My thoughts and Ideas on Kerbal professions

[DerpenWolf]

Yes I know this has been suggested before however I have some Ideas on this topic that I have yet to see conveyed.

While trying to think of a reason to bring multiple kerbals along on a mission I remembered the old topic of kerbal professions from there I made a list of the following things that kerbals of a certain job type might do and eventually came up with what is listed below. First off to explain how all of this would work in the first place is that you would hire a kerbal of a specific profession or one that is untrained and can be set to a profession. Each kerbal would have their own skill tree for their profession (or would be assigned one by the player if they are the untrained type, meaning you could have Jeb be anything from a pilot to and engineer) which you would advance by spending experience points that that kerbal would obtain by going on missions and doing work as well as spending money in order to pay for training! This would definitely make recovering kerbals more appealing as well as keeping them alive. Basically if implemented you would have a non roll-play reason to build escape systems for you rockets, returning your crews back to kerbin, and reasons to bring a larger crew of kerbals along! (maybe even keeping some spare members in your Jool station as a backup crew?)

So finally here are my thoughts on the actual professions themselves

1. Pilot/Commander/Test pilot?

-would start off being able to be more stable while flying planes?

I am not entirely to sure on what this class should do but here are some ideas

-Ability to balance RCS

-Ability to keep the spacecraft pointed at its target

-Ability to cancel relative velocity with its target/ move at the same speed

-Ability to keep a docking port on the same plane as a targeted docking port

(the things mentioned above could actually be used as a semi passive auto docking/rendezvous system!!!)

-More stable landings/kill some sideways motion and keeps you pointed up

-Rather inaccurate and inefficient auto pilot/rendezvous

-Tries to prevent rovers from flipping (would try to fight risky player input)

2. Engineer/Mechanic

-would start off being able to repack parachutes

-1st upgrade would allow them to repair landing legs and wheels

-2nd upgrade would allow them to repair solar panels

Other upgrades that Engineers could have are as follows

-Ability to force activate a decoupler, engine, solar panel etc... while in Eva (could be interesting to mess with broken parts/ make use of partially destroyed or damaged assemblies or even save probes which you didn't have their solar panels open)

-Ability to manually attach/detach struts and fuel lines while in Eva

-Ability to transfer resources such as fuel and electricity(could be used to jump-start powerless probes) while in Eva

-Ability to remove/blow off/detach parts from a vessel while in Eva (could be useful for getting rid of derbies or jammed parts)

-Ability to pick up, move, and attach small parts to a vessel in Eva depending on the environment

-Ability to weld docking ports together

-Ability to stick a mini radial probe CPU (has a solar panel built in on top, looks a bit like a mini radial mech-jeb box) that would allow you to utilize old/potentially useful derbies

3. Scientist

-would start off being able to transfer science data from experiments and modules

-1st ability would allow them to get more science from Eva reports

-2nd ability would allow them to get more science from surface samples (they know their job is to collect a variety of samples and not to just grab all of the shiny rocks)

-3rd ability would allow them to get more reputation (to be implemented with budgets apparently) from Eva reports and surface samples (they wrote a book on their experience or something which boosted public opinion of the KSC)

-4rth ability would allow them to do an exclusive experiment (maybe drill a surface/core sample? Take specific readings with special tools? Take a picture???)(has to go and get a new one after each use, like how flags work with capsules as a resupply point)

More Ideas are probably still needed for this class

4. Eva/planetary activity expert (could be merged with the scientist if need be)

-Would start off with the ability to run faster on other planets

Also not entirely sure what this classes rank progression should be but here are some ideas (please add more)

-Gets a more durable space suit (can take more damage)

-Gets a parachute

-Gets more Eva fuel

-Gets A bigger/more powerful maneuver-pack(could be the current one with other kerbals getting a tinier less powerful/less fueled one)

5. New Recruit

-Can choose/be trained in any of the above professions for a price (once they get their profession they are at rank 0 like everyone else)

6. Tourist

(OK this is not exactly a profession however it is a way to fund your space program)

-Would have specific areas/planets they would want to explore as well as a certain time table for how long they want to be there/in transit/etc. Basically you can get money and good or bad reputation depending on how well you meet their needs (IE don't leave them on Eeloo for 20 years when they wanted to go to the moon for a month...). They would also want things like plenty of power, food, Eva fuel, habitation space, and bandwidth!(give them an high power antenna with a constant power supply)

So yea that's MY take on how Kerbal professions should work, Please share your Ideas and concerns!

[Helix935]

I am not entirely to sure on what this class should do but here are some ideas

-Ability to balance RCS

-Ability to keep the spacecraft pointed at its target

-Ability to cancel relative velocity with its target/ move at the same speed

-Ability to keep a docking port on the same plane as a targeted docking port

(the things mentioned above could actually be used as a semi passive auto docking/rendezvous system!!!)

-More stable landings/kill some sideways motion and keeps you pointed up

-Rather inaccurate and inefficient auto pilot/rendezvous

-Tries to prevent rovers from flipping (would try to fight risky player input)

could have a class called a navigator for this although balancing rcs would be an engineers job

4. Eva/planetary activity expert (could be merged with the scientist if need be)

-Would start off with the ability to run faster on other planets

it would be best not to have that determined by class but by their physical condition as in how strong and healthy they are which can be determined by how many hours they exercised on the trip (which would deteriorate if left unchecked)

Also not entirely sure what this classes rank progression should be but here are some ideas (please add more)

-Gets a more durable space suit (can take more damage)

-Gets a parachute

-Gets more Eva fuel

-Gets A bigger/more powerful maneuver-pack(could be the current one with other kerbals getting a tinier less powerful/less fueled one)

This would be more suited for things like custom suits like suits with or without maneuver packs (would have eva cables) or suits made for scouting and surveying

you could also expand on scientists by having it divided to like geologists and surveyors that specialize in surface sampling or eva reports so yeah

[DerpenWolf]

Ah, what I meant by the moving faster on planets was that they would have been trained in techniques in movement on high and low gravity worlds. However I do like the physical condition Idea!