Role Play?

[dxm55]

Some players have to actually create the roleplay and narrative in their own heads, as opposed to that being in the game.
The simulation part of this game, they probably already have down pat.
The features part... they're missing a few things more, namely access to atmo planets and ELWs, and Space Legs.

What they need is the content part.

• Core mining is great gameplay. It actually requires skill, and it rewards you well for it.
• Stuff like powerplay is seriously flawed and an uphill time sink.
• Engineering is a grind ending in a casino jackpot machine gameplay. It's not the worst, but extremely draggy.
• The Guardian portion is actually more enjoyable than engineering, there are things you have to actively do... but they killed it with the ludicrous amount of materials you need to fetch.

I think what FD should do is to add upon role play elements to the game. It's kinda sad when I see players actually pretending that they have an imaginary crew and actually write posts or stories about them. OK, it's sad in a funny sorta way. ROFLMAO. But well, it wouldn't have to be this way if FD can implement some roleplaying features into this game.

So, why not FD allow you to play the role of commander, and then create your own crew, which functions as RPG parties especially when you get space legs.

So let's say you can create 2 crew members, one of whom is your co-pilot first officer, and the other the systems officer.
Give them stats, just like how your pilots already have that skill stats, but make them relevant to their jobs.
So when you get NPC SRVs or Space Legs, allow one team member to tag along with you out there, and have the other one stay onboard the ship as a coordinator, controller, or as the reason why you can dismiss and recall your ship.

It would certainly aid the gameplay experience.

Unless of course, Space Legs is going to be another empty borefest, just like what surface wandering on your SRV is like.
Just you alone, in Solo, or just you and your friend in Group / Open. No other NPC traffic in sight.

 

[Ouberos]

What's sad about using your imagination? You should give it a go with your next suggestion.

 

[Phisto Sobanii]

Some players have to actually create the roleplay and narrative in their own heads, as opposed to that being in the game.

There's nothing wrong with this.

 

[CMDR M. Lehman]

How dare certain players enhance their game experience with a bit of private storytelling. How dare they.

But seriously: I've never seen someone sneer at imagination as hard as you, OP. You're like an eighties cartoon villain.

 

[RolloTreadway]

To be quite fair and honest, I think it's far sadder, perhaps even in a funny sort of way, that you have such a problem with imagination.

 

[Rebel Yell]

Nice story, now pls. gimme yar booty or we gunna gun holes in yar boat!

 

[Rat Catcher]

Sad that things could be so black and white... But such a vivid imagination to consider that FD may put RP into their game instead of leaving it to the players.

It costs nothing for RP development by a player, developers cost and are currently busy with the 'New Era' which no-one knows just what it will contain (but strangely many imagine what is coming...)

 

[dxm55]

It's fine if you want to roleplay.

I'm saying it's sad that you actually have to do the self-roleplay because the game LACKS that feature. All those empty seats provided, all the potential.
And then nothing.

 

[dxm55]

What's sad about using your imagination? You should give it a go with your next suggestion.

I did use my imagination, hence the features I suggested.
I guess I'm a more direct or pragmatic sort of person. I outgrew playing with action figures and talking to imaginary friends once I reached my teen years, and basically can't reopen that door.

Sad that things could be so black and white... But such a vivid imagination to consider that FD may put RP into their game instead of leaving it to the players.

It costs nothing for RP development by a player, developers cost and are currently busy with the 'New Era' which no-one knows just what it will contain (but strangely many imagine what is coming...)

Like I said, nothing wrong with roleplaying, but I think it should be provided by the game itself more than relying on the playerbase.
Even a simple feature such as NPC crews with stats would already provided some basic elements for it.

Your SLF pilot already has stats and a progression path. So it will mean something to you if you lose that pilot. Likewise if you had a crew that had similar features, and the option to either hire or create them, they would mean something to you to.

 

[varonica]

It's fine if you want to roleplay.

I'm saying it's sad that you actually have to do the self-roleplay because the game LACKS that feature. All those empty seats provided, all the potential.
And then nothing.

The point with role playing is that no game actually has role playing, that's impossible, the only one who can do role-playing is the role player. Games can give a good framework for role-playing, and ED does actually do a good job of that, but it doesn't do role play because it's a game and not capable of doing role playing.

Role playing;

A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game;[1][2] abbreviated RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development.[3] Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.[4]

The game provides the setting only, it's up to the player to role play. You are thinking more of games like Half Life, Bio-Shock or Zork, which provide the character, the sequence of events, the story line and all events in the story line. In a good RPG setting the sky is the limit because players can use their imagination to go beyond the setting the developer provides. It would be very sad if FDEV restricted our role play to a set pattern defined by them.

 

[Atol]

It's fine if you want to roleplay.

I'm saying it's sad that you actually have to do the self-roleplay because the game LACKS that feature. All those empty seats provided, all the potential.
And then nothing.

Here a reason why I don't play most of the game that has stories they tend to be terrible. They insert a story that some player might not agree with or like. If I had a choice. Between a book or a movie of the same story. I would pick the Book every time. It is the same thing with Elite Dangerous. If you can make your own story and you can have things happen to change it. But you still playing that story.

It why I like the difference distance between Stars and station in a systems. Some are less than 1 Minutes some are 15 Minutes it work with my story.

 

[dxm55]

The point with role playing is that no game actually has role playing, that's impossible, the only one who can do role-playing is the role player. Games can give a good framework for role-playing, and ED does actually do a good job of that, but it doesn't do role play because it's a game and not capable of doing role playing.

Role playing;



The game provides the setting only, it's up to the player to role play. You are thinking more of games like Half Life, Bio-Shock or Zork, which provide the character, the sequence of events, the story line and all events in the story line. In a good RPG setting the sky is the limit because players can use their imagination to go beyond the setting the developer provides. It would be very sad if FDEV restricted our role play to a set pattern defined by them.

