I think the biggest Elephant in the room, at least for me, is not the limitations of Star System micro-control options: It's the cost and time-frame.
I see 2 main costs:
- Resource costs
- Time costs
I don't think the credits cost is absurd at all, but I think mostly everyone can agree the resource costs are heavy. It's still fresh though. But what does that translate into time?
There is nothing I value more than my time and effort but mostly, my time. Effort is up to me but the time is not. Having my time respected means a lot to me and it has become a trend in modern games to not ultimately respect players time. I do understand the balancing issues with not everyone being able to commit the same amount of time in their day to the same tasks. Work, school, family, kids, events... the list of priorities goes on.
Currently I have checked a couple dozen systems within range of a station and found nothing of interest. I crossed off 2/3rds of what I found because they were just stars. But this would be part of my issue, where/how do I know the value that I will get from locating a station basically right next to another system with a station?? Is a 1 system with 1 star "good"? How does various planet types affect the value of my time, effort and resource investment?
I will not pretend to know how the in-game economy works but what's the value here? If every "available" system has a station, why go to any one specifically unless it has a commodity or price you want/need? If there are no planets to place other installations on, then how valuable really is a system with a star (or 4) and no planets? Further to that, relevant to my time, why would I want to invest on a system that seemingly provides me no benefit and arguably, my developing it gives benefit to someone else who picks the next system over from mine just for being a good system?
If the reach of the power results in a terrible investment of time and resources by virtue of having poor selection, it will likely not be purchased and built on or if it does, it will be at a later time when there are no other better systems left. Sure, it could open up expansion to better systems... maybe after a few bad necessary investments though, so who takes the hit and how does this affect growth of a faction power?
I am imagining the unlikely but still possible scenario of completely encapsulating another power so they could not progress. What is the solution for that? Or is that allowed? Why would someone or should someone do such a thing?
Either way, I am looking for the value and return on my time and spent resources to better understand what it is I should do to maximize my return and simultaneously enhance the game.
Most of what I found was the same: 1- 3 stars only or 7-12 icy and rocky planets of virtually the same composition and no gas giants with rings and such. I am not saying I wont find a better populated system, but is there an advantage for me to spend the time and resources on a single body system so I or even another player has access to a system that is more beneficial? If I lose a system next in line; that I was working for, that would better benefit me and end up doing the same work for less, what's my motive?
I wonder about the bubble around a colonized system and why there would not be a minimum distance for colonization as well - with say 10-20ly radius from a colonized system needing to be had, not just a maximum range from a colonized system.
- The bubble around the colonized system being it's overall economy instead of just the system itself. Essentially where purchasing a system affords a bubble of systems around it that are expanded to and supplementary to the chosen colonized system, similar to how it's expressed for a system. The expansion could be automated to a large degree while still requiring resources and allowing players to be the "Architect", placing settlements who return commodities also to the main system or have pirate issues etc.
- I'm not looking to re-write things here, I am simply trying to understand. In my mind two systems directly side by side would wind up in competition, even if owned by the same power or player.
- What I am asking about, specifically if they were bubbles, would have unoccupied space where the areas do not touch or overlap. A mechanic for pirates or a dominant bubble expands to or etc. etc. I can see it being an obstacle or something unwanted in the game. I could also see it as just another mechanic. I have no idea, just thinking very out loud.
I need more information on why or how to pick a system to colonize. I am concerned about the time and energy I may put in for little benefit. Of course I am going to give it a go but I don't believe it's necessarily fair to wait until another player who makes tutorials finds out to then post a video I can hope to find when I search or it hits my suggested feeds.
Otherwise I think this a really cool idea. I just don't know enough.
Please advise, inquiring minds would like to know.
Cheers,
Getdunson