Horizons Additional SLF Stuff

[Contradi]

I always thought it would be cool to have your fighter do some of the more awkward and time consuming tasks for you when you're in a big ship, such as collect materials for you (not mining fragments or cargo) and ferry them back to the ship one at a time like a limpet. It would make material collection in my cutter something that I actually would participate in. Additionally, it would make materials in conflict zones not pointless things that just exist on your contacts panel which no one in their right minds would focus on collecting if they had chosen a side. Even if the crew member couldn't be made to do it, I would still find it much more fun to be able to swap to my SLF to collect a material.

Side note: In the case of collecting materials in conflict zones, I think it would be interesting to have both sides turn on you if you begin collecting materials without choosing a side. Not make you a high priority target, but something along the lines of being disgusted at a scavenger picking apart their dead friends for scrap materials.


Another thing I thought would be interesting is a way to (very slowly) train your crew by engaging them in some combat/sparring.


I don't know, I'm just throwing things out there that I wouldn't mind seeing. It would also seem to make sense and be more immersive to do these things. Why would this fighter not be able to do this in a world where it exists? It's support for a larger ship that's difficult to maneuver. Of course, there would be ways to exploit some of these things that I haven't thought of, but there are also likely solutions which could be implemented as well.


Anyone have any other potential uses for SLFs that could be used to supplement downtime? I think that would make a lot of people happy by cutting down on some empty time and by adding a bit more immersion. The small things like these make a big difference sometimes. Maybe I'm incorrect about all of this, whatever, just chime in.

 

[Khromm]

I like the concept of having SLFs able to collect cargo/mats in space. Even if it were just dragging a single unit back to the ship each time (as with using collector limpets). 'Course, that'd make collector controllers more or less obsolete in ships that can have a fighter bay, but since not every ship can carry one (and not all ships that ARE capable have them as part of the build) that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Crew training: tbh I just spend a couple of hours in a HAZRez with my (newish) crewmate to get 'em up a few ranks; being able to spar with them isn't really something I personally would do (unless it were SLF v SLF and even then I'd probably not bother). Hell, I fly a Cutter; chances are even a novice pilot could sit in my blind spot. If they can find it that is... Turrets wouldn't make sparring much fun though, and since with my current layout there aren't many spots that aren't covered by a turret, sparring probably wouldn't last long.

As for other ideas; I'd love to be able to dock my SLF with outposts. Not to ferry cargo or anything like that, just to be able to handle courier jobs where it's just data being shifted, or hand in bounties/combat bonds, or even to pay off bounties. Kind of like having an armed runabout... Wouldn't even need to take up a full landing pad (It'll never happen of course, like my dreams of having a sidewinder as my SLF with it's own little SRV bay... fly towards a planet, launch sidey for landing, drop SRV and trundle off...)

 

[CMDR ANCALAGON]

I like the idea of docking at an outpost (no cargo).

I use my SLF while exploring as a kind of surface recon scout as I can cover a much wider area in less time than I can in the Anaconda. Its fun, but fairly limited as it is 100% visual. A lot of explorers use SLFs to take a break from time to time, and it would be nice to have the option of outfitting or purchasing an exploration SLF that has a surface scanner (similar to SRV but can also detect POIs on the ground). It should also be fast and agile for the recreational application.

 

[Contradi]

Right, docking would be great for data hand-off missions etc. I think the reason most people who would be mining or using limpets for collection would continue to do so is that you can have a lot of them going at once. Plus, they don't have any docking time.

I think it would set a nice precedent for having a smaller ship do the docking for you so that eventually there could be ships too large for large pads, or even the mail slot. Easy solution that people will have seen before. This is far from the first time it has been proposed, yes, but it's nice to have additional uses for new mechanics.

Having essentially an armed runabout would be wonderful.

I like the idea of docking at an outpost (no cargo).

I use my SLF while exploring as a kind of surface recon scout as I can cover a much wider area in less time than I can in the Anaconda. Its fun, but fairly limited as it is 100% visual. A lot of explorers use SLFs to take a break from time to time, and it would be nice to have the option of outfitting or purchasing an exploration SLF that has a surface scanner (similar to SRV but can also detect POIs on the ground). It should also be fast and agile for the recreational application.

There's definitely a bit that can be done with SLFs for exploration. I'd like to see a SLF that isn't a fighter at all that could be used in this capacity, i.e. very weak weapons, moderate shield, lots of lights for dark sides, very durable hull, and wonderful engines. Basically an armored engine with a sensor suite. Could be fitted with sensors instead of weapons and a utility at all. Hey, give it the SRV scanner and I'd feel like it's made more for exploration. I don't explore as much as I used to before the SLF update, but I'd love to be able to issue an order for it to go scout a particular area or be scanning for things within a certain radius. I would certainly go to planets more. My Cutter is just too lumbering for me to enjoy any exploration of planets at the surface.

 

[bgraziose]

I like the concept of having SLFs able to collect cargo/mats in space. Even if it were just dragging a single unit back to the ship each time (as with using collector limpets). 'Course, that'd make collector controllers more or less obsolete in ships that can have a fighter bay, but since not every ship can carry one (and not all ships that ARE capable have them as part of the build) that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Crew training: tbh I just spend a couple of hours in a HAZRez with my (newish) crewmate to get 'em up a few ranks; being able to spar with them isn't really something I personally would do (unless it were SLF v SLF and even then I'd probably not bother). Hell, I fly a Cutter; chances are even a novice pilot could sit in my blind spot. If they can find it that is... Turrets wouldn't make sparring much fun though, and since with my current layout there aren't many spots that aren't covered by a turret, sparring probably wouldn't last long.

As for other ideas; I'd love to be able to dock my SLF with outposts. Not to ferry cargo or anything like that, just to be able to handle courier jobs where it's just data being shifted, or hand in bounties/combat bonds, or even to pay off bounties. Kind of like having an armed runabout... Wouldn't even need to take up a full landing pad (It'll never happen of course, like my dreams of having a sidewinder as my SLF with it's own little SRV bay... fly towards a planet, launch sidey for landing, drop SRV and trundle off...)

I'd love the idea of the SLF on a large ship being able to interact with a M landing pad facility or less (like an outpost). there have been times I had a need to hit a station and all there are is Outposts avail, not avail to me (anaconda). i think that would be great if A) to speed up BOOM and DATA missions or handing in bounties etc, you can "park your ship" outside an outpost and fighter in to take care of business and fly back to the ship. Of course out side a station with cops would help with someone trying to poach your ship. having your hired pilot in "defense" mode i guess would help if fired upon. Or maybe an option in the future that ships (larger than what we have now) are not able to land on planets so they have to orbit and we would launch down to the planet surface. maybe a new 'fighter class' we hire that is a shuttle style ship with a SVR. after work in the evenings i hate landing my Conda unless its engineering bases as it takes too much time coming and going just to take a BOOM or Data mission. or even dropping off a contract

 

[shadragon]

I went to a CZ and did not declare for either side. I watched a dozen ships blow up with none producing any materials.

 

[Contradi]

I went to a CZ and did not declare for either side. I watched a dozen ships blow up with none producing any materials.

Interesting. I haven't spent hardly any time in CZs without fighting, so I didn't notice that. I don't know if I like that as a prevention of easy farming for materials more so than becoming hostile with the faction the ship belonged to, but I suppose it's easier to implement. It just seems out of place.