot does this, he could have posted hundreds of great threads i'm not gonna assume he never writes anything useful. Though this particular sarcastic remark is a little bit facetious for my tastes as claiming that you can't guess that a patch element will be bad before its released is pretty ludicrous. It has been done and will continue to be done in just about every major patch ever

 

[Marc_Hicks]

Right but in the past, their terms of variety are the missions we currently have. WHAT makes them more of a variety, ya know?

They *did* try and give us more variety (rescue missions, escort missions, timed meeting missions, don't get scanned missions), but sadly a lot of the new missions came out bugged or only half-baked. Now they've had 6 months to do them *properly*. So even if that's all they do, we *will* be getting more mission variety, after a fashion. Yet there has been mention of more mission types on top of that (blockade missions have been mentioned, for starters, though just in passing....& we've been given every reason to believe that we will get passenger missions in 2.2).

It makes me wonder how people like you get a high rank on the forums when you give the most non-constructive posts possible.

Personally, I'm surprised your head didn't explode from the irony of that comment. I see nothing constructive in your posts, or in your constant refusals to accept any evidence contrary to what you currently assume!

 

[Soopyyy]

He was mocking the idiocy of the OP. Seems really quite relevant given how puerile it is.

 

[Kylby36]

Because rank is given from popularity not post validity, generally speaking i've recieved the most reputation for jokes in threads, you really don't get much for constructive feedback. If you go post in support of the traders in a pirate clubbing thread for example you just get free rep for behaving like an echo chamber lol.

Still I should point out I have no idea if Iskariot does this, he could have posted hundreds of great threads i'm not gonna assume he never writes anything useful. Though this particular sarcastic remark is a little bit facetious for my tastes as claiming that you can't guess that a patch element will be bad before its released is pretty ludicrous. It has been done and will continue to be done in just about every major patch ever

Except I never said it would be bad. I just said that the one thing out of 7 things of 2.1 will most likely disappoint me personally.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

I'm not entirely sure they should have bundled missions in with this update, its probably the part of the game that needs the most improvement and while better dressing is better, they run the risk of people jumping the gun on mission updates and thinking thats all there is to it (which it might be).

A broader depth of missions would be wonderful, convoys, raids, hit and runs, base assaults, smuggling speed runs, emergency deliveries, target specific piracy, kidnapping etc all rewarded correctly for their time investment are completely lacking at the moment, if they are adding them along the line its probably ok, if they think having go blow up ships of faction X/Y/Z as the only combat mission is ok then its trouble.

But by releasing a mission update early people will question, I like the changes but i hope theres more!

Most of these mission types were already introduced in 1.5/2.0......but poorly. The reason they took an extra 2-3 months to get this update out was so they could get the much needed improvements to missions done, properly!

 

[Kylby36]

He was mocking the idiocy of the OP. Seems really quite relevant given how puerile it is.

He still failed to realize that I'm only talking about a small part of 2.1 that will personally most likely disappoint me. Everything else I stated I'm happy with. I'm not speaking for others, just myself.

I didn't realize stating an opinion with reasonable facts was idiocy. Hm..

 

[Marc_Hicks]

Except I never said it would be bad. I just said that the one thing out of 7 things of 2.1 will most likely disappoint me personally.

.....and that one thing is based on an assumption deliberately derived from incomplete information. Which is why I point & laugh at you. You could be right, & missions could end up really "sucky", but I'd rather wait until I see the beta before passing judgement.

 

[Iskariot]

Right but in the past, their terms of variety are the missions we currently have. WHAT makes them more of a variety, ya know?

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It makes me wonder how people like you get a high rank on the forums when you give the most non-constructive posts possible. Either way, your argument, if that's what it should even be called... Doesn't make sense. We don't know anything about 6.4, (yet again some random pointless info) while in 2.1 we know quite a bit as far as what it's going to include.

It is a lot more constructive than you think, but you have to be able to read between the lines.
Also I can't be at my best all the time .
Sometimes irritation about whining threads just overwhelms me.

He still failed to realize that I'm only talking about a small part of 2.1 that will personally most likely disappoint me.

Oh come on. Give me some credit. Of course I realized that.



Perhaps for some a realism check is in order.

ED is a PG universe that uses a PG system to generate an infinite amount of missions.
These missions can by their very nature not be unique deep stories.
ED is not a game with a very limited handcrafted six hour campaign.
There are certain things a PG system can't do and those things should not be expected of it.
If you want a deep and personal mission campaign in which you can be the unique hero of the universe who saves everybody and gets the princess in the end then you should go play something else. Please do.

Also... the ED updates in general are of an evolutionary nature as opposed to revolutionary.
It is a slow time consuming process. ED is a huge project in the midst of development.
Those that cannot handle that should not play the game at this stage of development, but come back in a few years.
Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

He still failed to realize that I'm only talking about a small part of 2.1 that will personally most likely disappoint me. Everything else I stated I'm happy with. I'm not speaking for others, just myself.

No, he realised, but he still felt it was worth mocking you for your willingness to be disappointed about something which you have next to no info about.

 

[Kylby36]

It is a lot more constructive than you think, but you have to be able to read between the lines.
Also I can't be at my best all the time .
Sometimes irritation about whining threads just overwhelms me.



Perhaps for some a realism check is in order.

ED is a PG universe that uses a PG system to generate an infinite amount of missions.
These missions can by their very nature not be unique deep stories.
ED is not a game with a very limited handcrafted six hour campaign.
There are certain things a PG system can't do and those things should not be expected of it.
If you want a deep and personal mission campaign in which you can be the unique hero of the universe who saves everybody and gets the princess in the end then you should go play something else. Please do.

Also... the ED updates in general are of an evolutionary nature as opposed to revolutionary.
It is a slow time consuming process. ED is a huge project in the midst of development.
Those that cannot handle that should not play the game at this stage of development, but come back in a few years.
Nothing wrong with that.

I can't argue with people who think that every thread that is posted that criticizes an update is "whining". I'm sorry you don't have logic?

I don't believe I was asking for a large campaign with a story driven purpose. If you would have read my first post instead of just looking at the title, you would know that a story driven campaign is FAR from what I even suggested.

Also, telling someone to go play a different game just because you don't agree? Really? Let's be adults please.


From the newsletter that I linked, it seems like they aren't actually going to focus on improving the missions, but just giving more variety of bring x to station, or kill x amount of people.

And I CAN assume that from the past, FD will most likely follow that exact path because PG is part of the game. I'll be disappointed. However, regardless of PG it can still be improved in time. Like I said before, there's a lot of work to be done before the missions are considered fun, but it is a step in the right direction.

 

[Soopyyy]

No, he realised, but he still felt it was worth mocking you for your willingness to be disappointed about something which you have next to no info about.

Exactly. This is ridiculous.