New Officer: Pilot

[Cory Trese]

I have a bunch of ideas and code for what he/she could do ... but I want to hear YOUR ideas first.

I have attached the image of the new officer for your inspirational viewing.

Attachments:

[sebastian]

Increase manuevering ability in battle.

Reduce fuel usage by flying better (mebbe save for navigator for flying optimum route?)
Less chance of encounters, better avoidance skills
Better results on blockades due to less chance of breaking thru

Just a few ideas off the cuff...

[aielman]

My first thoughts would be decreased fuel costs and increased agility in combat.

[kuzkula]

Bonus to landing in urban and wilderness.

[gearheadwhat]

All of the above.

If he was to be like the others however, he should have similar abilities. I.E. something he does special. Then a related stat-boost or two, also a doubling effect or boost of some sort, along with some sort or 'good' you can have in your inventory.

So, here is what I suggest (in addition to everything already mentioned):

Chance to avoid any sort of damage: Solar sail damage, health/crew losses from storms, etc. (Similar to political officer warning perhaps if that's too powerful? which is sort of like advice from the military officer when your health is low and when morale is low with first officer. Once again, these if the first is not good enough)

If chance to avoid damage is granted, I have an advice suggestion:
Warn when plotting course if there won't be enough fuel to make it (land with at least 5 fuel at any rate should be the warning limit, he wants a little lee-way)

Stat boost: Obviously Pilot. Bonus to all pilot related stuff perhaps as well, landings/movement in combat as previously suggested.


As for the good that he would stack with...

Uh..

Hmn...

Vudka: First mate
Crystals/metal: Mechanic
Spice: Spy (Or was that political officer?)
Electronics: Spy? (I honestly forget about what these two need....)
Records: Scout
Weapons: Military
Artifacts?:Veteran/alien hunter?


: Pilot?

Not sure what exactly would be best. Not fuel, or any of the other ones so far.... Maybe (maybe) electronics... but I think that's used. Perhaps Luxury items? Those already have a use though.

I don't see plants clothing or chemicals helping him at all really...


But ya. That's my ideas on the matter.

[sgtcookie]

@gear: Spice is for political officer, electronics are for the spy.

I agree with gear's "all of the above" statement. And I personally think that water-fuel should be used for the pilot's item. The more water-fuel carried the better the pilots abilities. After all, if there is water-fuel to spare then more complex and water-fuel draining maneuvers can be performed.

[gearheadwhat]

Ah, thanks for helping me fix which is which

Anyhow:

The only issue I see is that water fuel is something you ALWAYS have. Generally in a fairly good chunk as well. I'm sure most people have a min of 10-15, and probably more if you have the water-tank and stuff, so that puts a lot of people up to 25+...

That could be really over-powered. That, and your pilot will continually get worse as you're out there since you're always using fuel.

But. That's just me. Not sure if it could work out okay somehow. (I'd rather see him water fuel saving, rather than spending).

The next question, is what all other officers are going to be put in the game. Are we going to get a navigator as an officer? Or is that the secondary role of the pilot? I suppose that could change things for how I view them.

[celu]

i think spice and/or vudka should enhance his piloting skills.

captain's pilot skill + pilot = better fuel economy...specially on red zones
compensates captain's low piloting skills/hull size
Improves battle maneuvers (pilot will be like an extra engine/sail or 2)

Pilot's Benefit is for the captain to concentrate on other skills when leveling up.

for fun:
Also, he looks like a narv. My idea of a pilot will look like your school bus driver...yeah, the weird one.
Background: youngest pilot to earn top honors, best the academy has seen. local hero who single handedly fought off narvs or aliens of his hometown. former intergalactic space race champ, got kicked out of the league for unruly behavior, been living anonymous piloting old ships for scrap recycling. Scrap recycling owner is his 2nd degree uncle.

[sgtcookie]

gearheadwhat: I didn't actually mean that he would increase water-fuel expenditure. What I meant was that if it were real life, then a large stockpile of fuel would be needed for complex maneuvers. While it might seem OP, it does make theoretical and logical sense. As for the point of him getting worse the less water-fuel you have, that too makes sense. After all what good is a pilot on a stranded ship?

[slayernz]

For me the pilot will provide the standard fare of:
* Stealth min (20 or 120% of captain stealth skill)
* Pilot min (25 or 125% of captain pilot skill)

Plus Special bonus
+80% chance of avoiding being rammed by another ship
+50% chance of avoiding being boarded by another ship

The standard stealth/pilot stuff will provide you with the fuel efficiency gains, as well well as the ability to land/movement in combat, but the special bonus is what is most valuable to me. Especially improved protection against the nastiest threat in combat - the enemy ram!

Having his ability enhanced by having Spice on board is probably appropriate - "he's an okay pilot, but when you give him spice, my gods, he seems to become one with the ship!"

[fallen]

slayernz - awesome suggestions! Spice has always been associated (in my cracked mind at least) with space travel.

gearheadwhat - let's assume some of the following officers will be added over the next few months: navigator, ship's doctor, assassin.

[sebastian]

Slayernz has a great way of putting everyones ideas into Cory-speak :-)

[captain nemo]

Jun 26, 2011 20:22:00 GMT -5 sebastian said:

Slayernz has a great way of putting everyones ideas into Cory-speak :-)

Yes he does !! ;D

[nuke147147]

I just really want to see an, " I am a leaf on the wind" quote involved with the pilot.
Maybe on the toast reporting the Pilot's ability has an impact.

Shoot, for that matter:

Mechanic: "I patched up the sails Cap'n, everything's shiny!"
When lacking resources: "About that compression coil Cap'n..."

Veteran: "Her name is Vera"

Political: "For the last time, I really am an ambassador! Why does everyone keep calling me a companion?!?"

Or a filler rumor: Have you seen that crazy Doctor? He keeps going on about his sister. Say, you haven't heard anything about her, have you?

[HateSolstice]

In that case, we already know who the Assassin will be. ;P