The rest of the main story and user content

[critlocked]

Hey there, all. I don't post overly much, yet something's been eating at me for a while that I haven't really felt has ever been addressed.

Most of the patches and the like so far have been user created content for what is essentially the first half of the main story and its planets/areas. I feel like we've more or less been stuck on the first half of the game for a couple years now and just sort of keep adding to it.

This worries me because I'm legitimately afraid that by the time the rest of the main story comes out there isn't going to be any user created content or interesting characters really left to interact with. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there will be a few created by the staff, yet compared to the first half of the game I'm afraid the second half is going to feel very sparse in terms of characters and content not related to the main story.

There is a lot of content being constantly added, a lot of characters being constantly squeezed into the first half here and I'm just worried that people will be constantly trying to update and bugfix their old content and characters to be properly compatible with the second half of the story and the remaining mechanics that are going to be put in and in such won't be really willing to take on the project of spreading more non-story related content across the second half of the planets and story content.

While this may be an unpopular opinion, I'm of the mind that the story should have been fully fleshed out before we started focusing as heavily upon user-created content and side-story/missions so we could have the whole main area to work with. As it stands while I'm worried we may not get as much content for the second half I'm also worried that this game's main story may never, actually, get finished. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of effort being put into progressing it. It all seems to be directed toward fluff or extra content for this half of the game.

I'm sure most of you are going to call me a troll because that's just what internet people do to people they disagree with these days. Regardless, I just wanted to get my concerns out there and ask the opinions of others. Is anyone else a little concerned? I mean the last main-story point I've seen addressed in the blog, if you even choose to call it that, is the ship update back in July. Everything else has been for miscellaneous additions. Maybe it's silly to be worried about there being a lack of content for the second half considering how overwhelmed the staff seems to already be with such things, yet I still am worried and have been for a good few months now.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of others here, maybe the thoughts and perspectives of others could assuage my fears.

 

[Savin]

Nah, there's a nigh-endless supply of good content. We're not going to run out of it.

Besides, content can be moved around relatively easily, if we need to spread things out. I do agree the current areas are a little too dense in NPCs, but I also think they're too light on things like sidequests.

 

[Xeivous]

I'd argue that the main quest is the lightest thing of all. Side quests are in a far healthier place, especially on the first two probe planets.

Only drives I feel to do the MQ are to unlock additional planets and the hope that I can bang my rival after they get replaced by an actual threat.

 

[Slab Bulkhead]

Here's the thing: whenever Fenoxo & Co. put out new stuff, other people come up with more new stuff to add to it. Every place we go to has started off pretty light on content and ended up with a bunch of people and side quests. I don't think that's going to change - whatever we get next, someone's going to say "that's the perfect place for this quest I've been planning" or "that new race is my new fetish, I'm going to write a new NPC". So yeah, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

 

[critlocked]

What Savin says really resonates with me. The whole "dense in NPCs but light in sidequests" thing. I'm not sure why that hadn't hit me before, but it's absolutely true. One of the things that's caused my fears and I hadn't even realized it.

However what you all say is reasonable and definitely right. Looking back I see what you're saying and can definitely see examples where you're right. Thanks for the perspective, I appreciate it. Though I do, also, agree with Xev. The Main Quest is pretty light on content ATM, too. Still, thank you all so much for your insight.

 

[sumgai]

Besides, content can be moved around relatively easily, if we need to spread things out. I do agree the current areas are a little too dense in NPCs, but I also think they're too light on things like sidequests.

I actually like the NPC density, makes the populated places feel more alive. The Freezer on Uetvo is one of my faves. Just wish that Beatrice was an evening type, and Chrissy was a morning type...

Would like to see some new planets and probes and whatnot ofc. And maybe a reason that Saen only likes it in her butt.

 

[Savin]

And maybe a reason that Saen only likes it in her butt.

She just likes it up there more~

 

[Zombiqaz]

What Savin says really resonates with me. The whole "dense in NPCs but light in sidequests" thing. I'm not sure why that hadn't hit me before, but it's absolutely true. One of the things that's caused my fears and I hadn't even realized it.

However what you all say is reasonable and definitely right. Looking back I see what you're saying and can definitely see examples where you're right. Thanks for the perspective, I appreciate it. Though I do, also, agree with Xev. The Main Quest is pretty light on content ATM, too. Still, thank you all so much for your insight.

I think for this game most sidequests would be about interacting with NPCs. I mean, NPCs are probably the main point of playing TiTS.

Most sidequests are part of accessing new content for NPCs, or about interacting with creatures you meet along the quest. For example, Azra's Tarkus expedition in the latest updates has you meeting three different people/groups as you go about your business, and you get some new scenes with your crewmember Azra once it's done.

If you wanted to have a sidequest that wasn't NPC-focused, you'd probably have to make it about loot. Perhaps some new weapons or other combat gear, maybe some new transformative items, maybe some unique perks, or just more XP and credits. I don't think there are too many of these quests in the game.

On the other hand, you could also think of many NPCs as effectively being sidequests. When you meet a new NPC (or a new NPC) gets added to the game, you basically get a chunk of content where you talk with them and get to know more about them. As you talk (or otherwise interact) with them, you unlock new options or new actions. Maybe you have to go do a quest-like action, such as getting a flower for Emmy. Your reward for completing these sidequests is more time and text with your new friend (or enemy).

 

[balitz Method]

The frontloading could potentially be a problem, yeah - not having at least placeholder skeleton framework for later places that allows things to be more spaced out leads to everyone who wants to write a new NPC picking one of the already densely populated areas and once NPCs are "done" there doesn't ever seem to be a big push to return to them, even if their content conflicts with the lore.

Assuming that the current level of interest will continue indefinitely is some hubris and the loose design plan is some shaky organization.

But yeah I'd also agree that the game could use more quests. There are plenty of NPC waifus at the moment. If someone wants to write a new one it'd be well-served to make them part of a side quest rather than another elaborate or not-so-elaborate romance or fetish play. It's kinda like how for a while fuckable shopkeepers were the only thing being made.

 

[balitz Method]

If you wanted to have a sidequest that wasn't NPC-focused, you'd probably have to make it about loot. Perhaps some new weapons or other combat gear, maybe some new transformative items, maybe some unique perks, or just more XP and credits. I don't think there are too many of these quests in the game.

Yeah, now that I've got some time I want to try working on a few class quests - little quests unique to each class on each planet geared toward the idea of getting practical experience in your job class and getting some loot and maybe-eventually a perk out of them. The game's really lacking in adventurey stuff.