In a bid to breathe new life into the shipbuilding mechanics of Bethesda’s latest RPG, Starfield, a dedicated modder has emerged on the scene with a transformative project that not only responds to a common fan complaint but elevates the gameplay experience. The mod, aptly named “Astroneer: Become a Starship Designer,” introduces a dynamic questline that propels players into the fascinating world of spacecraft design.
One of the prevailing criticisms among Starfield enthusiasts has been the perceived underutilization of the game’s shipbuilding capabilities. While the title boasts an extensive system for crafting and customizing ships, it leaves the decision to engage with this feature entirely up to the player. Some fans lauded this approach, aligning it with the game’s sandbox ethos, arguing that the freedom to avoid ship customization resonated with their preferences. However, a contingent of players decried the absence of compelling incentives for ship creation, citing it as an example of disjointed game design.
Enter the enterprising mind behind Astroneer: Become a Starship Designer, known as CodeGangsta on Nexus Mods. This ambitious modification introduces a new layer to Starfield by infusing the shipbuilding mechanic with purposeful quests. Players now find themselves tasked with assembling a diverse array of spacecraft through a series of intricate and perpetual missions. The rewards for these quests extend beyond mere satisfaction, offering XP, monetary incentives, and Salvage resources pivotal for completing over two dozen additional Research Projects.
The mod seamlessly integrates these dynamic quests into the Starfield universe. Acting as the gateway to this new experience is a fully voiced NPC named Aria Collins, who not only guides players through the intricacies of starship design but also becomes a collaborator in their engineering endeavors. The depth of this implementation is further highlighted by the fact that each player-designed vessel has the potential to reappear in outer space, adding an immersive and consequential layer to the gameplay.
To embark on these Astroneer quests, players must engage with Mission Boards, mirroring the procedural generation of other tasks within Starfield. This clever incorporation ensures that the new mechanic seamlessly fits into the existing gameplay structure. However, the meticulous attention to detail doesn’t end there. The mod’s dependency on the Steam version of Starfield and the Plugins.txt Enabler mod has been noted, making it incompatible with the PC Game Pass version. While potential workarounds exist, the lack of experimentation with the Microsoft Store executable, the version distributed to Xbox Game Pass subscribers on PC, leaves an intriguing avenue for future exploration.
Astroneer: Become a Starship Designer stands as a testament to the creativity and dedication of the Starfield modding community. Since the RPG’s launch in September, enthusiasts have witnessed a steady stream of impressive user-created content, and this latest addition further enriches the diversity of available modifications. With official modding tools slated for release in early 2024, the landscape of player-generated content within Starfield is poised for exponential growth.
As players continue to explore the vast reaches of the Starfield universe, the introduction of mods like Astroneer: Become a Starship Designer demonstrates the potential for fan-driven enhancements to not only address perceived shortcomings but also elevate the overall gaming experience. In the ever-expanding galaxy of Starfield, the modding community continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative and keeping the spirit of exploration alive.
