So.....that Tech Broker
- Thread starter TheSisko
- Start date
My problem with your definition of "personal narrative" is that it's so broad and inclusive that it applies to everything. By your definition, "personal narrative" is already in the game. It's already a done deal and there's nothing more to talk about. If that's the case, then it's a total nonsense statement to even bring up the tech broker and call it "personal narrative ". It's like saying "hey I heard you guys like gameplay, so here's the tech broker."
So y'know OK fine. Let's say we all adopt your definition of "personal narrative" and we all agree that the Tech Broker accomplishes that. There's still *something else* that people want, and have been asking for, which is not provided by the Tech Broker. You do understand that, right? What do you want people to call it? If they used *your* preferred words would that help? Or do you just want people to stop wanting it and stop taking about it?
I agree... The way the Tech broker works doesn't have anything I would call narrative about it.
Don't get me wrong, it is a cool feature. It's just been really badly labelled.
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Hopefully we'll know tomorrow.
I was wondering whether the Tech Brokers might offer the equivalent of Grade 3 engineered modules and weapons. Then engineers would offer two further grades of improvement: that would save you having to grind through all five engineer grades (assuming we now have to upgrade each individual item from the first grade) to get the outcome you want.
I would of liked scripted missions from the Tech Brokers to unlock modules, but I am not that bothered about the current implementation. It give me a goal until the exploration update comes online.
The flow chart is pretty easy.
Does getting the top current meta interrupt pewpew for more than a second, or involve activities other than pewpew:
Yes > bad.
No > good.
That's cool, but what many people want for a Personal Narrative is cool story-line missions. Such as The Blood-Stained Stars in Eve Online.
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Exactly. I really don't have strong feelings about the Tech Broker one way or another. I doubt that anyone does. It's. . . Fine. Could maybe be great.
What I do have strong feelings about is the insistence by some people that buying modules with a different currency is somehow supposed to give us a stronger sense of personal in-game identity and help us trace a personal journey through the game world.
It doesn't appear to do that. I don't think think it *can* do that. Which is fine. But it's more than a little irritating when people say "here's the Tech Broker - it does what you've been asking for, so you can please shut up now. "
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Not aware anyone's suggested that. The suggestion is that we won't all be able to get the same stuff so our experiences will vary.
I never thought that I would be getting something like that. What I did think was that we could be using the chained mission system to make mini stories. But not like that EVE example. Something personal to me using the PG missions.
But the implication is that it will be more than that. Maybe it will, maybe something will be announced in tomorrow night's livestream.
Except that we're not buying modules with a different currency. We purchase these modules with the same Credits we do any other module. They just come with a prerequisite that we turn in W, X, Y, and Z amounts of materials in order to purchase them - much in the same sort of way that we must sit for 4 weeks in Power Play, and obtain at least a rank of 3 by the 4th week to purchase Power Play modules.
I don't have an issue with reading the phrase "Personal Narrative" as "the stories we tell ourselves." Because that's what Elite's "Personal Narrative" has been since my very first day - the stories I've told myself. Where did I get these 1,000 Cr and this Sidewinder? Why am I risking myself flying out into space? Why do I want to work for or against any particular faction? Why am I so interested in these old, abandoned INRA bases? These are not questions the game can answer for me or for any of us, because all of us will have different answers. Only we can tell our own stories, our "Personal Narratives".
I know, this is a departure from more traditional gaming, where you are cast in the role of Some Hero, and told what your past is, what your present situation is, and are guided along a path to your final destiny. It requires more imagination, more creativity, and more flexibility to take on the role of an Elite Commander than it does to slip into the mantle of Commander Sheppard, or Doom Guy, or Master Chief, or pretty much any other game character out there. It's far easier to be told what to think than to be told to think for yourselves.
I happen to like it though.
I have to admit that this new feature appears to be underwhelming. The modules (not just weapons, as some here seem to be worried about) look interesting but the method of unlocking them is, no matter how hard some argue either way about it, simplistic.
There is the other concern (module creep), too. I'm considering coming back to play at some point but the single largest detractor from that consideration is the inevitably daunting prospect of getting my head around engineering again (the complexity of which demonstrates the exact opposite of the scale for how to do game mechanics good, with its unnecessary convoluted approach to game play; which will hopefully be greatly improved in this update). Having to now consider the new stuff for Thargoids and now these new modules is going to be a challenge. And not really the "tingly excited" kind of challenge...
So, whilst I'm not sure the game needs more module variety right now, I'm on one side pleased it'll be simple to unlock them and, on the other side, underwhelmed that it'll be basically more of the same stuff I did for engineers, just on a much simpler scale.
The best mechanics in games are designed so that the activity you undertake helps you to understand the final reward, all presented to the user in the least obfuscated way possible, where the activity is engaging and fun. Not a whole lot of ED content fits that design, if I'm honest. But I understand FD's limitations here. Particularly given this game's huge scale as a project.
