build a robotic telescope and find other planets and races

[algieba]

Hello everyone, this is an idea for a mod, I don't have the knowledge to do it, and it looks complicated anyways but... here it goes :

New research for a building : robotic telescope, you feed it modules and it produces a new kind of science pack, "astronomical data". This opens up a new research options in your labs. Each option scans a planet in the solar system, the cost depends on the distance of the planet (so the number of planets and distance = cost should be random), and needs of course, among others, the aforementioned new "astonomical data" science pack. Eventually you run out of planets in the solar system, and that means you have to scan another star, that costs a lot of science packs depending on light year distance (well it is supposed to be a way to put your perfectly laid out factories to infinite use)

Now some planets have inhabitants that can give you new research for objects that they need manufactured and delivered. An agricultural planet might need machinery, a population center needs appliances or building modules, resort planets needs smart tvs and robowaiters, maybe military bases need some sorts of military equipment, research bases need ultra advanced modules etc etc etc.

Ideally, you would have to build a starport and a robo freighters to deliver the goods but there's already a mod for a "barter box" it could work that way.

Now, why please the aliens?

Well maybe they have information for the other lost members of your race, and can give you coordinates for a mission to bring one of them back. You'll need to research a mission, build a ship, blah blah, this is basically what the devs posted on their previous blog entry. Or maybe the pirates got your friend, and you either have to ransom him by manufacturing what the pirates what they want, or build a space destroyer and get him back by force. This will not happen onscreen of course.

So, here you go! I feel the game lacks purpose once you get to rocketry, this can spice it up...!