So we're going have to an plot then? Sweet.
I'm not sure what it would look like but I think that that'd be important to allow RP servers to be able to customize their players' experiences. But it needs to be done in a practical robust wayHere's an idea make the tools for us to cook up any kind of mission or quest we want to and let us help cook up the various quests and stories. It'd save you a ton of headaches down the road and you could put in things as defaults that could be removed and replaced or added onto.
How about player factions can create the story arcs, and upload them to SMD for servers to use? That'd be interesting.StarMade is a tough game. We're open-world and I guess a sandbox, like Minecraft. We're countless other sci-fi universes through role-play servers. We have the capacity for countless lore and story arcs but it needs to be engaging for both single-player and multi-player, so it can't be locked in to be too linear because it won't work for multi-player, and it can't be too fixed in a single story because that prevents role-play servers from being able to role-play. Additionally the ability to customize your server is a big point, so we need to be able to support role-play servers adding in their own content that's more relevant to their server's "universe".
This is the dilemma we face. It's tough. But we also realise we'd be remiss to not build upon all that StarMade offers to make an engaging storyline and lore.
In light of that (and this is my own personal opinion here not necessarily where the team or the game might be heading) I'd like to take the lore and story side of StarMade towards a number of story arcs that can lead you across the galaxy on adventures, where you encounter factions that have a lot of backstory, that where your decisions can turn the tide in the struggle between clashing empires, but where if you don't want to engage in all of that and just play with your friends and build something, you can do that also.
I want to find that balance between an engaging story-driven experience that you could experience on your own or with friends, and just playing StarMade because you love all the other elements of the game (and there will be a lot).
I like the idea that you can be playing on a server and not really engaging in the storyline, but engaging with a faction or a shop or something and that your experience can be augmented by another player on the other side of the galaxy waging a war with another faction or something. As humans we talk, we share stories of crazy things other players did; imagine if NPCs did the same thing, telling tales of the feats other players did or the state of a war or factions. And perhaps as a player you'll hear something that intrigues you and you go to investigate. You've now created your own adventure and who knows where it could lead.
As a team we're still working out this aspect of the game, and what we want to do with it, but at least from my perspective, that's where I want to take you all.
I would really like the ability to hire/place a "fluff" NPC on my station and give it a backstory, maybe even define a set of conversation points or arcs it could use when players approach it. This basic mechanic would allow for players to inject some variety into their faction's NPCs.
I'm not sure what it would look like but I think that that'd be important to allow RP servers to be able to customize their players' experiences. But it needs to be done in a practical robust way
I like it. Instead of trying to come up with a elaborate system for npcs, Schine can handle NPCs like they handle spaceships: let the players create them. I could even see a new community content section where people can upload their scripted NPCs and have others download and rate them.I would really like the ability to hire/place a "fluff" NPC on my station and give it a backstory, maybe even define a set of conversation points or arcs it could use when players approach it. This basic mechanic would allow for players to inject some variety into their faction's NPCs.
Taking it a step further, it would be nice if you could set up fetch quests between your faction's named NPCs. "Oh, you're new around here. Must have just come off planetside, huh? Don't worry, everyone's first time in space is a little confusing. I'll tell you what, take this faction insignia and go talk to Quartermaster Blake. He handles all the logistics on Haven. He'll get you set up with a room and access to the station. Come back to me when you're settled and we'll talk about what you can do to support the IEC."
Another example: "I hear you're the ace who's been keeping our pickets clear of UniCorp hunter drones. I could use your help, if you're not busy with other assignments. I've been studying a captured drone, and it looks like their systems could be repurposed to create missile defense turrets for our light frigates. Start bringing me any drone wreckage you create, and I'll talk to Blake about getting permission to use those frigates."
Those examples would require some new faction settings/permissions and entities to implement, but being able to set up stuff like this would let player factions create a rewarding experience to match what you're shooting for with NPC ones.
This is why we need an API so badly.Here's an idea make the tools for us to cook up any kind of mission or quest we want to and let us help cook up the various quests and stories. It'd save you a ton of headaches down the road and you could put in things as defaults that could be removed and replaced or added onto.
This would be good, for sure, but even better would be the ability for PCs to offer and assign missions to other PCs and NPCs. "Go blow up this outpost for me for 10m credits." "Bring me 500K advanced brown armor." etc. NPC missions either quickly get repetitive and predictable or require massive and neverending scripting work by devs and/or server hosts to keep fresh.What would really improve single player as well as multiplayer would be missions (quests) that you receive from NPC's.