So when you construct outposts, settlements or orbital installations, there are a lot of NPCs buzzing about. They sometimes have heavy ships. Anacondas, Type-9 and so on. So I've been thinking... would it kill those f... friendly pilots to haul some stuff to the site? I mean they surely do have a ton of free time. Meanwhile assistance from NPC would reduce burden from solo projects.
Proposal:
Allow NPC to deliver goods to player construction sites.
Purpose:
Make large scale projects possible for solo players in sane amount of time, reduce hauling burden, encourage creating "sensible" settlements with multiple production types.
Possible implementation:
In my opinion this sort of system would encourage player to plan system logically, making it more sensible to encourage NPC help. I.e. more populace + better security should mean faster help. If the system produces CMM/Steel/Aluminium, those will be delivered to construction sites first.
The reasonable timeframe would be...
An Orbis or Surface Port should be finished in a month in worst case circumstances (no donations, minimum populace, security, everything), and 2 week in good situation, with 1 week if it is ideal circusmtances. Player donation for this structure could be 150-300 mil.
I think it also aligns with Elite's idea that "you're nobody important" and also makes role of Architect more logical. A planner instead of a hauler. Then there's "living galaxy" aspect, plus it adds a money sink. Also, it is a rough idea and it can be fine-tuned in many ways.
Proposal:
Allow NPC to deliver goods to player construction sites.
Purpose:
Make large scale projects possible for solo players in sane amount of time, reduce hauling burden, encourage creating "sensible" settlements with multiple production types.
Possible implementation:
- Most likely amount of help you get should be determined at the end of the day. (Not weekly tick)
- The help should be dependent on system populace, security, and populace and security of nearby systems.
- Goods produced in current system have highest priority.
- We could make it further, where NPC would first deliver goods produced on this planet, then this system, then nearby systems.
- There's no help with the very first construction (colonization mission)
- Manual hauling should be still faster. I.e. tiny settlement can be completed in 4 trips in type-9 which could easily be under a hour. NPC haulers I'd think it would be reasonable for it to take 2-4 days.
- The amount of help probably also scales with project size, but has upper cap. I.e. no more than 25% of total require materials per day regardless of size.
- Player can encourage help by donating money to construction site. I'm thinking 20-150 mil range to accelerate help of NPCs. Should scale with project size.
- The feature is either opt in or opt out. The player can decide he does not need help and do it all by himself.
- NPCs will be listed in contributions. Could be <systemname> pilots, or they could be from local factions.
- Perhaps help from faction could affect BGS? Or determine who get to control the construction once it is finished?
In my opinion this sort of system would encourage player to plan system logically, making it more sensible to encourage NPC help. I.e. more populace + better security should mean faster help. If the system produces CMM/Steel/Aluminium, those will be delivered to construction sites first.
The reasonable timeframe would be...
An Orbis or Surface Port should be finished in a month in worst case circumstances (no donations, minimum populace, security, everything), and 2 week in good situation, with 1 week if it is ideal circusmtances. Player donation for this structure could be 150-300 mil.
I think it also aligns with Elite's idea that "you're nobody important" and also makes role of Architect more logical. A planner instead of a hauler. Then there's "living galaxy" aspect, plus it adds a money sink. Also, it is a rough idea and it can be fine-tuned in many ways.
