Is It Time for "Reusable" Collector Limpets?

GG7

G
I was just thinking as I was out farming some USS with the Chieftain that it would be great if we could reuse our limpets. Has always seemed like such a waste to have them basically a One Hit Wonder device that you chuck out into space as garbage after only one use.

Think of how useful it would be for smaller ships with limited cargo space if we could use a set of Collector Limpets several times before they break or run out of fuel. FDEV could take it one step further and allow us to refuel them using synthesis.

Then you could maybe buy 4-8 Collectors and keep using them instead of having to buy several dozen, or none at all if your ship doesn't have the cargo space.

With talk of an overhaul of the entire Limpet system... I think adding a reusable component definitely needs to be considered.

What do you guys think?
 

Hell Razor5543

H
It is very simple to make collector limpets a multi use item. Don't target an object before you fire a limpet off. Then it will continue collecting items until it either runs into sometime or times out.
 

Bryan K

Bryan K
I’ve always thought the idea that limpets explode after a single use is idiotic. Such a waste of material. That’d be like throwing your cell phone away and buying a new one after each call.
 

Askorti

A
If you're not targeting anything as you release the limpet, it will keep gathering stuff in your vicinity for several minutes.
 

Frenotx

Frenotx
I have a thing for this!
Frenotx said:
This suggestion is made with this other proposal in mind: Limpet Controller Module Bay.

Proposal:
  • Limpets are no longer disposable cargo
  • Instead, limpets no behave similarly to SLFs
  • Limpet controllers modules have different numbers of bays and reserve limpet storage
    • Like fighter bays, larger limpet controllers both have more slots, and more reserve limpets per-slot
  • CMDRs now have vanity options for their limpets, including paint, thruster trails, and NAMES
  • Limpets are generally improved, as they are no longer disposable
    • Collector limpets:
      • Significantly smarter and more durable. Not likely to crash into rocks, or die unless attacked.
      • Collector limpets can now carry a 2 units of cargo.
      • Targeted collection mode causes the limpet to grab the targeted item, then immediately return to its bay (limpet is not consumed).
      • Free collect causes the limpet to behave as free collect does now, with the main difference of grabbing up to two things before dumping them off at the ship. "Firing" the limpet again orders it to return to the bay.
      • Can potentially have a few versions. A slower one with more capacity (great for mining or mass collecting), and a faster one with less capacity (great for mat gathering / targeted cargo recovery)
    • Hatchbreaker Limpets:
      • Significantly tougher. Remember, these are supposed to be less disposable.
      • Can handle PDT fire for a few seconds, but can still die to them
      • ECM temporarily "stuns" them
      • If they successfully hack the target, the cargo is released in a "burst". Released at once in a cloud, instead of a stream
      • Stays with the cargo cloud after release (until recalled by "firing" again), making it easier for CMDRs to find the cloud again
    • Hull Repair / refueling Limpets
      • Will continuously do as much repair / refuel as they can, return to the ship to resupply, and go back to repairing / refueling
      • "Firing" the limpet again recalls it. Auto-recalls when the target is fully repaired
Click to expand...
 

RamirezKurita

R
Having non-reusable limpets seems like a dumb thing, until you realise the quality and materials they are made out of. Limpets are made of nothing but some iron filings, nickel dust and our own pilot's bodily fluids, assembled and manufactured with no tools beyond our own teeth. With that in mind, it's pretty impressive that they can do anything, let alone function as a remotely operated drone that can perform a variety of tasks.
 

Hellakitty

Hellakitty
Have the limpets learned how to pick things up from planet surfaces yet? I was mildly disappointed but incredibly amused last time I tried it, the little thing just kept smashing its head against the floor over and over again until it died.
 

Maka Gucci

Maka Gucci
Yes! I feel pretty bad leaving them out there alone in space, I let off 2 and imagine that they both find a way to use the wreckage I just left them with to at least have some kind of Hollywood style Titanic, ending.

It's like when the dad leaves the robot boy in the woods, or every puppy left on the side of the road. I mean it's not like that but it feels like it with their little desperate blinking as you 5..4..3..2.. it's peak.
 

IndigoWyrd

IndigoWyrd
Viagrets.

But as has been noted, not targeting something allows the limpet to continue to function until:
1. It's lifetime expires
2. It smashes into something
3. A point defense turret kills it.
4. You move out of its range and dies of loneliness.

However.... the OP does raise a minor point that is glossed over by this - If I, as I often do, drop into a Signal Source I know will be full of goodies, let loose the marmosets, and allow them to gather all the goodies for me... I cannot reclaim them for reuse. I either let them perish of chronoton poisoning, or I jump out, leaving them far behind.

Being able to reclaim them would be helpful and considerate. Granted, they're cheap, but cargo space isn't, and synthesis of limpets is rather staggeringly high considering they cost less than a can of biowaste.
 

GG7

G
Hell Razor5543 said:
It is very simple to make collector limpets a multi use item. Don't target an object before you fire a limpet off. Then it will continue collecting items until it either runs into sometime or times out.
Click to expand...

That isn't what I am referring to.

I'm talking about collecting them BACK into your Cargo Hold and reusing them on another USS.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom