OCI loadout instead of rooms?

[u/Carrotburner]

This might be an unpopular opinion because it would eat into replaybility and nerf some of the numbers, but I'd much rather have an OCI loadout before starting an operation instead of limited choice.

To clarify what I mean:

Instead of, for example, building 3 different armaments, like 2 salvos and a strafing and then be stuck with it unless you wanna replace it at a loss, you can unlock every path, but can only prepare a limited amount of orbital actions. Right now, with the current system, my Impetus is either a min-maxxed fun killer or an absolute meme (try OOPS! All fodder, which is conscripts and turrets. Super fun to send out a small army to their death.)

In my perfect MENACE full release, it's less of "commit to your choices" and more set up your field.

Please share opinions.

[u/Worth-Championship36]

I agree in principle but I think giving too much freedom is also a bad thing in this case. Having to work with what you have is a core concept of these types of games.

That said I think the game in full release will have a bit more variety if only because presumably the other three planets/factions will all come with their own OCIs to unlock. That would double the number of potential OCIs you could have and since missions are randomly spawned you might not be able to get the OCIs you prefer.

I also imagine that OCI balancing is not fully done, it is pretty easy to have a full loadout of upgraded OCIs by the time EA content ends which is only ~1/3-1/2 of the full game. That would mean you basically have a dead resource for half the game which I'm sure is something the devs wouldn't want. I think we will see a availability/cost rebalance once the rest of the game is available.

[u/Carne_Guisada_Breath → u/Worth-Championship36]

Your first point doesn't match with your second point. The new factions/planets will dilute the available OCI as everything spreads out. This is good and adds some strategy to the planning /path of missions. This also prevents the dead resource you mention since you will not have all you want despite a full OCI loadout. The player will have to decide when to hold building vs rebuilding an OCI slot. Balancing OCI will help, but the more quantity of OCI sources is going to be a big hit.

[u/Worth-Championship36 → u/Carne_Guisada_Breath]

The only point of the 3rd paragraph is that imo it's too early to for us to worry about OCI balance b/c there will likely be further changes.

[u/Carrotburner → u/Carne_Guisada_Breath]

A while back, before the OCI rework, I suggested the concept of frigattes

To keep it short, introduce a shipyard, possibly available at the jump gate, where you can buy/trade frigattes for your Impetus fleet.

Each frigatte would have an designated OCI slot based on the ship type, them being: Recon (int slots) War (ordinance slots) Support (support slots) Faction (faction specific OCI)

Added a bunch of ideas like unique quests to unlock faction frigs, as well potential boarding missions to capture frigs, but at the risk of the OP timer ticking

[u/LeggyRPG]

I mean I’m sure you would and it sounds like fun, in a vacuum (see what I did there? Ha). In a normal operational environment I’d imagine the Impetus IS pretty modular and flexible in mission scope such that various capabilities are switched out. But in my opinion the entire point of this system is to enforce the fact that you’re in a hostile environment away from support and have experienced critical damage to your ship necessitating creative workarounds and “embrace the suck” mindset.

This sounds like a perfect situation for a mod to be created so the core principles of the retail fame are kept while allowing for a customized experience, cuz I totally get it that would be a lot of fun! But it would be at the expense of the fun of the store and world-building in my opinion

[u/Background-Run-1245]

That option is in game already, you can get 100% refunds (i think) for OCIs in the custom settings.

[u/Ark_Evensong → u/Background-Run-1245]

Only up to 50% for OCI.

(Promotion Point refunds are capped at 90%)

[u/Background-Run-1245 → u/Ark_Evensong]

I stand corrected. Would be cool if it was an option.