Here is the gane idea as written yesterday, ill add any additional ideas at the end. Warning, it is long!!
The spin I'm proposing for Star Trek is based on this persistent world concept, but coined as a persistent universe.
The idea is to have several factions interact throughout this universe under defined political relations, but with individual choice of interaction. The flexibility this game provides runs the full gambit of Star Trek reality. A player can choose at anytime to play the full spectrum of roles ranging from research to military to neutral vessels. The choice to interact peacefully or aggressively and there will be benefits of both, and all are likely to do both at one time or another. Some will benefit more from one or the other because it is their role in game or because its an intrinsic desire for themselves.
The Universe
One benefit of constructing a universe, or more accurately...a quadrant. Is that the vast majority of its "landscape" is empty This means large areas with occasional 3D intensive areas of celestial bodies in which to interact. The Universe could be based on one or several servers. The seamlessness of these servers is flexible considering travel from one star system to another would require warping. The warping visuals provide the "curtain" as you travel from server to server, or leave one area and pop up in another if using one single server. The hope is to leave the universe expandable so that additions and changes can be made when appropriate(I'll go into this later).
The Players
The Universe would be populated by several empires: The Federation, Klingon, Romulan with possible various neutral, rebel and pirate factions. The Federation, Klingon and Romulans would all be player selectable, while various other factions would be CPU controlled and possibly player selectable also. Each empire controls a sizable portion of the quadrant. With the vast majority non-occupied and the rest controlled by small neutral races.
Game Objectives
The universe is peppered with star systems consisting of planets, nebulas, asteroid belts, etc with varying levels of resource, scientific, and thus military value. These systems will be spread amongst the Imperial territories and of course the unclaimed and neutral areas. The goal is to explore these celestial bodies for qualifying levels of resources in order to set up resource facilities. Many, if not most, celestial bodies will not have adequate resource levels. A whole star system be void of celestial bodies with qualifying resource value. Resource facilities will come in several forms including mining operations, productions facilities, etc. These facilities consist of ground and/or orbital structures. Many of those celestial bodies within an imperial territory will have production facilities present. Those facilities on the fringes of the territories are of course in need of protection from rebels, pirates and of course players from opposing empires. Not all resource rich celestial bodies will have facilities. That's where exploration comes in. "Go where no man has gone before" Exploring your imperial territories and those areas unclaimed allows your empire to develop new resource facilities and expand their sphere of influence. These newly acquired territories once unclaimed of course need protection. One travels to star systems of unclaimed or fringe territories scan the area and systematically research its bodies. Simply enter orbit or travel in close proximity and run the body through a series of scans. It will take a little time, a couple of minutes or so, and boom the body is registered and the building of a production facility is set in motion. A CPU controlled freighter warps in several minutes later, enters orbit and within 15mins or so a production facility, mining facility, etc is built. The idea is that all star systems are known, with limit info on its make-up(i.e. celestial bodies composing it). You have to warp to the system in order to scan the area for detailed information. This allows you to locate all celestial bodies in area and to go to them. As these bodies are scanned they are registered, meaning they are labeled discovered through out the empire. Registering it also allows for more detailed info made available to those in the empire inquiring about that start system. For instance, imperial info before discovery on a star system in unclaimed areas or fringe territories would provide the name of the star system and name of any known celestial bodies. After discovery imperial info gives name of system all celestial bodies their class, resource value, facilities in system and celestial bodies they are associated with, etc. Other empires can discover it, but its shown owned by the original discovering empire and they are required to scan the system in order to receive in-depth info for their empire.
All facilities can be taken over/destroyed or looted by other players or CPU controlled rebels, pirates, etc. Defending these locations is key to the survival of the empire, as is acquiring new ones. This isn't limited to ground based facilities, but orbiting logistic stations, freighters, science stations, etc. Missions for such defensive mission will be auto-generated and offered to anyone in the area. This means the starship discovering the resource rich planet which triggers the construction of a facility will receive the area defense request for protecting the construction of the facility. After its completion, any friendly ship entering the area will receive a defense mission request. Missions provide XP(experience points) after completion, which will be discussed later. Mission are chosen from two windows, an area mission list and a empire wide mission list. The empire wide list will likely be large and can be condensed with filters.
