Thu Mar 13, 2003 3:23 am by Bullethead
I'd start improvements with basic gameplay fixes, rather than adding new features. To wit:
1. Allow Early Player Self-Sufficiency and Independence
The definition of being a freelancer is doing your own thing, and there was much pre-release hype that FL would allow this. But this turns out to be very untrue in the SP game. Until you're at least 1/2 way through the SP plot, you're stuck with doing "go to point X, kill Y" missions while waiting for the next plot mission. Before then, mining and trading aren't profitable enough to worry with. And exploration for its own sake is pointless until AFTER the SP missions are over, when you already have the best ship and gear in the game, so where's the challenge?
The big problem here is that advancement is tied solely to wealth, so just killing random enemies does nothing for you. They have no loot worth mentioning and you don't get experience points for the combat. So not only do random encounters not advance you towards the next level, but you're extremely unlikely to pick up better gear. Hell, you're not even likely to pick up enough crap gear to cover the cost of the missiles, mines, and shield batteries you used up in the fight.
As such, there is an incentive NOT to go see the universe, and NOT to fight just because it's fun. Doing so only delays your advancement to the next level by decreasing your net worth. This is a real tragedy IMHO, because FL has excellent combat and this great dynamic universe, but the advancement thing hamstrings both of them.
So, change things by giving meaningful rewards for random encounters, instead of them being just a drain on time and money. Have a separate experience point category like in othe RGPs, instead of basing it all on money. And have better loot available more often in random encounters. Both of these changes would allow players to REALLY freelance AND still advance through the SP plot. Then there'd be no penalty to explorers, and the fighting involved in mining and trading wouldn't make those occupations pointless for low-level guys. Thus, players would have alternatives other than bounty hunter or hitman early in the game. And having alternatives is the whole point of being a freelancer.
2. More Mission Types
The above change would make this one less necessary, because the above opens up exploration, mining, and trading earlier than at present. Thus, there'd be less need for the jobs you get in bars. But assuming the above doesn't happen, then the jobs you get in bars need WAY WAY WAY more variety.
At present, all bar missions are very minor variations on the theme of "go to point X and kill Y". Y might be a generic group of stock baddies, a single named mini-boss with his retainers, a base, etlc. But whatever, you're still just a hitman or bounty hunter. The box says: "hero, pirate, merchant, smuggler--YOU DECIDE". But in actual fact, you can only be a hitman or a bounty hunter and still make progress towards your next level.
What we need is different types of missions. Courrier missions, either for legit or shady sponsors. Get the critical widget to the research station, run these few kilos of drugs to the planet, etc. And we need some exploration missions, where you're paid to discover jump holes, secret bases, patrol routes, shipwrecks, or whatever. Or escort the convoy/diplomat/corporate exec/rich socialite/etc. from point A to point B. Just something besides "got to point X, kill Y".
-Bullethead
In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is strength, in water there is bacteria
It's surprising how good you can get with a Mouse after playing "UT2003".