Seasonal changes and random events on other bodies.

[Wjolcz]

Planets aren't very interesting right now. Apart from gathering science points and getting there for the sake of it they are kind of boring. How about we get random events? Like that flowing water on Mars recently?

So how I see it is there are random events happening on the surface from time to time. Let's say you landed a base on the surface of Duna. You are on EVA walking around, connecting pipes and whatever, when suddenly you see a meteorite zipping overhead and hitting the surface a few kilometers away. A contract notification pops up telling you that you can go there and gather some extra data.

Such events would last for an X amount of time and then disappear. Same thing applies to flowing water/lava, dust devils and whatever else is realistic and interesting enough to make people visit the place. Maybe a camera part would make the events more visible from orbit if a satellite with such part was placed around the planet/moon.

I don't mean wheater changes here btw. It would be nice, but wouldn't be very realistic without the axial tilt.

[Snark]

Certainly I like the idea of having contracts that involve "go to place X and take a science reading" where the timeline is deliberately tight-- i.e. give you a reason to build a very fast ship to race there before the time limit expires. Would add a new engineering challenge to the game, since right now there's really not much reason (other than personal amusement) to build something that's especially fast (and therefore inefficient).

If doing so would be tied to some sort of nice eye candy, great ...but I'd settle for tight-deadline contracts, as long as the reward were commensurate with the difficulty.

[Coyote27]

Well, if we have weather events like storms, rain, et cetera, then we'll need a science part to deal with this! Perhaps one of those dealybobs with the three cups to measure wind speeds, and a precipitation gauge.

[Robotengineer]

I don't really see how you could implement something like this without having a graphical representation. Having a meteor actually streak through the sky, having an impact crater to actually see, etc. Otherwise it just becomes another do X at location Y type of contract, IMO.

[Wjolcz]

I don't really see how you could implement something like this without having a graphical representation. Having a meteor actually streak through the sky, having an impact crater to actually see, etc. Otherwise it just becomes another do X at location Y type of contract, IMO.

Isn't it obvious though? I meant exactly that, but I guess I wasn't very clear about it.

[nikokespprfan]

What if, in some cases, you could trigger these events yourself.

(i.e. you have a rover with a surface scanner, and you suddenly discover that there is running water on Duna.)

[Wjolcz]

What if, in some cases, you could trigger these events yourself.

(i.e. you have a rover with a surface scanner, and you suddenly discover that there is running water on Duna.)

Maybe the satellites in orbit could detect them instead of rovers?

[kreutzkevic]

... when suddenly you see a meteorite zipping overhead and hitting the surface a few kilometers away. A contract notification pops up telling you that you can go there and gather some extra data.

You know how dangerous that can be, right?

But it's an idea with merit. Small things like that make a universe seem dynamic and alive.

Edited November 3, 2015 by kreutzkevic

[deritius]

I think this is a great idea, I have been thinking for a while that the planets are kind of dull. But have great potential! I mean there should be more stuff to do there once you actually do get there. Like explore some natural formations... caves, mineral deposits,meteorites, mountains, volcanoes, teaching alien women love etc. Simply something that would make it worth while to make a rover a go exploring the planet...

Edited November 5, 2015 by deritius

[nikokespprfan]

I think this is a great idea, I have been thinking for a while that the planets are kind of dull. But have great potential! I mean there should be more stuff to do there once you actually do get there. Like explore some natural formations... caves, mineral deposits,meteorites, mountains, volcanoes, teaching alien women love etc. Simply something that would make it worth while to make a rover a go exploring the planet...

I agree, planets do have so much potential to make them more worthy of going to.