Related to this, I wonder if it would be possible for a mod developer to acquire an asset and introduce it to the game via the mod system.
Here is a suggestion. Replace all the Ai controlled CV patrol vessels in space and on planet made out of blocks with Capital ship 3d models that you can buy from the asset store. Let the only block built ships be player controlled only. They already use 3d models for the drones. I saw a guy in space engineers do something similar on his server and it lead to better performance. He was able to have large scale ship battles because the 3d models he used for NPC ships only counted as one block. He had a full scale star destroyer 3d model in game as a NPC and the game with 15 players with block built ships ran smoothly. So instead of a couple block built NPC ships we could have 20 or 30 CVs and SVs 3d models that belong to the different NPC factions in space and planet side. That would allow for players to build bigger block ships and have bigger battles and still have pretty good performance https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/vehicles/space/heavy-spaceships-03-80411
That would really hurt scenario creators and probably wouldn't do much for performance anyway. The reason they used those 3d models in the space engineers battles is because the ships they're using are extremely big and would lag the server.
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/creatures/character-monsters-x-89243 It's part of this pack, which has a few alien-looking critters. https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/creatures/rpg-reptiles-pack-103174
If you want a new alien. https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/creatures/sci-fi-alien-invader-135604
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/audio/sound-fx/weapons/post-apocalypse-guns-32801 Really good sci-fi gun sounds for a pretty dang good price. Includes both close and distant fire sounds too.
They get most of their creatures from Maksim Bugrimov and he has a crap ton of models they will most likely use before looking for other assets, although some of them are more fantasy than sci-fi but it doesn't seem to bother them as they have golems and groots in the game.
I can't express how much I am against every single one of @Robot Shark's creature suggestions. My god those look terrible, like something out of a comedy game.
I would like few of 'space-strange' type of animals for some 'space-strange' planets (when they finally make that planet type & assets), and not just dinos & 'scary-monster' type creatures. Small and big, especially something big for planets with low plains fog to roam in backdrops even as a undestructable decco something 'space-strange' like this with some nice glowing details ... and for 'something big in the mist' there is only one real reference Spoiler
There are a few free packs in the Unity Asset Store I saw today. 3D Game Kit - Environment Pack https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/3d-game-kit-environment-pack-135167 Rock and Boulders 2 https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/props/exterior/rock-and-boulders-2-6947 Unity Particle Pack https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/essentials/tutorial-projects/unity-particle-pack-127325
That is what I was thinking when I suggested it, I also liked that it's an ambush predator and the author included an animation for that.
I like the idea Performance/Event wise… I dont like the idea loot/reward wise. It's one Thing to have a small drone beeing able to loot. But having a 'CV sized model' of a ship, and the Player walks up the hull, staring at a hull plate, presses F and gets tuff of the machine room, the armory, and many other things as well is VERY unrealistic.
This is what I call a plant Monster: LACODON Sketchfab: https://skfb.ly/ZAHM From the same guy who did the desert worm, a bit high ploy tho.
The blue effect at the 3:55 mark looks neat. I like there being a bit of texture to the shield impact effect. Makes it feel like it's more "real".