Detailing a few ideas that are probably a bit off topic in another discussion:
1) Many missions feel like the exciting part is already over when you take over, like if you get an ad-hoc request to deliver some data from one point to another. You are a part of the greater scheme to help a faction gain influence over another, but why not start at the beginning?
You get the mission to deliver an important (data) package out of a surface installation under attack (ships attacking, different factions of skimmers, on reaching a distance a countdown will start and the base might get disabled). For that you need to try to reach a data point or dock with your SRV (it would be no fun if a ship could dock there too), then survive moving out of the base and fly to the destination (or get an offer from the enemy party).
If you try to fight the attacking ships with your own, you can buy some more time but reinforcements will arrive until the package is on its way. Enemy-ships could deploy new Skimmers and then attack the base.
2) Those surface installations could function as limited trade hubs, they certainly could use some suitable supplies, especially if there is an outbreak or famine. The profits would be adjusted as an SRV is only able to deliver 2t at a time and there could still be a no flight zone around. To make it worthwhile for you to dock if you don't have supplies with you, every surface base could also function as a material trader. Unlike those in space stations, the materials available are limited to what can be found on the planet and some random manufactured/data materials if you don't like looking for high grade materials yourself. There could be a distinct news board informing about received SOS signals or similar that are not too far away. Other missions might be to check on autonomous mining devices that got disabled. These installations could also become regular destinations for salvage missions.
Attacks like in 1) could start while you are docked there.
3) Instead of disabling an installation by firing on the generators etc., there could be an alternative method of "delivering" (primed) explosives to access points to damage the power grid under the surface.
Alternatively there could be a mission to prevent suspected data to get out and the goal is to disable the cooling system or damage the computer core itself (with an EMP-like device ejected from the SRV).
Even if they won't result in any direct damage anymore, delivering Thargoid devices to installations could result in an attack from them.
1) Many missions feel like the exciting part is already over when you take over, like if you get an ad-hoc request to deliver some data from one point to another. You are a part of the greater scheme to help a faction gain influence over another, but why not start at the beginning?
You get the mission to deliver an important (data) package out of a surface installation under attack (ships attacking, different factions of skimmers, on reaching a distance a countdown will start and the base might get disabled). For that you need to try to reach a data point or dock with your SRV (it would be no fun if a ship could dock there too), then survive moving out of the base and fly to the destination (or get an offer from the enemy party).
If you try to fight the attacking ships with your own, you can buy some more time but reinforcements will arrive until the package is on its way. Enemy-ships could deploy new Skimmers and then attack the base.
2) Those surface installations could function as limited trade hubs, they certainly could use some suitable supplies, especially if there is an outbreak or famine. The profits would be adjusted as an SRV is only able to deliver 2t at a time and there could still be a no flight zone around. To make it worthwhile for you to dock if you don't have supplies with you, every surface base could also function as a material trader. Unlike those in space stations, the materials available are limited to what can be found on the planet and some random manufactured/data materials if you don't like looking for high grade materials yourself. There could be a distinct news board informing about received SOS signals or similar that are not too far away. Other missions might be to check on autonomous mining devices that got disabled. These installations could also become regular destinations for salvage missions.
Attacks like in 1) could start while you are docked there.
3) Instead of disabling an installation by firing on the generators etc., there could be an alternative method of "delivering" (primed) explosives to access points to damage the power grid under the surface.
Alternatively there could be a mission to prevent suspected data to get out and the goal is to disable the cooling system or damage the computer core itself (with an EMP-like device ejected from the SRV).
Even if they won't result in any direct damage anymore, delivering Thargoid devices to installations could result in an attack from them.