Kickstart the AE system/interest

Well, I have always thought it was a very cool idea. I just don't see how you could avoid the poor quality missions, the farms and the idiotic. When Freedom goes live then AE will be cost $ for players to access. This idea may also boost the desire for players to get into the AE system (currently, I couldn't care less if AE was around...too many issues and my missions get messed up with each issue update; couldn't be bothered to go fix them).

Anyway, my idea! I think the devs should hold a contest (not unlike they do now from time to time) where the winning AE arcs became radio/paper missions or tip missions or mini TFs/SFs - regular canon in game. It could include your own super enemy or group. The sky is the limit! I also submit the missions must be unique and have a unique cast of characters in an attempt to deliver us from the repetitive nature of the current tips/radio/papers/TFs/SFs. Have this contest once every 6 months (or so) and pick the top 5 or 10 and convert them into regular missions etc.

I think it would help deliver us from the very narrow direction of the current game (Praetorian saturation and then some). There would also be a higher number of quality missions to play in the AE system (for those that didn't win). Also, the devs only have so many resources and hours in a day. If we had a bunch of players put in some solid/fun missions then it could only enhance the overall product. Also, it would cause some people to gets subs and want to access AE for this contest. I sure would!

No? Nothing?

Good idea in theory.

Quite a few obstacles jump out at me though. Namely, the search function of AE is woefully inadequate, making finding anything decent more trouble than it's usually worth.

The winning arc's would have to have a contact placed in the 'real world' though the new find contact feature should make that easier.

The rating system for AE is a joke and a slap in the face to legitimate authors. Rewarding the farms and keeping the actual content missions buried deep deep in the darkness. To easy to abuse by griefers, to easy to bury good arcs by giving them 4 stars for whatever reason.

As you mentioned, AE breaks with nearly every new update. Most authors have started giving up the ghost due to this and the name violation issues. Which brings out the biggest problem I see.

What happens when a new update hits and breaks one of the winning arcs? The dev's would then have to spend time 'tinkering' with someone else's creation trying to fix it properly before going live.

So while on the surface I would absolutely love to have tons of variety and interesting missions outside of AE, the reality is, I just don't see it happening due to the work involved.

Good suggestion though!

Actually, I think I noted that these AE missions could be added as radios, paper or tip missions. THe current bunch of stuff in the radio et al is pretty weak so why not add some player stuff. Have a contest and winners have their mission ported to one of these formats. No new contacts etc. The actual mission would be made into radios etc. I think some of the current regular CoX content is quite weak. Running around doing radios etc would get new life from a rich source (AE).

AE requires Dev action and attention to fix its problems.
That does not seem to be forthcoming.