Kerbals Should Level Up In-Flight (Not Only Upon Recovery)

[Renegrade]

They've become quite competent in living in an isolated tin can without trying to do anything even remotely challenging. Jeb can now recite all the lines from Game of Thrones seasons 2 and 3 from memory. Bill has become quite productive in writing mediocre poetry. Bob has had some novel insights into the nature of boredom during the last few weeks. Allison has become convinced that there is a vampire hibernating outside the ship, and the airlocks must be sealed permanently to keep it out.

O.o

Well, that is what they're probably good at now, but they were actively involved in an all-biome landing of Duna, and then the station moved to Ike, and landed on most of the biomes there (update: all of the biomes there~)... with plenty of time to absorb any lessons learned since.

The current "complete a mission and return home for debriefing and a reward" is a good game mechanic, if you try to run your space program in a reasonable way. Later in the game, the home could be any permanent colony you have established, assuming that the game somehow distinguishes real colonies from ordinary bases and stations.

Well, that's the thing, they ARE on a permanent station, but will never gain the experience they earned from the landing missions on Duna and Ike unless I send a DunaBus out to bring 'em back. I think Squad MIGHT have some concept for colonies in the distant future, but then again, maybe not...

Also I'm not sure about this 'reasonable way to run your space program' bit. Sending a station and lander and hitting multiple or all biomes in a single mission (think of it like an Apollo mission, only with a reusable LEM) is way more efficient than sending a mission that only hits one biome and returns. Unless you're talking about relief crews or such?

I'm referring to the game design style, where the player is being soaked in a constant stream of experience points, achievements, loot, bonus points, trophies, and other rewards. It's main use is to make the game more addictive, as it usually doesn't affect how interesting or fun the game is.

Oh.. Well, I have no love of the little distractions (trophies, achievements, etc) either, but the experience bit is an actual (if mediocre) gameplay mechanic now, not pure fluff. If it's not going to hurt anything, why not do it?

[Jouni]

Also I'm not sure about this 'reasonable way to run your space program' bit. Sending a station and lander and hitting multiple or all biomes in a single mission (think of it like an Apollo mission, only with a reusable LEM) is way more efficient than sending a mission that only hits one biome and returns. Unless you're talking about relief crews or such?

I mean treating kerbals like people. You send a qualified crew on a mission, instead of a bunch of newbies without the necessary skills. Once you have completed the mission goals, you return them back to Kerbin, instead of leaving them stationed on a distant planet in case someone comes up with a new contract they could complete cheaply.