MasterTrader

There is currently an awful lot of information included in starbase reports. This is only likely to grow in future, as more features are added to the game, and as players request more analysis of information (e.g. the request for details on ore usage which started me thinking about this). The high level of details is potentially quite confusing, especially for new players. So, my though was, perhaps there could be more options for tailoring of starbase reports. The basic report should be fairly slimmed down, working to the minimum that a new player is likely to want with a new starbase. i.e. no minerals report, probably no market report, very limited ground and space combat reports etc. There could then be orders to request more information in specific areas. One approach is a "tickbox" type order, where you can select which reports you want to receive. The approach I prefer is to tie it in a little more to the roleplaying side of the game. The basic report would be generated weekly. Beyond that, you could send in orders to request updates in specific areas (i.e. from specific members of your staff). E.g. request a report from your security officer, and he will give you details of current security level, security crackdown and scans of the area (including scans from platforms). Request a report from your ground combat commander, and he will give you a full breakdown of your ground combat ability. Etc... These reports could then be requested at any time during the week, which would be useful for more limited updates (e.g. being able to do scans of orbit more often than once a week could be handy). The orders could also be set as standing orders, so that you could choose to get _all_ the information on every turn, as is currently the case. This idea of a summary report only on every turn, with the additional capability to request more detail on specific areas, could potentially be extended to other positions (get a navigation report to check where your ship is without worrying about all the other gubbins, get an update on your politicals restricted data without having to wade through the other umpteen pages, etc). Hopefully this would make starbases in particular a little less daunting (and confusing) for new players. It could also be very useful for the rest of us as starbase reports are only likely to get bigger over time... Richard AFT