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Khronos' Korner When the Mission Computer Fails . . . One of biggest challenges I face as the events GM is trying to keep things mixed up across a wide variety of players and interests. In theory, the Jumpgate mission computer is an aid in that challenge. However, lets face it, the Jumpgate mission computer is useful for helping newer players level, but at some point in a players career, it becomes, how shall I say – less attractive. Istvan’s military missions will help this, no doubt, but they are a little ways away. In the immediate future, you will see factional governments, corporations, and even some less savory individuals offering one off missions and/or contracts. Given the wide variety of player interests, missions can be customized to meet not only active players, but also the current needs of the game, whether it the econ, or the current storyline arcs, maybe just because I feel like it. Some of these missions will be obvious, and very public (see OMC’s recent efforts to mass produce nukes). Some of these will involve doing things that will get you shot at by pilots, or by conflux. Some of these will be run at the same time, to deliberately force conflict between the folks running the missions. Plenty of options for us to explore. Not every mission will be publicly offered – it makes no sense for Hyperial to ask for public bids on their contract to destroy Quantar Core station. In addition, if a corporation or faction has a good relationship with players or squads, they are more likely to offer contracts privately to good ‘suppliers’ before they offer them to the pilots at large. This makes it very important to ensure factional governments are corporations know what you stand for. The forums are the key here – visibility is everything, even if its just the occasional PM to folks you’d like to work for. The key to remember when considering to accept a contract or mission, is to decide whether it fits in with where you what your Jumpgate pilot to go. Take a very simple example – there is general animosity between Hyperial and Quantar, and if you were to accept a mission for Hyperial, it is very likely that Quantar would not see this as favorable, should they find out. And that’s just the RPCs – pilots tend to take things much more personally! So, for a Quantar factionalist to accept a Hyperial mission makes little sense (unless there are double agent types about…) and make even have adverse affects on pilot stats, such as PR. With luck, these missions and contracts will allow those involved enjoy positive interaction, and have even more fun.
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