Mun, Duna, Gilly(ect...) Program

[r4pt0r]

Contracts are great but say a player wants more control over their space program. I propose, programs.

Here is how I envision it.

I enter Mission control and click "start exploration program"

From there I can name my program(kerpollo, mercury, whatever you want)

Then you select the planet/moon you wish to explore with this program.

Then It gives you a series of contracts(in a somewhat logical sense) for that planet.

-get a probe in orbit/flyby

-unmanned landers(mission control might offer bonuses if you land in certain areas "We would love to see the ice caps on duna")

-then manned missions orbit, flyby, or go for gold and land.

-final objective is to return a sample and a kerbal from ______'s surface

perhaps the program can be called complete after a minimum of 3 biomes have been explored(75% science taken), or the player can keep the program live and try to get more SCIENCE.

Thoughts?

[Anquietas314]

To some extent this has already been suggested, quite recently too: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/103993-Contracts-are-great-but-we-need-PROGRAMS%21

Your suggestion is a little more fleshed out though. Selecting a celestial body as a focus though would be quite cool

[r4pt0r]

That thread and a certain post in general discussion sparked the idea. And really the idea isn't important, it's how it might be implemented. Anything can be done poorly lol.

I think that programs should be independent from reputation(in so far as you can select any body as your goal, no matter your progress). This would let players tailor their space program more to their whims. This way players can do local contracts while saving up for the gilly program or whatever they want.

[Anquietas314]

Yeah that would be cool, but I think the first two programs you do should always be Mun and Minmus - though perhaps let the player choose the order, seeing as those are easier to reach (and get back from), especially for newer players.

[michaelsteele3]

I like this idea.

[r4pt0r]

I also think this idea would be well served by the addition of stock SCANsat functionality.

[Anquietas314]

I also think this idea would be well served by the addition of stock SCANsat functionality.

Hmm. Yeah that would be cool, but I think it should be treated as a completely separate suggestion

[KPB14]

It's a great idea. A series of associated contracts to explore determined celestial bodies. I think it should begin by basics, like sending satellites and probes, and then, in more advanced levels by constructing stations and bases. That would be awesome.

[Rdivine]

Well, given many countries focusing on specific planetary bodies, such as

Chinas moon program,

Nasa's newly released HAVOC program to venus,

Commercial companies focusing on mars.

Your idea isnt that bad.

However, focusing on planetary bodies would restrict a player's freedom in space exploration.

I would suggest that when you accept the program, you get a bonus science/funds multiplier.

[thereaverofdarkness]

It'd be neat if it finalized with a nanolathing station around said body, allowing you to ship nanolathing fuel to the station which could then be used to build rockets that you launch from the new location.

[r4pt0r]

It'd be neat if it finalized with a nanolathing station around said body, allowing you to ship nanolathing fuel to the station which could then be used to build rockets that you launch from the new location.

a hair off topic to my main idea here, but I think off world construction would be terrible for the game.

[smart013]

Great idea!

[r4pt0r]

thanks. With the move to 1.0, it is now more important than ever to refine the career contract system. Players dont always get the contracts they want to go to the places they want to go to. since they are running the space program, they should have more control of what their destination is

[tater]

I've been saying something similar as well, though I used "missions" vs programs (same thing). All the pure science should be KSC driven, not "contractual."

[r4pt0r]

thanks. With the move to 1.0, it is now more important than ever to refine the career contract system. Players dont always get the contracts they want to go to the places they want to go to. since they are running the space program, they should have more control of what their destination is

Resurrecting my thread because I still feel it would vastly improve the flow and progression of 'career' mode, and I would like more discussion on that.

I just landed on minmus in order to get enough rep for a "plant a flag on minmus"contract.

If players could design their own programs, then planting a flag would already have been one of the final steps in a more natural >flyby>orbit>unmanned-landing>manned-landing progression.

This also gives players more control of their program, receiving advance/completion payments from a kerbal government for missions they themselves want to do, rather than being contractors.

[Rath]

I like this idea too I semi-implement this by using save file edits to get the contracts when I want them.

[Octa]

This could be a very good addition to the science mode!

A bit like the campaigns on the wiki, a set of goals would add more motivation in science mode besides unlocking the tech tree and "getz all zhe science!!!"

[tater]

Select the overreaching Program, and it then generates missions appropriate to that program (past the obvious flyby missions, achiever orbit, etc). The contract system is pretty FUBAR right now.

[r4pt0r]

This suggestion is still for the stock game, but are there any mods similar to what I describe? creating a program and getting relevant contracts? Squad seems to like to add features after mods have already done them.

[r4pt0r]

Seeing as we now generate negative rep for turning down the stupid contracts we don't want, I again propose we should be able to make our own mission programs through some means.

[Wjolcz]

I agree.

[r4pt0r]

I really hope they give us more direct control over the direction of our space program. I just want to be able to select the target body for my contracts.

[Wjolcz]

8 hours ago, r4pt0r said:

I really hope they give us more direct control over the direction of our space program. I just want to be able to select the target body for my contracts.

So do I. Freedom > Randomness.

Even people who like the current contracts system wouldn't get hurt if something like this was implemented. They could simply recreate what is available now.