I see potential to extend the follow-on mission game mechanic by generating an extended mission series that can be tailored by a computer system or hand crafted by a developer.
A computer system performs analytics by looking at various player stats such as which play style (trader, exploration, combat) is currently favored by the player. Financial status, assets, and other stats are factored in. Essentially looking to see what the player might like to do and what rewards would be beneficial. It could then generate a tailored mission series in terms of chapters. Each mission is a chapter. Revealing each new chapter of the mission series as they are completed.
The mission series could be generated as a "choose you own adventure" style. Essentially the mission series would be a tree leading to multiple endings. Two things determine how the mission series branches. Success or failure of mission objectives lead to different branches and players might be presented with a choice between alternate missions.
Alternatively, special mission series could be hand crafted by developers with a need for specific prerequisites to be met before an invitation to the mission series is sent to the player.
Solo player mission series and multi-player based mission series could be generated. Squadron or wing based mission series could be generated in a multi-mission per chapter style by allowing participants to perform missions in parallel in each chapter. Example, mission 1: pickup and ferry a general to a system. Also, mission 2: scout exploration data in some other system. One mission to expect heavy resistance the other not so much. Players decide how to assign the missions based on mission descriptions. Success of both or one or none determines next chapter. The number of missions in each chapter could scale to accommodate different sized wings or squadrons.
Mission series might be short, like a single game session,
ranging to epic, taking many game sessions. Rewards collected at the completion of each chapter or at the end of a series or both.
Example: The computer might generate an epic series for single player which can result in the acquisition of a desirable ship.
Rewards could be anything from credits, ships, standard equipment, specially modified equipment, materials, ranks, faction standing, or combinations these, and anything else feasible.
It would be a complex system to develop but could add a new element of mystery and replayability to the game.
A computer system performs analytics by looking at various player stats such as which play style (trader, exploration, combat) is currently favored by the player. Financial status, assets, and other stats are factored in. Essentially looking to see what the player might like to do and what rewards would be beneficial. It could then generate a tailored mission series in terms of chapters. Each mission is a chapter. Revealing each new chapter of the mission series as they are completed.
The mission series could be generated as a "choose you own adventure" style. Essentially the mission series would be a tree leading to multiple endings. Two things determine how the mission series branches. Success or failure of mission objectives lead to different branches and players might be presented with a choice between alternate missions.
Alternatively, special mission series could be hand crafted by developers with a need for specific prerequisites to be met before an invitation to the mission series is sent to the player.
Solo player mission series and multi-player based mission series could be generated. Squadron or wing based mission series could be generated in a multi-mission per chapter style by allowing participants to perform missions in parallel in each chapter. Example, mission 1: pickup and ferry a general to a system. Also, mission 2: scout exploration data in some other system. One mission to expect heavy resistance the other not so much. Players decide how to assign the missions based on mission descriptions. Success of both or one or none determines next chapter. The number of missions in each chapter could scale to accommodate different sized wings or squadrons.
Mission series might be short, like a single game session,
ranging to epic, taking many game sessions. Rewards collected at the completion of each chapter or at the end of a series or both.
Example: The computer might generate an epic series for single player which can result in the acquisition of a desirable ship.
Rewards could be anything from credits, ships, standard equipment, specially modified equipment, materials, ranks, faction standing, or combinations these, and anything else feasible.
It would be a complex system to develop but could add a new element of mystery and replayability to the game.