Fractal Softworks Forum

Starsector => Suggestions => Topic started by: Gothars on September 16, 2022, 04:08:51 AM

Title: Saving NPC fleets for an ad-hoc bounty
Post by: Gothars on September 16, 2022, 04:08:51 AM
It would be nice if saving npc fleets were acknowledged by the game in some way. I feel almost a bit betrayed when I see a trade fleet in a hopeless fight with a pirate armada, jump in to save them - and then nothing happens, not even a "thank you".

I don't know what the simplest technical implementation would be, maybe if fleets in a fight would generate a bounty for that fight? That way you would simply get paid credits/reputation per ship you destroyed, and the game would not have to differentiate between a npc fleets that needs to be saved and one that doesn't need your help. In the latter case, you would simply not get to destroy many enemy ships and get little payout.

Bounty amount could increase with distance to the core worlds, I imagine out in the fringes any help would be doubly welcome.

Of course this would enable some shady tactics like luring a pirate fleet to an NPC fleet to get them into trouble in the first place, before "saving" them. But that sounds like a fun (and very role-playable) option for the player.


To take this one step further, the player could also set an ad-hoc bounty during a battle (or in the dialog before) and see if any neutral NPC fleets in the vicinity will join later during the battle. That would be another mechanic to minimize the incentive for reloading.
Title: Re: Saving NPC fleets for an ad-hoc bounty
Post by: FreonRu on September 16, 2022, 10:51:14 AM
Actually this is a great idea.
There is a huge scope for imagination. Here are a few ideas of how helping the neutral NPC fleet might end up

1. Quest for researching the system: "Hey, thanks for saving the fleet of my rusty cans, I'm in your indebted debt. But perhaps right now I have nothing to thank you, although I can share with you the coordinates of the cache where I hid a little (specify what you need - resources /weapon/artifacts of the domain era")

2. Quest to eliminate the target: "Comrade Captain, I thank you for helping my civilian fleet, without you we could not fight back. But I know who is behind all these assassination attempts - this is the same malicious pirate (insert name) who wants to crush all trade in the sector. If you want to help not only me but all the merchant fleets in the sector, go to the system (insert the desired name) and meet in the bar on the planet (insert name) with one of my good friends who knows where to look for this brutal pirate."

On the planet, an NPC is waiting for us, which issues a quest to eliminate a unique pirate, with a unique ship or weapon.

3. Escort quest: "In the name of the holy Ludd! Your name will be recorded in all the chronicles of history! Please escort us to the system (insert name) to the planet (insert name) and you will receive half the profit from the sale of goods that we carry on extremely profitable market"
Title: Re: Saving NPC fleets for an ad-hoc bounty
Post by: FooF on September 16, 2022, 12:11:40 PM
I really like the last two posts. I wish I could also interact with all the prospector and salvage fleets that gather in systems with a bunch of space junk. Some attack me but a lot are just normal blokes. Maybe you could pay them for a tip or engage them if they went after a mining station you were eyeing.

Title: Re: Saving NPC fleets for an ad-hoc bounty
Post by: gG_pilot on September 26, 2022, 05:28:51 PM
To take this one step further, the player could also set an ad-hoc bounty during a battle (or in the dialog before) and see if any neutral NPC fleets in the vicinity will join later during the battle. That would be another mechanic to minimize the incentive for reloading.
  Currently random  call  "Ship in  distress" leads into two  type of   encounters 
1. small fleet asking for  help. Need fuel/supply
2. pirates lure  others by faking the help call

it would be nice to  add
3. two massive fleets are in fight, then you can join one or the other  to  get after battle dialog and  positive relation to faction. Or join  none, then harvest the battlefield for resources and negative relation from both  factions.