Whenever an alien civilization with sufficient intelligence is encountered on a planet and they are peaceful towards the player, I think there could be potential for some randomly generated questlines with that civilization. Completing these quests would ensure good relations with said alien race, and there could be awesome, special quest rewards too. Ancient alien technologies, a map to an underground temple full of treasure, or just a token of gratitude such as a piece of the tribe's garment for you to wear, the medicine-man's mask, etc.! The quest themselves could center about the many problems a civilization can face: General Problems Maybe there is a drought that the player can end by building a well or redirecting water from somewhere else. Or plight of pesky creatures that needs to be delt with. Maybe they lack a certain resource or item that can be found on another planet? Mini-Bosses The penguin tribesman might bid the player to slay a giant six-legged polarbear creature that has terrorized their people for centuries. Or the dinosaur people wish for you to battle the rock monster living in a nearby volcano... Possibilities are endless and awesome! Peace Mission Two civilizations struggle in a long ongoing, unnecessary war that only you can help to stop. Either by returning a banner of peace from a dungeon, constructing it from certain, rare materials... Or by gifting either side some of your advanced technology. Again, so many ways to create an awesome questline. War Missions Some civilizations might not be as inclined towards peace, so they will want you to awaken old, mighty warmachines to better their chances in an upcoming war, steal an important item from the enemy tribe (a stash of invisibility generators for instance, that has given their enemies the edge in the war)... Royal Mission Maybe their leader needs a symbol of power in his possession to win his people over. So he tasks you to find it in the ruins of ancient tombs, build it, or just hand him some of your technology over. Liberation The people of a tribe might be unhappy with their leader, and it's up to you to change that! You could be tasked to assault his castle and steal his crown, or face off their mighty leader in a fierce battle! Generally, I think quests like these could help giving alien civilizations a lot more depth! And if they are really silly, that could be a plus! A race of giant bear-people could shiver in fear of a six-eyed rabbit monster dwelling in their woods... Or a sonic-toothbrush being the great symbol of power of an alien tribe... If you have any ideas, please post them!
Would these kind of quest: Liberation, war missions, etc be linear? For example would this civilizations (of giant bear-people who live under a monarchy) would only have Royal mission? Or do we have a choice in both helping the monarchy or trying to over throw monarchy?
Allowing for more choices would certainly require more effort in the developement deparment... But no doubt, it would be interesting to see in Starbound! If there was more ways to approach every mission type, that would be GREAT. It would create great replay value for each mission, and challenge the player morally. The truth to a conflict could either be really straightforward... The king slaughters his citizen in the streets. Okay that guy is bad, let's dethrone him... OR it could be a little more vague. Maybe you are being deceived or tricked? Is the leader truly righteous in his ideals? Or is he an unjust dictator? Do the rebelling citizen maybe have their own agenda (political putsch, aliens from another planet preparing invasion, psychopaths that just want to see the world burn?)? Or are they just repressed souls, and you are their only hope for liberation? Each side could be available, but not immedeatly apparent. Maybe you either receive an emergency signal from the Rebels, the King, or some sort of Authority (Space Federation?) that tell you THEIR side of the story. By advancing in the quest, research, maybe some exploration you can find the other threads of the story. Maybe an abandoned bunker with rebels or a secret... If complex quest lines could work in Starbound, that is for the developers to decide. It would require a lot of work, and good writing! But it would certainly bring something special to the table!
It would! But does it have to be mission? Maybe some of the event are already in play! Creating this vast amount of empire for you to be able to explore! At times there is nothing you can do to help. (You came too late and the liberation forces got wiped out) There are also time where you came right on time! (The king has found the terrorist main base) Along with you choosing a side to help, you could be good or evil! but.... "Beware! Things are not always what they seem."
The thing is, it would indeed create a more organic, living universe if this did happen. You'd get the feeling the world simply doesn't wait for the player, it does not only revolve around him... But then again, it might get frustrating if a player came too late for his own quest too often. If well implemented it could be fun. I'm not sure what kinds of alien creatures we are going to see in Starbound... if there are going to be planets with larger settlements or cities. But if there will, involving, dynamic questlines such as this would be AWESOME.
I'd really like the whole interaction with group/factions. I really hope something like this will be in game. If not, I support this set of ideas.
First apologies for my poor english It will be fun if the side you help afect the goods that npc sell in that planet. Example: Fight between monkey race and tiger race, you help monkey race and they can sell you bananas (yeah.. I know its a cliche but its only an example) but if you help tiger people you can't buy bananas (Because monkey people are dead or slave) but tiger people sell you dead rabbits (monkey people don't sell it) Possibilities are endless From another point war mission can be about rescuing npc. Example: You need release them from enemy jail and escort them to the city and you can have a dead prisoners limit (if too many of them die you fail the mission) (Can be a crashed spaceship with crew that need help and alot more!) there is many ways to create an questline.
I'd love to have some questlines to do while I'm on a new planet to pass time and gain the trust of the Alien Race.
The right man in the wrong place can make all the differance in the world :Gman from hl2 This describes the revolution quests perfectly
One should be able to make their own faction with name and culture. These races looks should be randomly generated. Then we should be able to go to war, ally with them or use diplomacy.
I'd like to see something like this that has a lot of faction interaction. You can link directly to the voting using this url: http://playstarbound.com/suggestions/?p=view&id=342