Let's assume for now 2.4 is the big galaxy changing Thargoid introduction and v3.0/Season 3/ whatever FD will call it, is most logically to be planets with atmospheres. Not Earth-likes mind-you, but atmospheres hostile to life as we know it. Gas giants and planets like Venus, and other mostly lifeless worlds. This is to me the most logical next major release based on complexity of development. Of course, this is pure speculation, but to me it makes sense given the raft of issues to address with walking around... but we shall see!
In any event, what sort of gameplay do You envision for these non-Earth-like planets with atmosphere? This could include some moons with limited atmospherics as well. What do you want to see? How can FD add game-play other than the awesome new vistas with light-scattering, clouds, lightning and such?
Here are some initial ideas of mine:
In any event, what sort of gameplay do You envision for these non-Earth-like planets with atmosphere? This could include some moons with limited atmospherics as well. What do you want to see? How can FD add game-play other than the awesome new vistas with light-scattering, clouds, lightning and such?
Here are some initial ideas of mine:
- Improved effects of atmospheres as viewed from space- more types of storm cloud formations, moving animations of weather patterns on gas giants, etc.
- scooping hydrogen/hydrino fuel from specific gas giants and the surrounding gameplay as described in the DDF on fuel quality and types
- Better GUI display of fuel scooping/gas mining, which will also transfer to the GUI for scooping from stars (and in the future comets mined while in super-cruise)
- Ability to scoop-mine stars that cannot be fuel-scooped, like Brown and White Dwarfs
- floating cities in gas giants, aka new Outpost variants
- some new but non-sentient life-forms similar to the ones discovered so-far, plant-like-multi-cellular organisms
- Flying through awesome cloud and weather effects including lightning and auroras
- Depending on the wind-speeds, major flight model feedback and difficulty flying; enhanced PvE
- Mining gas giants, similar to fuel-scooping but requiring the identification of layers/regions/ clouds of certain gasses
- Random POI floating about in gas clouds, like a Capital ship, debris, similar to what is in game now
- Some planetary bodies with atmosphere but no life that we can land on solid ground and that have Settlements and POI
- Planets undergoing terraforming with giant factories billowing atmospheric gasses and clouds into the sky, but still not survivable without environment suits/vehicles
- Enhancements to Exploration GUI showing off the enhanced planetary bodies
- Various sensor havoc and resulting PvE considerations caused by massive electromagnetic, heat, etc. turbulence (should flow also to areas around stars)
- Shields should wrap ships and protect from atmo-entry physics damage, but we should get some cool heat/fire effects around the wind-screen and when looking at other ships entering atmospheres
- More PvE possibilities as in the heat meta when entering planets with atmospheres- maybe a need to more carefully plan the approach and speed, ship damage when shields drop
- New missions of course; passenger missions to fly through giant storms, unique gasses for markets, etc.
- Major active Lava and Ice volcanos on appropriate planets, if super-lucky lava flows to accompany these
- Damage to ships based on corrosive atmospheric effects
- Ability to land on non-Earth-like planets with atmospheres