Missions can also come in the form of distress calls. Facilities, freighters, stations, etc, under attack will emit distress calls, so if a supply freighter in-transit that hasn't received an escort despite its mission request can still receive help if attacked. Of course a freighters ability to warp only makes it threatened while within the confines of a star system where warp is severely limited or prohibited. This makes time before departure and time during arrival the most hazardous. You can follow the freighter into warp and escort it on the other side also. How do you know where the freighter is going? Its mentioned in the mission request, but also if you a sensory lock on a vessel that goes into warp, its destination is "calculated" and provided(or a "follow" option is generated). Everything else is usually on or in orbit of a celestial body. Facilities will also have Early warning systems(EWS) that will generate warnings of enemy ships in the system. Friendly ships warping in in response will of course receive the standard defense request mission.
In addition to defending existing facilities, exploring new bodies, etc. One can also attack opposing facilities. All facilities are destroyable or capturable, depending on the facility, it take various numbers of marines. In any case, one ship will not have enough marines to capture a facility. One ship will have a hard time destroying a facility quickly. This means bring friends!!!! Capturing a facility minimizes the turn around time in getting the facility up and running. As a star ship you will also run into CPU controlled ships of neutral, pirate, and rebel factions. They can be randomly generate by mimicking a warp into the system and by having them there before you get there. These ships can just be traveling to or from a planet, inbound to another, or getting ready to warp out. They can also be attacking other ships, facilities etc. You deal with them as you please. You may also run into the facilities of these various factions, discovering and scanning these facilities provides a small XP bonus. In general you attack pirates and rebels. Neutrals can be attacked, but it may be more beneficial to leave them in peace or helping them if under attack from rebels and pirates. Neutrals will have distress signals receivable by all empires in the area. Helping Neutrals, destroying rebels and pirates provides XP, but not much. Attacking neutrals provides XP, also, but also tags you as a hostile for a while causing you to draw unwanted hostilities from them whenever in the vicinity of one. This can make traveling through their areas troublesome. You may not die from these attacks, but the XP cost for repairs may not be worth it.
Now you don't have to select missions to receive XP, you receive XP for many things. Mission completions just provide bonus XP. These means one can fly around looking for fights and reaping the benefits of these encounters. But there is an extrinsic benefit to providing ones services in the best interest of the empire and in empire controlled areas from the bonus in XP missions provide.
Character/Crew/Ship Development
There are several means of gathering XP. These additional means are by research and exploration. Finding and scanning new celestial bodies provides XP. XP can be specific also. Scientific XP(SXP) is received in addition to general XP when researching and exploring. Finding nebulas may not provide a resource benefit, you wont know until you scan it, but continued scanning can on occasion uncover info not discovered with previous scans. The usefulness of this info is purely scientific and provides an additional bonus in SXP. You can sit there and continue to scan and you may come up with more info after many more scans. Each subsequent discovery by you or anyone else within the empire provides only a fraction of the previous SXP pay out. This simulates the difficulty in finding something new in well studied phenomenon. After a while the available SXP may be reset to allow for higher pay outs again. Combat not only provides XP, but also Combat XP(CXP). The amount is based on the vessel destroyed. This CXP is used to improve the battle proficiency of the vessel. Each increase in level requires more and more CXP to achieve, but provides only a fraction of benefit with respect to the previous level. Meaning, the best will have an advantage, but at some point each increase becomes less influential. This once again simulates the difficulty in learning some thing new within a well studied field. The small increase wont necessarily provide you dominance over other ships, but may provide that additional buffer that keeps you shields up for the one more hit, or keeps your phaser banks from over-heating before the next shot. It'll make a difference in the battle you get to limp home from.
XP is like credit, a fusion of experience and cash. XP is used for ship purchase, repair and upgrade. SXP is for science station crew proficiency, CXP is for combat crew proficiency, including marines. In order to use the various forms of XP you need to be docked at a Star Base. A Star Base has heavy defenses, but can still be attacked...choose wisely. Destruction of the Star Base has a wide damage area, being inside isn't a good idea.
Captains
In the beginning you get to pick or custom build a captain. The captain has strengths and weakness that affect overall ship attributes. You have a budget when building your captain, so increases in one field means less for another. Your captain can not be approved upon, or swapped out...its you. As you improve in the game you are able to make up for some of the weakness by your own actions...in theory!
Senior Crewmen
Pick or custom build senior officers with XP. They bring their strengths and weaknesses to their stations affecting the ships attributes in that particular field.
Ship
Pick a ship to command based on XP purchase price. Each ship has a general default attribute, with minor fluctuations in certain areas(i.e. a little faster or slower, slightly stronger or weaker shields, etc.). These fluctuations are further influenced by Captain and Senior crew attributes. Upgrades you can upgrade your ship with XP. with various increases in stronger engines, weapons, shields, sensors, etc. The upgrades aren't huge but may make a difference in life or death in a close fight. A portion of XP for upgrades is transferable when trading up to a new ship. Ships can be war ships research ships and if possible neutral ships and merchant ships of any empire or faction.
