I find in-game time-based gameplay gives players a reason to log in every day, as well as add an additional layer of content.
I suggest something along the lines of "cooking" or "refining" exploration samples over a certain period of time, raising their overall value based on the time spent.
This could be in the form of a laboratory module that works faster based on the class and size.
The gameplay loop would be something along the lines of:
1. Jump into system and FSS
2. Find body with geological/biological signals
3. Probe body, select heat map, and land near signals
4. Collect relevant samples on foot (on this end, it would be nice to have a way to see what samples we have collected)
5. Enter ship, go to Inventory panel, tab to Lab, new UI that allows us to select the process (shorter times, less quality, less value - longer times, higher quality, more value)
6. Timer ticks down in and out of game
7. Retrieve samples from ship inventory
8. Sell refined samples
I suggest something along the lines of "cooking" or "refining" exploration samples over a certain period of time, raising their overall value based on the time spent.
This could be in the form of a laboratory module that works faster based on the class and size.
The gameplay loop would be something along the lines of:
1. Jump into system and FSS
2. Find body with geological/biological signals
3. Probe body, select heat map, and land near signals
4. Collect relevant samples on foot (on this end, it would be nice to have a way to see what samples we have collected)
5. Enter ship, go to Inventory panel, tab to Lab, new UI that allows us to select the process (shorter times, less quality, less value - longer times, higher quality, more value)
6. Timer ticks down in and out of game
7. Retrieve samples from ship inventory
8. Sell refined samples