Many Kerbal Space Program (KSP) players have voiced their opinions on how career mode could be revamped. While radical overhauls are a popular topic, this article takes a different approach. Instead of suggesting a complete rebuild, we’ll explore how to refine and expand upon the existing framework of career mode in KSP to create a truly exceptional gameplay experience. It’s important to recognize that many players already enjoy career mode in its current form. Therefore, the aim is to build upon this solid foundation, acknowledging that a complete overhaul by the developers at this stage is unlikely.
The core challenge in improving KSP’s career mode lies in its inherent flexibility. The game’s strength is the multitude of ways players can approach space exploration. However, this dynamism can also lead to a lack of structure in career mode. The goal, then, is to introduce robust mechanics that cater to diverse playstyles while staying true to KSP’s essence: building rockets and flying them.
Fog of Science: Unveiling the Mysteries of Space
Science is arguably the area of career mode most in need of improvement. While the basic mechanic of gathering science to unlock parts is functional, the in-flight experience can become repetitive. Science points are readily available, encouraging exploration, but the act of gathering them often feels monotonous, exacerbated by relatively uniform planetary surfaces. There’s a sense of missing discovery. Here’s how we can inject more excitement into science gathering:
1) Introduce Sciency Surface Features: Populate planets and moons with visually distinct surface features like ice formations, geological wonders, geysers, volcanoes, and even hints of alien life. These elements would add visual interest and a sense of discovery to planetary surfaces.
2) Orbital Mapping and Feature Highlighting: Enable orbital mapping to reveal these surface features. This could involve highlighting biomes where specific features are common and automatically placing waypoints when significant discoveries or anomalies are detected. Biomes should also be clearly visible in map mode for strategic landing choices.
3) Biome and Feature-Based Science Incentives: Vary the science value of different biomes and award science bonuses for discovering surface features. This would encourage players to actively seek out these points of interest rather than landing randomly.
4) Streamlined Science Gathering: Implement on-screen notifications for new science availability and introduce a dedicated science action group to simplify the collection and storage process. This would reduce repetitive clicking and allow players to focus on piloting and exploration.
5) Experiment Perks and In-Flight Utility: Enhance experiments by providing in-flight benefits or information valuable for future missions. For example, thermometers could unlock visible heat indicators, barometers could improve trajectory predictions by factoring in drag, and graviol detectors could increase the efficiency of surface feature mapping.
This approach introduces a “fog of discovery” element to the game. Planets initially appear as blank canvases from space. Progress and development are tied to the process of unveiling and discovering what lies on the surface. This also naturally incentivizes the use of rovers and the development of precision landing skills. Streamlining the science gathering process removes unnecessary repetition, allowing players to immerse themselves in the core aspects of flight and exploration.
Re-engineering the Tech Tree for Broader Appeal
The current tech tree structure can leave some players feeling underserved, particularly those who favor aircraft or prefer to begin with unmanned missions. While a universally perfect tech tree is impossible, we can make improvements to better accommodate diverse playstyles. Consider this proposed tech tree revision:
The key improvement here is the introduction of stronger branching paths early in the tech tree. This allows players to quickly specialize in their preferred mode of play, whether it’s atmospheric flight or unmanned probes. Further optimizations to the tech tree are discussed in detail here for those interested in a deeper dive.
Enhanced Flight Tools for Smoother Navigation
Better in-game tools to aid navigation and mission planning are a consistent request from both new and experienced players. Players should have access to features that optimize vessel design, find transfer windows, and manage multiple missions without relying on external mods or websites.
1) Delta-V and TWR Readouts: Integrate Delta-V (Δv) and Thrust-to-Weight Ratio (TWR) readouts directly into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Spaceplane Hangar (SPH), and in-flight interfaces. These are crucial metrics for mission planning and spacecraft design.
2) Stock Alarm Clock Functionality: Include a built-in alarm clock system for setting reminders for maneuvers, planetary encounters, transfer windows, and other time-sensitive events. This would greatly improve mission management.