Mission dynamics and XP
As said, Exploring is key. Encountering, finding, fighting, aiding, patrolling, escorting and researching all are means of gaining XP. Dying, repairs and purchases reduces XP. Missions provide XP bonuses, multiple ships can take the same mission and receive the mission points. In fact there can be a bonus multiplier for each ship who is participating or participated in the mission once completed.
Patrols Remaining in the patrol area(star system) for specified period of time awards XP. Destroying a threat during the patrol provides the additional XP awarded for the kill.
Escorting Remaining with a ship from launch/orbit to dock/orbit. Destroying a threat provides additional XP. Lose of the "package" can result in lose of XP, gaining a percentage of mission XP based on percentage of transit completed or no XP gain at all.
Research Provides XP for ship and SXP for science senior officer/station
Combat Provides XP for ship and CXP for combat senior officers/stations
Finding new civilizations Some uncharted planets will have various levels of intelligent life not yet known. Scanning the planet provides this info. XP is paid out and no other friendly ship can receive points for the discovery. Attacking the planet, destroying the population and establishing facilities is possible. Ramifications for killing them will vary based on imperial directives(next).
Breaking Imperial Directives Some empires have certain rules. Breaking these rules can have dire effects on XP. For instance...attacking or killing non-hostiles. Showing signs of aggression in non-hostile territories(shields up, weapons powered up), not including unclaimed areas. Attacking non-hostiles can also make you a fugitive of that faction in that area or if encountered outside the area for given amount of time, leaving you open for constant attack. Klingons would possibly lose XP for initiating a fight, but leaving the area without destroying them. Directives may affect the Federation more than others, but is part of the checks and balances that makes each empire unique(I have to think about other directives for the other empires). Of course a planet attacked by the Klingons is open for attack by the Federation...I mean this war.
Logistic XP awarded by successfully loading, transporting and unloading material. Merchant ships can carry more material so they receive more XP points per completion
Politics
Its pretty simple, hostiles are hostiles so deal with them accordingly. Neutrals are neutral, deal with accordingly. Neutrals can become hostile, usually by your own doing, even defending a friendly from hostile neutrals he/she provoked.
The ability to captain neutral ships allows those who do not desire to participate as a major empire the option to fly within the unique confines of neutrality. This has its plus and minuses. You can pilot star ships which are generally out-classed by their imperial counter parts in terms of weapons and shields. You can patrol any neutral area as a Mercenary gaining XP(though reduced relative to imperial ships) doing missions. Once again these missions are escorting, defending, logistics, etc. Of course destroying an imperial ship provides significant XP points. Transit into imperial territories is possible, but your status may be considered rebel, pirate or smuggler depending on the mission chosen(why else would you be performing a mission in there territory?). Non-mission transit through imperial territory is ok, but may still result in attack...depends on how the player in the imperial star ship feels about you. So knowing who owns what is a plus, Its a good idea to scan the area and identify who is there and who it belongs too. Loading/unloading in imperial territory is only advised when on one is around. If the research facility looks of Klingon design..be cautious before you complete the transaction. Scans of your cargo hold may give you away also. Investing in good counter measures will be a plus, but that may give you away too. Benefits of neutral merchant shipping is good XP pay out, and the potential for surprisingly advance cargo ships later on(great for smuggling). One can gather large amounts of XP which is transferable if one decides to join the ranks of an empire. Of course in the process of cashing out your ship for XP only a fraction of that XP transfers over. Another problem is that you may be limited to only transferring to the Federation. You maybe able to switch back, but once again, only a fraction of XP transfers over, of course a larger portion transfers from Federation to Neutral. Only XP(not SXP or CXP) and captains attributes transfers either way.
