[v1.0.23] Southern Comfort (just another idea)
Feb 15, 2017 0:57:20 GMT -5
grävling, athios, and 1 more like this
Post by MintDragon on Feb 15, 2017 0:57:20 GMT -5
I've been playing the alpha, and in 1.0.21/23, the immersion is a huge leap from previous versions. Combined with getting familiar with the interface, new concepts of jobs/skills/talents, and basic tips/tricks/traps from the forum, I've been able to play thousands of turns, explore double-digit quadrants, establish familiar trade paths intra-sector and across sectors, and know a couple of contacts I just have to get back to once I have enough experience, a better ship, or what-not.
But I need a pencil to do this.
I came across a thread tonight in the ST2 section, called "Legality" (here), where xdesperado was frustrated in hauling a bunch of fertilizer to a Farming colony, only to find it was illegal, regardless of trade permit or faction. It's kind of like chewing gum in Singapore. You can't buy the stuff there. Anyways, in the post, there was a thread that really caused my lightbulb to go off (stick with me for this, lightbulb caused by the bold text below:
To be honest, I have way too much fun thinking up goofy backstories on why X product is illegal on Y world. Conversely, making up backstories on why X product is legal on Y world.
Like I said, my 0 law planet is totally the wild west. The Javatian mob took over and bribed everyone in power, then once they got what they wanted... BAM! Everyone in a position of power was executed. Now, the government is just a puppet for the Javatian mob.
Yep, the variety is so key to making worlds that are fun.
Yes, you can find the Farming world where the insane Prince has outlawed Fertilizer and Pesticides. But it is not the case on most worlds.
Also, please note Smugglers are going to find this place to be oh so interesting.
So, let's not nuke features because a Merchant wants to trade there, you're just killing the Smuggler's fun.
I am sorry that the UI is not doing a great job of communicating this. We will keep trying to improve.My reply was that it would be great to be able to learn this fact "one time" (ie. Once you know the farming colony outlawed fertilizer, you won't come back here down the road). A great fact that I need to grab my pencil, note the planet and "no fertilizer/pesticides". Other examples are, "Lots of alien artifacts", "left my stash of xx here", "Trade Route #2, next stop xx planet or yy planet", "Triple-crossed contact's mission, do not land".
I really like the idea of a 'notepad' that can be opened on the planet screen (where you can see the planet and landing sites). Press a button called 'User Info' and a semi-transparent notepad/textbox opens that let's me type anything I want about the planet, anything that I would normally use a pencil for (or on a desktop, the notepad app ironically). A set of buttons at the bottom (Edit, Save, Delete).
To let me know that this planet has 'special information' added/saved by me, we could add an additional 'indicator', similar to the city/wilderness/contact/mission 'indicator'. It could point South to make it stand out, and perhaps be a contrasting color (orange-ish?), so when looking at a sector map it's easy to see which planets have notes on them, even when zoomed out a bit.
By extension, it would be helpful for a hover (on the sector map) to include at least the first few bits of the note, but I'm going beyond my initial lightbulb thought.
Anyway, the problem I was trying to solve is how I can eventually play a satisfying, really deep and complex game (taking into consideration all the features to be and all) without using a pencil, and being able to "learn once". I figure a Southern indicator on a planet with notes might be able to do that.
Just some more thoughts.
But I need a pencil to do this.
I came across a thread tonight in the ST2 section, called "Legality" (here), where xdesperado was frustrated in hauling a bunch of fertilizer to a Farming colony, only to find it was illegal, regardless of trade permit or faction. It's kind of like chewing gum in Singapore. You can't buy the stuff there. Anyways, in the post, there was a thread that really caused my lightbulb to go off (stick with me for this, lightbulb caused by the bold text below:
Like I said, my 0 law planet is totally the wild west. The Javatian mob took over and bribed everyone in power, then once they got what they wanted... BAM! Everyone in a position of power was executed. Now, the government is just a puppet for the Javatian mob.
Yes, you can find the Farming world where the insane Prince has outlawed Fertilizer and Pesticides. But it is not the case on most worlds.
Also, please note Smugglers are going to find this place to be oh so interesting.
So, let's not nuke features because a Merchant wants to trade there, you're just killing the Smuggler's fun.
I am sorry that the UI is not doing a great job of communicating this. We will keep trying to improve.
I really like the idea of a 'notepad' that can be opened on the planet screen (where you can see the planet and landing sites). Press a button called 'User Info' and a semi-transparent notepad/textbox opens that let's me type anything I want about the planet, anything that I would normally use a pencil for (or on a desktop, the notepad app ironically). A set of buttons at the bottom (Edit, Save, Delete).
To let me know that this planet has 'special information' added/saved by me, we could add an additional 'indicator', similar to the city/wilderness/contact/mission 'indicator'. It could point South to make it stand out, and perhaps be a contrasting color (orange-ish?), so when looking at a sector map it's easy to see which planets have notes on them, even when zoomed out a bit.
By extension, it would be helpful for a hover (on the sector map) to include at least the first few bits of the note, but I'm going beyond my initial lightbulb thought.
Anyway, the problem I was trying to solve is how I can eventually play a satisfying, really deep and complex game (taking into consideration all the features to be and all) without using a pencil, and being able to "learn once". I figure a Southern indicator on a planet with notes might be able to do that.
Just some more thoughts.
