Military Career in Elite

[Xtopher SI]

So my thoughts on this is to have an alternate way of progressing through the game in a more structured manor rather than the sandbox way we have now. It should have equal benefits that won't necessary involve spending our own credits but allows us to use military resources. For example as our rank progresses we would get to use better and more powerful military ships and military modules.

We would start by signing up at a military installation (joining one power would make you an enemy of the others). After that we would be stationed at a training facility where we would go through some basic flight and combat training, sort of like what is in the training menu. Once we complete training we would get to choose a general military career path like either Combat, engineering, communications or support. Each would offer a specific variety of missions and ships we could use depending on our rank. As our rank gets higher we could be offered more specialised careers like special forces, espionage, sabotage, military research etc. that come with a further set of perks, missions and specialised ships.

Being in the military would require us to report to and be stationed at specific military bases around our power's territory. There we would carry out our missions and progress through our career. After a certain amount time we would be stationed at a different location. Progressing in rank would also effect our stationing.

Our rank would progress or regress based on our success or failures on missions. You could lose rank or be discharged if you use military ships for illegal actions or don't report in to your commanding officer or when losing your ship. As we reach higher ranks we would have more freedom.
I guess we would also be getting a credit salary, but it should be an insignificant one as rebuys, repairs and rearming are also are paid by the military. The awesome perks of the military are why we are in it. Your thoughts?

 

[CapuchinSeven]

I think what we have is basically like a glorified reservist system, probably not even that, we're kind of Pilots Federation playboys given access to military ships because we did them some favours. So maybe in the future we'll get a better military system.

Without trying to sound like a grumpy broken record, development of core parts of the game like this and other areas before the half baked features that we've had over the last few years would have made things like the alien invasion story feel a little more meaningful, to me at least. Hell, it would have made some of those half baked features better as well.

 

[Dad Rock]

At least with the Federation and Empire there is some form of rank system. Even then, there's little sense of being a part of the bigger conflict, and the biggest example of that is that you can simultaneously hold ranks with both the Federation and the Empire. That's like being a Four Star General in both the Russian and US Militaries, and yet in 3303 nobody seems to think that this is a little odd...

 

[Fenris Wolf]

At least with the Federation and Empire there is some form of rank system. Even then, there's little sense of being a part of the bigger conflict, and the biggest example of that is that you can simultaneously hold ranks with both the Federation and the Empire. That's like being a Four Star General in both the Russian and US Militaries, and yet in 3303 nobody seems to think that this is a little odd...

You have to remember that the military ranks atr Honourary and you aren't actually a member of that military force.

 

[CapuchinSeven]

You have to remember that the military ranks atr Honourary and you aren't actually a member of that military force.

Yes this, it seems to be the way. You're not really a member of that military (could be if you wanna role-play it I guess, I added FNS to my ship name once for poops and giggles).

 

[shadow133]

I always had the desire for a military career on ED. Starting from basic system patrols with an npc or player wing, to logistic transport and escort, some covert actions as well and finally full scale battles, perhaps as a viper pilot based on a capital ship. Also military installations. To live the life of a pilot based on a capital ship and doing battles across the galaxy. Lots of potential, more decent than the half implementation of grinding ranks we have at the moment.

 

[Tadeus72]

Well I prefer the sandbox approach, especially since this is a multiplayer game. But I would be ok with a more in-depth experience of pledging to a faction, than we have now with Powerplay. What would happen if a player would attack you while you are doing you job? Would it be a direct attack on the faction's military?

 

[Xtopher SI]

Well I prefer the sandbox approach, especially since this is a multiplayer game. But I would be ok with a more in-depth experience of pledging to a faction, than we have now with Powerplay. What would happen if a player would attack you while you are doing you job? Would it be a direct attack on the faction's military?

I see us summoning in a Farragut to help us deal with them!! Followed by a permanent grudge and continuous harassment from the military.


Elite has in many ways not lived up to expectations. Under delivering in a lot of the aspects of the game and using half baked ideas and systems. I think they were over ambitious in their endeavours but then again what do you expect from a team that brought us the whole galaxy!! On the other hand I believe they are very aware of these blunders and have opened up the platform for change with the beyond series. It remains to be seen how all of if it will turn out in the end. This is what makes elite a very unique game as its direction and its eventual form in part is driven (at least I hope) by the actual players.

Military careers should be one of the aspects they should work on next. I would love to join Aegis military and participate in the ultimate war for human survival (this better be where this slow Return is heading... )

 

[Pville_Piper]

While I like the suggestions that the OP made, that would almost be a game by itself.

 

[Schmack]

It would force you into that gameplay. For those of us who have been in the military, many of us don't want to pretend we're still there.

 

[CMDR Carbo]

Yeah, the lack of meaningful military careers is one of the biggest disappointments for me in ED.

 

[rrobes]

FD military career:

Don't call us, scrub, we'll call you.

We need a few good men and women, you're not one.

Also, if it did exist in-game, it should be optional.

 

[Schmack]

FD military career:

Don't call us, scrub, we'll call you.

We need a few good men and women, you're not one.

Also, if it did exist in-game, it should be optional.

Isn't that sorta what Powerplay is though? You pledge to someone and support their cause, spread their dise....err.. influence around the bubble, haul crap for them, kill for them. There's lots of hurry up and wait. Sounds like the military to me. If you ever have to open a technical operations manual in the process, you're all set.

 

[DNA-Decay]

You have to remember that the military ranks atr Honourary and you aren't actually a member of that military force.

