Hey all, I've sorta been working on this idea for a while, and planned on adding fancy images showing what I wanted to do.
Unfortunately, my artistic skills have failed me, and I've completely forgotten how to use GIMP. Lol
Anyhoo, I shall begin, with just stock pictures to guide you all.
The Grounds For NPC Communication
To begin with, we need surprisingly rather minor UI changes to the Contacts Panel.
This is currently how the panel appears (in 2.3).
Currently, when selecting any ship, it will auto target it, if selecting a station, it brings up this menu;
What I'm proposing is, when selecting any ship, or station, we get a menu similar to above. The first Options is always "Lock Target".
The second option is then "Hail Target" for ships, or "Request Docking" for stations.
And the final Option is "Back", for all targets.
So a ship would look like this;
[Lock Target]
[Hail Target]
[Back]
When hailing a target, a window will open similar to the original contact panel;
For a short time, for fun, will say "Hailing <NPC name>...", then "Connected", before displaying the new window.
The window is split in to 3 sections, the Left Side, Top Right, and Bottom Right.
The left portion of the window is the list of available contextual messages you can send, the bottom right is the chat window where all messages to and from the target will be displayed, and the top right is the targets information, similar to the image above, but less detailed, and with their HoloMe image, of available.
Hail To Thee!
The available messages you can send is almost entirely contextual, for example, if you select a security ship, you can have options like, Request Assistance, Pay Fines, Surrender, Bribe, etc.
For a pirate, you could have Comply To Demands, Taunt, Pay For Protection, etc.
Some options might will be available after a Manifest Scan, such as "Drop X <commodities>", other options might be available based on the situation, such as "Apologize" if you've recently assaulted a ship.
Some other options might be mission based, so you may have additional options, like; "Have you seen <mission target>?", Or "Where can I find <commodity>?".
If you have multiple similar missions, you'd get a sub menu to ask something like "Have you seen;"
If selecting a cargo for someone to drop, you get to select the choice from their cargo hold, and how much.
Some options are available to all ships, but responses will vary.
Contextual Messages
Here's a breif, but incomplete list of possible messages;
Request Assistance, available from Security, Bounty Hunters, Military (CZs/PowerPlay). This will request the ship help you with any target currently firing on you. The response will be based on reputation, legality, and a bit of RNG. Security will only help against wanted ships, bounty hunters will help against wanted ships, but also clean, if you agree to pay their demands. Military will only help against hostile targets.
Offer Assistance, available to any ship under attack. If a ship is under fire, you can offer paid assistance. If you destroy all attackers, the ship will pay you.
Surrender, available for security ships. This option will automatically stow your hardpoints, and request security stand down if you have recently assaulted any ship. You will have your bounty removed, and replaced with a fine that is 10x the value, with a 10 minute timer, and told to leave the area (90 second timer). You can only pay these fines at a dock.
Bribe, available for pirates, security and bounty hunters. You can attempt to get these ships to temporarily "look the other way" by offering them a sum money. Some will accept, others will not. Security can be very random, and will fine you for attempted bribery. You only get 1 try, and must select the amount of credits before sending the message.
Comply to Demands, available if a pirate has demanded cargo. Complying will stop the pirate attacking, and automatically abandon the cargo they requested.
Taunt, available for all NPC's. A taunt will likely agro any already hostile targets, and can cause targets that can legally attack you, to open fire. I'm very rare cases, also trick NPC's in to opening fire on you, when it's not legal.
Replies
The reply you get will be based upon many things for many situations, reputation, wanted status, ship, rank, etc.
Some replies will also demand you reply to agree to the terms. All other context options will be replaced with answers to their requests, and in some cases perform any needed actions for you.
For example, you're on a mission to assassinate a pirate lord, and you find an NPC and use the menu to ask "Have you seen <Pirate Lord's Name>?"
Their reply could be;
"No, sorry!", and you'd need to keep searching.
"Yes, I spotted <Pirate Lord's Name> near planet 1b a minute ago!", Which would update your mission.
Or,
"I have, but that information will cost you 50,000cr!". Your context options would then change to "Accept and pay 50,000cr", or "Decline". If you accepted, they could say "Thank you, I last saw <Pirate Lord's Name> at Planet 1b"
And I better stop typing now. Lol
I'll try and get some concepts up at some point. But not likely. Lol
Thoughts?
