Bit of life around the stations?

[etien]

Hi, I am sure this has been said before but

Space stations feel lonely, would be nice to have a couple of extra eye candys floating around them to "populate the space"

for exemple if I could see a couple of spaceagrofarms next to a base, I would assume "food stuff must be in aboundance in here so cheap", idem spaceyard docks, floating foundry, police/starfleet station etc.

also a bit of npcs flying around would be cool. a cargo going in and out from the planet to the station, a space road convoy getting assembled then flying to another system, a space fleet on patrol, a huge space tanker resting near by etc.

I dont mean to "overload" space ala x egosoft series, but on couple of extra stuff would make it cooler.

Etienne

 

[Flossy]

Don't know which stations you have been to, but there always seem to be a fair amount of NPC ships around any I visit?

 

[Skizomeuh]

In a system near Procyon, I spotted a couple of NPC curiously staring at the debris of a defunct Dropship gently floating inside an orbis station, while other NPCs were doing their business in and out.

They felt really sentient.

 

[Tinman]

Hi, I am sure this has been said before but

Space stations feel lonely, would be nice to have a couple of extra eye candys floating around them to "populate the space"

for exemple if I could see a couple of spaceagrofarms next to a base, I would assume "food stuff must be in aboundance in here so cheap", idem spaceyard docks, floating foundry, police/starfleet station etc.

also a bit of npcs flying around would be cool. a cargo going in and out from the planet to the station, a space road convoy getting assembled then flying to another system, a space fleet on patrol, a huge space tanker resting near by etc.

I dont mean to "overload" space ala x egosoft series, but on couple of extra stuff would make it cooler.

Etienne

You mean like this concept art?

Or maybe this one?

I'm sure these things will come eventually...it's just a matter of priority really.

 

[etien]

Don't know which stations you have been to, but there always seem to be a fair amount of NPC ships around any I visit?

I mean serious ships (think fleet of space tankers or stardestoyers ) not lilliput interceptors

Etienne

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You mean like this concept art?

Or maybe this one?

I'm sure these things will come eventually...it's just a matter of priority really.

YEAH, NOW WE ARE COOKING WITH BUTTER!

 

[Gibbonici]

for exemple if I could see a couple of spaceagrofarms next to a base, I would assume "food stuff must be in aboundance in here so cheap", idem spaceyard docks, floating foundry, police/starfleet station etc.

Most of a system's economy happens on the planets, so you can (after getting the "feel" for it) get a good idea of what trades will be cheap/lucrative by studying the system map.

What I'd really love to see is station to surface shuttles and convoys, like in the original Elite. That really made things feel alive. I like the idea of seeing capital ships, tankers and auxiliaries hanging around stations, and also permanent off-station facilities.

 

[etien]

What I'd really love to see is station to surface shuttles and convoys, like in the original Elite. That really made things feel alive.

Fully agree that was so cool

I like the idea of seeing capital ships, tankers and auxiliaries hanging around stations.

Indeed very big stuff should not be able to land on a station pad and /or enter the gate of the station, so seeing them "anchored" outside would be cool, and yes they could be choosen according to the nature of the production of the planet

and also permanent off-station facilities.

seem to remember that those also existed in elite frontieer

a cool one (fooss) :

 

[Monk]

I think an important addition to this would be that the activity you see around a station should be relevant.

Capital ships and fighters doing patrols would be common in say Federation systems bordering independent systems where there is conflict. Perhaps even more intense scans from the military faction, looking for contraband more than criminals.

Industrial systems might see some factory type structures or even ships.

High Tech would see more expensive ships flitting about (might already be true). They might also see experimental installations.

Tourism systems would be lousy with cruise ships.

Also, in general, I think there need to be more random satellites about (with fines for damaging them) that facilitate communication. Just more detail elements. The "busy" stations seem kind of floating in a void, suggesting the people on the surface don't really need the orbital station.

 

[IndianaGeoff]

I would totally be willing to check out junk farms in Lagrange points.

The first rule of space...

Once you get it into orbit, you never let it leave orbit.

 

[etien]

I think an important addition to this would be that the activity you see around a station should be relevant.

fully agree, that was my point, it should give you a nice visual clue of what you will find for sale inside the base.

another cool one by foss

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