Now, I've been thinking about making a game relatively called "Starship Troopers Online". I know what you're thinking, but please allow me to explain before the rantings actually begin:

Starship Troopers Online consists of a galaxy filled with only a handful of massively huge planets (preferably around 500x500). These planets would consist of a galaxy that players will be able to traverse freely using massive ships that can be uniquely customized to your own specifications. Now, me not being a huge fanatic of the show, I really don't know what to call "those planets", so let's just move on ...

STO will consist of many skills that are listed in the movies, such as:

TRADE SKILLS

ENGINEERING: The ability to create ship parts, and if you're patient enough, the ability to create your own ship! Also, occasionally some ship parts will go bad, resulting in from minor to catastrophic penalties (such as the light processor being broken, causing the lights to flash out). They can also create necessary tools for other skills, such as mounted lazers and flashlights for guns, or even heatvision goggles, for better vision of the enemy

PILOTING: In order to fly a ship, you're going to need a pilot. Whether it's piloted by yourself, another player, or by an NPC, the better the piloting skill, the bigger and badder ship you can ride.

GUNSMITHING: The ability to create and repair guns! Gunsmithing also grants the ability (in conjunction with the Engineering skill) to create mounted guns on your fortress!

HEALING: The ability to heal yourself or another person in their time of need. Whether it's to cure a venamous poison, or to relieve massive trauma to the chest, a healer is a valuable asset to a group.

ARMORING: The ability to create armor for yourself and others. The armor spots include: head, chest, arms, gloves, legs, and feet.

TAILORING: Like Armoring, but with more versatility and freedom from bulky and clunky armor. However, it can conjuction well with the "underclothing" armor spot. Also, you can create many useful items, like bandages for Healing, etc.

COMBAT SKILLS

PISTOLS: The ability to fire pistols and handguns. Dual wielding can be eventually learned, making characters hold up to 2 pistols at a time.

EXPLOSIVES: The ability to fire guns that explode on impact.

AUTOMATIC RIFLES: The ability to fire automatics.

RIFLES: The ability to fire powerful rifles.

MELEE: The ability to fight with your bare hands, or to fight with knifes or other items of small structure. Can dual wield.

Eventually while existing one either one of the alien planets, or on Earth, players might consider establishing a fort. A fort basically ranges from a super-small structure with only one building to a castle-like structure. Forts can be decorated with mounted guns, traps and so forwarth. These are often used for clan wars, clan halls, or in some cases, defense against the villainous aliens that populate each planet.

The combat system will be similiar to that of Proelium by SilkWizard and many other games; pressing a simple button to fire at the enemy. Some specialty items that don't necessarily fire in a straight line, such as a sniper rifle, allows you to target an enemy with the cursor. However, such freedom comes at a price ... using a sniper rifle requires you to kneel down and load the gun, and once fired, it comes with a nasty cooldown. Gunsmithers will be able to craft a variety of bullets that have their own ups and downs:

Half-metal bullet: Cheap to create, and often sold in bulk. Fares well against light armored foes, but fails against medium and heavy armored foes.

Full-metal bullet: Excells at medium armored and light armored foes, a little bit more expensive then that of a half-metal bullet.

Piercing bullet: Used to damage heavy armored foes, but doesn't work as well as the cost to use against light armored and medium armored foes. The one and only bullet type for the sniper rifle.

I haven't decided a theory for other guns that don't use bullets, but maybe you can help me out with that.

Player customizability will range from choosing your skin color, your hair type and color, your facial hair type and color, and even if you're left or right handed.


I think I've explained most of my philosphy here, so please tell me what you think, and perhaps give me some constructive criticism to make these ideas even better! If you have a question please post here, and I'll be more then happy to answer it. Kudos to anybody whom read this long, long post.