So I had an idea...

[Lignite]

I really hope members of Squad see this and consider it.

Anyway, here's my idea. I've been playing KSP everyday when I don't have responsibilities because I just downloaded the Mission Controller Extended mod. I heard that Squad will be implementing a contracts system in 0.24 (someone correct me if I'm wrong), and I've been using MCE in Career mode, which is kind of difficult for a relative novice like me. My biggest milestones so far has been to land on the Mun and return, and only land on Duna.

Anyway, my idea is this: In addition to contracts (which, if it works like the MCE contracts, I assume will be to complete a specific task or tasks for so-and-so company for a money reward, and possibly science), I think there should also be a mission track. The tech tree is cool and all, but I still feel kind of overwhelmed. So much science to be earned and I don't know where to begin. That's where the missions come in. Missions as simple as "reach an altitude above 70km" or "make a stable orbit between 80km and 120km" or "make a stable Kerbin orbit, Mun transfer, Mun orbit, and Mun landing" and so on and so until you are doing some intense stuff. But, you can't do some missions until you have the necessary technology, thus you need to be doing experiments (which should also have a bit of a money reward). And, if you still are unable to do your missions, but are running low on funds, you will have the contracts to do as little "side-quests". And then, after everything is 100% done, hopefully there will be community mission packs as well, or mission packs bundled with mods!

While I understand that I can forge my own experience now with mods, I think if it comes like this vanilla, there will be better integration with budgets, rewards, science, and the tech tree, rather than each separate mod developer having to basically guess and wing it, if that makes sense.

This idea stems from my love of this game, my frustration with going in debt because I fail a mission because of inadequate parts, and my one vision of the infinite ways this game could be expanded. I mean, sure, I could just download mods for the experiences I want, but I think this would be a good setup for a true "career" mode. So, if you are reading this, Squad devs, think about it?

Thoughts? Additions? Leads on future updates that I might have missed?

Edited March 22, 2014 by Lignite

[Sirrobert]

I have no clue what you are actually suggesting

PS: if you want people to quickly see and visit your suggestion, put in a usefull title next time

[Lignite]

Sorry it's late.

I guess what I'm suggesting is that there should be a mission system, like a campaign, where you just go step by step through different challenges, and then onto harder ones. Like the first mission could be something simple like "Launch a rocket above 70km and then land safely" and then could increase in difficulty to something like "create a stable Kerbin orbit, transfer to Duna, create a stable Duna orbit, and land a rover on Duna" and so on and so on. You would be constrained by a budget, but then earn money and maybe some science for completing the mission. However, you may just want to earn money or just earn science, or might not have the parts available yet, so then you see what contracts are available, with their own set of parameters and requirements, and will result in a monetary or science reward. I'm not sure if this is what they already had in mind, but it would be leaps and bounds more immersive for a campaign IMO because it challenges you to do things you may not have thought you could do, and teaches you how to be a better rocket or plane builder, which you could take to your sandbox excursions, or maybe MP if they ever come out with that.

I don't know if that makes it a bit clearer. And sorry about the title. Literally just created this account so I'm kinda new here, but I wanted to see if others thought this would be a fun idea. Or maybe someone would shut me up because they already have something like this planned.

[diomedea]

Lignite, I see you are already used with MCE, and to my best knowledge that is how far you can get with mission tracks.

There are a number of mission packs with MCE, both included with that mod or as separate downloads, that should really provide what you are looking for. But in case you still are not happy with those, you will find more in the way of customizing your own missions. If you had a look at the planned features list, you won't find Squad doing any mission tracks (yet), so my suggestion is to stick with MCE and ask on the thread for that mod in case you have suggestions on how to improve it.

[Lignite]

Lignite, I see you are already used with MCE, and to my best knowledge that is how far you can get with mission tracks.

There are a number of mission packs with MCE, both included with that mod or as separate downloads, that should really provide what you are looking for. But in case you still are not happy with those, you will find more in the way of customizing your own missions. If you had a look at the planned features list, you won't find Squad doing any mission tracks (yet), so my suggestion is to stick with MCE and ask on the thread for that mod in case you have suggestions on how to improve it.

Oh, I'm absolutely satisfied with MCE! I'm just suggesting that Squad does something like missions AND contracts in the game, much like how MCE has it set up, but better integration with the money system and science. Since it is a mod, it can do a lot, but I'm just saying I'd like to see something like a career mode with both missions and contracts. I know that they plan to put contracts in the next update, though, so I just hope they take it further by putting a mission track in there too.

After posting this thread, I did some searching an realized that someone already posted with a similar suggestion -->http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/73225-Career-Mode

I mean, I think this player was going for ultimate realism and a little more than what I would expect from the career mode, but it is essentially the same idea that I had.

[diomedea]

Could be Squad will also make for mission tracks, if they see it fitting with career mode. Each version we are seeing improvements on that mode, after science we will have contracts, and probably money.

But I don't see missions to become a mandatory part in the game: many players like to decide what to do, and Squad certainly knows.

[Lignite]

I hope so. I also hope they have a more fleshed out tutorial set of missions. Maybe as the first part of the missions. And if they do, I hope that they tailor the tech tree to these missions so that they flow together.

And I definitely don't mean that they should be mandatory. Only part of the career game mode. I can't imagine they would ever remove the sandbox style. And I guess the center of my suggestion was having the missions and contracts be separate things, but with similar rewards (money and/or science). Make missions be the main focus (but they wouldn't have to be linear, as MCE demonstrates) and then you can also select contracts as a sort of "side quest" for extra money and/or science.