SLF/Shuttle Idea

[CMDRTarkaDal]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Frontier!

I have been considering ideas for an implementable ship launched shuttle. This could be equipped using the current fighter bays but would function a little differently.

The vision I first had for a ship launched shuttle was a light cargo and SRV carrier. Cargo on the ground can be picked up from the ground via SRV, then transferred to the shuttle, then the motherships cargo hold. While it is functionally plausible I can forsee complications with this ship design idea. But the design can be made far simpler.

The SRV already has a cargo capacity of two tons and a cockpit with life support that functions more or less the same way as a ship cockpit does. Picture a shuttle, with the canopy of an SRV. This can be undocked from a mothership, and is limited by low fuel and supercruise - no hyperspace. This shuttle can land on planetary bodies and deploy an SRV. The trick is, by being in the shuttle, you are already in the SRV. The shuttle is simply the SRV, docked with thrusters and a limited frame shift drive. Once your SRV has detached from the shuttle you leave behind a canopy-less ship, that can perhaps be dismissed like your main ship while you prospect for materials etc. Landing on high G planets could be made significantly easier, and they could perhaps even dock at ground stations, if the mothership isn't present. Potentially useful for multipurpose ships, explorers, and could perhaps be expanded to be useful for miners. This may also help some use their optional internal modules more efficiently. Your main ship would be marked by a beacon displayed on your navigation and contacts panel. The SRV is also already equipped with weapons, which could also be used to protect the shuttle in flight combat. They may need a boost or a balance change and this could be an opportunity to introduce new weapons to the SRV. An SRV/Shuttle would certainly be worse off against any of the other ship launched fighters unless in the hands of a very capable pilot, but they might still be worth deploying as an extra defensive measure. The shuttle could also be made to carry a few extra tons of cargo that could be transferred to and from the SRV as is currently already being used.

I hope my idea helps inspire a new feature! And if Core Dynamics are looking for staff please forward my CV.

O7

CMDR Tarka Dal

 

[CMDRTarkaDal]

Also to clarify, your shuttle would effectively function as a normal ship while in flight, with perhaps whatever necessary limitations and no hyperspace.

 

[ZeroAi]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Frontier!

I have been considering ideas for an implementable ship launched shuttle. This could be equipped using the current fighter bays but would function a little differently.

The vision I first had for a ship launched shuttle was a light cargo and SRV carrier. Cargo on the ground can be picked up from the ground via SRV, then transferred to the shuttle, then the motherships cargo hold. While it is functionally plausible I can forsee complications with this ship design idea. But the design can be made far simpler.

The SRV already has a cargo capacity of two tons and a cockpit with life support that functions more or less the same way as a ship cockpit does. Picture a shuttle, with the canopy of an SRV. This can be undocked from a mothership, and is limited by low fuel and supercruise - no hyperspace. This shuttle can land on planetary bodies and deploy an SRV. The trick is, by being in the shuttle, you are already in the SRV. The shuttle is simply the SRV, docked with thrusters and a limited frame shift drive. Once your SRV has detached from the shuttle you leave behind a canopy-less ship, that can perhaps be dismissed like your main ship while you prospect for materials etc. Landing on high G planets could be made significantly easier, and they could perhaps even dock at ground stations, if the mothership isn't present. Potentially useful for multipurpose ships, explorers, and could perhaps be expanded to be useful for miners. This may also help some use their optional internal modules more efficiently. Your main ship would be marked by a beacon displayed on your navigation and contacts panel. The SRV is also already equipped with weapons, which could also be used to protect the shuttle in flight combat. They may need a boost or a balance change and this could be an opportunity to introduce new weapons to the SRV. An SRV/Shuttle would certainly be worse off against any of the other ship launched fighters unless in the hands of a very capable pilot, but they might still be worth deploying as an extra defensive measure. The shuttle could also be made to carry a few extra tons of cargo that could be transferred to and from the SRV as is currently already being used.

I hope my idea helps inspire a new feature! And if Core Dynamics are looking for staff please forward my CV.

