ED PROFESSIONS overhaul and expansion
sub-professions (specialisations) with infinite ranking
-----------------------------------------------
In ED we have 3 ranked main professions:
1. Trade
2. Exploration
3. Combat
(I did not include CQC because afaiac that is not really part of the game)
I do not want to change the three main ranking categories. They are embedded in the game and changing that would upset the system too much I think.
Instead I would love to see recognized sub specializations with their own sub ranking.
I really deplore the fact that the three main rankings are quite easily maxed and after that there is nothing more to do to level in any way.
I strongly believe my proposal would greatly enhance gameplay and give us something to work for.
I also believe that the sub ranking/leveling should be designed in such a way that it is basically infinite. You might get points per activity (perhaps equal to the amount of credits earned (for which 1000 credits is 1 point) that count towards the rank of a particular sub-profession.
I like leveling and I think it would be good for the game if we could always level.
For me this would not need to have major in-game consequences. It could affect the way NPC react to you though, the way they treat you, pay-outs etc., but for me that is not the most important thing. It is the leveling itself I would like to be an on-going thing. As I said this could simply be based on credits earned per subactivity. Naturally each sub activity would count towards the main rank.
I have no doubt that Elite players would discuss their activities and ranks and compare their levels. I think it would stimulate gameplay.
Proposed sub-professions with infinite ranking:
1. TRADE (main category)
------------------------
1.1 trader
1.2 hauler
1.3 slaver (perhaps with a subdivision between regular and imperial slaver)
1.4 miner
2. EXPLORATION (main category)
-------------------------------
2.1 explorer
2.2 scientist
2.3 (big) game hunter
3. COMBAT (main category)
--------------------------
3.1 mercenary/soldier
3.2 bounty hunter/law enforcement
3.3 pirate/criminal
3.4 spy (would perhaps include assassinations)
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There could be many more sub-professions.
Some of the sub professions are not a thing (like spy, scientist, big game hunter) simply because they do not yet exist in the game.
There are no missions, no activities connected with them yet. This might easily change. David Braben already mentioned big game hunting several times for example.
ad 2.2 science
--------------
As far as I am concerned this must eventually become part of the game to make exploration one of the coolest and most engaging things to do in the game.
We might install science modules on our ships. We might hire a scientist as an npc crew member.
We would scan objects and life forms and get money for that. We would take samples and get money for that. We would get more money if we did basic analyses of those samples in our science modules and then sold the data. We might capture some life forms and bring them to a science station and earn even more money. etc. etc.
ad 2.3 big game hunting
-----------------------
This might become a thing when we can leave our ships on foot. Access to atmospheric planets with flora and fauna is also important, but there could also be strange life in space or on planets without atmosphere.
ad 3.4 espionage
----------------
This really should be in the game and be part of the military (and corporate) mission system. We would need to get tools to make this interesting, like cameras, signal recording devices etc.
I really liked the missions in X-wing and Tie-fighter in which we had to take pictures of enemy fleets etc.
This could also be one of the most interesting professions for when walking around hits the game. We might infiltrate bases, sabotage, steal data, assassinate etc. etc.
sub-professions (specialisations) with infinite ranking
-----------------------------------------------
In ED we have 3 ranked main professions:
1. Trade
2. Exploration
3. Combat
(I did not include CQC because afaiac that is not really part of the game)
I do not want to change the three main ranking categories. They are embedded in the game and changing that would upset the system too much I think.
Instead I would love to see recognized sub specializations with their own sub ranking.
I really deplore the fact that the three main rankings are quite easily maxed and after that there is nothing more to do to level in any way.
I strongly believe my proposal would greatly enhance gameplay and give us something to work for.
I also believe that the sub ranking/leveling should be designed in such a way that it is basically infinite. You might get points per activity (perhaps equal to the amount of credits earned (for which 1000 credits is 1 point) that count towards the rank of a particular sub-profession.
I like leveling and I think it would be good for the game if we could always level.
For me this would not need to have major in-game consequences. It could affect the way NPC react to you though, the way they treat you, pay-outs etc., but for me that is not the most important thing. It is the leveling itself I would like to be an on-going thing. As I said this could simply be based on credits earned per subactivity. Naturally each sub activity would count towards the main rank.
I have no doubt that Elite players would discuss their activities and ranks and compare their levels. I think it would stimulate gameplay.
Proposed sub-professions with infinite ranking:
1. TRADE (main category)
------------------------
1.1 trader
1.2 hauler
1.3 slaver (perhaps with a subdivision between regular and imperial slaver)
1.4 miner
2. EXPLORATION (main category)
-------------------------------
2.1 explorer
2.2 scientist
2.3 (big) game hunter
3. COMBAT (main category)
--------------------------
3.1 mercenary/soldier
3.2 bounty hunter/law enforcement
3.3 pirate/criminal
3.4 spy (would perhaps include assassinations)
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There could be many more sub-professions.
Some of the sub professions are not a thing (like spy, scientist, big game hunter) simply because they do not yet exist in the game.
There are no missions, no activities connected with them yet. This might easily change. David Braben already mentioned big game hunting several times for example.
ad 2.2 science
--------------
As far as I am concerned this must eventually become part of the game to make exploration one of the coolest and most engaging things to do in the game.
We might install science modules on our ships. We might hire a scientist as an npc crew member.
We would scan objects and life forms and get money for that. We would take samples and get money for that. We would get more money if we did basic analyses of those samples in our science modules and then sold the data. We might capture some life forms and bring them to a science station and earn even more money. etc. etc.
ad 2.3 big game hunting
-----------------------
This might become a thing when we can leave our ships on foot. Access to atmospheric planets with flora and fauna is also important, but there could also be strange life in space or on planets without atmosphere.
ad 3.4 espionage
----------------
This really should be in the game and be part of the military (and corporate) mission system. We would need to get tools to make this interesting, like cameras, signal recording devices etc.
I really liked the missions in X-wing and Tie-fighter in which we had to take pictures of enemy fleets etc.
This could also be one of the most interesting professions for when walking around hits the game. We might infiltrate bases, sabotage, steal data, assassinate etc. etc.
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