Idea for anti piracy/bounty hunter "Q-ship"

Calaban

Calaban
In the old water ship days, there were these devious craft that traveled with the trade ship convoys, laying in wait for a pirate to attack.

It looked like a normal freighter, but was actually a concealed pocket battleship! Its guns were concealed and only deployed upon engagement. Thus a "Q ship" was born.

My proposal is that a Viper can be made up to look like a Hauler. Simple as that! They are of similar design and shape already, so a retrofit wouldnt be that extreme.

To all outside scans, it shows up as a hauler (but savvy pirates may note its unusual speed and maneuverability), maybe even showing a cargo full of gold to scanners, but is a fully functional Viper inside that deceptive housing.

FD wants players to counter criminal and generally bad behaviored pilots, and this "specialty ship" would be just about perfect!

So what does everyone think? too sneaky? too cruel? "I want! I Want! I WANT!"?
 

Joe Spivey

Joe Spivey
I think this is a really cool idea and one that can be used equally by both sides to the great amusement of the parties concerned... Well, one of them at least. The other might have moment of 'a certain muscle' (the original word I used got censored) clenching before they saw the humour. Similarly I am all for disguised cargo pods that begin to tick ominously once they have been scooped and the plaintive voice of a crying child coming over the distress channel only to turn out to be... well, you can guess the rest. :D
 

beelbeebub

beelbeebub
I wonder if a small tweak to the hauler design could achieve this.
Currently the hauler has 1 x class 2 hard point. If ghey changed it to 1 x class 4 or even 1 x class 6

Add an optional 'stealth' module that gives a false reading when scanned.

Then the little hauler you see plodding along may be packing a cannon or rail gun

:D
 

Brian

Brian
I like this, it just adds more game. Even if the bad guys got hold of one it would add more game!

And more ships...

Brian :)
 

Calaban

Calaban
As I am not a misanthropic [dont google it, you'll only feel insulted;)] Pirate type player, I cannot see what a pirate would want to use a Q-ship for... ?

But I'm interested in seeing the darker side of things, sure. Enlighten me...?
 

Brian

Brian
Calaban said:
As I am not a misanthropic [dont google it, you'll only feel insulted;)] Pirate type player, I cannot see what a pirate would want to use a Q-ship for... ?

But I'm interested in seeing the darker side of things, sure. Enlighten me...?
Click to expand...

"Help help, I'm a simple trader all alone!" In pops another trader to team up, and pow! The actual trader becomes a victim of deception piracy..

Brian :)
 

Cmdr Andy B

Cmdr Andy B
Calaban said:
As I am not a misanthropic [dont google it, you'll only feel insulted;)] Pirate type player, I cannot see what a pirate would want to use a Q-ship for... ?

But I'm interested in seeing the darker side of things, sure. Enlighten me...?
Click to expand...

surprise attack/sneaking up on the target?

I'm in two minds about this as pirates are already at quite a disadvantage, as soon as you see someone with a wanted status you can shoot them without fear of legal repercussions. a pirate has to balance the risk/reward of an encounter - is the cargo worth the bounty i'll get? will the taget give it up without a fight or will i be forced to kill them to get the goods, adding to my bounty still further. are there any police ships or bounty hunters about who could get in the way?

lots of things to worry about, add a Q ship and it tips things even further away from piracy being a worthwhile play choice.
 

Zvanya

Z
I think it's a really cool idea but I wouldn't want them to divert dev time to it until the stuff already planned for release v1 is done.

But definitely a cool idea.
 

Joe Spivey

Joe Spivey
Well, to be honest Q ships were really just heavily modified freighters with reinforced hardpoints to mount some pretty meaty guns. So rather than disguising a Viper, our version of the Q ship would actually BE a Hauler but with some serious kickass gear installed, probably at the expense of cargo space. It would be effective only during the surprise phase when, like the original Q ships, and would unleash a hefty first 'broadside' to disable its target. (Basically do enough damage to prevent the submarine from diving)
 

Zenicetus

Zenicetus
I don't like the idea of a Viper masquerading as a freighter, but I do like the idea of some options to let a trader ship operate as a Q ship, at the expense of hauling cargo.

The "disguise" element could be done with combat modules that occupy a cargo slot, and tie into the weapon systems for more cooling, or special missile racks that take up cargo slots instead of needing hardpoints. Adding the upgrades as cargo would mean no changes needed to the basic ship design, and a pirate wouldn't know it was a Q ship until he did a cargo scan... heh, heh.

Tricky to balance though, because a trader ship shouldn't replace the combat ships in the game.
 

Rog

Rog
Gotta say I'd love to be the pilot of a Lakon 9 fitted out like an AC130 gunship:


Not necessarily a sneaky 'Q' ship, just a gunned-up variant.
 
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EAGLE 5

EAGLE 5
Fake Hauler rear shell that can be jettisoned upon attack... maybe booby trapped to explode and take out or damage pursuing enemies...
 

Calaban

Calaban
EAGLE 5 said:
Fake Hauler rear shell that can be jettisoned upon attack... maybe booby trapped to explode and take out or damage pursuing enemies...
Click to expand...
[ hehe someone just watched Deathrace]


I also like the point that "not all haulers are the same easy pickings", as that uncertainty will add some spice to the engagement.

But I really feel a tooled up Hauler would be a much more extensive (and expensive) modification than a stock viper with bolt on Hauler frame.

ooh! that would be slick- the Q-ship would artificially move and scan like a hauler, until it jettisons the disguise and a Viper emerges from the drifting shell!
 
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