O7

CMDR Tarka Dal

I like it +Rep

 

[Daynen]

I feel like a shuttle between your SRV and your ship is a bit unnecessary, given the capabilities of both ships and SRV's. I'd be happy to see vehicle bays used for more things, like different kinds of SRV's. I'll also be quite happy to see hangar bays used for OUR ships, rather than the paper-thin glass cannon fighters we have now.

Now that I think about it...why DO we have to separate hangars and vehicle bays, anyway? Why not just allow us to use the hangar bays for SRV's? We could easily hold two SRV's (or a bigger SRV) in a hangar big enough for a sidewinder, right?

Seems like several modules are unnecessarily limited in this way...

 

[MK Regular]

I feel like a shuttle between your SRV and your ship is a bit unnecessary, given the capabilities of both ships and SRV's. I'd be happy to see vehicle bays used for more things, like different kinds of SRV's. I'll also be quite happy to see hangar bays used for OUR ships, rather than the paper-thin glass cannon fighters we have now.

Now that I think about it...why DO we have to separate hangars and vehicle bays, anyway? Why not just allow us to use the hangar bays for SRV's? We could easily hold two SRV's (or a bigger SRV) in a hangar big enough for a sidewinder, right?

Seems like several modules are unnecessarily limited in this way...

There was a thread a while back about being able to launch a sidewinder as an SLF and what would be needed to balance it.

Also, are you suggesting that we could use the fighter bay like a loading ramp for bigger SRVs? If so, I like that idea.

 

[CMDRTarkaDal]

Wasn't what I was initially suggesting, but I would very much like to see at least some ships be able to carry perhaps larger ground vehicles and a nice slowly descending ramp to let them off would be gorgeous.

I'm thinking it would look something like a Lakon. The SRV is basically the shuttle cockpit. Wheels would fold neatly away into the ships frame perhaps,l, and a ramp would certainly work I think.

I would also be happy to see the sidewinder available as an SLF. I'd also like to see the range of SLF fighters expanded.

One barrier I think to this idea is the fact we cannot share SRVs in multicrew and the shuttle idea would conflict with that. Multicrew should always have featured SRVs.

 

[Virandar]

I like the idea of something flying being launched from the SRV hangar. I was thinking about the Scarab's cockpit, but with 4 articulated thrusters instead of its wheels, so you would hover above the ground instead of driving (no more having tiny rocks send you up in the sky). Of course, with aesthetic modifications if necessary.
I don't think it requires supercruise capabilities, however, it'd be great to have an option of launching it in space. To do repairs on ships / stations. Or some mining activities.

 

[Daynen]

Multicrew should always have featured SRVs.

I'm STILL baffled that it doesn't. This is one example of Fdev over-compartmentalizing a feature when it could have been applied more generally across the game.

 

[Misty_Dark]

I'm STILL baffled that it doesn't. This is one example of Fdev over-compartmentalizing a feature when it could have been applied more generally across the game.

I have no idea what caused these kinds of misshaps, but when ading new mechanics that functions differently to already present similiar mechanics is annoying.

Landing on a landing pad, very little assistance to know the ship orientation, landing on planets, now we get some really good help in the HUD!
SRV vs SLF, SRV cannot be replenished, what you have is all you got, but SLF are "3D-printed" in place, and thus a single module can hold many more SLF.
SRV vs SLF and Multicrew, as already mentioned, one is included, one is excluded.
Missions, are mixed and somewhat put in the missions lists. We have all Passenger mission in their own list, but all Combat, and all other Cargo and Delivery mission in another list.
We get new options to turn in rescue pod and other salvage, this is done in completely new way compared to existing mechanincs

sigh, I just wish there would be more thoughts on the overall stuff and if they need to add new mechanics, why not consider if the existing parts would benefit from this.


Like why not add SRV bays that "prints" SRV, in addition to the one that holds them.
And then add SLF bays that holds SLF instead of printing them.

Printing requires more power and would be heavier, and also offer more craft over time, compared to the module that lacks printing capability. for example.

Will have to write a more complete list of all of these inconsistencies when I get back to the bubble.

