- Proposal
- Allow Doctors to install and remove cybernetics on players, as an alternative to the NPC currently used (e.g. the one in the Theed Hospital).
The Doctor would use a craftable consumable, something like a “Cybernetic Surgery Kit” (placeholder name). Each kit would have a set number of uses, for example 10 uses (5 full swaps, where installing and removing each count as one use).
- Crafting: The kit uses common, easy-to-get resources, plus one component that Doctors buy from the cybernetics NPC vendor for a credit fee.
- Pricing: Doctors set their own price for the service or kits, so they can easily earn back the component fee and turn a profit.
- Justification
- Players: Swapping cybernetics would no longer require travelling to a specific hospital. It could be done wherever a Doctor is available.
- Doctors: This adds another service Doctors can offer alongside buffing, giving them an extra source of income and more reasons to interact with other players.
- Economy: The vendor component keeps a credit sink in place, so credits are still removed from the game like they are with the NPC fee. At the same time, Doctors earn some extra income and a new item is added to the player market.
- Existing system: The NPC option stays, so nothing is taken away from players who prefer it.
- Motivation
- Swapping cybernetics is a hassle when moving them between characters or loadouts. Each install and each removal costs 5,000 credits and requires a trip to a specific NPC. The only one I know of is in the Theed Hospital. Letting Doctors perform this service would make swapping more convenient, keep credits leaving the game, and give Doctors a new service to offer.
This suggestion would let Doctors install and remove cybernetics on players using a craftable kit, as a player-run alternative to the cybernetics NPC. The kit would require a component bought from the cybernetics vendor, keeping a credit sink in place while giving Doctors a new service to offer. Details are below.