First of all this will be a long one, since I had a lot of time to think during my time on DW II
When I first started Elite my go-to Missions were Salvage Missions. I scooped up countless Black Boxes, Art Pieces and whatnot else before I learned of Collector Limpets and even then I just loved the idea of going out and doing salvage, but it just feels way to 1 dimensional after the introduction of new Exploration and Mining Minigames/Mechanics. So lets get into the meat.
Current State of Salvage as a Profession
Surface Scanner should reveal Random Generated POI's
The New FSS and USS System allows Players to search for Salvage Sites in SC better. All the while Surface Salvage Sites, that are randomly generated, cannot be revealed. I don't expect the FSS to pick up on these, but the Surface Scanner should be able to create them.
For within the Bubble/Civilized System I propose tracking the Number of possible Crashsites(Ships and Satellites) as part of the BGS. The current Number or an estimate could be displayed in a Rumored Section of the Local News Board(i.e. "In a Local System Security Chase X Ships got rid of their illegal Cargo somewhere in the system. X Number of Ships have gone missing and possible crashed."). For already Scanned Planets(since I suspect, you could otherwise run out in the bubble at some point), I would add them once the Player gets close enough for other fixed sites to show up and remove their Signal once a Player gets into a certain range in Local Space. Once a Player visits a random POI, the Number is reduced by 1. Every day the Number and Estimate would fluctuate a bit within limits.
I don't know if the presence of crash-sites in Deep Space far away from Civilization is intended. If they are, I would just add a small random Chance for such POI's to show up on a first Scan of a Planets and make them only last for the current Instance.
Add Salvage Missions for Planet Crashsites
I don't have a problem with Salvage Missions in Space as stated above. But for Planets we only have the tip-offs, which are kinda random and cannot be searched for and the recovery of Landmines or stuff along those lines from Secrets Caches. There is no Mission to find a recently crashed ship, recover the log and possible Escape Pod(could be a Optional Target of such missions) and return to the Station. Given how you can already create this crash-sites randomly I would love to see them used in such Missions.
Add temporary Wrecks on Ship Destruction
I can understand, why you wouldn't want ships to leave wrecks behind as a Combat Zone would at some point become clustered with physics Objects. But I propose a compromise: Have Ships leave behind a small number of wreckage parts behind. These would blow up after 1-2 Minutes to keep the Instance clear. What is left behind should be determined by the Damage of the different Modules and where the last hit was. I propose the following components and possible Interactions after completing(with or without success), the part would instantly explode to remove itself from further interaction:
Okay this one was a bit harder I suppose, but now for the main course.
Salvage Zones after the end of a War
I made a similar suggestion a while ago, but since build upon it and want to incorporate it into the bigger picture.
Whenever a war is finished, there is a 1 day Cooldown. During this period I would turn a few Conflict Zones into Salvage Zones, which would go away after the Cooldown. The Number of converted Zones should be based on the overall Progress both Factions made towards Victory and should be between 0 and number of Conflict Zones(if the war somehow got up to +150% cumulative Progress). A few notes on the nature of these Salvage Sites:
Salvaging Wrecks
Currently the Wrecks found floating in USS or Wreckage Sites(or however these were called) are just static pieces of decoration, that don't offer any interaction. I would like to propose 2 tools to change that and 1 additional use for the Recon Limpet.
Reckon Limpet
Firing the Recon Limpet at the Cargo Bay of a Shipwreck should give it a few moments of power, like 1-2 Minutes. During which the Player could check the Status of the Ships Modules, check the Cargo Bay, Deploy Hardpoints and expel stuck Escape Pods. They could also fire a Hatchbreaker as a Follow up to empty out the Cargo Bay. Some ships could also yield free Intel to sell.
