I think the game should allow players to teleport between their docked ships among stations. At the same time, disable individual module transport, but keep the ship transport between stations.
This way, the game effectively provides a fast travel system for the players to personally build and expand upon by strategically placing their ships to various stations. The players still have to arrive at that station in the first place to leave their ships there, so gameplay-wise, the feeling of travel remains. After that, when you are bored of mining, dock your mining ship to a nearby station and teleport to your combat ship which is docked at a station that offers massacre mission, etc.
Advantages of this concept:
1. The player can save hundreds of hours of unnecessary travel time between stations he already visited just to switch a ship within the bubble.
2. It motivates players to visit more systems and stations to build their own fast travel system.
3. Adds gameplay content without adding actual content, saving the labor. One rock, two birds.
4. The vastness of the galaxy and the feeling of travel remain the same for dedicated travelers and deep space explorers. (There's no station in deep space)
5. "Home station" is no more just an imaginary concept of the players. They have to put thoughts in which stations deserve to be set up as homes because they can't just transport ship modules from one station to another. The modules have to be transported with a ship.
6. Potential to be developed into a full-fledged feature in the future, something like an inter-bubble shuttle that transports players' characters between stations, thus even more immersion for the players. (Since we already have a similar concept like Apex shuttles)
Potential problems and their solutions:
1. What if someone bought 20000 Sidewinders and place them in each system in the bubble?
-- First, this is nothing but a meaningless meme for the perfectionist. It doesn't give the player any extra benefit since all he achieved is merely teleporting between stations that mostly function the same way. Second, only the player's character is teleported. Ship and cargos stay with the ship. Third, simply apply a limit for the maximum number of ships a player can own.
2. The Colonia <=> Bubble trip means nothing now?
-- Two separate teleportation systems can be put to the Bubble and Colonia. The two do not connect with each other.
3. The Hutton Orbital pilgrimage means nothing now?
-- Only stations that have large landing pads can support the teleportation feature.
4. What about Fleet Carriers?
-- Restrict teleportation to or between fleet carriers.
----- Update ---------------------------------------------------------
5. Teleportation technology is not canon in this universe.
-- It doesn't have to be called "teleportation." I'm sure Fdev can figure out something clever about the name. Maybe call it a shuttle service, and when you use it, black screen and then you arrived.
6. Some missions like data courier might become way too easy.
-- Bond missions to ships, not the character. This way, if you change ship, you can't finish the mission.
7. Fleet carriers are already sort of serving a similar function as a home base and fast travel device.
-- Yes and no. First, fleet carriers are expensive, which requires a lot of grinds to purchase. It inherently contradicts the purpose of the fast travel system, which is to reduce the meaningless time players take IN ORDER TO grind. (call it a quality of life change for your grind experience). Second, the fleet carrier is meant to be a mobile space station, that can be deployed even in deep space. It is inherently different from a fast travel system that functions only WITHIN the bubble and relies on full-fledged space ports to operate. Third, each player can only own one fleet carrier. Yes, it's a powerful mobile home base, but it does not really help with speeding up travel time within the bubble. Thus, it cannot replace a fast travel system.
8. To be added...
This way, the game effectively provides a fast travel system for the players to personally build and expand upon by strategically placing their ships to various stations. The players still have to arrive at that station in the first place to leave their ships there, so gameplay-wise, the feeling of travel remains. After that, when you are bored of mining, dock your mining ship to a nearby station and teleport to your combat ship which is docked at a station that offers massacre mission, etc.
Advantages of this concept:
1. The player can save hundreds of hours of unnecessary travel time between stations he already visited just to switch a ship within the bubble.
2. It motivates players to visit more systems and stations to build their own fast travel system.
3. Adds gameplay content without adding actual content, saving the labor. One rock, two birds.
4. The vastness of the galaxy and the feeling of travel remain the same for dedicated travelers and deep space explorers. (There's no station in deep space)
5. "Home station" is no more just an imaginary concept of the players. They have to put thoughts in which stations deserve to be set up as homes because they can't just transport ship modules from one station to another. The modules have to be transported with a ship.
6. Potential to be developed into a full-fledged feature in the future, something like an inter-bubble shuttle that transports players' characters between stations, thus even more immersion for the players. (Since we already have a similar concept like Apex shuttles)
Potential problems and their solutions:
1. What if someone bought 20000 Sidewinders and place them in each system in the bubble?
-- First, this is nothing but a meaningless meme for the perfectionist. It doesn't give the player any extra benefit since all he achieved is merely teleporting between stations that mostly function the same way. Second, only the player's character is teleported. Ship and cargos stay with the ship. Third, simply apply a limit for the maximum number of ships a player can own.
2. The Colonia <=> Bubble trip means nothing now?
-- Two separate teleportation systems can be put to the Bubble and Colonia. The two do not connect with each other.
3. The Hutton Orbital pilgrimage means nothing now?
-- Only stations that have large landing pads can support the teleportation feature.
4. What about Fleet Carriers?
-- Restrict teleportation to or between fleet carriers.
----- Update ---------------------------------------------------------
5. Teleportation technology is not canon in this universe.
-- It doesn't have to be called "teleportation." I'm sure Fdev can figure out something clever about the name. Maybe call it a shuttle service, and when you use it, black screen and then you arrived.
6. Some missions like data courier might become way too easy.
-- Bond missions to ships, not the character. This way, if you change ship, you can't finish the mission.
7. Fleet carriers are already sort of serving a similar function as a home base and fast travel device.
-- Yes and no. First, fleet carriers are expensive, which requires a lot of grinds to purchase. It inherently contradicts the purpose of the fast travel system, which is to reduce the meaningless time players take IN ORDER TO grind. (call it a quality of life change for your grind experience). Second, the fleet carrier is meant to be a mobile space station, that can be deployed even in deep space. It is inherently different from a fast travel system that functions only WITHIN the bubble and relies on full-fledged space ports to operate. Third, each player can only own one fleet carrier. Yes, it's a powerful mobile home base, but it does not really help with speeding up travel time within the bubble. Thus, it cannot replace a fast travel system.
8. To be added...
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