So uh, how can you be an honourary King?

What even is that?

 

[Demascus]

It would force you into that gameplay. For those of us who have been in the military, many of us don't want to pretend we're still there.

What? No morning PT and formation? Possible Chinese field day with a white glove inspection of your standard issue Viper? Sneering at nasty civilians with their "creature comforts". No I don't want to shake your hand and hear about how you "almost" joined the military.

 

[Devari]

You have to remember that the military ranks atr Honourary and you aren't actually a member of that military force.

They aren't honorary at all, they're actual ranks in a reserve military force. You need to carry out actual missions or support navy activities in some other manner to progress up the ranks.

 

[rrobes]

Isn't that sorta what Powerplay is though? You pledge to someone and support their cause, spread their dise....err.. influence around the bubble, haul crap for them, kill for them. There's lots of hurry up and wait. Sounds like the military to me. If you ever have to open a technical operations manual in the process, you're all set.

PP seems to me more mercenary than military. You get paid w/ perks and CR, go and come as you please between powers w/ a slap on the wrist, you choose your actions, no real organization at player level w/ exception of wings.

Military conducts operations which can be tactical or strategic and the number of units involved can range from 1 to fleets. At the most, players can wing and play alongside other wings, ad hoc squadrons, but under no military command rank and file.

Players can affect powers status but I would wager this is mostly as a result of individual actions.

Just my read is all.

 

[Jenner]

I like it! A directed military career path like that would be very interesting.

In keeping with the rest of the game it would have to be something you can dip into and out of as you want, though. Perhaps not realistic, but otherwise it's too incongruous with the rest of the game experience. I do like the concept, though!

 

[M00ka]

I'm not 100% convinced on the military RP in this game. For starters, the military presence is really only visible in a CZ, and if it is to be done with any semblance of realism, then it is a full time job until you decided to opt out. No playing Space General for an hour, then going back to mining or hauling.

I think a better idea (well of course I do, it is my idea ) is to expand the police role. How about the Controlling Faction on a station has the ability to be able to offer missions to be a System/Station Authority pilot for a set amount of time. Of course there would have to be restrictions, for example you would have to have the minimum status of Friendly with the Faction and hold a minimum Combat rank of oh I don't know - Competent to be even considered for the mission. And if you do take the mission, you will be given a ship (fully A rated, maybe even slightly buffed, something out of the ordinary so to speak) based on your Combat Rank: Competent might get an Eagle, next level a Viper and so on until an Elite player can get an Anaconda or Python or whatever, with the added bonus of depending on how high ranked you are you get to choose any of the offered ships (i.e. an Elite Commander could take an Eagle if so desired).

Once the player has selected his ship, via the mission he is given an area of operations to patrol with a fairly strict RoE to adhere to. The player doesn't receive the bounty amount, but a fee based provided in the Mission blurb. It could be 1,000,000 Cr for 1 hour patrolling the Nav Beacon or 75,000 Cr per ship destroyed, something like that. And of course there will be massive penalties if you stray from the RoE or go on your own little murder spree.

To me, one of the benefits to this is it would allow players to fly ships they haven't bought or are thinking of buying, without going through the hassle and expense of buying a ship then finding out you don't really like it. It could also be tailored so for example if the Controlling Faction is Imperial, then they would only offer Imperial ships, same with Federation.

Anyway, that is my idea, I like it

 

[Xtopher SI]

I'm not 100% convinced on the military RP in this game. For starters, the military presence is really only visible in a CZ, and if it is to be done with any semblance of realism, then it is a full time job until you decided to opt out. No playing Space General for an hour, then going back to mining or hauling.

I think a better idea (well of course I do, it is my idea ) is to expand the police role. How about the Controlling Faction on a station has the ability to be able to offer missions to be a System/Station Authority pilot for a set amount of time. Of course there would have to be restrictions, for example you would have to have the minimum status of Friendly with the Faction and hold a minimum Combat rank of oh I don't know - Competent to be even considered for the mission. And if you do take the mission, you will be given a ship (fully A rated, maybe even slightly buffed, something out of the ordinary so to speak) based on your Combat Rank: Competent might get an Eagle, next level a Viper and so on until an Elite player can get an Anaconda or Python or whatever, with the added bonus of depending on how high ranked you are you get to choose any of the offered ships (i.e. an Elite Commander could take an Eagle if so desired).

Once the player has selected his ship, via the mission he is given an area of operations to patrol with a fairly strict RoE to adhere to. The player doesn't receive the bounty amount, but a fee based provided in the Mission blurb. It could be 1,000,000 Cr for 1 hour patrolling the Nav Beacon or 75,000 Cr per ship destroyed, something like that. And of course there will be massive penalties if you stray from the RoE or go on your own little murder spree.

To me, one of the benefits to this is it would allow players to fly ships they haven't bought or are thinking of buying, without going through the hassle and expense of buying a ship then finding out you don't really like it. It could also be tailored so for example if the Controlling Faction is Imperial, then they would only offer Imperial ships, same with Federation.

Anyway, that is my idea, I like it

I like it too! We would make a smugglers life extremely difficult. We get could get really rich if they could bribe us to sneak through security. If they don't we would scan them multiple times adding multiple fines. Feel sorry for those doing missions though. Illegal passengers or cargo would never get past the slot. Perhaps depending on amount of human player authority the security level of the system would increase from high to very high up to "zero tolerance" security systems. Rewards should increase substantially for criminals to ballance. This might even solve ganking giving them an option to be legitimate bullies... .