 

[MK Regular]

I have no idea what caused these kinds of misshaps, but when ading new mechanics that functions differently to already present similiar mechanics is annoying.

Landing on a landing pad, very little assistance to know the ship orientation, landing on planets, now we get some really good help in the HUD!
SRV vs SLF, SRV cannot be replenished, what you have is all you got, but SLF are "3D-printed" in place, and thus a single module can hold many more SLF.
SRV vs SLF and Multicrew, as already mentioned, one is included, one is excluded.
Missions, are mixed and somewhat put in the missions lists. We have all Passenger mission in their own list, but all Combat, and all other Cargo and Delivery mission in another list.
We get new options to turn in rescue pod and other salvage, this is done in completely new way compared to existing mechanincs

sigh, I just wish there would be more thoughts on the overall stuff and if they need to add new mechanics, why not consider if the existing parts would benefit from this.


Like why not add SRV bays that "prints" SRV, in addition to the one that holds them.
And then add SLF bays that holds SLF instead of printing them.

Printing requires more power and would be heavier, and also offer more craft over time, compared to the module that lacks printing capability. for example.

Will have to write a more complete list of all of these inconsistencies when I get back to the bubble.

Did I read that correctly? A heavier SRV bay that uses more power and can print SRVs? That is actually a great idea. My question is though how much heavier, and how much more power? If we are talking about the mass of the H rated SRV bay with the power draw of the G rated one, using size 2 SRV bays that can print SRVs is a no-brainer (it has less mass and power draw than larger versions, while being able to carry the same number of SRVs and taking up less space), unless the number of rebuilds is severely limited (i.e. 2-4 SRVs per slot).

Expanding on your idea here, what if the SLF and SRV bays that can print new vehicles were limited to factory standard craft like the SLFs and SRVs we have now. However, the SLF and SRV bays that cannot reprint have the option of carrying customized vehicles, like an exploration/combat/cargo fitted Sidewinder. This would require some development, but I think it would be a great addition to the game.

 

[Misty_Dark]

Did I read that correctly? A heavier SRV bay that uses more power and can print SRVs? That is actually a great idea. My question is though how much heavier, and how much more power? If we are talking about the mass of the H rated SRV bay with the power draw of the G rated one, using size 2 SRV bays that can print SRVs is a no-brainer (it has less mass and power draw than larger versions, while being able to carry the same number of SRVs and taking up less space), unless the number of rebuilds is severely limited (i.e. 2-4 SRVs per slot).

Expanding on your idea here, what if the SLF and SRV bays that can print new vehicles were limited to factory standard craft like the SLFs and SRVs we have now. However, the SLF and SRV bays that cannot reprint have the option of carrying customized vehicles, like an exploration/combat/cargo fitted Sidewinder. This would require some development, but I think it would be a great addition to the game.

You get the idea behind why having printable SRV and fixed size SLF ideas makes perfect sense to add, and would complement the existing mechanics, and all of this have a good chance of reusing existing code to create this.


I also like the idea as to why we there could be good reasons to use non-printing versions!

 

[MK Regular]

...

I also like the idea as to why we there could be good reasons to use non-printing versions!

That was the idea. If something is in the game, there should be a good reason why I may/may not want to use it in different situations. If something is simply better than the alternatives, everybody will use that instead of the other things, reducing the diversity of builds in the game (much like the current PvP meta). Besides, it feels like a waste for developers to put something in the game and then have nobody ever use it.

 

[CMDRTarkaDal]

I completely agree with everything you've said!

 

[C4R1TON]

Well now I see added variety of gameplay now as long as you have a shuttle equipped, you could land at small and medium bases to transfer supplies to and from your heavy ships or refueling. Now, realistically not being able to refuel your big ship in one transfer but a little at a time or to repair it in increments.

 

[Daynen]

That was the idea. If something is in the game, there should be a good reason why I may/may not want to use it in different situations. If something is simply better than the alternatives, everybody will use that instead of the other things, reducing the diversity of builds in the game (much like the current PvP meta). Besides, it feels like a waste for developers to put something in the game and then have nobody ever use it.

THIS. GOOD GOD THIS. SOMEBODY G GETS IT.