Idea: Assault Limpets (or Drones)

sandkid

S
Pretty straightforward Sci-fi fare for a space sim, I'd like to see drones of a violent nature implemented into the game. I say 'assault limpets' but honestly what I have in mind isn't a limpet at all, rather an alternative to the SLF. Some basic 'facts' for the proposal...

Assault Drone Bay
  • Can only be equipped to ship's with launch bay (currently named SLF bay)
  • Cannot be equipped alongside SLF modules (the two are mutually exclusive)
  • Size of Drone Bay (5, 6, 7) determines quantity of drones deployed and rebuilds available for drones
  • Size 5: 1 Drone / 10 builds, Size 6: 2 Drones / 20 builds, Size 7: 4 Drones / 40 builds
  • Drones are single-use upon deployment and thus must be restocked regularly for use (no synthesis option due to complexity)
  • Drones are 'equipped' to the bay like SLFs to determine loadout of swarm

Drones are commanded as a swarm (if more than one). They can be commanded to:
  • Attack a targeted enemy
  • Defend the mothership
  • Launch from the Mothership
  • Utility Drones will activate upon being commanded to attack or at first enemy to attack mothership when defending

Drones are agile but not particularly fast.
  • Speeds range from 150 to 200
  • Agility (pitch/yaw/roll/vertical/horizontal) is slightly higher than typical SLFs, allowing strong 'time on target' pending they can stay in range

Drones are very flimsy but are equipped with two class 1 hardpoints, depending on manufacturer
  • Drones have no shields, hull integrity ranges from 50 to 100 with no resistances
  • Class 1 Hardpoints are all fixed, Drone AI is always equivalent to a Master rank

There are also Utility Drones, drones that lack weaponry but have utilitarian functions for combat
  • Scrambler Drone: Drone uses micro-bursts of an EMP to disrupt targeting software aboard target, causing gimballed and turret weapons to be slightly less accurate (akin to a toned down chaff launcher's effect but constant when in range)
  • Decoy Drone: Drone uses a high-temperature engine to lure missiles and create a false signature on the radar
  • Caustic Drone: Drone utilizes contained Thargoid substances to self-destruct near an enemy ship and coat it. May result in friendly-fire. Deals no immediate damage.
  • Multi-Drone: Drone splits into four smaller drones incapable of damage but as a result increasing contacts. Forces enemies to sort through contacts to target assault drones.



There's some basic ideas for it. I think 'drone boats' (not a la EVE Online) would be nifty as an additional/alternative means to make use of the SLF slot.
 

Teh Smoo

T
Why make a new bay? Just have them be types of fighters.

I don't see the use, though. They seem awfully flimsy, and AI like to shoot my fighters anyway. And THOSE have more health than 50 generally. And shields can provide infinite HP, if they aren't killed. If you have hull-only, even sloppy AI can kill them eventually by spamming glancing blows that a shield would have recharged through.

Are they just special-use toys to do things that fighters don't? Scrambler sounds annoying in the same bad way that chaff-spamming AI ships are. Decoy/multi sounds useless in PVP and questionable in PVE. Caustic sounds worse than just mounting a single caustic autocannon and a fighter.
 
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