Hello FDev!
Great work on Elite: Dangerous so far, I am loving every minute of playtime I get.
So as the title says I have a suggestion for adding Ship Role Bonuses to the game. Not for every ship mind you as not every ship fits a particular role. The fact is the game is basically a grind/rush to get that sweet sweet Anaconda. Everyone wants it, it is the biggest, best, and premiere multi-role ship for doing anything and everything in the game.
I want to give people a reason to fly smaller ships, I want to make more of the game accessible to players just starting out or with a limited income. I don't think people should have to put in hours upon hours of grinding or running to the latest and greatest quince hub to get fast cash for that anaconda so they can go on to enjoying the game at the top level.
So my suggestion is to add role bonuses for most (if not all) ships. Ships like the Asp Explorer and Diamondback Explorer should get a +% bonus to jump range and fuel efficiency. The Type 6, 7, 9, and the Hauler should get +% Bonus to cargo bay capacity. The Dolphin, Orca, and Beluga should get a +% bonus to passenger cabin capacity, and even jump range. There should even be specific ships with + pew pew bonuses like the FDL (which we all know is made to pew).
"But Unb, the engineers already do that. gitgud and grind those out"
Yes, I know the engineers do "most" of this, but what I am suggesting goes beyond engineering. The Anaconda should be the end game, but should not be the best at everything. It needs to fill its role as a multi-role ship, jack of all trades master of none. It should not get a higher jump range then a ship built for exploration, it should not be able to haul as much as a T9 with nothing but cargo bays, it should not be able to ferry passengers with the efficiency of a beluga on steroids.
"But Unb, why should your $5m Asp do better at exploration then my $200m anaconda? I paid for better stuffs!"
Because the Asp Explorer is a small, light Exploration ship. It excels at one thing, Exploring. It can do combat, or mining, or hauling, especially in places where the landing pads are limited. But it does those things rather poorly when compared to other ships, and its potential as an exploration vessel. Likewise the Type 9 Heavy is a fat slow cow and is pretty crappy in any situation outside of space trucking and the occasional Hutton Orbital Mug Run. (yes i know its a small landing pad, that is the joke, stop nit picking.) The Passenger Liners all have this new invention called space windows that allow your passengers to see their destination. Most don't want to be stuffed into a metal windowless box as you ferry them from point A to point B.
"But Unb!"
Shhhhhhshshshshshshshshhhhhhh. No more buts my child. I want to see the Asp X and DB X able to reach the furthest ends of the galaxy, able to traverse and go where none have gone before instead of the Anaconda being the best with over 50ly jump range. I want to see the Titanic Type 9 pulling into a station with 600-700 Tons of cargo or more, not the anaconda getting (maybe) 28 Tons less then a fully fitted T9. I want to see the Beluga glistening in the morning light unloading hundreds of happy passengers fresh off the Sag A Sightseeing Tour. I want to see our universe open up and become more welcoming for new players, while giving our older vets a reason to dust off their old ships.
This suggestion by no means will make the anaconda and other multi-role ships obsolete, rather it will help define the roles of other ships and make them excel in that role. The anaconda will still be the premiere Multi-role Jack of all Trades Ship. The only difference is it will not be the Best ship in ALL roles. It will still be a great exploration ship, a great hauler, and a great combat vessel, even a great miner, just not the BEST in ALL roles.
Great work on Elite: Dangerous so far, I am loving every minute of playtime I get.
So as the title says I have a suggestion for adding Ship Role Bonuses to the game. Not for every ship mind you as not every ship fits a particular role. The fact is the game is basically a grind/rush to get that sweet sweet Anaconda. Everyone wants it, it is the biggest, best, and premiere multi-role ship for doing anything and everything in the game.
I want to give people a reason to fly smaller ships, I want to make more of the game accessible to players just starting out or with a limited income. I don't think people should have to put in hours upon hours of grinding or running to the latest and greatest quince hub to get fast cash for that anaconda so they can go on to enjoying the game at the top level.
So my suggestion is to add role bonuses for most (if not all) ships. Ships like the Asp Explorer and Diamondback Explorer should get a +% bonus to jump range and fuel efficiency. The Type 6, 7, 9, and the Hauler should get +% Bonus to cargo bay capacity. The Dolphin, Orca, and Beluga should get a +% bonus to passenger cabin capacity, and even jump range. There should even be specific ships with + pew pew bonuses like the FDL (which we all know is made to pew).
"But Unb, the engineers already do that. gitgud and grind those out"
Yes, I know the engineers do "most" of this, but what I am suggesting goes beyond engineering. The Anaconda should be the end game, but should not be the best at everything. It needs to fill its role as a multi-role ship, jack of all trades master of none. It should not get a higher jump range then a ship built for exploration, it should not be able to haul as much as a T9 with nothing but cargo bays, it should not be able to ferry passengers with the efficiency of a beluga on steroids.
"But Unb, why should your $5m Asp do better at exploration then my $200m anaconda? I paid for better stuffs!"
Because the Asp Explorer is a small, light Exploration ship. It excels at one thing, Exploring. It can do combat, or mining, or hauling, especially in places where the landing pads are limited. But it does those things rather poorly when compared to other ships, and its potential as an exploration vessel. Likewise the Type 9 Heavy is a fat slow cow and is pretty crappy in any situation outside of space trucking and the occasional Hutton Orbital Mug Run. (yes i know its a small landing pad, that is the joke, stop nit picking.) The Passenger Liners all have this new invention called space windows that allow your passengers to see their destination. Most don't want to be stuffed into a metal windowless box as you ferry them from point A to point B.
"But Unb!"
Shhhhhhshshshshshshshshhhhhhh. No more buts my child. I want to see the Asp X and DB X able to reach the furthest ends of the galaxy, able to traverse and go where none have gone before instead of the Anaconda being the best with over 50ly jump range. I want to see the Titanic Type 9 pulling into a station with 600-700 Tons of cargo or more, not the anaconda getting (maybe) 28 Tons less then a fully fitted T9. I want to see the Beluga glistening in the morning light unloading hundreds of happy passengers fresh off the Sag A Sightseeing Tour. I want to see our universe open up and become more welcoming for new players, while giving our older vets a reason to dust off their old ships.
This suggestion by no means will make the anaconda and other multi-role ships obsolete, rather it will help define the roles of other ships and make them excel in that role. The anaconda will still be the premiere Multi-role Jack of all Trades Ship. The only difference is it will not be the Best ship in ALL roles. It will still be a great exploration ship, a great hauler, and a great combat vessel, even a great miner, just not the BEST in ALL roles.
