impossible contracts

[shallowthought]

This happened to me a couple of times today - get a contract, eg. go to planet X, meet guy in star dock. However, when you get to the planet, the star dock is closed due to a rumor.

Obviously, this can be considered a feature or a bug depending on how you look at it. But wouldn't it be sensible for the guy you're meeting to go to the spice hall instead (like going to a planet of a faction with -ve rep)? After all, the star dock is closed to everyone, so how's he still inside?

[slayernz]

Hi Shallowthought,

It's definitely one of those things that causes a headache, but does happen from time to time. If you think about it, the person who is creates the contract submits the contract to you in the belief the contract is legitimate and can be completed. That is, they truly believe the location, and planet are accessible in the time allotted for the contract. In fact, if they know that your reputation is so low that you are banned from the dock, they reassign the destination to be the spice hall. That's how nice they are.

Whilst in transit to the planet, some major accident occurs and yes, the dock is shut down, but the contract creator couldn't have foreseen that, any more than they could have foreseen if you had been waylaid by constant encounters and couldn't get to the target planet in the available time.

Could there be a situation where there is an active rumor about a dock being off limit when the contract is presented to you? Yes. However, again, the contract creator doesn't necessarily waste time listening to rumors, and you as a wise space-faring captain should be across all rumors. Also, a rumor that is in place at the time the contract is presented to you could expire before you arrive at the destination.

As for the target not going to the spice hall. What do you do if you are a captain in desperate need of repairs and arrive to find the star dock of the planet you land at is off limits? You quickly depart to go to the next available planet for repairs. You don't stop to buy a drink at the spice hall and you only stop to buy/sell cargo if you need something more than you already have (cash or water fuel).

[Cory Trese]

It is simply impossible to predict.

We have done everything possible around reputation, which was the really common cause of the problem.

Personally, today, I consider it a feature and won't remove it.

[shallowthought]

OK, fair enough. had this situation happen again but was able to wait until the end of the rumor and then complete the contract.

[blackgauntlet]

Meh, keep it as it is, Cory.

There's nothing wrong with this system. I feel how it is as how slayer has described it as well.

It's what we call "Shit Happens". If everything goes according to plan, the world needs no police and there would be no suicides.

Jan 8, 2012 20:52:24 GMT -5 shallowthought said:

OK, fair enough. had this situation happen again but was able to wait until the end of the rumor and then complete the contract.

Precisely! It is just as possible for the employer to think the job possible even during a Star Dock closure because he foresee it opening again soon! Nothing is constant and that's what makes it fun!

[Cory Trese]

now i might be convinced that someday in the future there are ways to attempt sneaking into these closed areas, but i haven't really worked out how that would work yet

[blackgauntlet]

It will be possible if the game becomes something like "Pirates!" where we could control the Captain's physical movements instead of just the vessel.

[Cory Trese]

certainly not possible with the existing ST engine or saved game format

[blackgauntlet]

Yeah, I think so too...

Perhaps something like a "Choose Your Adventure" book's format that requires rolling of skill checks?

[Cory Trese]

yeah, i was thinking it would be accessed via a black market, which is located in Wild
so it would be ...

Wild -> Black Market -> Officer Smuggler -> Skill Check -> Sneaked Area

One issue is that those screens aren't coded to work when they are in inaccessible format and lots of assumptions were made around those features -- for example -- when the starport is closed the list of upgrades is null which would cause the game to force close if you entered the port while it was closed

[blackgauntlet]

Ermm...

Couldn't you create a faux Star Port somewhere in the back of the program with bare minimal facilities, i.e. operational only when Star Port is closed, which is accessible when the Skill Check is passed?

With this faux Star Port, you could even put in more options like "Steal Ship", "Hijack Ship", "Alter Trade Records", "Kidnap Prince", "Assassinate VIP", "Trade Contraband" and etc. for special missions or class-specific characters previously unavailable due to system limitations.

[shallowthought]

"Assassinate VIP" / "Kidnap Prince" sounds interesting - possible contract to go to the palace and take out the prince? Could require some sort of unlock, high rep with faction sending you or minimum captain level or something? Massive payoff and target faction will totally hate you?

[blackgauntlet]

I wasn't really implying it as a contract but more of a personal goal. ;D

[slayernz]

Jan 10, 2012 1:05:51 GMT -5 Cory Trese said:

yeah, i was thinking it would be accessed via a black market, which is located in Wild
so it would be ...

Wild -> Black Market -> Officer Smuggler -> Skill Check -> Sneaked Area

What ... hey back the truck up!!! Black Markets exist now?!? When did that happen. I know I know ... it's in an upcoming release ... but I can't help but get excited in advance.

[blackgauntlet]

Of course, they exist! For quite some time in the Wild areas of several planets.

Below is the list of planets found to have Black Markets which could only be accessed after obtaining invitation passes in Spice Halls of that particular planer...

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*SPOILER ALERT* (Fonts are in white and you'll have to highlight the text to see the list)
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Tee hee! Bet you got excited, didn't ya?!