[Module Suggestion] Electromagnetic Solar Scoop Drive (EESD)

[Arcanagrim]

With the latest major expansion—ironically, expansion—traveling farther beyond the Bubble has never been more important. Whether you're scouting new frontiers, establishing deep-space outposts, or linking trade between remote systems, long-range endurance is now a central part of Elite Dangerous gameplay.

To support this evolving need for exploration and long-haul travel, I created the following core internal module: a propulsion alternative designed specifically for those who live lightyears from resupply and don’t want to burn half their tank every jump.

OVERVIEW
The Electromagnetic Solar-Scoop Drive (ESSD) is a new core internal module that replaces traditional thrusters with a low-thrust, high-efficiency propulsion system. Designed for long-range exploration and endurance travel, the ESSD reduces fuel usage and increases FSD jump range by collecting trace interstellar particles as the ship travels.

In return, it sacrifices combat agility, disables boost, and builds significant heat that directly affects FSD cooldowns. This module is intended for explorers, smugglers, and endurance pilots—not combatants.

CORE MECHANICS

Alternate for: Core Internal - Thrusters
Fuel Use: Yes but reduced
Boost Capability: Disabled
FSD range bonus: mass/model dependant
Increase FSD cooldown: mass/model dependant
Maneuverability: Greatly reduced
Silent running: lower heat initial heat

Beneficial Roles
Explorers
Traders
Smugglers
Couriers
Stealth Scouts

Not beneficial for combat roles

 

[alexzk]

Not beneficial for combat roles

Tell this to that people from open which insist you must be prepared

 

[anShpan]

Beneficial Roles
Explorers
Traders
Smugglers
Couriers
Stealth Scouts

Personally, I would never give up boost ability for any of those roles. But, sorry, not be able to boost while trading, smuggling, and especially doing courier deliveries?? My own trading experience is about opposite: I'm running weaponless, but with max boost, actually [perma]-boost, when possible.

 

[CMDR_UKmouse]

I must be missing something in your post... why not just install a Fuel Scoop and not worry about the negatives?

 

[Uthael]

I won't go for or against the idea until I see some numbers.
Here's my favorite build. Tell me how much each number affected would change:

EDSY

EDSY is a ship outfitting tool for Elite Dangerous

edsy.org

Edit: yes, I need to set up module priorities better, I know x-)

 

[Nidoboros]

While I like this in theory, an afterburner which replaces boost with a normal-space version of the SCO ZOOOOOOOM and/or a way to install a lower capacity fuel tank that incorporates a fuel scoop might be better.

Maybe a thermal battery module that increases the amount of heat you can store? Every time I bring up 'we need batteries so AFMU can repair power plant, for more endurance exploring' people just counter with 'go repair at a fleet carrier' which ruins the vibe.

 

[DjVortex]

To support this evolving need for exploration and long-haul travel, I created the following core internal module: a propulsion alternative designed specifically for those who live lightyears from resupply and don’t want to burn half their tank every jump.

What's the problem in using a fuel scoop?

 

[Nidoboros]

What's the problem in using a fuel scoop?

Some stars aren't scoopable; this looks like it is to supplement by being able to refuel in normal space? Or maybe it is just cranks hyperspace efficiency, not sure.

 

[varonica]

Some stars aren't scoopable; this looks like it is to supplement by being able to refuel in normal space? Or maybe it is just cranks hyperspace efficiency, not sure.

Yeah it's essentially a Bussard Ram Scoop, unfortunately everything we currently know about physics tells us this simply won't work. It's a also entirely unnecessary for the game.

 

[DjVortex]

Some stars aren't scoopable; this looks like it is to supplement by being able to refuel in normal space? Or maybe it is just cranks hyperspace efficiency, not sure.

The game offers ways to ensure that you'll go through scoopable systems.

 

[Nidoboros]

Yeah it's essentially a Bussard Ram Scoop, unfortunately everything we currently know about physics tells us this simply won't work. It's a also entirely unnecessary for the game.

I mean everything we know about physics also says FTL won't work. Woo woo space magic.

The game offers ways to ensure that you'll go through scoopable systems.

Sure, until you need extra fuel tanks to zip out 300,000 ls. Not that a fuel scoop integrated into a basic tank would fix this either, just... I can see this solving a problem. How big that problem is, shrugs

 

[varonica]

I mean everything we know about physics also says FTL won't work. Woo woo space magic.

