I've been playing X Rebirth for some time (300 hours total) and I've got some ideas that accumulated in my mind during my playthroughs:
"Give me the list."
1. Player squad quick commands
You know there are the numbers 1 to 9 (and 0) on your keyboard, why not use them?
Let's use the already existing subordinates feature from X Rebirth.
- Player squad can have 9 group "leaders" (keyboard 1 to 9, 0 for everyone in player squad)
- Each leader has his subordinates
- Each command can be executed by pressing for example 2 - 1, this example orders group 2 to attack players target. (or Shift+2 - 1)
- Maybe let the player set the group numbers in My Property Menu
Commands list:
1. Attack my target: Selected group attacks currently targeted ship
2. Attack closest enemy: Selected group attacks a ship that is closest to selected group leader and hostile to player
- Each leader gets his own closest target
3. Battle stance: (refer to idea 2.) sets battle stance for selected group.
4. Retreat: Selected group ignores battle stance and tries to retreat. (capital ships can still shoot back if in range of an enemy)
- More Quick commands can be added by the Developers, these are just details of what this idea is.
2. Battle stances
Battle stances can improve the management of player fleet in combat.
These should work as a RTS player would expect them to work.
Passive: Ship does nothing when shot at, only takes direct orders from the player (Non-Player ships are never set to passive by default.
Defensive: Ship automatically shoots back when shot at and tries to destroy the attacker. It also defends other subordinates and its own leader when enemy shoots them. (Default for Non-Player traders and its subordinates)
Aggressive: Ship automatically attacks everything that is in a specific range - I don't want to write exact numbers here, better let Devs to set this number for gameplay balance
3. Construction Vessel Improvements
In the description of CVs it says that it uses it's own components to build the station, which leads me to think that i will lose the CV in the process of building a station.
I came up with more options on how to make the CV feature better.
1. Make it as it is now (one time use), only make it deconstruct itself after the station is built, magically transfering its crew and drones into the station. From then, the architect could continue his work inside the station.
2. Let the player unanchor the CV to build another station and if required, anchor it again in order to repair the station. (a mod exists for this feature so it can't be too hard to do)
4. Truly Modular Stations
This idea gives the CVs only one purpose - to build a Station Foundation
Station Foundation
- This is the most basic piece of a station
- Player can extend the foundation by building up to 3 modules (4 if you count the Radar module) of any type that already exist in X:Rebirth
- modules can be upgraded/extended
- Station Foundation should cost no resources if you plan to make CVs a one-time use (idea 3. part 1.)
5. Reasons to walk on a station/ship
- Gwent! - Just imagine a X themed card game with unique rules and X3, X:Rebirth themed cards. I would play that more than the actual game while my empire brings me billions of credits in the background.
- Optional FPS game when boarding a ship. AI can be dumb I don't care. It could only help the boarding a little, to not be too OP and unbalanced.
- Tons of NPC dialogue for lore fanatics
- That arcade console
Feel free to add to my ideas or discuss more X:Rebirth unfinished/missing features
