Changing difficulty during a game

[slayernz]

What about the ability to increase the difficulty of a game that you started? You might have a particular loyalty to a pilot that was started in a low difficulty game, but are now finding it just a tad easy. By being able to increase difficulty, you can help balance the odds.

I wouldn't want to be able to decrease difficulty though - as it would mean you could abuse the system to win rewards but still have all the convenience of low fuel cost, etc

[jaden]

I have thought about this and would like the option to make it a progressive difficulty change ex. start at normal and the game changes to the next difficulty depending on what level your on.

[Cory Trese]

nothing at all stopping this from happening.

perhaps you could increase the difficulty in Elite edition under "Roster"

what you say?

[RushSecond]

But then you could cheat the awards. Play on basic and fulfill the requirements, then switch to the necessary difficulty and collect the reward.

[Cory Trese]

but of course you are correct.

thank you for explaining ST RPG architecture to me.

LOL @ Self and +1 Karma for RushSecond =)

[darkmonk]

That's not right... Wouldn't you still have to complete the same goals on the higher difficulty? And if not, then what keeps the game from granting awards on a lower difficulty game instead of a higher? Is it just a flag of 'check for number greater than x'? If So, couldn't you just add a different set values for a converted difficulty game that have all the changes of a higher difficulty Game except they won't show the same value as the difficulty for the award?
*apologies if this ramble makes no sense, its 3:30am and I'm beat.

[diablodestroyer]

Im ok with increasing the difficulty upwards, but not downwards. But to be honest, i would feel that some of the game challenge comes from the initial starting in the first place, whereby one is at neutral rank with everyone and every small action generally might lead to factions not liking you so much. Yet you must manage ur money and carry out the task and be attacked by those factions.

If difficulty is allowed to be changed, starting off at normal till the rep is in the high positives for all the factions, then switching the difficulty up, the end part of the game becomes much more easier to handle. Not sure if it borders on being TOO easy.

[gandalf]

I too like this idea, but how about a capped band of difficulty.

So, start on Basic and you can only upgrade the difficulty to Challenging.
Start on Normal and the top difficulty upgrade will be Demanding, etc.

That way, if you start on say Normal or Challenging and really find it a little too easy after investing a lot of time in a character, you can upgrade the difficulty but not so much as to make the earlier levels too unbalanced.

If you ultimately want to play at a harder difficulty, then you need to start higher

[vecuccio]

What about changing profession ? When you first choose you have no idea how each profession really relates to the game, and probably end up choosing one that is not suited to your style.
You should be able to change from say 'Pirate' to 'Captain' or whatever during the game.

[oldalchemist]

The way you keep progress from an old captain is that you get the unlocked acheivements with a new captain.

Unless you get a massive XP, cash, and ship penalty when you change difficulty, it backdoors the game balance.

Changing professions ought to also penalize you in XP, else why not change your class every time you want to do a different mission? Every class can do every action in the game, it's just that some do certain things better. If you want a Jack of All Trades, take a Star Trader or a Captain.

[ryan]

vecuccio
You can always make a new captain. I mean really, the only real way to find out about all the different styles, is to play one of everything. Then after you've played a long time, you can go make one specific to your favorite style of play. Changing difficulty or profession is silly in my opinion. Just make a new captain!

[oldalchemist]

I try to keep old, failed captains around for new awards. I'm working on getting a guy who blew the 25 perfect contracts attempt to succeed as the Blackheart. Once I get the engines on this crate upgraded and a little more armor on the bulkheads, I'm going to start chapping everyone's aft. If I don't live long enough to do it, I'll go down knowing I tried. I think I'll annoy the Cadar last....