This is really only half an idea but I thought I'd put it out there so that smarter people can develop it if they wish to.
Obviously mode-flipping is a problem.
It's a problem because it screws up the way various other things work and it's a problem because spanking the mode-flipping seems to put a big load on the servers.
Presumably, mode-flipping is difficult to prevent or FDev would already have stopped it and made all the boards consistent.
So, instead of trying to do that, how about modifying the game so that some stuff ceases to be the responsibility of the mission board?
As an alternative to offering people individual missions, perhaps it'd be possible to offer them well-paid "contracts" instead?
The "contracts" could be things like a faction saying "Deliver 1000t of our cargo to our allies" and it'd pay, say, Cr50m.
A faction saying "Deliver 750 passengers to X system" and it pays Cr100m.
A faction saying "Scan 20 surface outposts belonging to our enemies" and it pays Cr40m.
Once you accept the "contract" you'd simply dock, go to a "Contracts" sub-menu and your ship would be filled.
There'd be an element of chance to the cargo/passengers you pick up.
The "contract" description would tell you what you should expect (maybe make deliveries in 5 different systems, or to a variety of destinations in a single system) but there'd be an element of randomness as well.
Basically, you'd have a fair idea of what to expect and you'd know you were being well-paid for what you do.
Obviously, to make this work you'd need to cull the regular missions so that stacking them isn't more lucrative than doing a "contract" but, having done that, it'd mean people would just take a single "contract" from the mission board and then it's job is done.
It retains a way to earn big bucks.
It creates a reason to run a big ship.
It creates a more diverse range of opportunities.
It alleviates the load on the mission-generator.
Obviously mode-flipping is a problem.
It's a problem because it screws up the way various other things work and it's a problem because spanking the mode-flipping seems to put a big load on the servers.
Presumably, mode-flipping is difficult to prevent or FDev would already have stopped it and made all the boards consistent.
So, instead of trying to do that, how about modifying the game so that some stuff ceases to be the responsibility of the mission board?
As an alternative to offering people individual missions, perhaps it'd be possible to offer them well-paid "contracts" instead?
The "contracts" could be things like a faction saying "Deliver 1000t of our cargo to our allies" and it'd pay, say, Cr50m.
A faction saying "Deliver 750 passengers to X system" and it pays Cr100m.
A faction saying "Scan 20 surface outposts belonging to our enemies" and it pays Cr40m.
Once you accept the "contract" you'd simply dock, go to a "Contracts" sub-menu and your ship would be filled.
There'd be an element of chance to the cargo/passengers you pick up.
The "contract" description would tell you what you should expect (maybe make deliveries in 5 different systems, or to a variety of destinations in a single system) but there'd be an element of randomness as well.
Basically, you'd have a fair idea of what to expect and you'd know you were being well-paid for what you do.
Obviously, to make this work you'd need to cull the regular missions so that stacking them isn't more lucrative than doing a "contract" but, having done that, it'd mean people would just take a single "contract" from the mission board and then it's job is done.
It retains a way to earn big bucks.
It creates a reason to run a big ship.
It creates a more diverse range of opportunities.
It alleviates the load on the mission-generator.
