Question about expansion packs (WoW-MMO style)

[Leadfoot]

Never played World of Warcraft but I'm aware that they sell expansion packs for them, i.e., The Burning Crusade, Rise of the Litch King, etc. As I understand it, these add content to the base game. I would assume that someone playing the base game would see those other players in "the world" but would be not able to go where they do because they're following a quest from that expansion pack.

I realize it would be a tad early to do this here, but would such a thing be possible in ED? It could add a series of quests that start you off in a direction and actually give you a storyline to follow. Of course, if you're in "open" and someone decides to follow where you go in your quest to find the sword of a thousand truths, would they also see this?

Just curious. Might require a different mode (story mode?). Anyway...thoughts?

 

[MadDogMurdock]

It's already happened. Someone without Horizons can't follow you down to a planet surface.

 

[Aussiedroid]

Quests generally speaking in the way WoW probably wouldn't be a great fit for ED. Rather linear/basic. Although I do like the idea of having some local type missions or linked missions/areas to discover that unlock a story or event in a region. Something to give the area in question some personality/uniqueness. Rather than having it more in a chain mission system, it would be better to generate the content on the reps, interactions etc in a location. Would give it a more organic feel IMO. It would be very interesting addition to have modules or engineer upgrades as rewards, but at the same time see a decent risk in this if it were a linear (ie easy to document process to obtain) path.

There is already many areas locked out by permits. The general assumption is these are for future content, and would see that if a DLC pack for some content were to come out that this would bestow the permit to your CMDR so you can partake. I get the impression that Frontier is moving away from bigger expansion type DLCs and going towards smaller iterations, but certainly wouldn't mean that some enhanced story couldn't still be part of that.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Edit: What he said about permits


Anyway kinda, It'll happen with gas giant landing, atmospheric landing etc. As for what comes next I have no idea. They've said they are going to work on core improvements fleshing out mechanics so unlikely quests or areas or things like that. More likely that new stuff is simply restricted the same way planetary landing modules are so that only people who upgrade can get the new stuff.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Quests generally speaking in the way WoW probably wouldn't be a great fit for ED. Rather linear/basic. Although I do like the idea of having some local type missions or linked missions/areas to discover that unlock a story or event in a region. Something to give the area in question some personality/uniqueness. Rather than having it more in a chain mission system, it would be better to generate the content on the reps, interactions etc in a location. Would give it a more organic feel IMO. It would be very interesting addition to have modules or engineer upgrades as rewards, but at the same time see a decent risk in this if it were a linear (ie easy to document process to obtain) path.

There is already many areas locked out by permits. The general assumption is these are for future content, and would see that if a DLC pack for some content were to come out that this would bestow the permit to your CMDR so you can partake. I get the impression that Frontier is moving away from bigger expansion type DLCs and going towards smaller iterations, but certainly wouldn't mean that some enhanced story couldn't still be part of that.

I'd much rather wait for massive content/story updates, as long as they were complete, fully functional, fully featured and seamlessly integrate.

Smaller updates between these could be used to provide the tools, ships, materials, structures and the like to make these larger releases function.

 

[Moritasgus]

ED is wired differently to WoW.
Wow at the release of an expansion is a fixed point in time, you follow quests which you can only do once per character more as funnel for your levelling than an actual story.
Each quest usually gets you enough xp to start the next quest and so on, with small quests that send you to the next quest giver or area in between.
Once you hit the top level there is no more story just raids, and the story doesn't advance until the next dlc where it takes a large jump.

ED is trying to simulate a living galaxy where missions and CGs replace quests, sure it would be great for the new mission chain mechanic to give you more of an authored story at some point you'll still start hitting repetitive missions.
WoW provides you with a more guided experience but don't mistake that for a deep story mode, once you hit you max level cap unless you raid the only thing to do it roll another character and do it all again.

 

[Leadfoot]

ED is wired differently to WoW.
Wow at the release of an expansion is a fixed point in time, you follow quests which you can only do once per character more as funnel for your levelling than an actual story.
Each quest usually gets you enough xp to start the next quest and so on, with small quests that send you to the next quest giver or area in between.
Once you hit the top level there is no more story just raids, and the story doesn't advance until the next dlc where it takes a large jump.

ED is trying to simulate a living galaxy where missions and CGs replace quests, sure it would be great for the new mission chain mechanic to give you more of an authored story at some point you'll still start hitting repetitive missions.
WoW provides you with a more guided experience but don't mistake that for a deep story mode, once you hit you max level cap unless you raid the only thing to do it roll another character and do it all again.

Gotcha. Well, it was a thought, anyway. Would have been an interesting way to have an excuse to go search for that weapon only you can wield that can only be found in the COL 70 SECTOR of stars.

Thanks for the explanation.