Base Building Ideas for Features

[Cosmo]

If we get base building what kind of features do you want? For example:

1. Mining / gathering resources to craft objects
2. Production of items and goods with storage, research tech
3. Farming of flora and fauna
4. Integration with Powerplay
5. Tourism with NPC visitors
6. Manage a space colony
7. Defend the base, create a fortress
8. Customize the rooms and buildings with livery
9. Something else

 

[Dragsham]

I wanna fly by & drop a nuke on it

 

[aRJay]

10. The base working in a place holder mode when the owner is not present and able to make decisions on the spot.

 

[DYSEQTA]

I am really not for planetary base building in this game. Outposts or stations, maybe, planetary no.

The game can barely handle the existing Odyssey bases as it is without players trying to build sprawling monstrosities "'cause reasons". Another thing I have noted with online games is that no matter what you imagine it will be, there will always be monkey-brains that will use it to build a base in the shape of a private part or write profanity or some other stupidity.

An outpost or station you can manage would be fine though. However, without a real economy with proper production/supply/demand, what would the point be? Serious question.

The only way I can see this really working would be to have some kind of Player Factions that can control existing game assets and syst... oh wait. Been there removed that.

I am out in the black at the moment playing with a newly commissioned Carrier and doing some exploration and mining for a change of pace. Yet as I do it I keep feeling this itch in the back of my mind saying "what's the point". No one actually needs the materials I am mining, they aren't used to actually manufacture any game assets for instance. The plant data I am collecting doesn't serve any purpose at all. Me scanning a terraformable planet doesn't lead to it being terraformed. So by extension what's the point of owning a base of operations when there is nothing for it to operate for? This is basically ship interiors all over again. What is the point?

 

[MUTILADOR]

If we get base building what kind of features do you want? For example:

1. Mining / gathering resources to craft objects
2. Production of items and goods with storage, research tech
3. Farming of flora and fauna
4. Integration with Powerplay
5. Tourism with NPC visitors
6. Manage a space colony
7. Defend the base, create a fortress
8. Customize the rooms and buildings with livery
9. Something else

I have never been a big fan of this feature because it limits the exploration and expansion of the universe. It would be nice as a feature for games where you live on a single planet. But an incredible galaxy to know, I think other features would have to come first, atmospheric planets, development of alien life from the Elite lore, even improving the features on foot or inside ships. When all this is developed, something like base building could come in handy.

 

[Shurimal]

Tritium mining on icy moons. I'd set up one base in Colonia, another near the Center and become ludicrously rich!

 

[aRJay]

Tritium mining on icy moons. I'd set up one base in Colonia, another near the Center and become ludicrously rich!

That would depend on how the non automatic mining equipment worked while you were at the controls.

After all nobody actually expects FDev to produce automatic AFK money-making into the game do they? Come to that how likely is it that we could own more static bases than mobile ones?

 

[Chorda]

What is the point?

I can see a place for player run outposts and minor settlements, with some tiered upgrade potential and aesthetic tweaks. People could create mini Colonias that act as staging posts for explorers, or to support BGS and powerplay work. Can't see it being anything more than that.

As you point out, even if the engine could somehow handle advanced construction options, people would misuse it. You'd absolutely get some idiot who decides his settlement needs to circumnavigate the planet's equator or is bot-constructed to look like a giant cat meme when viewed from space.

 

[MUTILADOR]

I can see a place for player run outposts and minor settlements, with some tiered upgrade potential and aesthetic tweaks. People could create mini Colonias that act as staging posts for explorers, or to support BGS and powerplay work. Can't see it being anything more than that.

As you point out, even if the engine could somehow handle advanced construction options, people would misuse it. You'd absolutely get some idiot who decides his settlement needs to circumnavigate the planet's equator or is bot-constructed to look like a giant cat meme when viewed from space.

I don't see any problem with someone creating a city in the shape of a cat... in fact it's genius. In humanity itself there have been kings and emperors creating gigantic tombs in the shape of pyramids and very long walls to stop demons. In NMS I've seen amazing things, like giant statues that are tourist centers in themselves for other players. If you think about it, that would actually attract more players to explore those areas.