You do have a point. Especially about the storyline.
But in a way we already have a storyline. The Lore, the universe, the Engineers, Powers and all.
And don't forget, all the events are scripted by FD. So you're already in a story, a set pattern defined by them whether you realize / like it or not.

What I'm asking is for FD to give us a ... "Party"... sort of like the typical RPG type of party, in the form of your crew.
Which you can then develop in stats. And of course hopefully they will have at least some functions to assist you in your play.

Also has a lot of potential if and when Space Legs come into play. You don't wander out alone. One or more of your crew member(s) tags along with you on foot.
Or in the other SRV. Could make for more interesting play.

It's a damned sight better than imagining that female mechanic sitting in that empty seat next to you in the Python.
Get what I mean?

 

[Ouberos]

It's a damned sight better than imagining that female mechanic sitting in that empty seat next to you in the Python.
Get what I mean?

You are comparing Apples with Oranges.

People write stories about their characters and adventures because they can. Not because they have too. If the career paths of SLF pilots was more defined they would still write about them.

You remarked "ROFLMAO" in reference to this activity as if it is something negligible and hilarious. Clearly you are looking down on the people who take inspiration from their gameplay and turn it into something amazing.

If you have outgrown action figures and see that as evidence of your "maturity" I would like to know why you are playing video games in the first place.

Whatever, this isn't a discussion thread. I won't comment again. However you should know that your character won't last long in my next story...

 

[varonica]

Here a reason why I don't play most of the game that has stories they tend to be terrible. They insert a story that some player might not agree with or like. If I had a choice. Between a book or a movie of the same story. I would pick the Book every time. It is the same thing with Elite Dangerous. If you can make your own story and you can have things happen to change it. But you still playing that story.

It why I like the difference distance between Stars and station in a systems. Some are less than 1 Minutes some are 15 Minutes it work with my story.

I had a friend who couldn't finish playing though Skyrim a couple of times because the only choices he was given at a particular point to advance the story were choices that his then character simply wouldn't take, so he had to delete his save and start again. Like me he was a role player from way back on D&D, a story that constricts your character in that way is not well designed but is almost impossible to avoid once the developers start inserting their own storyline.

 

[dxm55]

However you should know that your character won't last long in my next story...

Sure bro. Anything you want.
Though I had a chuckle at this last bit.

 

[dxm55]

OK, So I've caused a bit of butthurt amongst the imaginary friends crowd here in the game.

I'm sorry that I don't have the knack of making stories in my head to fill up an empty shell.
It's nice that you do. So I'm sorry for making fun at the lot of you.

OK now that we've got that out of the way.

I was just suggesting that we could have character / party building system in the game to add on to the role-playing feel.
The core game won't change. It's still a trading sim, and you still get to fly your ship as you do today.

The game can basically take a leaf from other Sci-Fi RPGs that have come before it. And even non sci-fi, when it comes to character creation.
Think of those old school games: Megatraveller, Sentinel Worlds, Hard Nova, Wasteland ... and even some newer ones.

You create a small party, or crew. You create their faces, dress them up. Assign roles. Then distribute their stats from a fixed number of points.
Maybe even give them personality. Then they're at least present in your multiseat ship. You grow their stats just like you would your SLF pilot.

If anything, for me it would just give more eye candy on the bridge.
And maybe even an additional pair of legs when Space Legs are out. Or even one more SRV to come along for those surface forays.



Again for those who think that their in-head Roleplay is better because they aren't constrained by a fixed stories,

• The game already has a fixed story, so that point is moot
• However, you can always opt out of the story, as I have myself opted out of PP and CGs.

So there's no difference really for you. Except now you actually got your imaginary friend fleshed out instead of just remaining imaginary.

 

[varonica]

OK, So I've caused a bit of butthurt amongst the imaginary friends crowd here in the game.

I'm sorry that I don't have the knack of making stories in my head to fill up an empty shell.
It's nice that you do. So I'm sorry for making fun at the lot of you.

Nobody is butt hurt, that's you projecting, if anything I have great sympathy and some sadness that you lack the imagination necessary to properly role play.

 

[dxm55]

Nobody is butt hurt, that's you projecting, if anything I have great sympathy and some sadness that you lack the imagination necessary to properly role play.

You must feel something if you are still focusing on only that that portion of my post.
Thanks for the sympathy, but don't be. I already fulfilled that quota when I was a little kid.
RL dishes out enough that I am fully occupied playing real roles.


I'd rather talk about getting an actual party or crew to fill the bridge.

 

[Vasious]

I outgrew playing with action figures and talking to imaginary friends once I reached my teen years, and basically can't reopen that door.

Except the Ships in game are the action figures and any mission you get is given to you by Imaginary NPCs, it's sad in a funny sorta way. ROFLMAO
A Video game is still playing make believe however you spin it.

 

[dxm55]

Except the Ships in game are the action figures and any mission you get is given to you by Imaginary NPCs, it's sad in a funny sorta way. ROFLMAO
A Video game is still playing make believe however you spin it.

Depends on how you look at it I guess.
Kids tend to make believe in the action figures. Some people do that when they play games.

As for the ships and NPCs being action figures, True. you may have a point. But at least I didn't make it up in my head, or have to.
It's provided. Just like a movie. So I roll with it. But that's me. You may think differently.

However, I play mainly for stats and a goal, totally aware of the fact that it's just a game.
Especially how to fast-track progress. Legal or illegal. Within or outside the intended game mechanics, or even exploits. The meta portion of it interests me.
I play lots of FPSes too. My main objective is to dominate the table.