Home systems

[askavir]

Here's something that could be subject of some overhauling in future updates: home systems.

I remember when I was first able to leave the starter systems, and of course the first thing i've done was head to Sol.

In Sol, I discovered that not only there was nothing really making the trip worthwhile, except a virtual "feel at home" feeling. The systm did not have any different or rare goods, did not pay good prices for anything, did not sell anything interesting or at low prices, no capital ships, the missons are actually fewer and less interesting / profitable, the stations where exactly the same as in everywhere else. If we forget that Sol is "home", actually is a lousy system to travel to. And this is supposed to be the capital of the Federation superpower...

Later I went to Achenar, and the feeling was exactly the same...

Then i started collecting the permits, thinking that if a permit was required, the systems would must surely have something worthwhile. But... not, except the occasional discount.

THen came powerplay and all its features and mechanics. The hunt for "home" starts again.

Pledged to a power, head for its "home system" and... the same as in superpower's capital systems: if we forget that they are the factions capital, they-re mediuocre systems for gameplay... Unprofitable economies, almost no missions, exactly the same as in superpower capitals. But with a twist! Each major faction home system is by far the most dangerous system for... the members of that power, as they are swarmed with hostile ships, and you are subjected to endless sequences of interdictions... Does this make sense at all? Shouldn't the factions base be the most secure system to its members?

I parked my Clipper and took my Asp, and I went on a tour through all the other factions capitals, where I was "hostile", and I was attacked fewer times on all enemy home systems combined than I am interdicted on my own power home system. Ins't this illogical and weird?


I think home systems, superpower or faction, definitly need some love and attention.. And balancing in PP's case.

 

[Etherin Nor]

I'll go along with that. It would be great to arrive at these places of relevance and power, and see something different. custom stations, capital ships in close proximity, increased security forces... it would be good for these places to have an element of tourism.. somewhere you really should visit at some point to see the imperial fleet or something, and like you say, a real reason to go there... trade prices, rare goods. so trading between capitals has some real benefits. Landmarks is kinda what we need, the galaxy is great and everything, but there arent really any landmarks.

 

[Senex VII]

At the moment it's kind of limited to having more green ships around and landing at the occasional docking bay that wouldn't be out of place in an upmarket shopping mall or department store.

But what would your ideal of a home system look like? Capital ships parked here and there? More bustling trade activity? Special comms messages? 300 meter high posters of Our Illustrious Leader™?

 

[Etherin Nor]

all of the above... praps not the poster. I think a one off station design would go a long way.

 

[CMDR Alonso]

At the moment it's kind of limited to having more green ships around and landing at the occasional docking bay that wouldn't be out of place in an upmarket shopping mall or department store.

But what would your ideal of a home system look like? Capital ships parked here and there? More bustling trade activity? Special comms messages? 300 meter high posters of Our Illustrious Leader™?

that and some real security seems like a good idea, I would not care to see a 300 square meter poster of the Space Blue Haired Khalesi when I arrive at her home system.

 

[Phoenix13]

that and some real security seems like a good idea, I would not care to see a 300 square meter poster of the Space Blue Haired Khalesi when I arrive at her home system.

I'd love a 600 square meter poster of her! :-D

 

[Carradin]

I'll admit I was quite disappointed when I first visited Sol. I was kitting out a new ship shortly after we'd gained access to it during Gamma, and I figured I'd head there since 1) I wanted to see our home, and 2) I was sure they'd have everything I needed. I mean, it's the cradle of mankind, the capital of the Federation, the place where we developed all the tech that allowed us to colonize the stars, right?

Nope. I visited every single starport. Not a single one carried top-quality modules. Not a single one was high-tech, just industrial. You'd think at this point Sol would be considered a sort or nature reserve where heavy industry was banished to the dead planets, right? Nope. Every station around Earth itself is an industrial station. You'd think, being the capital of the Federation, that there'd be high security and the occasional capital ship around, right? Certainly I'd expected one near the nav beacon, to keep track of new arrivals (and check their permits). Nope. No special security in sight, and definitely no capital ships. Not near the nav beacon, not near Earth, not anywhere.

So, no special wonders to see, no quality modules offered, no heightened security befitting a capital system. Yeah, it really needs a makeover. I ended up kitting out my ship in some backwater nowhere that happened to be far more advanced than Sol.

[Edit] Actually, I think there's a capital ship in Sol somewhere now. I guess I should go visit again.

