I halfway mentioned this in another thread, but figured I'd dedicate a topic specifically to this suggestion!
Change 'Tour' and 'Research' Passenger Missions from linear destination routes to 'check the box' routes
What that means is:
1) Mostly it adds more dynamic decision-making on the part of the commander. By allowing a 'check the box' method to completing these types of passenger missions, a commander can find a route optimized for them rather than the often unusual and doubled-over routes of the mission. Many 3 and 4 destination tours see the commander 'looping back' over themselves, whereas this change would allow the commander to choose their route and improve efficiency.
2) Aside from the efficiency gain in traveling time in #1, the other advantage is stacking tour missions. One of the great tragedies of tour missions (and to some extent research missions, when they have multiple destinations) is that taking multiples in the larger ships clearly designed for tours (Beluga Liner) becomes an exercise in supreme frustration as you loop over yourself in the bubble many times over. I've had as many as five tour missions visit the same destination...but at different points in their lineup, which is incredibly infuriating as I make what looks like a pickup-sticks-drawing on my galaxy map. By changing to a check-the-box method, tour missions make much more sense both immersion-wise and gameplay-wise. It's just a solid quality of life improvement!
3) Technically a 'separate suggestion', if Research (deep space) passenger missions were to more frequently use multiple destinations then the gameplay for passenger-oriented explorers would also improve from this change. Whether from role-playing or just finding other ways to pad the wallet when you return, check-the-box for these deeps-space passenger runs would allow for excellent route management and increase the likelihood of more commanders seeing some of the great tour spots out in the black.
Thoughts?
Change 'Tour' and 'Research' Passenger Missions from linear destination routes to 'check the box' routes
What that means is:
- You select the mission and it details the destination(s) the passenger wishes to visit. For Tour missions, this is typically two or three destinations (sometimes one, sometimes four). For Research (deep-space) missions, this is usually only one destination but sometimes two or three.
- After accepting rather than the passenger saying, "Go <here>" where 'here' is the first destination in the list, instead they simply indicate readiness to depart.
- In the galactic map, the destination(s) for the mission are all displayed, as opposed to just the one as currently. This allows the commander to determine an optimal route between the destinations if multiple. If there are multiple accepted tour or research missions, there will be many mission destinations displayed.
- The mission 'check boxes' the destinations as you visit them. Once all of the required destination(s) are visited, the passenger indicates readiness to return to the starting station (also known as mission completion). Timer still runs as normal as missions don't complete until turned in. This allows a commander to visit destinations in any order both within and without the mission. The only criteria for mission completion (as far as destinations go) is the visiting of the destinations and returning within the time period for the mission. Order ceases to matter.
1) Mostly it adds more dynamic decision-making on the part of the commander. By allowing a 'check the box' method to completing these types of passenger missions, a commander can find a route optimized for them rather than the often unusual and doubled-over routes of the mission. Many 3 and 4 destination tours see the commander 'looping back' over themselves, whereas this change would allow the commander to choose their route and improve efficiency.
2) Aside from the efficiency gain in traveling time in #1, the other advantage is stacking tour missions. One of the great tragedies of tour missions (and to some extent research missions, when they have multiple destinations) is that taking multiples in the larger ships clearly designed for tours (Beluga Liner) becomes an exercise in supreme frustration as you loop over yourself in the bubble many times over. I've had as many as five tour missions visit the same destination...but at different points in their lineup, which is incredibly infuriating as I make what looks like a pickup-sticks-drawing on my galaxy map. By changing to a check-the-box method, tour missions make much more sense both immersion-wise and gameplay-wise. It's just a solid quality of life improvement!
3) Technically a 'separate suggestion', if Research (deep space) passenger missions were to more frequently use multiple destinations then the gameplay for passenger-oriented explorers would also improve from this change. Whether from role-playing or just finding other ways to pad the wallet when you return, check-the-box for these deeps-space passenger runs would allow for excellent route management and increase the likelihood of more commanders seeing some of the great tour spots out in the black.
Thoughts?