This is something I'd like to see in ED,
The ability to send basic messages to NPCs, and receive a response based on various things.
I have no idea how the UI could handle it, other than an advanced version of requesting docking permission.
But the most obvious use for those could be;
"Yarrr, Drop Ye Cargo, Matey!"...
Well not exactly like that, you could have menus for various types of dialogue, piracy related being one, taunts being another, etc.
NPCs can respond based on some logic of the current situation.
If you ask for cargo, and they're at 1% hull with no engines, they'll likely respond with "Take it, take it all, just don't kill me!", And promptly drop their cargo.
However, if they're in T9 convoy, with a wing of Anacondas, and you're rank Harmless in a Sidewinder, they'll likely respond with "Haha, move along little guy.... Oohhh that made my day..."
Or if they have no cargo, they'll scream "I have no cargo you moron! Didn't you bring a scanner?! Novice pirates these days...."
And so on.
You could even send these as pre-typed messages to players, but the response won't be automated obviously. Lol
As stated earlier, there could be different subgroups for basic messages;
Taunts
Taunts can be used to aggravate hostile targets, or even switch up their behaviour, like making them more aggressive and less defensive, or something.
You can have multiple taunts, but it's really just the NPC that decides what action they take. The choice is just for variety.
Request Help
You could ask NPCs for help.
If you come under attack, you can target a nearby neutral or Friendly NPC, and ask for help. Your rep with their faction, and their ship, rank, and loadout decides the outcome. If they decide to help, they'll attack the last ship to hit you. Most NPCs won't attack a clean ship though, unless it's a rival PowerPlay member.
You could ask NPCs if they've seen another NPC nearby. This would be based on current missions requiring you find a specific NPC. Lot of more interesting bounty hunting mission opportunities there.
Offer Help
You could offer assistance to NPCs, in the form of paid escort missions.
Or those NPCs without fuel, can be offered help, and made semi persistent, so you can go and get the tools needed to refuel them.
You could also request or offer a temporary wing up with NPCs at CZs.
They will then keep close to you, and attack targets attacking you, or attack your target.
Or they will inform you they're under heavy fire, so you can assist them.
These will not leave the instance with you, and you probably can't be in a player wing at the time either(technical reasons most likely, but also to prevent possible issues). You can not order then around, they just do as you do, or protect you.
Your reputation with the faction determines what size and rank ships will accept your offer for a wing. Probably should be limited to 1 or 2.
Rumours or News
You could ask NPCs for rumours on various things, locations of interesting Signal Sources ("I picked up a odd distress call over near Planet A", which then becomes a mission to investigate it) , Tip-off style rumours, or just a random comment on the current state of the NPCs faction, or the current system.
Plus many more I can't think of right now.
Most of these would be context based. So you won't get CZ options when not sided with a faction in a CZ.
A "custom" section could be made available for custom pre-typed messages for other CMDRs. NPCs will ignore these.
I believe, while this idea is quite focused on single player style gameplay, this would help the galaxy feel much more alive, as even in Open, it can sometimes be hard to find another CMDR. Especially one that talks back. Lol
Thought?
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
The ability to send basic messages to NPCs, and receive a response based on various things.
I have no idea how the UI could handle it, other than an advanced version of requesting docking permission.
But the most obvious use for those could be;
"Yarrr, Drop Ye Cargo, Matey!"...
Well not exactly like that, you could have menus for various types of dialogue, piracy related being one, taunts being another, etc.
NPCs can respond based on some logic of the current situation.
If you ask for cargo, and they're at 1% hull with no engines, they'll likely respond with "Take it, take it all, just don't kill me!", And promptly drop their cargo.
However, if they're in T9 convoy, with a wing of Anacondas, and you're rank Harmless in a Sidewinder, they'll likely respond with "Haha, move along little guy.... Oohhh that made my day..."
Or if they have no cargo, they'll scream "I have no cargo you moron! Didn't you bring a scanner?! Novice pirates these days...."
And so on.
You could even send these as pre-typed messages to players, but the response won't be automated obviously. Lol
As stated earlier, there could be different subgroups for basic messages;
Taunts
Taunts can be used to aggravate hostile targets, or even switch up their behaviour, like making them more aggressive and less defensive, or something.
You can have multiple taunts, but it's really just the NPC that decides what action they take. The choice is just for variety.
Request Help
You could ask NPCs for help.
If you come under attack, you can target a nearby neutral or Friendly NPC, and ask for help. Your rep with their faction, and their ship, rank, and loadout decides the outcome. If they decide to help, they'll attack the last ship to hit you. Most NPCs won't attack a clean ship though, unless it's a rival PowerPlay member.
You could ask NPCs if they've seen another NPC nearby. This would be based on current missions requiring you find a specific NPC. Lot of more interesting bounty hunting mission opportunities there.
Offer Help
You could offer assistance to NPCs, in the form of paid escort missions.
Or those NPCs without fuel, can be offered help, and made semi persistent, so you can go and get the tools needed to refuel them.
You could also request or offer a temporary wing up with NPCs at CZs.
They will then keep close to you, and attack targets attacking you, or attack your target.
Or they will inform you they're under heavy fire, so you can assist them.
These will not leave the instance with you, and you probably can't be in a player wing at the time either(technical reasons most likely, but also to prevent possible issues). You can not order then around, they just do as you do, or protect you.
Your reputation with the faction determines what size and rank ships will accept your offer for a wing. Probably should be limited to 1 or 2.
Rumours or News
You could ask NPCs for rumours on various things, locations of interesting Signal Sources ("I picked up a odd distress call over near Planet A", which then becomes a mission to investigate it) , Tip-off style rumours, or just a random comment on the current state of the NPCs faction, or the current system.
Plus many more I can't think of right now.
Most of these would be context based. So you won't get CZ options when not sided with a faction in a CZ.
A "custom" section could be made available for custom pre-typed messages for other CMDRs. NPCs will ignore these.
I believe, while this idea is quite focused on single player style gameplay, this would help the galaxy feel much more alive, as even in Open, it can sometimes be hard to find another CMDR. Especially one that talks back. Lol
Thought?
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