 

[Chorda]

I don't see any problem with someone creating a city in the shape of a cat... in fact it's genius. In humanity itself there have been kings and emperors creating gigantic tombs in the shape of pyramids and very long walls to stop demons. In NMS I've seen amazing things, like giant statues that are tourist centers in themselves for other players. If you think about it, that would actually attract more players to explore those areas.

A giant cat-shaped city (which is what you said), alright. A giant bot-constructed cat meme (which is what I said), hard pass.

 

[Jack Winter]

They could just be standard layouts like the settlements are..

Still CMS games seems to be Frontier's strong point, I'm sure they could make something engaging with base building..

 

[Jinx Chrome]

Although I am not into base building, personally, I support the idea to have it. I'd even suggest to make it a stand alone game which is connected to your account and the BGS / Elite galaxy simulation. Thus, the devs could circumnavigate issues with engine limitations. I believe that a lot of people who aren't interested into flying ships, combat or exploration may really like such a game.
Of course, there will be the argument: "I wanna do both, fly and build bases". Managing a base or a space station will probably a time consuming task and one still can launch the Ody client to switch over to one's ship.

 

[Nadreck]

I'd definitely want the ability to place it in a specific location on a planet. In a valley or canyon, at the foot of a mountain, on a beach (assuming a landable atmospheric planet with an ocean), and so on.

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

I'd like to see a new module thingy for my FC so I can fly it to a remote destination somewher where it contains materials for building a space station. With, maybe, a view to construct one planetside... but my thought processes stop there.

 

[BDelacroix]

Base building?

 

[Chorda]

I'd like to see a new module thingy for my FC so I can fly it to a remote destination somewher where it contains materials for building a space station. With, maybe, a view to construct one planetside... but my thought processes stop there.

That's not too far off Braben's original pitch in the kickstarter, where he suggested the ability to hollow out asteroids and launch a self-constructing ("self-inflating" was the words he used, if I recall) base into it.

 

[Cosmo]

I support the idea to have it. I'd even suggest to make it a stand alone game which is connected to your account and the BGS / Elite galaxy simulation. Thus, the devs could circumnavigate issues with engine limitations. I believe that a lot of people who aren't interested into flying ships, combat or exploration may really like such a game.

Yes if it has enough depth to be a standalone game. Alternatively, they could sell base building DLC for different planet types such as Earth-like worlds, water worlds, metal-rich planets with volcanism, and gas giants.

Of course, there will be the argument: "I wanna do both, fly and build bases". Managing a base or a space station will probably a time consuming task and one still can launch the Ody client to switch over to one's ship.

If the player has both games then it should be a seamless experience. No loading screen between flying down to a planet and the base building / management mode. Switching games would break immersion.

 

[Fizzatron]

I can see a place for player run outposts and minor settlements, with some tiered upgrade potential and aesthetic tweaks. People could create mini Colonias that act as staging posts for explorers, or to support BGS and powerplay work. Can't see it being anything more than that.

As you point out, even if the engine could somehow handle advanced construction options, people would misuse it. You'd absolutely get some idiot who decides his settlement needs to circumnavigate the planet's equator or is bot-constructed to look like a giant cat meme when viewed from space.

Actually I think a settlement strip that goes around the equator of a moon that's visible from space could be really cool.

I think if base-building was the surprise feature it would probably be restricted in a similar manner to that of how many fleet carriers can be in a system at any one time, as they would need to be persistent.

 

[Jinx Chrome]

...

If the player has both games then it should be a seamless experience. No loading screen between flying down to a planet and the base building / management mode. Switching games would break immersion.

That would of course, be the best option. But with a new / different engine, it may not be possible (or not from the start). I don't expect it a perfect base building game from the start but maybe something which evolves over time.
(Partially) destructible buildings would be the icing on the cake - although a feast for griefers, too.
Anyway, whatever FDev is planning, let's be happy that they are still working on Elite even when it is something which isn't exactly what we expect. I'd say that 80% of the game is what you make out of it by yourself.

 

[FixMeNow]

Base Building would be my number one feature to add to the game.

Fdev could monetize it pretty well and i would actually buy and spend arx. But i dont think they have the motivation, skills or money to do it to a decent standard.