If you're going to return samples, should you always transmit first?

[KerbMav]

As I wrote elsewhere, the easiest way - but for making some valuable experiments untransmittable (surface samples, goo) in the first place - to create an incentive for manned return missions, would be to make a portion of the science pool unavailable for transmitting, but maybe award this return-only portion in one go instead of decreasing percentages.

pool of 100 science points in total for an EVA at Mun crater xy

70 pts. transmittable as by the current system of diminishing returns and in several steps

30 pts. awarded for mission craft/crew returned to Kerbin

pool of 100 science points in total for a Goo experiment in orbit of xy

70 pts. transmittable as by the current system of diminishing returns and in several steps

30 pts. awarded for container returned to Kerbin

[kirkmegna]

...making some valuable experiments untransmittable (surface samples, goo) in the first place - to create an incentive for manned return missions, would be to make a portion of the science pool unavailable for transmitting...

There is some science that is untransmittable! You get science points for recovering a craft that has returned from _______ (lower Mun orbit, surface of Minmus, etc.)

[KerbMav]

There is some science that is untransmittable! You get science points for recovering a craft that has returned from _______ (lower Mun orbit, surface of Minmus, etc.)

Yes, but it is not that much to give return missions real value.

/nitpick: As I wrote, not make some (new) untransmittable experiments, but make some (existing) experiments untransmittable.

[kurja]

Squad needs to add MUCH more to the game before any more biomes are added. As is... You can max out the tech tree a dozen times over with all the science in the solar system. We need more parts or .. just more stuff to unlock. What ever it may be. And the tech tree needs to be expanded by a considerable amount.

But.. in the end we are going to have resources and currency to deal with. ( which id imagine would fill out the tech tree very nicely. ) So all this is moot. Heh.. I bet a few months down the line you won't even recognize the career mode.

It is my firm belief that gaining science will be much more difficult when rocket parts cost money, especially if we also need to accomplish some set goals in future career mode missions. I do however think that something needs to change to get rid of transmit-spamming for huge science rewards, it's both unrealistic and gameplay-wise stupid.

My other firm belief is that it is a mistake to hold firm beliefs.