I don't see the fundamental difference between this and clearing infestations for gameplay; either way you're fighting AI. Please provide some details about the enemy groups, enemy types within each group, mission types, and how various mission types should be accomplished.

It's based on running missions for corporations, NPC corporations exist in EVE and they should as well in Dust. It would allow a reward system in Dust because dust at the moment is all about loss and not so much about gain. It would give players away outside of pve, and pvp and into missions which could be done solo. In fact in EVE as well there is pvp, pve, and missions all though missions are some what of a pve system they are not completely the same thing.

I like the idea of a level 4 Agent Mission in Dust being something that is virtually impossible for a person to solo. However, we are immortal clone soldiers, there is absolutely nothing saying we can't burn up quite a few clones in order to get a mission done.

In Eve, few pilots fly a ship in PvE that they think they have a snowball's chance in hell of losing. For example, I often fly a Rattlesnake in level 4 security missions and at no point have I ever felt remotely close to losing the thing.

Loss in Eve and loss in Dust are totally different beasts. Loss in Dust is BEYOND a foregone conclusion. You WILL die (probably many thousands of times by the time you call it quits on Dust) and there is no guarantee of that in Eve. Even in PvE, I fully expect multiple deaths as a merc.

I imagine taking on a high paying contract from a NPC Corp that takes me and a select few, with our clone bank on board, to a low-sec or null-sec site. The scientists working the site haven't reported in ages and our employer wants to know what the slice is. We fly out there (maybe this particular "high end" mission requires an Eve capsuleer escort?...or perhaps we have to hire either an Eve pilot or the stock NPC pilot at varying cost and risk) We dock at the abandoned orbital science research facility in search of missing laboratory data that our employer desperately wants to find. The place is creepy, half-lit and obviously someone or something has humped the bunk. BAM! We have to fight Sleepers/Rogue Drones/Space Pirates, risking dropsuits, weapons and money in the process. Our level of success would be determined by our losses, the difficulty by the Agent level (like Eve) and all with the possibility (maybe) of being stranded, losing all our clones and failing or meeting with great success and, perhaps, even finding some high tech gizmos to sell or use along the way.

All the elements of an Eve mission. NPC enemies, a set of instructions to find/kill/investigate/etc..._____ and the possibility to grab some high tech salvage/loot along the way. A modest payout with NO GUARANTEE that it will cover potential losses should we not be up to snuff.

Concerning the actual OP...I agree with your request but you aren't requesting anything that hasn't been well and truly discussed in multiple other threads. Is there something SPECIFIC you have in mind other than just "PvE missions?"

There is one thing in your last couple posts I zeroed in on like a piece of fixed artillery: SP gain for running missions. I am extraordinarily wary of that concept. I guess as long as you hit the cap whether you are doing PvE or PvP, then I don't really care...but I still think running missions should yield more ISK and salvage than be a mode for grinding SP without as much risk as PvP...