Let's sort the Engineers.

[heliman001]

1.. The casual gamer fix.
Make all engineer mods level 1 and 2 purchasable in store at every engineer base.
Casual gamers can just pay and see some instant benefits,but no specials on level 1 and 2 mods.
This allows players to whet their appetites easily but still wonder what the mod would be like with a special,this could entice players to further use the engineers abilities.
Purchased items would NOT increase rep with the engineer.

2..Mission board.
Give every engineer a mission board and give players the option of actually working for the engineer to earn both rep and some of those elusive items.
If the mission board was balanced correctly over all the engineers then all the awkward items could be available as rewards but split up across all the different engineers.This would encourage players to unlock the engineers.
Specials could have there own mission type,you want say a thermal vent then take a ton of bio waste to the third sun in system....orbit the sun and let your temp get to 120 bring back the irradiated waste and I will add a thermal vent mod to your weapon.( something along those lines)
It would be so much more emmersive.

3.Helpfull mods.
Would it be so bad if the engineers could mod our equipment to actually improve our ability to find all the stuff we need?
Enhaced wave scanners for the SRV,enhanced surface scanners with a materials breakdown.

Just some thoughts

 

[DustyArne]

Nice suggestions.

Personally, I just want green lasers. Nothing more.. Lol

 

[KIosIXos]

I haven't messed with the engineers much... however from what I've read of others complaints(which I can understand), this might mix things up a little and allow for use of the engineers in the way they are currently used while also allowing people a bit of flexibility when it comes to how they want to interact with engineers. but one complaint I've seen a lot that this doesn't cover is the random effects given to engineers upgrades when they are received. it seems many people who would use engineers but don't are swayed in that direction because of the unpredictability of the upgrades themselves.

 

[Mr_sukebe]

Sorry OP, I can't see the point to that.
As soon as anyone can buy it, they're just another commodity. So still have the remaining engineer bits and those who don't do them. What's the difference between then and now?
It would be a lot of effort to achieve not very much.

Let's face it, no one is obliging you to do the work. If you really want them, then unfortunately, it's going to require some effort. However, once done, it's a nice sense of achievement, so why make it easy?

 

[HBK]

Nice suggestions but my main gripe with the RNGineers isn't the upgrade's availability but the fact that their effects are 100% random.

There's no way in hell an engineer in real life is gonna earn a living if she/he is constantly producing random results.

 

[SteelyColt]

I thought u could buy some engi mods from Farseer upto Grade 3 size...

Like the enhanced thrusters...perfect for an eagle or cobra...

 

[UnhappyDev]

Nice suggestions but my main gripe with the RNGineers isn't the upgrade's availability but the fact that their effects are 100% random..

I don't think they are 100% random - they are weighted towards a positive result, the higher the level of upgrade, the more weighted towards a good result

 

[HBK]

I don't think they are 100% random - they are weighted towards a positive result, the higher the level of upgrade, the more weighted towards a good result

Yeah, possibly.

Come to think of it, one think that could work if FD really wants to keep the randomness is add an option to add some cash in order to be able to specify the intended result with the limitation of not being able to get the best results and having to deal with pre-determined maluses. I'd totally be fine with that. I don't hate RNG, but in a game like this it just feels weird to have your ship's properties randomly generated.

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

1.. The casual gamer fix.
Make all engineer mods level 1 and 2 purchasable in store at every engineer base.
Casual gamers can just pay and see some instant benefits,but no specials on level 1 and 2 mods.
This allows players to whet their appetites easily but still wonder what the mod would be like with a special,this could entice players to further use the engineers abilities.
Purchased items would NOT increase rep with the engineer.

2..Mission board.
Give every engineer a mission board and give players the option of actually working for the engineer to earn both rep and some of those elusive items.
If the mission board was balanced correctly over all the engineers then all the awkward items could be available as rewards but split up across all the different engineers.This would encourage players to unlock the engineers.
Specials could have there own mission type,you want say a thermal vent then take a ton of bio waste to the third sun in system....orbit the sun and let your temp get to 120 bring back the irradiated waste and I will add a thermal vent mod to your weapon.( something along those lines)
It would be so much more emmersive.

3.Helpfull mods.
Would it be so bad if the engineers could mod our equipment to actually improve our ability to find all the stuff we need?
Enhaced wave scanners for the SRV,enhanced surface scanners with a materials breakdown.

Just some thoughts

casual gamers still want access to level 5, just because we are casual players dont mean we should only have access to lower tier upgrades


That said, i like point 2, it caters to casual players wanting level 5, if there was a dedicated board to earn the materials & commodities required rather than searching aimlessly i would appreciate that very much so, because that is gradual progression towards a goal rather than RNG and luck to get parts required.

oh and green lasers too please, dont care about added damage just make em green / blue / other colours.

 

[WartailSS]

I do like the mission for rep thing, but it kinda is there already. Want grade 5 access to tod the blaster, hand in bounty vouchers, the dweller buys up all the useless engineer cargo you don't need, all the ones that require you to bring them rares, bring them more rares. Each engineer's meeting requirement is also how you can rep up without purchasing their mods. Felicity, sell exploration data. Ect. Ect. Don't think I am try to say deal with it, just trying to give advice.

 

[heliman001]

I do like the mission for rep thing, but it kinda is there already. Want grade 5 access to tod the blaster, hand in bounty vouchers, the dweller buys up all the useless engineer cargo you don't need, all the ones that require you to bring them rares, bring them more rares. Each engineer's meeting requirement is also how you can rep up without purchasing their mods. Felicity, sell exploration data. Ect. Ect. Don't think I am try to say deal with it, just trying to give advice.

Thats wrong I'm afraid,as it stands most of the engineers are focused.
For example for weapon mods you can hand in bounties/combat bonds to bump rep
Farseer takes exploration data,you get the gist?
Now that's fine if you like combat or exploring,you have an advantage.
If you don't then all you can do is grind the upgrades which is hopeless to most players.
If the engineer has a mission board then all types of game play can be catered for.
If you avoid combat in favour of mining but you would like some good weapons upgrades for defence then you can get them
by earning rep doing your thing via the missions board.
It broaden the game play to let everyone in.
As it stands at the moment you are kind of forced into a play style which goes against the freedom of ED.

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Nice suggestions but my main gripe with the RNGineers isn't the upgrade's availability but the fact that their effects are 100% random.

There's no way in hell an engineer in real life is gonna earn a living if she/he is constantly producing random results.

This is why I suggested the SPECIALS MISSIONS.
Specific missions for gaining a special attribute with if successful you can apply to the upgrade.
Leave the RNG as is,if you get a special all good,if you don't you can spend rep,then there would be the option to complete a mission where if successful the end result is the special attribute.

Just throwing some ideas out there.

 

[WartailSS]

I do see your point heliman001, as of right now I unlocked the armor engineer and I am not looking forward to delivering 10 tons of painite as I don't care much for mining, and even less enticed to continue to mine for additional painite for rep. I am all for the mission rep reward idea.