Cutting Beam Laser
Players should be able to blow up a shipwreck the same way, they can do with regular ships. Leaving behind pieces of wreckage(as suggested above). For a better job there should be an industrial super focues beam laser, with additional targeting aid to do a better job though. The Cutting Beam Laser has a much shorter range, similar to that of an mining laser maybe and would be used in Gunner Mode(from MC or Similar to Surface Scanner). They player could see the different Platforms for External Modules and Hardpoints and could cut them out for a number(based on accuracy) pieces of regular sell-able Salvage. Players should also be able to cut along the wielding lines of a ship to break it up into more wreckage pieces than they would get if they just blew up the vessel.
Salvager Limpet
Once a ship has been broken down into Wreckage Pieces either by blowing it up or Cutting it apart, the Salvager Limpet would tear those pieces even further apart. Each piece of Wreckage would yield a few tons of Salvage, that players could pick and sell at starports.
Final Words
If you made it this far, thank you. Since I rolled all of this in my head for so long and did other stuff in meantime I've probably forgotten a few cool ideas already and will add the later, but I hope you get the general Picuture of how I would love to see Salvager Profession build upon and improved. If you have any ideas or comments I am always open for discussion. Fly Save Everyone
When I first started Elite my go-to Missions were Salvage Missions. I scooped up countless Black Boxes, Art Pieces and whatnot else before I learned of Collector Limpets and even then I just loved the idea of going out and doing salvage, but it just feels way to 1 dimensional after the introduction of new Exploration and Mining Minigames/Mechanics. So lets get into the meat.
Current State of Salvage as a Profession
- We already have Missions for Salvage. They have decent pay and with the recent update to USS I cannot really complain about this really.
- There is Salvageable Wreckage, which are kinda empty, Decoded Emissions, which are mainly sought after for Materials. Both are populated with Shipwrecks, that cannot be really interacted with at the moment.
- Then there are the infamous Tip-Offs, which usually provide the location of a crash-site, that don't really offer much.
- There are random Crashsites, that as far as I know, don't show up with the new Surface Scanner, like all other Random Generated POI's on Surfaces.
- Destroying NPCs usally drops a bit of Salvage in the form of Materials, but not really something, you are interested moneywise.
- Speaking of which all ships blow up and we are never left with just broken Vessels sadly.
Surface Scanner should reveal Random Generated POI's
The New FSS and USS System allows Players to search for Salvage Sites in SC better. All the while Surface Salvage Sites, that are randomly generated, cannot be revealed. I don't expect the FSS to pick up on these, but the Surface Scanner should be able to create them.
For within the Bubble/Civilized System I propose tracking the Number of possible Crashsites(Ships and Satellites) as part of the BGS. The current Number or an estimate could be displayed in a Rumored Section of the Local News Board(i.e. "In a Local System Security Chase X Ships got rid of their illegal Cargo somewhere in the system. X Number of Ships have gone missing and possible crashed."). For already Scanned Planets(since I suspect, you could otherwise run out in the bubble at some point), I would add them once the Player gets close enough for other fixed sites to show up and remove their Signal once a Player gets into a certain range in Local Space. Once a Player visits a random POI, the Number is reduced by 1. Every day the Number and Estimate would fluctuate a bit within limits.
I don't know if the presence of crash-sites in Deep Space far away from Civilization is intended. If they are, I would just add a small random Chance for such POI's to show up on a first Scan of a Planets and make them only last for the current Instance.
Add Salvage Missions for Planet Crashsites
I don't have a problem with Salvage Missions in Space as stated above. But for Planets we only have the tip-offs, which are kinda random and cannot be searched for and the recovery of Landmines or stuff along those lines from Secrets Caches. There is no Mission to find a recently crashed ship, recover the log and possible Escape Pod(could be a Optional Target of such missions) and return to the Station. Given how you can already create this crash-sites randomly I would love to see them used in such Missions.
Add temporary Wrecks on Ship Destruction
I can understand, why you wouldn't want ships to leave wrecks behind as a Combat Zone would at some point become clustered with physics Objects. But I propose a compromise: Have Ships leave behind a small number of wreckage parts behind. These would blow up after 1-2 Minutes to keep the Instance clear. What is left behind should be determined by the Damage of the different Modules and where the last hit was. I propose the following components and possible Interactions after completing(with or without success), the part would instantly explode to remove itself from further interaction:
- Cargo Bay. Could still be targeted by a Hatch Breaker although a lot of the contents would have been destroyed.
