First of all, two new Classes of Passengers: VIP and Presidential. VIP is like super luxury. Presidential is a step beyond that. Now, for the crazy part:
This is not done by new boring and predictable modules that simply allow you to carry these passengers. Rather, they are upgrades by means of other modules that enhance the passenger experience.
The first module is "Ship's Stores" and is a repository for items to support the other modules. Without this module, the others are useless. However, each of these other modules will only require a portion of the Ship's Stores' capacity, and "left-over" capacity allows you to carry more materials. So this module is not useless on non-passenger ships.
The second module is the "Galley and Common Area." Think of the galley on the series "Firefly" and you get what I am talking about. This will only affect the lower two classes of customers and make them feel better about their trip. It will also increase crew morale, which I know is not tracked right now, but is another idea of mine as well that I will get to, eventually.
The third module is the "Mini-Concierge." It will affect all classes of customers to some degree in a positive manner. It requires that you have a crew member who pulls double duty to man this when needed, so only those who can hire crew will be able to utilize it. The developers may like this approach for one reason only: More incentive to buy one of the Season Passes that allows a player to do this by being able to hire crew.
The fourth one is the "Full-Concierge." It will affect all classes of customers to some degree in a positive manner, but the lower classes only slightly better than simply having a "Mini-Concierge." It will affect Luxury customers to such a degree that it can increase the class that they are effectively getting passage under. It also requires that you have a crew member who pulls double duty to man this when needed, so only those who can hire crew will be able to utilize it as well. The effects of the "Mini-Concierge" and "Full-Concierge" are not cumulative.
The final one that I have conceived of so far is the "VIP Lounge." It will only affect First Class and above passengers in a positive way, but to a greater degree than the "Full-Concierge." It requires crew, but until the developers introduce multiple crew positions to the game, just having one crew member is enough to man all modules requiring it. It also affects First Class and Luxury customers to such a degree that it can increase the class that they are effectively getting passage under.
These are the suite of modules that I have thought of along these lines. Maybe you have another one that would fit into this scheme? If you do, pipe up -- no idea is a bad one!
Now those ships that have the "Full-Concierge" and the "VIP Lounge" and have Luxury Class accommodations will be the only ones capable of taking on "Presidential" level passengers. Those that have either, and have Luxury Class accommodations will be able to take on "VIP" level customers. The ships that have First Class accommodations and the "VIP Lounge" will be able to take on Luxury passage customers.
VIP customers should be rare. Presidential Customers should be even more rare.
Now the "positive effects" could vary. It could be that negative events will impact them less and positive ones more. It could be that when you make a "perfect" run with them, passengers will pay a tip, that can vary, but not be planned out in advance when determining whether or not their passage is profitable enough. It could be that your reputation as a carrier will go up more significantly/faster and/or higher. There might be other "positive effects" that make sense.
I would suggest the price points and rewards be set up is such a way that this only makes sense on larger passenger carrying ships. I would think that A Type-9 or Orca should be able to benefit from this significantly. If the fares are high enough, maybe even a Python or Asp Explorer could be configured where this makes sense, even if all you could carry is one set of very high paying clients.
I would also suggest that you can book the passengers without having the modules installed, but you have to install them before taking off, and at least already own the modules, or the customers will know this and ignore you. If you take off and don't have the proper modules installed, the passengers will "punch out" immediately in a life support pod, and you will suffer negative reputation changes.
I know this is quite involved, but I think the level of intricacy it could add to the game would entice more players to try their hand at carrying passengers.
;'{P~~~
This is not done by new boring and predictable modules that simply allow you to carry these passengers. Rather, they are upgrades by means of other modules that enhance the passenger experience.
The first module is "Ship's Stores" and is a repository for items to support the other modules. Without this module, the others are useless. However, each of these other modules will only require a portion of the Ship's Stores' capacity, and "left-over" capacity allows you to carry more materials. So this module is not useless on non-passenger ships.
The second module is the "Galley and Common Area." Think of the galley on the series "Firefly" and you get what I am talking about. This will only affect the lower two classes of customers and make them feel better about their trip. It will also increase crew morale, which I know is not tracked right now, but is another idea of mine as well that I will get to, eventually.
The third module is the "Mini-Concierge." It will affect all classes of customers to some degree in a positive manner. It requires that you have a crew member who pulls double duty to man this when needed, so only those who can hire crew will be able to utilize it. The developers may like this approach for one reason only: More incentive to buy one of the Season Passes that allows a player to do this by being able to hire crew.
The fourth one is the "Full-Concierge." It will affect all classes of customers to some degree in a positive manner, but the lower classes only slightly better than simply having a "Mini-Concierge." It will affect Luxury customers to such a degree that it can increase the class that they are effectively getting passage under. It also requires that you have a crew member who pulls double duty to man this when needed, so only those who can hire crew will be able to utilize it as well. The effects of the "Mini-Concierge" and "Full-Concierge" are not cumulative.
The final one that I have conceived of so far is the "VIP Lounge." It will only affect First Class and above passengers in a positive way, but to a greater degree than the "Full-Concierge." It requires crew, but until the developers introduce multiple crew positions to the game, just having one crew member is enough to man all modules requiring it. It also affects First Class and Luxury customers to such a degree that it can increase the class that they are effectively getting passage under.
These are the suite of modules that I have thought of along these lines. Maybe you have another one that would fit into this scheme? If you do, pipe up -- no idea is a bad one!
Now those ships that have the "Full-Concierge" and the "VIP Lounge" and have Luxury Class accommodations will be the only ones capable of taking on "Presidential" level passengers. Those that have either, and have Luxury Class accommodations will be able to take on "VIP" level customers. The ships that have First Class accommodations and the "VIP Lounge" will be able to take on Luxury passage customers.
VIP customers should be rare. Presidential Customers should be even more rare.
Now the "positive effects" could vary. It could be that negative events will impact them less and positive ones more. It could be that when you make a "perfect" run with them, passengers will pay a tip, that can vary, but not be planned out in advance when determining whether or not their passage is profitable enough. It could be that your reputation as a carrier will go up more significantly/faster and/or higher. There might be other "positive effects" that make sense.
I would suggest the price points and rewards be set up is such a way that this only makes sense on larger passenger carrying ships. I would think that A Type-9 or Orca should be able to benefit from this significantly. If the fares are high enough, maybe even a Python or Asp Explorer could be configured where this makes sense, even if all you could carry is one set of very high paying clients.
I would also suggest that you can book the passengers without having the modules installed, but you have to install them before taking off, and at least already own the modules, or the customers will know this and ignore you. If you take off and don't have the proper modules installed, the passengers will "punch out" immediately in a life support pod, and you will suffer negative reputation changes.
I know this is quite involved, but I think the level of intricacy it could add to the game would entice more players to try their hand at carrying passengers.
;'{P~~~