Invasion
One can enter an opposing/hostile territories, but expect a lot of attention. Facilities will send out EWS warnings to friendlies drawing in hostiles. Facilities will have defenses. Some facilities have stronger defenses than others based on location, value, etc. The deeper you go into the territory and the more valuable the area the harder it will be to affect enemy facilities, so bring friends. Deeper attacks will require coordinated efforts. There is a limit to where you can go. Certain star systems deep inside the territory will be consider core systems. These layers of systems can only be entered under specific situations. The empire is required to be weakened through lose of resource facilities or severely out-matched in numbers of resource facilities to justify a weak enough state to allow invasion. As production levels decrease, thresholds trigger their corresponding layers of star systems to open up for invasion. Once production levels drop enough the home system is open for attack. Despite low production levels, the Home system will still have significant defenses once again requiring coordinate action. Low production levels also affect life in the outer territories. As production drops, resources are naturally trickled toward the core systems. Star Bases in the exterior will have fewer available resources, repairs will become increasingly incomplete. In order to get the best or even the necessities, one would find himself needing to go to the interior territories. Here lies the problem in losing production facilities. In order to gain new production facilities you have to be conquering on the fringes of the territory, this provides better available equipment, faster and more complete repairs, etc, but necessity draws you toward the core systems. The destruction of the empire begins to spiral out of control as resources are lost, star ship presence is need at the fringes , but best resources are near the interior where a new threat of invasion may begin. Resources and ships begin to be stretched too thin. Losing your ship and respawning now means your shields aren't able to reach 100%, phasers take longer to recharge, failures are more common, etc. Meanwhile the enemy gains proficiency and more of your resource facilities. Once production losses drop below certain levels and/or the home world takes certain amount of damage, the empire is considered destroyed. Once one empire is left or controls a certain amount of territory, the war ends. The universe is reset, celestial bodies and/or their attributes are randomly shuffled(so its never the same game twice)and the war begins again.
Entering the Game World
First time in game you chose your start point, a number of Star Bases in the core systems. Star Bases are where game progress is saved and where you enter the game whenever you re-enter the universe to play. Repairs and purchases, crew selection etc, happen here. This where you have an opportunity to scroll through area and territory wide generated missions. At the same time there is a post board where individual players put up coordinated actions(i.e. massing up at Oostal-3 for a mass attack on Rega-Alpha, launch time 21:00). A map of the quadrant with known territories marked would display hot points and EWS icons. The map will also provide known information on the star system being queried. Chat windows would allow for coordination and communication. This allows for ease in coordinating attacks since sustained bombardments will be required to eliminate valuable facilities and to defend the attack from hostiles.
New additions:
* You can only save at friendly or Neutral Star Bases
* Imperial repairs at neutral star bases are more expensive and never at 100%(difficulty in having and high black market cost for imperial parts, lack of sufficent miscellaneous parts to install at peak proficency)
* Crippled ships unable to transit to nearest star base due to warp or impulse failures must request a tow to the nearest freindly or neutral star base(star base will not be in every system), at a high XP price.
* No XP, or not enough XP for repairs, etc? Then you have to do what you can with what you have(hopefully you can atleast get to a peaceful area where you can XP without getting attacked). If crippled you can get a new ship, but of a lesser class, all XP is liquidated, upgrades are lost(upgrade XP value can be cashed in if at a star base) and possibly even your crew(thus liquidating any SXP and CXP values also). This equates to a demotion and loss of skilled crew...you start fresh, but atleast you not neccessarly forced to captain a low-end frieghter or small war ship(unless you havent advanced very far).
These ideas are to help deter reckless command, to deter the willingness to die pointlessly, to encourage preservationof life, but simultaneously allowing the death penalty to not mean you cant play(even for really bad capatains).
Proficeny bonus are designed to those with head starts in game play, from gaining such an advantage(outside to access to more powerful ships) that newbies cant have a chance to compete. The goal is to for example a starting value of 100 for profiency with each increase being harder to achieve but providing less of an advantage. So level 0 amy equal 100, level 1 may equal 110, but level 3 would only be 115, etc. until you hit a hard ceiling of maybe 120. Each subsequent level may require twice or up to 10 times more XP to achieve the next. There maybe a streak bonus that would be applied on top of this depending on how much XP is gained without dying(for CXP only) that goes away once you die. This streak bonus may be as high as 5 or so(2 would probably be better for balance)...pretty significant regardless of what part of the profiency spectrum you reside. The hope is that experience and a little luck determines better captains, not artifical game induced advantages, but has everyone gain experience(learnig all there is to learn) a little induced advantage adds spice to engagements that may become routine.
Thats all for now. One thing I do ask, is that people try and break this basic foundation on paper. Meaning, run scenerios in your head and come back with any problems or questions. Example: I found a planet in an unclaimed territory. It has sufficent resoures, what happens next? I'd come back and answer: You wait, within a few minutes a freighter warps into the system(it doesnt really come from anywhere really, its just spawned in out of nowhere under the disguise of warp), enters orbit and a resource facility begins to be constructed. A area defense mission auto generates that you can take to defend the construction or you can leave. The planet appears on the imperial map board for all in the empire to see and retrieve info on, to visit if the please and defend(I think it would be cool for there to be a means of identifing who actually discovered it).
Topic: I love the series, but something is still missing. (Read 11853 times)