Attrition in space

CMDR Ash

CMDR Ash
Hey guys or gals,

I have long been a lover of exploration, I love being out in the black seeing the amazing nebula and discovering new, strange systems. It is because I enjoy this kind of gameplay so much that I, like many others wish to see some changes in this area but not in a way you might expect.

Now I have been watching Star Trek Voyager (again) as it has recently been added to Netflix. Not my favourite trek but it is up there and I know it isn't many peoples favourite but I digress...

Being Stuck in the Delta Quadrant is a lot like what we explorers voluntarily do, and I would love to see some gameplay to reflect this and I wanted your opinion on these ideas.

Now a lot of people ask for more stellar phenomena out there, new things to discover, more astronomy related items. these things are all great but, in my opinion I would like a little more of a challenge in the form of attrition.

If your still with me here are some ideas to throw around:

Food requirements
medical requirements
entertainment
material needs e.g repairs in deep space, patching holes from crashing into Suns :p

basically I love the idea of making our avatar feel more alive, I don't want it to the level where it becomes a nuisance though, that is probably the biggest downside about this gameplay that it would be more things to worry about.

if you can think of more ideas along this line of thought I would love to hear them, or to tell me my ideas are total rubbish

look forward to hearing from you all!
 

Jackie Silver

Jackie Silver
CMDR Ash said:
If your still with me here are some ideas to throw around:

Food requirements
medical requirements
entertainment
Click to expand...

My Cobra's life support masses several tons - even with current technology that's enough to last a single human for a very long time. And I'm happy to abstract Jackie's entertainment and medical needs away, so I don't think we really need to concern ourselves with that sort of thing. Especially with 3302 tech levels.

material needs e.g repairs in deep space, patching holes from crashing into Suns :p
Click to expand...

A better wear and damage system would be nice, but it has to be compatible with the effectively indefinite exploration style that some CMDRs enjoy.
I'd love to see a more granular damage system; malfunctions taking the place of percentage damages. I don't think much of "hitpoint" style mechanics, especially when they're applied to things that don't have hitpoints - people, tanks, spaceships, y'know, most things you're likely to find in computer games really. Silly stuff. Elite has the malfunctions, but the whole thing (for me) should be more a case of your armour and shields either deflecting something completely, or taking slight or grievous damage from a penetration leading to malfunctions, not the current whittling-down effect leading eventually to malfunctions.

But that's not really what you're asking, I suppose; something to make things more entertaining on a long voyage. I don't know what to suggest, there. Maybe that's why the collaborative expeditions are so popular.
 

Koolwehrstukkas

Koolwehrstukkas
So, the year is 3302 and I went out for an expedition. Currently I'm in the ASP, 'cause my annie is still on the maintenance. I have 2 months long food rations, some microwave food and even 2000 liters of beer for special occasions. My ship's medbay equipped just for basic treatments, because if I suddenly encounter with something our medicine can't handle...you know, nothing can help. Or I just more pessimist, than I should. About entertainment: YAY, Star Citizen has been released recently! (I love that game, no pun intended).
 

CMDR Ash

CMDR Ash
Love it! Haha

im 100% (see what I did there) in favour of a more realistic damage system, systems degrading over time, with need for refitting and maintainence periods. Speaking medically it would be fun to (taking into account multiple things such as atmo landing and other species) be able to work with others to find a cure to a disease your character contracts...

having to forage through local flora, or trade with an alien species as they already have a cure. I believe it is both the reason elite is so great and it's achellies heel that the galaxy really does have endless possibility. Forget 10 year plan, Elite should have a lifetime plan! Constantly getting more and more full over time :)

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iain666 said:
Special occasions? Either you're intending to be out for decades or you're defining a "special occasion" as any time some sun is over some yardarm somewhere in the galaxy :)
Click to expand...
sounds like a special occasion to me! :p
 

newman1702

newman1702
Too much micromanagent has a tendency to distract the player and dillute the focus of the game while providing annoyance instead of worthwhile game mechanics. Some of the ideas in the OP would not make ED a better spaceship sim imho. I do like the idea of field patchwork repairs though, and have always wanted to do those deep in black by donning a spacesuit.. But food and medical stuff, no thanks.
 
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Yanick

Yanick
Some nice Alien Civlizations would be good. Some of them hostile, some of them not.
And not just the usual Thargoid fare....
 

Witzo

Witzo
The attrition is there in full: keeping at it for months on end has made people self-destruct.
Those that keep at it, wear out in several ways. Developing compulsions to scan certain types of objects or having to land on a planet before each log off, counting stuff, tagging stuff.
I don't think any Commander returns from three or more months out without having worn out on something. Space asks a price.
 

CMDR Ash

CMDR Ash
Thank you for all your responses, after hearing the arguments I see now that maybe it would be to much micro-managment, although it is nice that people like the repair ideas!
 
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