This ties into [this](< base_url >/index.php?/topic/19918-looting-overhaul-proposal/) thread, as it incorporates crafting as a way to salvage broken items. But enough of that: let’s get to the point.
Currently, the list of grey items in Star Conflict (that I’ve found, please tell me if I’ve missed any) are:
- Plasma Core
- Germanium Capacitor
- Optical Chips
- Shield Modulator
- Armour Booster
- Thrusters
- Computer Controller
- Capacitor Plates
- Reinforced Hull Parts
- Shield Generator
- Pirate Weapons (Broken)
So, linking to the aforementioned looting thread, these items should be incorporated - along with modules, weapons etc - into a simple crafting system that allows for the upgrading and repairing items recovered from looting.
When looting, you will occasionally find a broken item, say “Broken T2 Military Plasma Cannon”. These broken items will immediately be added to the warehouse: no extraction is required, as the item is probably banged up enough to not worry about any further damage caused by rough handling.
This is where the grey items come into play. Instead of being automatically sold, they are also stored in the warehouse for use. Grey items - when in large amounts - can be used to fix up broken greens and purples. So that Broken T2 Military Plasma Cannon is going to be our example.
The crafting screen itself will be fairly simple: any number of input slots (I’d say no more than 5, but having a 3x3 grid like Minecraft would make sense as well) and one output slot. Broken items will have their repair requirement listed below their value in credits. So, last match we had a good win and found a Plasma Core and a Germanium Capacitor. We already have 3 more of each in our warehouse, so let’s check the repair cost of the broken item:
Broken T2 Military Plasma Cannon
Value: 22900 (random number I generated just for example)
Repair Requirements:
- 2 Plasma Cores
- 4 Germanium Capacitors.
Well, we have 4 Plasma Cores and 4 Germanium Capacitors, so we’re good to go!
Now we’d place the broken item, the Plasma Cores and the Germanium Capacitors in the input slots. In the output slot, the standard image of a T2 Military Plasma Cannon would appear. Click that, and the required items placed in the input slots would disappear and the resultant item is transferred to our warehouse. Yay!
Now for upgrading. You can upgrade an item a maximum of 3 times, to avoid wtfoverpowered items being made and abused.
Upgrading follows the same principle: I/O (input/output), except we don’t use a broken item. Items that can be upgraded are as follows:
- Military
- Experimental
- Mk 3 contract items
Just a quick note before I run you guys through: upon upgrading, the item will gain an extra prefix; ‘custom’. In this example we will end up with a Custom T2 Military Plasma Cannon.
Now, there’s a little difference in upgrading and repairing: in upgrading, there are no lists to show what items are required for which upgrade, neither are there a list of upgrades for an item.
Now, in storage we have a Shield Modulator, 2 Plasma Cores from our repair, and some leftover Optical Chips. Let’s play around with these and find an upgrade.
We’ll just say we get lucky and hit the mark first time: adding a Plasma Core and an Optical Chip gives our Plasma Cannon a little more accuracy! Now we have only 2 degrees of spread instead of 2.5! Click on the output, our input items are consumed and our resultant item is added to the warehouse. Woo!
Now go have fun with that Plasma Cannon.
For weapons, possible upgrades can be damage, range, rate of fire, accuracy, etc.
For modules, possible upgrades can be duration, energy consumption, cooldown, range, etc.
So, what do you guys think of this system? Good? Bad? Answer in the poll! And please remember to add any items I’ve missed: I’ll be adding more possible items soon and I should really have a complete list of currently implemented items before I do so.
List of possible additional scrap items:
- Gyroscope
- Radial Bearings (like ball bearings!)
- Damaged Reactor
- Particle Drive
- Thorium Cables
- Promethium Liquid
- Galvanised Relays
- Tungsten Shards
- Energy Transformer