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Campign

40 (83.3%)

Missions

8 (16.7%)

Total Members Voted: 47

[kwekly]

Maybe I'm just getting old and don't have time to grind away for hours developing a character, but as per the title does what would be your preference:

• an expansive, dynamic and randomly generated universe to explore,
• or a continuous set of extremely well designed and arranged missions.

The appeal of missions is repeatability -- you get to focus on trying all sorts of different tactics / ship load outs and really push the combat engine to it's limits, not to mention developing your own skill. There's also the aspect of being able to discuss your strategies and experiences with others, having been faced with the same starting conditions. If you had an N64 with Goldeneye in the past I think you know what I mean.

I suppose the counter point is Star Control 2, and all the exploration and character development aspects that go with that. I really enjoyed that too, but my sense is that a massive campaign like that takes many more hours, especially to get right. Dunno, Alex, if you're read it would be interesting to know what the relative number of hours were each to create the campaign and mission set, as they appear in 0.53.

Also interested to hear everyone's thoughts. I think a hybrid of types might be best, a la Tie Fighter

[Gaizokubanou]

Campaign, because I love the whole RPG-ish elements of 'item' (in this game ships and weapons) collecting and the overall less predictable dynamics as player input shapes the campaign.  Both RPG progression and dynamics of sandbox adds great replay value.  Well designed missions can bring more of "WOW" factor to us players and that's awesome too, but if I had to pick, I would pick the campaign all the time.

Development time wise, campaign should take more time to get it working (creating the world).  But once you got a functional campaign it would offer much greater replay value because of sandbox-ish games' dynamic nature (the in-game world does the work for you).  Few missions will be easier to make, but to compete with campaign in playtime value, the amount of work would be much higher because devs have to carefully layout every single step of the game.

[Gothars]

• multiple continuous sets of extremely well designed and arranged missions integrated into an expansive, dynamic and randomly generated universe to explore.

 

[Thaago]

• multiple continuous sets of extremely well designed and arranged missions integrated into an expansive, dynamic and randomly generated universe to explore.

 

That sounds like a main storyline to me

[hadesian]

• multiple continuous sets of extremely well designed and arranged missions integrated into an expansive, dynamic and randomly generated universe to explore.

 

That sounds like a main storyline to me
Yeeeh... buuut

• Multiple continuous sets of extremely well designed and arranged missions with extreme lore significance and impact integrated into an expansive, dynamic and randomly generated universe to explore.

Improved yet more

[Gothars]

Ok seriously, Starfarers gameplay will obviously be based on a open, dynamic galaxy, but I would be very disappointed if there were no storytelling elements or special missions whatsoever included. At least at the begging of a game I feel that's needed to breath life into a world.

[PCCL]

I like the missions right now because losing one ship doesn't mean probably restarting the whole thing

campaign's probably gonna get better for me when you don't have to curb-stomp the enemies every time just to make the battles worth it

[MidnightSun]

At least in the current state, I much prefer the missions to the campaign: wish we could see more of them, with some new and interesting situations! Being able to custom-fit your fleet for the missions as well has made it far more interesting as well.

[DJ Die]

maybe the community could do a contest of creating best and most interesting missions/mission ideas with the best being incorporated into the game?

[PCCL]

god knows I'd love that...

I made a few myself.... still contemplating on whether or not to upload...

[Strifen]

  A few innovative missions that come to mind are the (unfortunately only 1-mission) Starcader mod mission, Neutrino corps 'STOP! Hammer time!' mission, and one Asteroid running mission in which you piloted a ship through many, many asteroids zipping around whose name I cannot seem to remember and which I cannot seem to find...

[sigvard]

I bought starfarer some time ago, when the version was .34a If I recall. Just never bothered to register for the forums till now. I play the missions almost exclusively in starfarer. when the campaign is more fleshed out, perhaps I will look into it a bit more, but I did primarily buy this game for it's unique space combat above all else. It's remained as one of the most played games of the year for me, as I will often start it up for 10-20 minutes a day and go through a random battle or mess around with ship load-outs.

[DJ Die]

for those who create or like missions: http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=3894.0

[frag971]

I never play the missions. They seem pointless. I'd rather see them used as tutorials and ship showcasing.

[DelicateTask]

Right now:
<missions>
</missions>
<campaign>
</campaign>

Later updates:
<campaign>
       <missions>
       </missions>
</campaign>

That's right, Alex put some missions up in your campaign.