I think it would be cool to have a special room where we can test out new weapons or abilities on dummies. These would register damage, but have unlimited health. They would also be hooked up to a computer that calculates your DPM, max damage, highest single hit, etc. Another idea is to have some kind of virtual-reality simulator, where we could call up holograms of any creature we've encountered. Then we could practice fighting them with 0% risk of death and unlimited ammo for our weapons. I also think that the game should record your real combat stats like total damage dealt/taken, number of monsters killed, toughest kill, etc. for maximum bragging rights "I can hit <insert insanely tough boss> for 600hp every second! AND I CAN PROVE IT!"
Virtual-reality level stages, as well? For battles when the objective is to train, not to kill, so all damage is virtual, not real. PERFECT for a Versus mode
I would like a target range that really makes you use twitch reflexes with firearms. Example I toss out 6 inch long slabs of old 2x4's into my pond on a windy day. I get my .22 loaded up and shoot them back as the wind pushes them towards me. They bob and move in different directions, occasionally jumping in a random direction. These dynamic targets improve marksmanship and they work in games as well. Look at the target range challenges in several games like Stalker Clear Sky, Ocarina of Time with the archery challenge, Arma 2 with the target challenges, etc.
Theoretically it could be a whole obstacle course with moving platforms, spinning arms, painful (but not deadly) traps, and some holographic/robotic monsters thrown in.
This is a great idea! And so is this! It's perfect. You choose the environment a-la Level Select from a computer, then you select the max spawns/danger level (1-100), other stuff like weather, what mobs, weapons... this is incredible. ~ockpii
SO MUCH SUPPORT! When i heard ockpi talk about this in one of his videos i instantly thought of the possibilities of this feature. Obstacle courses, sparing with dummies and other players, shooting ranges. As far as the obstacle course part, this would be great for my grapple hook idea.
A training room is a pretty nice idea, to test your weapons/items and your skills/reflexes against holograms and perhaps even some automated turrets. Obstacle courses like Mr. Mistah has mentioned is also a really good idea. ^^ Oh, and I'm also up for combat stats to be registered (Maybe the highest hit could be shown here instead?). Since we're at it, why not amount of blocks destroyed, time spent underwater and other non-combat related stats? Those are often interesting to take a quick peek at. Good suggestions, guys! The only thing that I'm not 100% comfortable with is damage per second/minute calculation and what not. I do not think that these technicalities are really necessary in Starbound and, based in my MMORPGames experience, there's a risk of many players merging into a particular playstyle that has been registered to be the 'better' one. As a result, variety in playstyle and items is usually kept to a minimum. It'd be a bit to realise that axes actually do 0,43 more damage per second than swords, for example, thus keeping everybody always getting axes. >< I would rather the typical and simple speed-damage ratio : the faster it is, the less damage it deals.
