I posted this on the Elite Dangerous subreddit, and figured I might as well post it here for the devs to ignore...
I think that both Limpets and Scanners are in need of an overhaul, recognising that you have hardware and software. I think it should work like;
You ship has a Scanner and Limpet Controller as part of the basic build. you can't remove them any more than you can remove life support or the planetary landing gear.
For Scanning, each of the current in game scanner modules should be a software tool loaded into your scanner. Apps that you switch between. Other than this, the mechanic stays the same - you only have a limited number of personalities that the scanner can do - perhaps even bundles "explorer", "miner" and so on..
Same for limpets. The controller is a fixed thing, part of the ship, and give you something like 2 limpets free. Other than thave have 1 and 2 slot modules that provide extra limpet storage, giving you 4 or 8 (or more if it makes sense).
again, the current in game capabilities of the limpets would now not be modules, but software/apps which run on the limpet controller. So, when you wish to use a limpet, you select the function you want it to perform, "program the limpet" (the audio is already recorded!), then from there it works as just now.
The gameplay improvement here would be immense. If there was no weight penalty to carrying fuel/repair/collector limpets, and more pilots just carried them as a day to day activity, then Distress Call USS where they are calling for help to fight off the pirates, and also repair/refuel could become much more interactive/rich activities.
I think that both Limpets and Scanners are in need of an overhaul, recognising that you have hardware and software. I think it should work like;
You ship has a Scanner and Limpet Controller as part of the basic build. you can't remove them any more than you can remove life support or the planetary landing gear.
For Scanning, each of the current in game scanner modules should be a software tool loaded into your scanner. Apps that you switch between. Other than this, the mechanic stays the same - you only have a limited number of personalities that the scanner can do - perhaps even bundles "explorer", "miner" and so on..
Same for limpets. The controller is a fixed thing, part of the ship, and give you something like 2 limpets free. Other than thave have 1 and 2 slot modules that provide extra limpet storage, giving you 4 or 8 (or more if it makes sense).
again, the current in game capabilities of the limpets would now not be modules, but software/apps which run on the limpet controller. So, when you wish to use a limpet, you select the function you want it to perform, "program the limpet" (the audio is already recorded!), then from there it works as just now.
The gameplay improvement here would be immense. If there was no weight penalty to carrying fuel/repair/collector limpets, and more pilots just carried them as a day to day activity, then Distress Call USS where they are calling for help to fight off the pirates, and also repair/refuel could become much more interactive/rich activities.