Game Discussions Bethesda Softworks Starfield Space RPG

[lysan]

I think we're not fully there with procedural quests and activities. Stuff that enriches the world but is "endless". Games have an end when the story finishes, but some games can go on forever, like Minecraft, Valheim, NMS. They just lack more worldbuilding and story support. Who's gonna write the endless stuff though? We had a bit of hype around AI storytelling, but that has its downsides, too.

Good game loops can last for years, procedural fetch quests can be fun if there is a layer on top of it like reputation.

Bounty hunting is a fetch quest, get A at location X however if the game mechanics don't support it, you end up with the same kill X at Y
so you need a mechanic where you can take someone alive and bring them with you, hence the brig, cryo chamber etc.

NPC routines are massively underrated in a RPG game, if all NPC's had a routine and could move around in the world freely, tracking down a wanted person could be a lot of fun, RDR2 is one example, I think GTA also have NPC routines to some extent, heck even cities skylines got NPC routines, that's just one example of a game loop that could last for a very long time combine that with a reputation system and another way to deliver missions like emails on a computer in your outpost, I mean it's not that hard to make with tools already in the game, the problem is I'm not very good at coding, if I was i would do it myself

My point, what did they spend 400 million USD on?

 

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Good game loops can last for years, procedural fetch quests can be fun if there is a layer on top of it like reputation.

Bounty hunting is a fetch quest, get A at location X however if the game mechanics don't support it, you end up with the same kill X at Y
so you need a mechanic where you can take someone alive and bring them with you, hence the brig, cryo chamber etc.

NPC routines are massively underrated in a RPG game, if all NPC's had a routine and could move around in the world freely, tracking down a wanted person could be a lot of fun, RDR2 is one example, I think GTA also have NPC routines to some extent, heck even cities skylines got NPC routines, that's just one example of a game loop that could last for a very long time combine that with a reputation system and another way to deliver missions like emails on a computer in your outpost, I mean it's not that hard to make with tools already in the game, the problem is I'm not very good at coding, if I was i would do it myself

My point, what did they spend 400 million USD on?

400? Does it include marketing?

 

[lysan]

400? Does it include marketing?

Most likely, still it's a lot of cash for something that is mid level experience, and I know I sound negative however I'm playing the game still it's just disappointment I guess, I was expecting skyrim in space and we didn't even get that, what we got was a game where everything is fast travel, I mean the introduction to the 4 main big cities is very fast, all travelling is A) jumping around or B) Fast travel, in previous BGS games the journey was where you found interesting things, the whole space travel system is just so lazy made it's just where is the space exploration? you get the map and can jump around like a frog from systems to system, IMO you should start on one planet, and find the rest and what they keep of secrets, yes join a fraction and tag along for the ride but how they made it is just so disconnected in the world building experience.

 

[Codger]

I captured this by simply unlocking it and flying away. No one was aboard. It was landed.

I turned it into this.

 

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Most likely, still it's a lot of cash for something that is mid level experience, and I know I sound negative however I'm playing the game still it's just disappointment I guess, I was expecting skyrim in space and we didn't even get that, what we got was a game where everything is fast travel, I mean the introduction to the 4 main big cities is very fast, all travelling is A) jumping around or B) Fast travel, in previous BGS games the journey was where you found interesting things, the whole space travel system is just so lazy made it's just where is the space exploration? you get the map and can jump around like a frog from systems to system, IMO you should start on one planet, and find the rest and what they keep of secrets, yes join a fraction and tag along for the ride but how they made it is just so disconnected in the world building experience.

You experience what I feared might happen. A disconnected experience. The world is not coherent enough.
It kinda works out for me, but I wondered about the very same thing before it released.

 

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I've made very successful use of the ship crafting areas. Took a while to get a decent cargo space. I feel comfortable with 2000. My cap is 2400 and payload expert is supposed to bring it to 3100. How I dunno, it doesnt add up does it?

 

[lysan]

I've made very successful use of the ship crafting areas. Took a while to get a decent cargo space. I feel comfortable with 2000. My cap is 2400 and payload expert is supposed to bring it to 3100. How I dunno, it doesnt add up does it?

I got 6000, there are many good haulers at hope.

 

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I got 6000, there are many good haulers at hope.

But does that fit on a small pad? I build so they fit on small pads. Can't be bothered to build the big spots at outposts.

 

[lysan]

But does that fit on a small pad? I build so they fit on small pads. Can't be bothered to build the big spots at outposts.