- Cockpit. A recon Limpet could hack into the Ship Computer and get some Intel, that can be sold, for Players maybe a percentage of Exploration Data. A Hatchet Breaker could free the Blackbox.
- Random Shippart. Could be worked on by Salvage Limpet(see below) to create Salvage to be picked up for selling. Otherwise just use as filler.
Okay this one was a bit harder I suppose, but now for the main course.
Salvage Zones after the end of a War
I made a similar suggestion a while ago, but since build upon it and want to incorporate it into the bigger picture.
Whenever a war is finished, there is a 1 day Cooldown. During this period I would turn a few Conflict Zones into Salvage Zones, which would go away after the Cooldown. The Number of converted Zones should be based on the overall Progress both Factions made towards Victory and should be between 0 and number of Conflict Zones(if the war somehow got up to +150% cumulative Progress). A few notes on the nature of these Salvage Sites:
- A Salvage Zone should be under the Control of the Winning Side. It would contain Ship Wreckage from the previous point without expiration timer, as well as full shipwrecks as we already now them. Drifting in between all the mess Players could find Occupied Escape Pods, Black Boxes, other pieces of Cargo from Combat Ships, such Military Intelligence and a bit of Manufactured Materials. Everything except the Escape Pods and Materials would be illegal Salvage.
- The Area would be patrolled by the NPC's of the Winning Side, that would tell people to keep out of the wreckage under threat of violence after like a Minute, which could be reset by using low heat Signature. They would also Scan ships for illegal Cargo and attack offenders. Easiest way to deal with keeping players out would be to create a restricted area, that would give out fines.
- For Conflicts that would have resulted into the appearance of Capital Ships one could have stayed behind to oversee the operation and would provide the Patrols with additional Firepower.
- At the same time, that such Salvage Sites exist both sides, that took part in the Conflict would offer Missions to recover Salvage from these Zones, with Missions from the Winner Side granting Players a permit to those sites to do their job. The Loser could in addition to regular illegal recovery offer Jobs to destroy Salvage of any kind.
Salvaging Wrecks
Currently the Wrecks found floating in USS or Wreckage Sites(or however these were called) are just static pieces of decoration, that don't offer any interaction. I would like to propose 2 tools to change that and 1 additional use for the Recon Limpet.
Reckon Limpet
Firing the Recon Limpet at the Cargo Bay of a Shipwreck should give it a few moments of power, like 1-2 Minutes. During which the Player could check the Status of the Ships Modules, check the Cargo Bay, Deploy Hardpoints and expel stuck Escape Pods. They could also fire a Hatchbreaker as a Follow up to empty out the Cargo Bay. Some ships could also yield free Intel to sell.
Cutting Beam Laser
Players should be able to blow up a shipwreck the same way, they can do with regular ships. Leaving behind pieces of wreckage(as suggested above). For a better job there should be an industrial super focues beam laser, with additional targeting aid to do a better job though. The Cutting Beam Laser has a much shorter range, similar to that of an mining laser maybe and would be used in Gunner Mode(from MC or Similar to Surface Scanner). They player could see the different Platforms for External Modules and Hardpoints and could cut them out for a number(based on accuracy) pieces of regular sell-able Salvage. Players should also be able to cut along the wielding lines of a ship to break it up into more wreckage pieces than they would get if they just blew up the vessel.
Salvager Limpet
Once a ship has been broken down into Wreckage Pieces either by blowing it up or Cutting it apart, the Salvager Limpet would tear those pieces even further apart. Each piece of Wreckage would yield a few tons of Salvage, that players could pick and sell at starports.
Final Words
If you made it this far, thank you. Since I rolled all of this in my head for so long and did other stuff in meantime I've probably forgotten a few cool ideas already and will add the later, but I hope you get the general Picuture of how I would love to see Salvager Profession build upon and improved. If you have any ideas or comments I am always open for discussion. Fly Save Everyone
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