Keras Authion
Science and Trade Institute
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Posted - 2011.04.12 16:00:00 -
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I didn't read the whole thread so it might be suggested before, but how about some research agent missions? It would really help them to differ from ordinary courier runs.
There should still be those "we need this from station x, go get it" ones, but mix them with new in-station ones. Some ideas could be new half-life style laboratory assistant work, hacking done like in system shock or dead space 2 and missions with logic puzzles. Let's have some examples.
Example: laboratory assistant:
"Hello, internet spaceship captain. This is your research agent. We've had a little bad luck. My assistant for your project caught a cold and cannot come to work today. Since you have the qualification in the field, I figured I could ask you to help in his stead. I can keep the project moving even without it, but it would greatly speed up the process. Will you help?"
The mission:
This should be familiar to anyone who has played Half-life. Listen to the researcher and move this equipment here, connect those cables, get a battery from next door, flip this switch and so on.
Example: puzzle:
"Hello, internet spaceship captain. The ship carrying the prototype fusion thruster we need for your astronautic research was attacked by pirates last night. The ship made it to he station but the thruster packaging was thrown around in the firefight and was broken into pieces. We have called a techician who worked on the prototype but his ship is scheduled to arrive later this evening. We cannot advance the research without having this part functional. Since you have the knowledge in this field would you like to see if you can make anything out of the wreck?"
The mission:
Figure out how the parts go together. The dig had one like I was thinking (see 6:10 in the video). You could even balance the puzzles according your skills and attributes. Say 3 pieces + 4 per level of the mission. Link the mission to some attribute (or two), take the average number (23 with implants?) and add or remove a piece for every 2 points it differs. Also you could drop a piece for every level of the skill it exceeds the level of the mission. So to fix the thruster above on a level 2 mission with 20 points in the linked attribute and level 3 astronautic science skill you'd have 3(base) + 2*4(mission level) - (2-3)(from the astronautics skill) +1(lower attribute) = 11 pieces to combine.
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