Hopefully my words haven't failed me and the title is understandable!
But, something I've noted is that ED seems to have quite a few organizations in the lore that maintain either a minimal territorial presence, none at all, or have set up shop within controlled space.
I'm referring specifically to groups such as the Federal Intelligence Agency (and its sub-bureaus), Imperial Intelligence or the Affiliated Counter-Terrorism unit, but also to other private enterprises like Pioneer Supplies, Frontline Solutions, Happy Haulers or the Bank of Zeonce, for instance. The Far God Cult falls under this category as well.
We pretty much exclusively do work for groups capable of holding and maintaining territory part of the BGS, while only interacting with these non-territorial organizations through using their services or in the occasional Community Goal. But that seems a little limiting given the impact these orgs supposedly have in the galaxy.
So, my suggestion is to add NPC contacts to stations and planetary ports that act as liaisons between CMDRs and these organizations. These contacts would offer the same types of missions we already have in the game, but with a more specialized selection. As an example, a theoretical Proactive Detection Bureau contact would specifically offer Covert infiltration and heist type missions against Federation locations, whilst an Imperial Intelligence contact would be offering similar missions targeting non-Imperial locations. Happy Haulers and/or Pioneer Supplies giving you transport and courier missions and so on and so on.
An alternative method could also be a contact that gathers up missions of a specific type from surrounding systems, like those pesky Settlement Repair/Restore missions. In this instance the contact would just be referring the CMDR to a mission already generated by a Minor Faction part of the BGS. Call them Bob's Builders United or something.
From a player's perspective, it would provide an easily accessible method for targeting specific types of missions without having to fly around between systems. For the devs, it would mean a system for placing various organisations into ED's gameplay loop without requiring them to hold physical territory. Perhaps by leveraging the already existing Administrative Contacts UI tab?
A reputation/reward track similar to the Federation/Empire ranks could also be added to this, which would present a method for introducing some cosmetic rewards like ship livery or suit and weapon customization. Do a lot of merc work (hey that rhymes!) for Frontline Solutions and you get a nice little hat (or that lovely uniform their glorified receptionist wears), or maybe a little credits bonus on your combat bonds to represent your status as a most valued mercenary. Complete enough biowaste/hog roast transport missions for Happy Haulers and you get to dress up your beloved over-engineered Type 7 in their company colours!
100% totally, absolutely, extremely not writing this just because I would like a nice little hat.
But, something I've noted is that ED seems to have quite a few organizations in the lore that maintain either a minimal territorial presence, none at all, or have set up shop within controlled space.
I'm referring specifically to groups such as the Federal Intelligence Agency (and its sub-bureaus), Imperial Intelligence or the Affiliated Counter-Terrorism unit, but also to other private enterprises like Pioneer Supplies, Frontline Solutions, Happy Haulers or the Bank of Zeonce, for instance. The Far God Cult falls under this category as well.
We pretty much exclusively do work for groups capable of holding and maintaining territory part of the BGS, while only interacting with these non-territorial organizations through using their services or in the occasional Community Goal. But that seems a little limiting given the impact these orgs supposedly have in the galaxy.
So, my suggestion is to add NPC contacts to stations and planetary ports that act as liaisons between CMDRs and these organizations. These contacts would offer the same types of missions we already have in the game, but with a more specialized selection. As an example, a theoretical Proactive Detection Bureau contact would specifically offer Covert infiltration and heist type missions against Federation locations, whilst an Imperial Intelligence contact would be offering similar missions targeting non-Imperial locations. Happy Haulers and/or Pioneer Supplies giving you transport and courier missions and so on and so on.
An alternative method could also be a contact that gathers up missions of a specific type from surrounding systems, like those pesky Settlement Repair/Restore missions. In this instance the contact would just be referring the CMDR to a mission already generated by a Minor Faction part of the BGS. Call them Bob's Builders United or something.
From a player's perspective, it would provide an easily accessible method for targeting specific types of missions without having to fly around between systems. For the devs, it would mean a system for placing various organisations into ED's gameplay loop without requiring them to hold physical territory. Perhaps by leveraging the already existing Administrative Contacts UI tab?
A reputation/reward track similar to the Federation/Empire ranks could also be added to this, which would present a method for introducing some cosmetic rewards like ship livery or suit and weapon customization. Do a lot of merc work (hey that rhymes!) for Frontline Solutions and you get a nice little hat (or that lovely uniform their glorified receptionist wears), or maybe a little credits bonus on your combat bonds to represent your status as a most valued mercenary. Complete enough biowaste/hog roast transport missions for Happy Haulers and you get to dress up your beloved over-engineered Type 7 in their company colours!
100% totally, absolutely, extremely not writing this just because I would like a nice little hat.