This week I began implementing the code that will support the missions system. So this took a fair few days and I've not finished coding or debugging it yet. It's not a ground breaking mechanic, but it's a fairly core element of the game. Through missions the player will align themselves with one of the factions in the game as well as earning a bit of extra cash.
So to support the mission code I've also added the first five groups to the game:
- The Nyopean Union - A huge transnational entity that originally founded the majority of the original colonies and continues to fund them. They are a democratic group primarily focused on encouraging trade and maintaining peace for the benefit of the homeworld nations. The Union is over 700 years old. The extra-terrestial colonies are not members of Union, but are actually owned and controlled by the Union as a whole. The colonies are just becoming self-sufficient and want to control their own population which is leading to the current political unrest throughout the system.
- The Mechanium - A small group who's philosophy lies in the belief that man's destiny lies in technology. They encourage technological enhancements of the human physical frame and have a string trust in the use of A.I. systems.
- Gene Liberty - A small group who believe that man can only progress through the art of genetic engineering. They believe creating biological solutions for mankinds problems is a far better prospect than a technological one.
- The Pharmatopia - Another small group who believe man can only progress with the use of chemical injection and designer medicines. While technology is seen as essential it is secondary to a chemical based solution.
- EcoHarmony - A small group who believe man has pulled to far away from nature and must return to more harmonic relationship with the planets we occupy.
The game will present the player with a random selection of missions from some of the groups listed above, there will also be private missions. By taking on a mission linked to a group, you will influence the strength of that group and, in turn, how the game's story progresses.
For example, if you align yourself with The Mechanium by performing a lot of their missions, The Mechanium will gain in strength resulting in a story arc that is more focused on The Mechanium's agenda. Simliarly, your relationship with the group will improve and you will gain access to unique Utilities that you can equip on your ship.
I haven't started work on the story arcs yet, although I have some rough notes scribbled somewhere.
In other news I am expanding the weapon system to incorporate 5 weapon types:
Missile - already implemented, but these will now all be homing missiles.
Beam - These laser weapons will instantly hit, but will inflict lower damage.
Particle - Similar to lasers, but they apply a field around thw target and the damage is inflicted slowly and decays over time with the field remaining even if the beam is removed.
Plasma - already implemented, these will be sped up, but are effectively dumb energy balls.
Mass - already implemented, similar to plasma these will be slower, but will inflict higher damage.