Contract Overhal + reusing UI

[KerikBalm]

I occurred to me that one of the deficiencies of the current contract system, is a lack of focus and direction: either set by the player, or set for the player.

Contracts randomly spawn - there is some logic too it, but not really.

Sometimes I get a fly-by contract, sometimes I don't.

Sometimes I get an explore minmus contract, sometimes I don't.

For some reason, I'm now getting Eve station contracts, and none of my ships have been there (one is on the way), no flyby contract came, no explore contract is there.

Is there any reason explore Duna always seems to come before explore Eve? Neither one requires a return, and they are basically the same dV.

So, what is needed is a system to allow the player to have more control over the direction and types of contracts.

* First, would be turning the explore and flyby contracts into the auto-complete "record" variety.

* Second, would be re-using many of the UI elements of the research archives to make a more in depths contracts window.

Let players click on the various bodies, and search contracts for each one. Maybe you'll need a certain amount of rep to have multiple bodies open for contracts at once.

Ie if rep > or = to X, allow contract offers at Y celestial bodies at once.

Then the player can select bodies for the "program focus", and contracts at those bodies will be generated.

Then, just as we have the ability to select biomes in the research UI, and view the research reports, perhaps we could select contract types:

Science contracts (temp readings, grav scans, science data from.... etc)

Commercial contracts (tourism, position a sat in orbit X, etc)

Infrastructure contracts (construct surface base, orbital station, mine X ore, etc).

Letting playes choose the focus of the contracts would go a long way towards making the experience better.

I shouldn't have to hold off on sending a probe to eve (or forever lose the explore and flyby contracts), because the game determines I should explore Ike first.

We already have a UI that could be readily adapted for this purpose.

Anyone agree?

Is my suggestion unclear?