Limpet Rework Suggestion

[Frenotx]

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

 

[Quantis Trap]

An alternate idea or variation might be to have weapon kits, maintenance kits, mining kits, fueling kits etc for SLFs, so they can be the workers. That way, our tele-presence could jump in and watch or even take charge.

 

[Frenotx]

An alternate idea or variation might be to have weapon kits, maintenance kits, mining kits, fueling kits etc for SLFs, so they can be the workers. That way, our tele-presence could jump in and watch or even take charge.

It would be pretty cool to be able to assume command of a limpet- especially in multi-crew!

 

[Lestat]

I don't think they should change it. They are working fine right now. I rather have frontier work on stuff that make us wants us to come back. Stuff like Exploration, Maybe land on Earth-like worlds and New ships. Not change something that doses not need to be changed.

 

[Evantyr]

Honestly, i wish they were just a drone. like a Fighter or SRV, you can deploy/recall, or give it orders. instead of equiping a specific controller to your ship you equip a bay, and they take a portion of your fuel to run. also adding module slots to give them extra effects (such as increasing thermal on a target its hatchbreaking, draining power/shield, extra speed/control range etc etc)

for instance all sizes would come with 1-2 bays depending on size, but class increases control range and reduces power draw. The new 'bay' would use System pips, if you run out of system power the drone would power down until you have power to send the signal again.

 

[Xevyr]

I'm happy with how they function.. even though they take up a lot of slots
One thing I wish though, if the collectors didn't crash into asteroids all the time..
That actually appears to be a bug.. I've noticed while mining a bunch that they have a predefined route around the ship when they're coming back and once they enter that zone where they start this they ignore everything else...
So if your ship is too close to an asteroid, even though they have plenty of room to move around.. they will simply 'only see' the ship and start their built in movement pattern.. hitting rocks in the way.. destroying your entire fleet of limpets in one go
Helps if you move the ship further so they can do their 'dance'...