Doesn't actually, well FTL is a funny thing because we are talking about a number of possible different scenarios where getting around the universe faster than light gets around the universe doesn't necessarily mean moving faster than light, but we lump it all in the FTL bucket just because. So getting somewhere faster than light does, doesn't necessarily mean moving faster than light, there's a lot of theoretical physics that's a bit fuzzy on the possibility.

Ram Scoops on the other hand aren't theoretical physics, it's based on what we actually know about the particle density between stars and planets and there simply isn't enough there to actually work.

 

[DjVortex]

Sure, until you need extra fuel tanks to zip out 300,000 ls.

Even with a half-empty tank you can fly in any ship much, much farther than that.

SCO is not mandatory. You can fly there the old-fashioned way, like commanders were doing for the first 10 years.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

For any exploration ship I've used, good manoeuvrability, the ability to boost to, say, avoid bad landings on high G worlds or zip across a planet to get the required distance for a second or third plant scan is essentially mandatory. Wouldn't touch this module for any purpose.

 

[BDelacroix]

With the latest major expansion—ironically, expansion—traveling farther beyond the Bubble has never been more important. Whether you're scouting new frontiers, establishing deep-space outposts, or linking trade between remote systems, long-range endurance is now a central part of Elite Dangerous gameplay.

To support this evolving need for exploration and long-haul travel, I created the following core internal module: a propulsion alternative designed specifically for those who live lightyears from resupply and don’t want to burn half their tank every jump.

OVERVIEW
The Electromagnetic Solar-Scoop Drive (ESSD) is a new core internal module that replaces traditional thrusters with a low-thrust, high-efficiency propulsion system. Designed for long-range exploration and endurance travel, the ESSD reduces fuel usage and increases FSD jump range by collecting trace interstellar particles as the ship travels.

In return, it sacrifices combat agility, disables boost, and builds significant heat that directly affects FSD cooldowns. This module is intended for explorers, smugglers, and endurance pilots—not combatants.

CORE MECHANICS

Alternate for: Core Internal - Thrusters
Fuel Use: Yes but reduced
Boost Capability: Disabled
FSD range bonus: mass/model dependant
Increase FSD cooldown: mass/model dependant
Maneuverability: Greatly reduced
Silent running: lower heat initial heat

Beneficial Roles
Explorers
Traders
Smugglers
Couriers
Stealth Scouts

Not beneficial for combat roles

Isn't this a Bussard (rip) ramjet?

 

[Ameeleean2]

No boost alone would make me not use this module.
Why not introduce different more advanced type of fuel scoop:
1. Ability to supercharge jump drive (25% bonus) when fuel tank is full. Normal fuel scoop heat generation while filling up tank, very high heat generation when supercharging FSD.
2. Ability to scoop fuel from planet with hydrogen in atmosphere (so yes mainly gas giants)- lower heat generation when compared to scooping fuel from star (for obvious reasons).

Another possibility would be adding expensive thrusters with lower integrity with built-in fuel scoop that would offer both functions in exchange of lower performance (along with those two mentioned above for example).

 

[Uthael]

There's a lot of misunderstanding here. What OP is suggesting is:

Engine that helps you run cooler and your FSD jump further. It also helps with fuel consumption.
Downsides: no more boosting, lower speeds, lower turn speeds, higher FSD cooldown.

The rest is lore. Flavour text.

 

[metatheurgist]

The rest is lore. Flavour text.

I've never understood why people write suggestions like it's a galnet article. Just get to the point. We want to judge the idea, not dig it out of prose.

 

[Uthael]

I've never understood why people write suggestions like it's a galnet article. Just get to the point. We want to judge the idea, not dig it out of prose.

Because without proper explanations, people go "Ew, no. Why? It seems illogical and stupid.".
With the flavor text, people lose the reason for "why" and "illogical". It has more of a chance of getting supported.

But you're right... The OP lacks the TL;DR line. Ah well. At least the topic was alive for a bit.

 

[varonica]

Engine that helps you run cooler and your FSD jump further. It also helps with fuel consumption.
Downsides: no more boosting, lower speeds, lower turn speeds, higher FSD cooldown.

See as an explorer, for a long time, none of that means anything to me, no use at all. The single biggest boon to explorers is SCO, take that away from my cold dead hands if you dare try, I will come back to life and deal with you personally!