What to do with all the science?

[cicatrix]

I've just unlocked the last tech node and still have about 2K unspent science points. There are also tons of science points left scattered on different planets but there's no more incentive to grab them. I'm here to open a discussion about what's the best way to drive players to grab more science points. What can we do with all the science we get? We can always convert it to cash, of course, but money too are easy to get and flying to Eeloo and back for money just to plant a flag there is not very inspiring.

Certainly the cost of late tech nodes can be increased, but anyway, eventually all tech nodes will be open. End game?

What do you think can be done here?

[vicwarrior]

build super motherships and go on a tour across the system, build colonies on all the celestial bodies, take challenges etc etc...

This game is a sandbox.

[adinfinitum]

It doesn't seem to be that we need a drive for more science points, its that we need something to to drive players to go to other planets. The goal of space programs, at least in their heyday, was exploration to pave the way for colonization of other worlds. Perhaps a set of parts based on future technologies, where you can only unlock them once you've gotten a certain amount of science from each planet, would give players that incentive.

For example, you could have the unlock from Moho be advanced radiators/heat shielding, from Eve be a new, lightweight, more powerful fuel, from Eeloo the tech to make an engine that can handle that fuel, etc. It would add a nice little bit of story, and the end game could be you've gotten all those techs, you now have the ability to travel to a new star system and explore there

[Mister Spock]

There are mods that extend the tech tree, but I'm not exactly sure which. KSP Interstellar (and its offshoots, like KSPI Extended) adds stuff to the end of the tech tree, doesn't it? I tried it in .24 but never finished that career, so I didn't really get to explore it. Near Future Technologies might be another? Maybe someone can chime in here with a more accurate and comprehensive list.

[Cdr_Zeta]

Hello,

What mode...easy, normal, hard??? My Tree total Science is around 40,000 and there is supposedly 400,000 out there...

Cmdr Zeta

[cicatrix]

I do that, but revealing the tech tree makes a solid portion of parts useless. I didn't ask what to do once I unlocked all the parts. The question was about what can be done to get motivation to continue mining science. What can be the other ways to spend science. I only see one so far - upgrading specific parts on specific vessels so that they will be better than the same parts in VAB

[Oafman]

The KSP Interstellar mod gave good options for spending excess science; upgrading special parts etc. Otherwise I know of nothing to do with it. Maybe build up as much as possible then brag about your accomplishment?

[Mister Spock]

I think it's a good question. I like a sandbox as much as anyone else, but the "achiever" part of me also thrives on externally-created goals.

I've been thinking about making a mod that would let you start building a growing monument (e.g., "The Ksingularity") with endgame science -- a sort of hi-tech version of the "Throne Room" you used to build in the Civ games, with aesthetic choices about how the direction your monument should take. Unlock the next tech node, choose one of various possible Lego Bricks for the next piece of your monument. Or maybe use the VAB to create this Ksingularity thing, brick by brick. Show it off to others for bragging rights. Or, if RAM or other limitations make a lego-brick system impractical, maybe just an ever-growing 2D "throne room", but always with choices about how to expand your room, so that no two players ever build the same exact room. I used to love building my Throne Room in the old Civ games, and I was disappointed when the Civ designers removed it in later iterations of the series. I dunno, maybe that sort of thing doesn't appeal to others.

I'd like to see more endgame stuff too, and I may try my hand at creating a mod to enhance the endgame.

[Baenki]

Use the Science -> Funds strategy with 100% comittment to earn some funds.

It won't be a lot of cash and i don't think you can use the science you already collected to your account.

But why not. A small funding boost to a big program that wants to do missions besides contracts could be useful.

Build some expensive sattelites and lifters for the sole purpose of letting them desintegrate in the sun. Call it an experiment.

Try to leave the solar system.

Build a huge space station with a lot of modules and room for hundreds of kerbals and deorbit it.

Maybe you will need to stop the sci -> funds strategy after that and insted opt into a 100% sci -> rep one.

[AbacusWizard]

My favorite thing to do with the throne room in Civ II was to upgrade, for as long as possible, everything except the throne itself. I'd have an extravagant palace with sculpted marble columns and elaborately woven rugs and tapestries... and a rough-hewn boulder to sit on.

[Wjolcz]

You can send it over to me. Still got some nodes needing unlocking.

Try doing small things again. I've never completed the tech tree yet, but I can tell you what I do in sandbox. I go places and do things just for the sake of it. Or start career again with some mods this time, if you don't use any.

I don't think you can do much with the science in stock once you don't need it anymore.

Edit: Or try super hardcore mode. I once did that. Took way more time to do anything and any penalties/vessel-wrecking landings were unforgiving

Edited May 13, 2015 by Veeltch