I think it's wrong to argue that it's fine because "grinding is fine". There's a reason a lot of people have been trying to get FD to improve missions and add more things to do (e.g. The new content for the massive ships looks good). Simple isn't always fun. Particularly when it's the same thing we've been asked to do since Horizons came out.
What's the harm in people giving suggestions to make activities less of the same material gathering?
There is the other concern (module creep), too. I'm considering coming back to play at some point but the single largest detractor from that consideration is the inevitably daunting prospect of getting my head around engineering again (the complexity of which demonstrates the exact opposite of the scale for how to do game mechanics good, with its unnecessary convoluted approach to game play; which will hopefully be greatly improved in this update). Having to now consider the new stuff for Thargoids and now these new modules is going to be a challenge. And not really the "tingly excited" kind of challenge...
So, whilst I'm not sure the game needs more module variety right now, I'm on one side pleased it'll be simple to unlock them and, on the other side, underwhelmed that it'll be basically more of the same stuff I did for engineers, just on a much simpler scale.
The best mechanics in games are designed so that the activity you undertake helps you to understand the final reward, all presented to the user in the least obfuscated way possible, where the activity is engaging and fun. Not a whole lot of ED content fits that design, if I'm honest. But I understand FD's limitations here. Particularly given this game's huge scale as a project.
I think it's wrong to argue that it's fine because "grinding is fine". There's a reason a lot of people have been trying to get FD to improve missions and add more things to do (e.g. The new content for the massive ships looks good). Simple isn't always fun. Particularly when it's the same thing we've been asked to do since Horizons came out.
What's the harm in people giving suggestions to make activities less of the same material gathering?
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I don't entirely disagree - but I do have to point out that we also have to work within the limitations of what the game can actually do, and there really is only so much we can actually do. Now, that said, one thing that sticks in my mind that would make this Tech Broker far more interesting is:
Rather than just a simple list of "This is what I can offer, if you give me W, X,Y, and Z materials.", there are these things we can find floating around in space - Prototype Technology and Technical Blueprints. Currently they're illegal salvage, but that's irrelevant right now. What if, instead of a simple Materials Exchange we had to bring these items to a Tech Broker in various amounts, perhaps amounts unknown to us, in order to unlock an otherwise Unknown Technology.
For Example:
The tech broker at Somestation lists:
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
I turn in 1 Tech blueprint and 2 Prototype Technology and he then lists:
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Remote Flechette Cannon
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Unknown Technology
Which I can then purchase foe W, X, Y, and Z amounts of materials.
Now I can hear you wondering Why Would Anyone Want to Go Through All This?
First off, these two items have been around since as long as I can remember, and they serve no other purpose except as Black Market fodder. It makes them useful in some other way. Secondly, these are things that are only ever found, never given out. These could potentially be given out as specialized rewards, perhaps as part of Tip Off missions, or Salvage Operations, or even from Megaship scanning. Third, it helps to grow that "Personal Narrative" and gives us a vested interest in engaging in things we might not otherwise engage in normally.
Just my thoughts on the matter though.
It would be more interesting, definitely. Though still just item acquisition.
I really liked the idea of actual scripted missions but I have been around since beta and nothing FD have done or said suggests they'll ever do anything like that.
Which is sort of a shame, really. We've got a game made up of virtually only procedurally generated content. A series of "personal" missions (that everyone gets) to play out our own "narrative" would do the game no harm. Particularly given that 100% of the game's narrative (ie all of the non PG content) to date has been community driven and, in many cases, only accessible to the very hard-core player base. A lot of development effort has gone into this content. Yet, for the most part, only a tiny fraction of the player base has actually enjoyed most of it.
But I know many disagree with this line of reasoning. Which is, as I said, a shame.
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Grind Powerplay for Magic Missile!
Grind RNGineers to evolve your Pokebombz!
Grind Tech Brokers for Kapow-erups!
Can't wait for the Season 4 new kit process.
Grind RNGineers to evolve your Pokebombz!
Grind Tech Brokers for Kapow-erups!
Can't wait for the Season 4 new kit process.
Then don't get them.
Eh? It's not personal if everyone gets them.
To me the problem is visible when people talk about what they want - story version: "So the tech guy says there's a rumour that a crashed ship has a data core with info about a new type of module and he'll build you one if you get it" - grinder sees: black box retrieval mission. story version: "This tech guy has a new type of scanner based on alien tech - it'll need three samples of alien tech and a load of platinum" - grinder sees: urgh &*(&(ing mats grind etc
Can go on like this forever. Some won't be happy until story is shoved down their throats with voice acted cutscenes and a third-act betrayal, others fill in the gaps themselves - and others yet will only ever see it as grind in the way.
I look forwards to seeing what they try, but I'm not dis-spirited just because those other groups exist.
That's been the best option so far.
Not a single PP merit to my name - dreadful feature.
My engineering has been entirely opportunistic or very selective - the material grind just kills it.
It's a shame that FD keep laying awful time sinks on top of the game.
In a game about flying spaceships, the tedious grind involved in equipping them to their potential is a major disincentive to getting more.
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