No need the big pads.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

No need the big pads.

I might try building tall and / or wide. I think builder checks only length of ship for pad eligibility. No guarantees when it bugs out. My current build already looks a bit like Venator class with a little tower on the top back.

Also I want to make an asymmetrical build.

 

[lysan]

I might try building tall and / or wide. I think builder checks only length of ship for pad eligibility. No guarantees when it bugs out. My current build already looks a bit like Venator class with a little tower on the top back.

Don't know for me I got plenty of materials so I just build the big pads

 

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Don't know for me I got plenty of materials so I just build the big pads

It's not just the mats - think of the logistic nightmare getting it where you want!

 

[lysan]

It's not just the mats - think of the logistic nightmare getting it where you want!

LOL yeah that's another can of worms.

 

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I have bought fully into the can of worms. Outposts run without cargo links which I don't understand anyway. From practicality I can say: Al, Fe and Cu are essential. I often have to run off fetch copper. I'd route it to main base but main has Fe link and an inactive link to NiCo. I'd totally remove NiCo and hook up the AuCuF base but who knows how this stuff works.

 

[lysan]

Finally!!

 

[lysan]

I have bought fully into the can of worms. Outposts run without cargo links which I don't understand anyway. From practicality I can say: Al, Fe and Cu are essential. I often have to run off fetch copper. I'd route it to main base but main has Fe link and an inactive link to NiCo. I'd totally remove NiCo and hook up the AuCuF base but who knows how this stuff works.

My outposts are fully automated and i get Aluminum, Iron, helium from my other mining operations, the links are a bit tricky but just remember to check outgoing and incoming containers.

 

[wrmiller]

Bethesda RPGs are quite unique. One of the strongest is probably Skyrim. Also it's the last released with the "learning by doing" skillsystem. You level up by doing the stuff you do. Starfield is some kind of a hybrid where you unlock milestone by somewhat doing something related to the skill and then you invest a skill point. Skyrim skill system was about adding perks to your skills but they levelled to 100 by practice. Some use that for "power levelling" or grinding - I think it's one of the best systems since you get good at what you prefer doing. It also has a coherent world that connects all the PoIs and that is supreme for exploration. Doesn't have many dynamic encounters but the game allows to set out with a character idea and play that through.
The Fallout games had a different skill system, more aking to spend points to get better and later just picking perks. Many regard it as being watered down. The world building is however top notch, just like Skyrim. But they have the Pip Boy which adds a bit of a turn based layer to an otherwise real-time world. Great for aging players.
The older games like Morrowind are still great experience but quite dated visually and combat-wise.

A game like Baldur's Gate sets you up with a band of prefabricated and voiced and storied characters to make an adventure. These rely more on story-telling, adventure.
A Bethesda 1st person action RPG is where you can be a thief. A mage. A bulwark in the weathered sea. I consider them better role playing experience since you decide what to do and how to do it.

I don't mind a bit of role playing, but I'm not the least bit interested in fantasy/D&D type games. Got seriously burned out on D&D back in the 70s and haven't touched a game like that since. This game (SF) allows me to play a character to a certain degree, but I don't have to run around wearing a loincloth and swinging a sword. Ugh.

I'm hoping to see good things in SF when the serious modding starts happening next year(?).

 

[Felix DiCestria]

No FO4 escaped my steam lib, however a lot what made FO4 good I'm told is not in SF.

That'll be why you don't recognise the fauna.
You don't know what's coming at you or where it will come from.
I do, once you start working out what a rad Scorpion/molerat/mirelurk etc. Looks like in SF a lot of the surprise disappears.

 

[lysan]

That'll be why you don't recognise the fauna.
You don't know what's coming at you or where it will come from.
I do, once you start working out what a rad Scorpion/molerat/mirelurk etc. Looks like in SF a lot of the surprise disappears.

Ahh ok well no I still get surprised in other news.

 

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I don't mind a bit of role playing, but I'm not the least bit interested in fantasy/D&D type games. Got seriously burned out on D&D back in the 70s and haven't touched a game like that since. This game (SF) allows me to play a character to a certain degree, but I don't have to run around wearing a loincloth and swinging a sword. Ugh.

I'm hoping to see good things in SF when the serious modding starts happening next year(?).

The Elder Scrolls is a pretty good fantasy setting. Greenskins are tribals. Elves are posh elitists. Khajit has only disdain for all of them.