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
Unfortunately, my artistic skills have failed me, and I've completely forgotten how to use GIMP. Lol
Anyhoo, I shall begin, with just stock pictures to guide you all.
The Grounds For NPC Communication
To begin with, we need surprisingly rather minor UI changes to the Contacts Panel.
This is currently how the panel appears (in 2.3).
Currently, when selecting any ship, it will auto target it, if selecting a station, it brings up this menu;
What I'm proposing is, when selecting any ship, or station, we get a menu similar to above. The first Options is always "Lock Target".
The second option is then "Hail Target" for ships, or "Request Docking" for stations.
And the final Option is "Back", for all targets.
So a ship would look like this;
[Lock Target]
[Hail Target]
[Back]
When hailing a target, a window will open similar to the original contact panel;
For a short time, for fun, will say "Hailing <NPC name>...", then "Connected", before displaying the new window.
The window is split in to 3 sections, the Left Side, Top Right, and Bottom Right.
The left portion of the window is the list of available contextual messages you can send, the bottom right is the chat window where all messages to and from the target will be displayed, and the top right is the targets information, similar to the image above, but less detailed, and with their HoloMe image, of available.
Hail To Thee!
The available messages you can send is almost entirely contextual, for example, if you select a security ship, you can have options like, Request Assistance, Pay Fines, Surrender, Bribe, etc.
For a pirate, you could have Comply To Demands, Taunt, Pay For Protection, etc.
Some options might will be available after a Manifest Scan, such as "Drop X <commodities>", other options might be available based on the situation, such as "Apologize" if you've recently assaulted a ship.
Some other options might be mission based, so you may have additional options, like; "Have you seen <mission target>?", Or "Where can I find <commodity>?".
If you have multiple similar missions, you'd get a sub menu to ask something like "Have you seen;"
- <Mission Target 1>
- <Mission Target 2>
- <Mission Target 3>
If selecting a cargo for someone to drop, you get to select the choice from their cargo hold, and how much.
Some options are available to all ships, but responses will vary.
Contextual Messages
Here's a breif, but incomplete list of possible messages;
Request Assistance, available from Security, Bounty Hunters, Military (CZs/PowerPlay). This will request the ship help you with any target currently firing on you. The response will be based on reputation, legality, and a bit of RNG. Security will only help against wanted ships, bounty hunters will help against wanted ships, but also clean, if you agree to pay their demands. Military will only help against hostile targets.
Offer Assistance, available to any ship under attack. If a ship is under fire, you can offer paid assistance. If you destroy all attackers, the ship will pay you.
Surrender, available for security ships. This option will automatically stow your hardpoints, and request security stand down if you have recently assaulted any ship. You will have your bounty removed, and replaced with a fine that is 10x the value, with a 10 minute timer, and told to leave the area (90 second timer). You can only pay these fines at a dock.
Bribe, available for pirates, security and bounty hunters. You can attempt to get these ships to temporarily "look the other way" by offering them a sum money. Some will accept, others will not. Security can be very random, and will fine you for attempted bribery. You only get 1 try, and must select the amount of credits before sending the message.
Comply to Demands, available if a pirate has demanded cargo. Complying will stop the pirate attacking, and automatically abandon the cargo they requested.
Taunt, available for all NPC's. A taunt will likely agro any already hostile targets, and can cause targets that can legally attack you, to open fire. I'm very rare cases, also trick NPC's in to opening fire on you, when it's not legal.
Replies
The reply you get will be based upon many things for many situations, reputation, wanted status, ship, rank, etc.
Some replies will also demand you reply to agree to the terms. All other context options will be replaced with answers to their requests, and in some cases perform any needed actions for you.
For example, you're on a mission to assassinate a pirate lord, and you find an NPC and use the menu to ask "Have you seen <Pirate Lord's Name>?"
Their reply could be;
"No, sorry!", and you'd need to keep searching.
"Yes, I spotted <Pirate Lord's Name> near planet 1b a minute ago!", Which would update your mission.
Or,
"I have, but that information will cost you 50,000cr!". Your context options would then change to "Accept and pay 50,000cr", or "Decline". If you accepted, they could say "Thank you, I last saw <Pirate Lord's Name> at Planet 1b"
And I better stop typing now. Lol
I'll try and get some concepts up at some point. But not likely. Lol
Thoughts?
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
