[Idea] Space Tourism Contracts

[Lemures3]

As posted by me here on the KSP subreddit, I've had an idea bouncing around in my head for a while. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it. The only stumbling block I can think of is making it so that a particular Kerbal cannot pilot a craft. Maybe something new in the persistant.cfg file? Anyway, copy pasting the post here:

Would it be possible to "hire" someone or take a contract that gives you a crewmember who cannot pilot, and you have to complete some goal with that character for reputation/money? Some people may pay big bucks to ride along around the Mun, and perhaps a celebrity would get you quite the reputation.

General Idea for the Mod:

• Accept contracts to provide space tourism. E.G. "Deliver Billy Kerman around the moon". Has both an advance and a reward of funds an reputation. Complete within 7 days. Specifics: Billy Kerman is added to your crew list. He cannot pilot or EVA but occupies a crew spot. Bring him into the moon's SOI and then safely back to Kerbin to complete. There must be a pilot (non-automated) that brings him.
  
• More contracts (and more complicated ones) available with higher space program reputation.
  
• Earn reputation and funds.
  
• Accept multiple contracts at a time. (e.g. Take 3 "Deliver Kerbal around the moon within 7 days" at a time)
  
• Extends "end-game". Already have all of the science and sick of putting satellites into orbit? Why not fly 10 people at once around Kerbin in your SSTO Transport.
  
• Integration with R&D: Hire an administrator and choose programs (e.g. allow contracts for more Kerbals but less reputation per Kerbal, or allow the flights to be piloted by computer in your awesome SSTO transport.)
  

Extended integration Ideas:

• Science: A contract from a scientist wanting to perform a specific experiment under specific conditions (e.g. Landed on Eve). Deliver this Kerbal (who cannot pilot but can EVA) and have them perform the experiment appropriately and deliver them home safely. Reap the funds, science, and reputation!
  
• Reputation: A photographer/journalist wants to personally take good pictures of Jool. Deliver him to the sun-lit side of Jool at a height of 300,000km and put him on EVA. Right click, "Take Picture". Deliver home safely.
  
• DangIt!: A failure on your Duna colony requires a special scientist (who cannot fly but can EVA) to fix a part.
  
• Kethane: Add a Kethane advisor to R&D. After bringing him to a mining site to "inspect" the site, any Kethane delivered through that site can now be sold if landed near KSC.
  
• RSS: Run your own realistic space tourism industry!
  

What are your thoughts?

Would this be possible? Would anyone be interested in this? Please contact me if you feel you can make a meaningful contribution. I lack the expertise to create this mod in its entirety.

[GeoPhizzix]

I like the overall concept, and would be a good addition to the contract system. Although, personally I would scale down the contracts to be slightly less specific on who you take. For instance, your first general idea bullet point; instead of "Deliver (insert name)...", I would like to see "Send a piloted craft, able to transport 15 kerbals, into an orbit around Kerbin and return safely". Then have contract specifics, such as; Min/Max Apa, minimum number of complete orbits, etc. Mainly because I think it could get buggy, with said contract demanding "Kerbal A" who you just happen to have stationed somewhere around Jool for example. The specifics can come in the flavor text with stuff like "Eccentric millionaire Moneybags Kerbin has decided he wants to take himself and a group of his corporate fellows on a public relations trip...". Otherwise, the rest all sounds pretty cool, something I would try for sure, and would make a good addition to the already outstanding MC and Fine Print mods.

[Lemures3]

...with said contract demanding "Kerbal A" who you just happen to have stationed somewhere around Jool for example.

To be clear, accepting the contract would ADD a new Kerbal to your crew roster, and it would never select member of your crew, to avoid exactly that. I also think some massive reputation losses for failure would be a good idea, because, you know killing those eccentric millionaires probably doesn't make you look good . I like your idea of the specifics and flavor text a lot. I also love your idea of a "corporate retreat"... imagine if the contract were indeed for 15 Kerbals! That could be rather fun to complete.

[wreckreation]

I love this idea, and the scenarios you've come up with. I could imagine "Eval Kniebal wants to jump his motorcycle across the canyons of Duna." and all manner of challenges like that. I also like the idea of different kinds of passengers - celebrities, engineers, inspectors. etc. Creative!

[kiwiak]

I think you might consider some g-limits limiters as requirements for contract. Civilian kerbals are probablyless sturdy than pilots after all.

[Justin Kerbice]

Fine print by Arsonide has many of the requirements for such contracts, I didn't dig too deep yet but I've seen crew capacity requirements utility methods for example and some contract which needs a minimum crew capacity parts to be offered.

So I guess using it as a base would be better than another contracts mod from scratch with potentially duplicate code & features.

For repairs, no need for dang It mod unless you wish to do the actual repair in EVA, Mission controller 2, this time, have repair contracts (but only for solar panels so Dang It may be required for them).

Your R&D integration looks like more strategy than weird calculations of reps/funds/...