Contract Categories

[GateCrasherVI]

[Checked if this was mentioned already in the "Things Already Suggested" thread since missions have been a thing for a little while now but saw no evidence of it. If I missed it somewhere, I apologize.]

I think contract goals could do with larger multi-part missions that involve activities from numerous of the currently available contracts. I think there is an impressive variety of things to do in there. Navigating through the contracts based on difficulty stars and part names feels a little tedious and obscure.Perhaps the interface for missions could categorize them into side-tabs like 0.90 uses for part categories in the assembly buildings.

Categories something like this;

Science "Tasks" / "Contracts"

Various Data Collection

Exploration Tasks

Rescue

Explore Area

Flag Planting

Equipment Tasks

Part testing

Space Missions

Forward (Surface) Outpost

Extra-Kerbin Satellites

Rover Deployment

Space Station

I like the depth of some of the 2 and 3 star missions, but with the current difficulty indicators of 1, 2, and 3 stars the contract office UI feels a bit more like a grocery shopping-list than glorious 'asplodey space programs aspirations. Maybe even some color-coding of difficulties would help know whats what. But things are already getting kinda busy in the icon department of KSP with all the new resources and currency.

These categories could give a more obviously rewarding long term goal as well as smaller tasks to keep you busy while you work your way up to the giant leaps. Maybe the larger Space Missions could have subcategories of contracts which effect the overall performance of the mission but don't dictate its success or failure.