After a while, it definitely seems logical for stations to start upgrading and popping up in outer systems. Right now we're constricted to the bubble, which seems a bit depressing since we have a whole galaxy (minus thargoids) to explore.
We have fringe systems like Sothis, but stations like Robigo (which get a LOT of attention) are not upgrading. I'm going to use the infamous Robigo as an example.
Robigo gets a lot of people visiting every day, and slaves are constantly being transported around. Robigo always has docking problems with lines of Asps up to 5 people long. This means the station would eventually expand into an Orbital. This, obviously, would take a long time. Let's give the slaves a week. In the week it is being upgraded to an orbital, security is increased and the missions are slightly lower pay (they need the money!). Perhaps donation missions will crop up.
But that's for upgrading a station. Now for constructing a station.
Now, a lot of us hate power play, so this idea may he controversial:
When a system is expanded into (which has no station), construction of an outpost should start. First it will be unavailable and marked with a red X next to its name on the nav panel to show you can't yet dock. After it has docking capabilities, the crew begin work on other facilities. Whilst this happens, goods like Metals and food should be transported to the station to help with their efforts. This, in turn, brings more systems online. Again, when it reaches a certain criteria, it can upgrade.
Criteria and facility consequences:
If an outpost/station receives:
Tourists docking a lot - Upgrades to allow more docking pads
A lot of money via missions - Upgrades to higher pay missions
A lot of money via trade - Upgrades to become a high-tech station (they don't need to farm their own resources)
A lot of bounty related money (paid out) - upgrades security
Please post feedback below
If you couldn't be bothered to read, here's a summary:
Stations pop up and grow out from SOL automatically without CGs
We have fringe systems like Sothis, but stations like Robigo (which get a LOT of attention) are not upgrading. I'm going to use the infamous Robigo as an example.
Robigo gets a lot of people visiting every day, and slaves are constantly being transported around. Robigo always has docking problems with lines of Asps up to 5 people long. This means the station would eventually expand into an Orbital. This, obviously, would take a long time. Let's give the slaves a week. In the week it is being upgraded to an orbital, security is increased and the missions are slightly lower pay (they need the money!). Perhaps donation missions will crop up.
But that's for upgrading a station. Now for constructing a station.
Now, a lot of us hate power play, so this idea may he controversial:
When a system is expanded into (which has no station), construction of an outpost should start. First it will be unavailable and marked with a red X next to its name on the nav panel to show you can't yet dock. After it has docking capabilities, the crew begin work on other facilities. Whilst this happens, goods like Metals and food should be transported to the station to help with their efforts. This, in turn, brings more systems online. Again, when it reaches a certain criteria, it can upgrade.
Criteria and facility consequences:
If an outpost/station receives:
Tourists docking a lot - Upgrades to allow more docking pads
A lot of money via missions - Upgrades to higher pay missions
A lot of money via trade - Upgrades to become a high-tech station (they don't need to farm their own resources)
A lot of bounty related money (paid out) - upgrades security
Please post feedback below
If you couldn't be bothered to read, here's a summary:
Stations pop up and grow out from SOL automatically without CGs