 

[IronGremlin]

Pretty sure the permit takes care of a lot of security...

But yeah, I kind of agree, I'd like for unique systems to feel unique in general, and that goes triple for permit systems.

 

[Kayweg]

Odd how that works out, isn't it ?
Billions of systems, unlimited freedom of travel.
And what's the human's mind first reflex ?
Put restrictions on yourself and pick a fixed geographical spot to call "home".
Amusing.

 

[askavir]

Odd how that works out, isn't it ?
Billions of systems, unlimited freedom of travel.
And what's the human's mind first reflex ?
Put restrictions on yourself and pick a fixed geographical spot to call "home".
Amusing.

I think you missed the point... I'm not looking for a home where to scrap the ship and build a house and make a family

I just think the superpowers and major factions capitals, and systems thar require "permits" should be something than look the part and be worhwhile to travel to or have anything that differentiates them. And not only they don't, as most of them are actually very uninteresting systems as they have actuallly less content / gameplay possibilities than the regular systems.

And then there's that thing about powerplay capitals being way more dangerous for the same faction members than to invaders.

 

[askavir]

THere is also that fact that most missions on "capital" systems are charity missions, like capital is not a pinnacle of might but rather refugee camps...

 

[Finbar]

Agree that home systems should be different but perhaps the differences should also reflect the characteristics of the power they represent. Maybe once players can move round their ships the next thing could be the beta stage for station development. At beta this could be done only on the home worlds of the powers. So for example slave markets, black market locations, cartographic offices, landing ports, the HQs of faction charities etc. could all be designed differently for each power. Players could then choose to buy and sell and to pick up missions either online as now or by physically going to the appropriate place in the station. Security and recreational facilities too would vary from one power's home system’s stations to another.
This would allow different kinds of buildings and features to be tried out in a small number of stations without committing FD to repeating the idea in other places. If something worked but was not popular with enough players it could just be left as an interesting unusual feature for the home system stations but be redesigned or left out for others stations after beta. This would also help by localising beta stage disruption to a few stations but giving all players the opportunity to take part in the testing if they wished.

 

[jadefriendly]

because of the procedural generation (only a small number of station types, and 99% of them have the same interior) and lack of dynamic supply-and-demand in the economy: everywhere feels the same as everywhere else. It's my biggest bug-bear with the game - and increasingly frustrating as it appears that solo gamer content / personality / variety is simply not on Frontiers radar of things to address.

mile wide, inch deep. Don't get me wrong - i LOVE the game and think it's an amazing acheivement and certainly been worth the money: but they could do so much more. However, pew-pew multiplayer and nonsense like Powerplay seems to be their direction instead. Solo gaming is clearly just not their priority.

 

[CMDR UBERPEITSCHE]

Huh?

But there is no other system like SOL?
Sure I know what you mean, none of the permit systems "break the rules" of the game and do smth that no other system has.
It has a sun, planets and stations like all the other systems. Also you're wrong, there is always a Farragut (if not two?) in SOL.

Earth looks exactly like real earth, even down to where the sun is up right now in the real world.
Gaia and Mars High both have the beautiful interior.

What is missing are some unique looking stations, like having huge captial shipyards in SOL and Achenar etc.
I think you can savely say that thats missing due to time constraints in the development.
Currently SOL plays by the rules of all the other systems in Elite, be as realistic as possible. Might be boring to you, feels awesome to me.

 

[Wendiga]

Home system is where your love for this game growth.
When you learn, fight, trade, dock and enjoy with some friends for a few time.
Suddenly you feel that "home sense" and fight more to preserve it for you and your friends.

 

[Dakron Nova]

I always felt that Lave was my home system, been playing since Beta and only bothered visiting sol relatively recently no more than a month ago.

 

[Kayweg]

I think you missed the point... I'm not looking for a home where to scrap the ship and build a house and make a family

I just think the superpowers and major factions capitals, and systems thar require "permits" should be something than look the part and be worhwhile to travel to or have anything that differentiates them. And not only they don't, as most of them are actually very uninteresting systems as they have actuallly less content / gameplay possibilities than the regular systems.

And then there's that thing about powerplay capitals being way more dangerous for the same faction members than to invaders.

Ah, alright, i'm sorry...i missed the PP background there. I shouldn't have, it was rather obvious.
It was a bit late and i had a few pints.
Didn't mean my post to be condescending, fact is i've applied the "home system" mentality myself at times....but am still fighting myself not to.