The tharagoid storyline has unfolded to lesser or greater extent in recent months. We now have a situation akin to war between human and alien, this has resulted in Tharagoids attacking stations putting them out of action until repaired. Gameplay involved with this is limited and just adds to the grind. For technical reasons it would be unrealistic to for FDev to create massive pitched battles with Tharagoids at this time but I do think they are wasting and oppourtunity for some gameplay on a macro scale similar to powerplay. I know there is some extra gameplay introduce by defending systems over the course of the week by way of the Aegis warning system but this does not invoke a huge existential threat. Especially, if FDev have made a point of wanting cmdrs to help repair stations, leaving it all upto the Pilots Federation /Galaxtic community to do all the heavy lifting, who are a bunch of essentially mercanries by the way! What has Aegis and the Superpowers done to help? It has taken a concerted effort over many weeks by some player groups to bring back only a handful of stations. At current rates, the aliens could if they wanted to, take done the bubble without a realistic chance of opposition. FDev need to balance this conflict to give it meaning let alone extra gameplay!
The Tharagoids can presumably destroy stations and the larger ships with relative easy, so why not create suitable gameplay to respond to this type of threat, something like the Atlantic or Russian convoys of WWII. Creating a dynamic balance between tharagoids damaging stations and the rate of repair. NPC convoys could be sent by the Superpowers from the bubble or from functioning systems in the Pleides to damaged stations at a rate that could repair x number of stations a week. These convoys would, of course, be vunerable from attack by Tharagoids and by human pirates/ terrorists. Missions (ideal for wings) could be made available to cmdrs to help protect convoys. Any losses to to the convoys would slow the rate of repair for the stations and potentially lessen the ability of the superpowers to deliver commdities the following week. The amount of cargo delivered and the number of destroyed /available ships could both be metrics and feed into the equation. Plus, Tharagoid losses could determine their ability to attack new stations and conveys the following week. This would set up a dynamic balance between the two opposing forces and bring more meaning and gameplay to the scenario. The background simulation could also be affected as resources become more in demand, thereofore, affecting the ecomony in day to day gameplay.
This could all be done fairly easily, I would imaging, by at the very least creating signal sources of attacked convoys. Hopefully FDev could do something more ambitous with NPC conveys heading point A in the bubble to point B damaged station in the Pleides. With Cmdrs being able to take missions escort the convey, for example have comms info. on there where abouts. If attacked the comms would alert cdmrs to there where abouts allowing them to navigate to the signal source. The size of the convoy could vary leaving dilemas of protecting stragglers of the main group. Or if a convey is attacked does it split up or remain as a group.
Another option could be a megaship arrives in a system with a damage station(s) and NPC ships dock with it to unload the resources. These ships would be vulnerable to attack between the megaship and the station. Less need to program conveys with this option as it would amount to lots of signal souces of individual ships being attacked.
The existing Tharagoid storyline and gameplay will have more meaning and be enageing as all the activities and mysteries would continue to add to the unfolding drama. Whilst indirectly affecting all cmdrs even those not interested in tharagoids as the ecomony & polical changes would unfold.
The Tharagoids can presumably destroy stations and the larger ships with relative easy, so why not create suitable gameplay to respond to this type of threat, something like the Atlantic or Russian convoys of WWII. Creating a dynamic balance between tharagoids damaging stations and the rate of repair. NPC convoys could be sent by the Superpowers from the bubble or from functioning systems in the Pleides to damaged stations at a rate that could repair x number of stations a week. These convoys would, of course, be vunerable from attack by Tharagoids and by human pirates/ terrorists. Missions (ideal for wings) could be made available to cmdrs to help protect convoys. Any losses to to the convoys would slow the rate of repair for the stations and potentially lessen the ability of the superpowers to deliver commdities the following week. The amount of cargo delivered and the number of destroyed /available ships could both be metrics and feed into the equation. Plus, Tharagoid losses could determine their ability to attack new stations and conveys the following week. This would set up a dynamic balance between the two opposing forces and bring more meaning and gameplay to the scenario. The background simulation could also be affected as resources become more in demand, thereofore, affecting the ecomony in day to day gameplay.
This could all be done fairly easily, I would imaging, by at the very least creating signal sources of attacked convoys. Hopefully FDev could do something more ambitous with NPC conveys heading point A in the bubble to point B damaged station in the Pleides. With Cmdrs being able to take missions escort the convey, for example have comms info. on there where abouts. If attacked the comms would alert cdmrs to there where abouts allowing them to navigate to the signal source. The size of the convoy could vary leaving dilemas of protecting stragglers of the main group. Or if a convey is attacked does it split up or remain as a group.
Another option could be a megaship arrives in a system with a damage station(s) and NPC ships dock with it to unload the resources. These ships would be vulnerable to attack between the megaship and the station. Less need to program conveys with this option as it would amount to lots of signal souces of individual ships being attacked.
The existing Tharagoid storyline and gameplay will have more meaning and be enageing as all the activities and mysteries would continue to add to the unfolding drama. Whilst indirectly affecting all cmdrs even those not interested in tharagoids as the ecomony & polical changes would unfold.