A suggestion for adding a little more immersion whilst in realspace instances.
NPC ships that come under attack, in particular ships that are mining, freighters, and other non-combat roles, set off a mayday beacon that appears as a targetable signal on sensors for significantly greater ranges than ships, drawing the attention of bounty hunters and police. Players might see this as a flashing orange HUD element, which might be of use to new players, who might struggle to detect distant combat, or alert them to nearby pirates when mining or the like.
Players may have the ability to set off their own, which could be of use in wings and high traffic areas, but if it directly draws police, might allow for escape from other players or NPCs. It could even be incorporated as a utility mount, meaning it's fitment would be left to player discretion.
During supercruise, such a beacon could trigger during an interdiction, drawing police to counter-interdict the offender, or directing players to the incident.
There is even some potential of NPCs sending voice lines during these signals, audible system wide if in SC, or at detectable range in realspace (Though perhaps generating a USS).
Players could maybe have theirs transmit a COVAS voice signal, or other artificially generated voice. Though it would be cool if player voice chat could be tied in to go system wide during a mayday call, though I could see this being abused.
Though I don't see this adding immensely to the gameplay loops in game for any experienced player, it might be of help to newer players, and it would add a sense of life to each instance and system with NPC traffic; especially if voice lines are added for them. It would take what was started with scenarios and expand that to all (populated) instances.
NPC ships that come under attack, in particular ships that are mining, freighters, and other non-combat roles, set off a mayday beacon that appears as a targetable signal on sensors for significantly greater ranges than ships, drawing the attention of bounty hunters and police. Players might see this as a flashing orange HUD element, which might be of use to new players, who might struggle to detect distant combat, or alert them to nearby pirates when mining or the like.
Players may have the ability to set off their own, which could be of use in wings and high traffic areas, but if it directly draws police, might allow for escape from other players or NPCs. It could even be incorporated as a utility mount, meaning it's fitment would be left to player discretion.
During supercruise, such a beacon could trigger during an interdiction, drawing police to counter-interdict the offender, or directing players to the incident.
There is even some potential of NPCs sending voice lines during these signals, audible system wide if in SC, or at detectable range in realspace (Though perhaps generating a USS).
Players could maybe have theirs transmit a COVAS voice signal, or other artificially generated voice. Though it would be cool if player voice chat could be tied in to go system wide during a mayday call, though I could see this being abused.
Though I don't see this adding immensely to the gameplay loops in game for any experienced player, it might be of help to newer players, and it would add a sense of life to each instance and system with NPC traffic; especially if voice lines are added for them. It would take what was started with scenarios and expand that to all (populated) instances.