3) Transfer Window Planner: Implement a transfer window finder within the game. Instead of simply providing dates, an interactive tool, perhaps similar to Transfer Window Planner with an orrery visualization, would allow players to understand and experiment with transfer window optimization.
4) Improved Maneuver Nodes: Refine maneuver node usability. The current system can be cumbersome. Incorporating features similar to the Precise Node mod or Alshain’s maneuver widget would be a significant improvement. The Better Burn Time mod also offers valuable flight information that could be integrated.
Milestones: Elevating Achievements to Main Objectives
KSP intentionally lacks a defined “end goal,” which is a strength. However, providing a clearer sense of progression would be beneficial. Milestones – achieving first flights, landings, and flag plantings on celestial bodies – already exist in the game and represent natural objectives. The issue is their lack of visibility within the user interface. Ironically, these milestones are often the most engaging “contracts” players naturally pursue, yet they are almost hidden. Mission Control should prominently feature these milestones, making them immediately apparent to players as key objectives and showcasing their rewards.
One approach is to reorganize Mission Control into planet-specific tabs. The primary exploration milestones for each world could be listed at the top, with other planet-related contracts below.
These milestone contracts could be perpetually available or automatically activated as reputation increases. Crucially, they should be consistently visible in Mission Control, ensuring players are aware of these overarching goals. Planetary tabs could also house valuable information such as transfer window data, Δv requirements, and atmospheric details, potentially populated through experiment data.
Enhanced Strategy: Tailoring Your Space Program
The current strategy system in the Administration building feels somewhat limited. Many strategies seem like band-aid solutions for underlying mechanics rather than offering meaningful strategic choices. The Administration building should offer more impactful strategies, similar to Transponders and Leadership Initiative, that empower players to specialize their space program according to their preferred playstyle. Furthermore, strategy selection should be more dynamic, allowing players to adapt their approach as their careers evolve. The key improvement would be to grant players greater control over the types of missions they undertake.
1) Contract Type Strategies: Introduce a suite of strategies that directly influence the probability of specific contract types appearing in Mission Control. Examples include a Tourism Initiative, a Rescue Program, or a Mining Enterprise strategy.
This would empower players to shape their space program’s focus. It would also prevent players from being locked into unwanted contract types due to the initial contract weighting system, allowing for more adaptable and personalized career progression.
Time Matters: Introducing Meaningful Time Management
Time is a largely abstract concept in KSP, often bypassed with time warp. Integrating time as a more significant factor could add depth to career mode. However, it’s crucial to avoid punishing time warp, which is essential for long-duration missions. Here are some ways to introduce time-based elements thoughtfully:
1) Calendar-Based Milestone Bonuses: Award “World First” bonus rewards for achieving milestone contracts (Mun landing, Duna arrival, etc.) before specific calendar dates. This incentivizes timely mission execution without penalizing time warp for long voyages.
2) Time-Based Construction and Research: Optionally introduce construction and research times. Rocket construction duration could be tied to cost, with VAB/SPH upgrades reducing build times. Research could also have completion durations, making time a factor in technological advancement.
3) Time-Dependent Experiments: Introduce experiments that require extended periods to complete, adding a time element to scientific endeavors.
4) Optional Life Support: Integrate life support as an optional game mechanic, perhaps using a simplified system like USI-LS. This would introduce resource management over time, encouraging efficient mission planning and execution.
By implementing these time-based elements as togglable options or difficulty settings, players who desire a more strategic and time-sensitive experience can engage with these mechanics, while those who prefer a more time-flexible approach are not penalized.
These suggestions aim to refine and enhance the existing Kerbal Space Program career mode, creating a cleaner, more engaging, and strategically richer experience for all players. While other areas like Kerbal Experience perks and building upgrades could also benefit from refinement, these core improvements address some of the most frequently voiced desires within the KSP community.
