Korolov mission suggestion

[Fossaman]

Korolov has fleshed out beautifully in the last few versions. There's just one more thing I'd like to see at this point: Frigate-killer missions. Right now it seems you'll get frigates to kill if you have particularly valuable escort missions, and some systems just happen to have frigates (which seem to sit there not doing anything, incidentally). But I'd like to see anti-frigate missions as an alternative to stronghold-killing missions.

Mission variants:

First, a straight up hunt and kill mission. No bells or whistles, wingmen optional.

Second, a 'decoy' mission: The player is assigned to escort a freighter with disguised weapons (think 'auxiliary cruiser') in order to lure the frigate into attacking. Possible twist on this one: Have other Charon ships attack first, but the freighter can't help out until the frigate shows up or it'll be scared away.

Some sort of 'revenge' variant after a kill-the-stronghold mission might be interesting as well.

The frigates are one of the coolest looking ships in the game. They need more screen time.

[Arisaya]

They need more screen time.

There should be frigates in charon too. I mean, it is their main system...

[george moromisato]

Awesome ideas! Thank you both.

[Wurmish]

I currently don't have the saves since I've overwritten my previous ones, but on all my attempts I have NOT been able to net more than ONE mission with Korolov. At all. And both of those missions were escorting to a gate. I think I mentioned it before, but I think the freighters that spawn at Korolov stations should be roughly scaled to your ranking in Korolov. I hate watching the Antares fly by constantly knowing I'm not allowed to escort them even though I should be able to with my particle weapons and advanced ceralloy armor.

[Fossaman]

If you wait long enough, eventually another freighter will come along that's in your escort class. And if it's full, eventually one of the bigger ones will leave and be replaced. I kind of like this, as it discourages 'Korolov farming.' I know I always made an effort to go through all of the korolov missions as soon as possible because it was pretty much free money, back before korolov got shinified.

[Wurmish]

Um... waiting for 10+ minutes on autopilot with no avail... nothing.
Going on to other systems and doing other things and coming back. AHA one ship. Escort it... out of the system... with a big replacement. Okay. Wait 10+ more minutes on autopilot.
Going on to other systems. Okay, far enough along that backtracking 7 to 10 systems to get a class V isn't worth it.

Gist of it - The ships in dock aren't escorted around very much. They just kinda sit there and mind their own business. Or just loop around. Rarely do they leave. And thus far has been my luck that my only escortables are leaving the systems. And now my current playthrough has no Korolov through Rigel afaik. Although mining has turned fairly profitable... allowed me to buy a Ceratops 5T, Ceralloy all around, a lancer, and a 50 MW for Rigel. So I suppose that balances my lack of escort money.

Off topic of sorts - In Eridani one asteroid produces a TON of ore - 20 plasteel, 5 duranium, 17 cobalt-thalium, 18 cerallax-whatevery. Serious. And virtually nothing in any other asteriod. At. All. 4 gold and 1 duranium in 1 riod. Mmm Miner's hold.

[Arisaya]

It's supposed to be there...
let me find the code...

[Wurmish]

And on the topic of Korolov... I USED to not have too much trouble saving the station in Charon, since the AI was decent at fighting off the initial waves. But with a lancer cannon WITH an optimizer killing off 2/3 the original waves and taking down the drakes... the station still falls?

Edit - Finally was able to self-destruct and respawn myself until the waves came at the right directions to snipe them off so they were virtually non-existent when they got near the station... with about 30% damage at a decent repair rate.

[Prophet]

I noticed there were alot more corsair-IIs in Charon, and they can obliterate the Korolov station before the Drakes even show up if you don't start dealing with them fast.

While we're on the topic of Korolov missions, what about being asked to actually transport some crates on our own? I usually play the freighter and usually only do I Korolov mission to become a member then forget all about them until Charon to try for the Class V. Mining is more profitable and less risky. Korolov could charge you a 10% deposit on the cost of the freight, it gets loaded into your cargo bay in crates to avoid the temptation of running off and selling the goods. An overlay could keep track of armor damage and reduce the value of your cargo when you are hit. If you make your delivery and the return trip you are paid 20% of the freight cost minus the cost of damaged goods.

[Arisaya]

I noticed there were alot more corsair-IIs in Charon, and they can obliterate the Korolov station before the Drakes even show up if you don't start dealing with them fast.

While we're on the topic of Korolov missions, what about being asked to actually transport some crates on our own? I usually play the freighter and usually only do I Korolov mission to become a member then forget all about them until Charon to try for the Class V. Mining is more profitable and less risky. Korolov could charge you a 10% deposit on the cost of the freight, it gets loaded into your cargo bay in crates to avoid the temptation of running off and selling the goods. An overlay could keep track of armor damage and reduce the value of your cargo when you are hit. If you make your delivery and the return trip you are paid 20% of the freight cost minus the cost of damaged goods.

XD
That's a neat way of implementing that! I should try doing that for my cargo-run missions for TX2...

[Atarlost]

You don't get dinged for damage to escorted freighters as long as they survive and items in cargo are not normally damaged when you take armor damage so it makes no sense to reduce your pay when you take armor damage. The cost of armor damage is that you have to pay to get it repaired and that should be all it is.

[Arisaya]

XD
And I wonder why I didn't realize that earlier...

Hmm... well, the charon are going to need to throw extra stuff at the player to make it more challenging.

[Bobby]

Some cargo could lose value as the ship takes hits, but only unsecured fragile things that can be shaken about by missile hits or damaged by heat(lasers might raise temperature in the hold slightly). A proper container can prevent these.

There could also be time sensitive cargo, fuel or parts to a stranded ship or damaged station(life support is fading, the hull is leaking, bad CO2 scrubbers, etc), or fresh fruits that can spoil(see bellfruit in St. Cats, incandescent imports).

[Betelgeuse]

Some cargo could lose value as the ship takes hits, but only unsecured fragile things that can be shaken about by missile hits or damaged by heat(lasers might raise temperature in the hold slightly). A proper container can prevent these.

There could also be time sensitive cargo, fuel or parts to a stranded ship or damaged station(life support is fading, the hull is leaking, bad CO2 scrubbers, etc), or fresh fruits that can spoil(see bellfruit in St. Cats, incandescent imports).

this combined with the old indirect trading idea would make some interesting trade.

[Wurmish]

XD
And I wonder why I didn't realize that earlier...

Hmm... well, the charon are going to need to throw extra stuff at the player to make it more challenging.

Perhaps a Charon version of the Kronosaurus? Not AS tough but not as frail as the original frigate?