Currently there is no reason to really spend time building anything on a planet or explore much for that matter. I have absolute faith that as the game develops this will change. This is just one idea I had that could help lead in that direction. Trade Routes Planet to Planet System to System Sector to Sector Build Trade Depots and Factories Sustainable Pixel income Resource Transfer Colonizing Reason to build multiple structures on planets Vary resources from planet to planet Set up bases on multiple plants Build storage warehouses Those are just a few key points. But I'd like to see a system that gives us a purpose for exploring planets and a purpose to establish colonizing them outside of just aesthetic reasons. Here's some implementations and other notes in more detail. Not ever planet should have every resource in the tier. This would give us a reason to explore since our home world might not have everything we need. It'd also give us a reason to set up a route to trade Silver Ore from Planet B to Homeworld. This can also be applied to blocks as well. Like if my main planet doesn't have sandstone, I can find a desert planet and set up a trade station to move sandstone over to my home. Set up a system where NPC ships stop and purchase excess resources you specify for sale. This is something that could go on behind the scenes and be managed in the Star Map Navigation screen. Can even have NPC trade posts on planets that reward players for completing trade routes for them. They give you coordinates to go, and you're off. I believe they said NPCs would offer quests, so I'm sure this could be implemented in that. Rare Resources or attributes should exist on some planets. Doesn't even have t be a mine-able thing. Could just be a flag assigned to planets. Once a player discovers one, if he/she builds a colony/station on it, they claim that planet and are rewarded its resource. Like a strategy game, once they have that planet settled, they can trade it back to their home planet or put the resource up for sale to NPC ships. An example might be "Alien Artifacts" or "Energy Orbs". Nothing that shows up graphically, but rather on the planet info in the nav map. Trade Stations Trade stations would require certain objects in order to function. Say a certain amount of storage in the building, certain crafting stations, etc. Maybe have to construct a receiving zone in order to import/export. It'd work on a tick system. Every few ticks more of the resource would fill the storage. As for setting up resources or goods for sale, perhaps the player would have to build more. Maybe require a tavern or certain number of beds/rooms before NPCs start buying goods. This could even be expanded upon in multiplayer where players can purchase from each other. Certain building blocks would be required to build stations on harsher environments. Maybe moons would require a station to be build from metal. Anywho, lot of potential here to add plenty of reasons to claim, explore, and colonize planets. Feedback welcome!!
That's an amazing idea, and it evens add a new way to play the game as a builder/trader/colonist. I like this!
i guess they sound like cool ideas, but it seems a bit outside of the scope of the game to my mind, to start running businesses and stuff. i have no objections, but it probably wouldn't interest me either
It's definitely not something that would interest everyone. But it does lend to the creative sandbox nature of the game and appeals to most people who are interested in creating. It would add some longevity to the game where as otherwise a lot of us would get to the end and say "what now". Of course there are other ways too that we could encourage building on planets. Even if it were something as simple as claiming/colonizing a planet in multiplayer, where once you do you get to set the rules (allow building, allow certain builders, no-block destroy, etc). on said planet. Anything to give players a reason to explore. Like as of right now I'm in the game and have no reason at all to leave my system. Every planet has every resource I need.
Hey, that is just great. Making a Starbound an Elite-like game is cool. Speaking generally, more life in a space, like political or trade forces of various races, would really spice up the game.
What I'd like to see along with this, is NPC space stations or space ships that you can explore, trade with others, buy/sell items, with NPCs, salvage from an abandoned station/ship, or even raid an enemy space station/ship. Solar systems shouldn't just contain planets, especially with as many NPCs there are all of these planets, they had to have gotten there somehow.
I very much like this idea. It gives a nice variation to how to game could be played. Either you could work on becoming an awesome adventurer, getting gear, weapons, and the likes to go raid places, OR you could work on colonizing and creating a nice trading empire. It would be a good alternative tactic to moving up the tech tree. This doesn't even have to be an extensive system. Something simple would work magically. Good stuff. Got my support.
It'd also give a reason to keep playing come end-game. Even if you adventure to beating everything and having the best gear, if you could colonize planets and neighboring systems to spread an empire (could simply work on a radius system), then you have a lot of reason to keep expanding...and across 10 sectors at that! Imagine how awesome that'd be on a multiplayer world. Even more awesome, if they wanted to get that detailed, make it where if you destroy a reactor on someone's planet, it would allow you to claim it as your own. That'd add a lot of depth to muliplayer PvP-ish type servers and fit very well with a Clan/Corporation thing this game has going. And you are right, it can be a very basic simple system that won't require any particular game mechanic overhaul or balancing. Maybe some balancing in tweaking numbers regarding revenue stream and such, but the game is already perfect for this kind of thing.
I've always been fascinated with PvP gameplay, but that's another thing entirely. Something like that maaay be a bit to easy on a pvp server. But then again, you can destroy someone's entire base just as easily, so who am I to judge.
I'm sure by the time the game releases there will be console commands and settings to designate what blocks can or can't be destroyed. Maybe even planets for that matter. I'd love to see some way to make PvP a bit more fun than just hack and slash. =)
I think this is a great idea. though theres needs to be some kind of risk involved. your base(s) should become places of interest to less reputable folk and opposing races and should have to be defended as a means to make it more interesting.
And they already have some good things implemented to expand on that with their NPC Spawners. Perfect for setting up defenses. Also pretty sure they'll have invasions at some point.
Woooo! Some of those new upcoming features points lends itself very well to colonizing and trading! Hope they keep going along this track. Looks like we're getting space stations and ability to board ships. Hope they expand on it!
