[Suggestion] Retcon paintjobs so we can change them at will.

[Genar-Hofoen]

Currently we can only change a paintjob if our ship is in outfitting.

That's fine for those in the Bubble or are nearby starports - but there are probably thousands of players who go out exploring the Galaxy, and for them, even if they purchased a paintjob, they will be unable to use their purchase until such time as they dock with a starport with outfitting facilities.

Why not retcon the paintjobs as such:

Paint on a ship is by way of a thin coating of nano machines. These can be programmed into different configurations. When a CMDR purchases a new paint job, they are in fact purchasing a new program, which when loaded, changes the configuration of the nano machines such that the paint appearance is altered to suit.

The wear caused by long term supercruising through space, rubs these nano machines off the ship's hull via abrasion. Repairing wear on a paintjob is basically re-coating the ship's hull with this nano-machine coating.

And then allow players to change their ship's paintjob by 'loading a new program into the nano-machine coating', no matter where they are in space.

Pros:

• Allows anyone to change their paintjob at any time.
• Paint still wears off as usual and still needs to be done at a starport.
• May generate more paintjob sales for FDEV.

Cons:

?

 

[Tiayviel]

Given the short animation that plays when applying a new paint job this explanation fits quite accurately! Nice idea, CMDR o7

 

[Athan]

It would also explain why the level of paintwork wear is preserved when changing paint jobs, it's the nano-wotsits that have worn off.

 

[Genar-Hofoen]

It would also explain why the level of paintwork wear is preserved when changing paint jobs, it's the nano-wotsits that have worn off.

Exactly.

 

[Genar-Hofoen]

I still think this is a good idea, Frontier

 

[JetsonRING]

Seems to me that the nano-whatzits should be able to repair damage to themselves by replication and therefore, damage to the ship's skin would be self-repairing. I sense another micro-transaction "upgrade" for current ship's skins:

Programmable, self-repairing, nano-bot skins. $4

 

[Gorr]

Imagine new Harry Trotter disguising himself right after the crime he just commited... Whole Galaxy still searching for Candy Kitties ship skin while he is in a low attitude flight all in Black Friday.

But yes, I totally understand troubles of Exploring CMDR's and something must be done there!