I would like to be able to equip an AFMU that comes with a battery backup.
No major specific reason, I just feel safer with an AFMU that can run on it's own power for a bit, that way I could, in theory, power down my entire ship - powerplant included - and have my AFMU repair
that as well.
Once it's back at 100% and online, the powerplant can recharge the AFMU's battery for next time it's needed.
I'd assume this'd realistically add a good deal of mass to the AFMU, probably the same as the equivalent class shield generator, make the AFMU be able to repair less overall, and probably make it use consume more power when it's online.
But that's ok, because the extra mass is worth the trade for extra sense-of-safety: If I get stuck somewhere with a nearly-dead powerplant, that'll be a problem I can fix.
A power draw increase to accomplish this is fine, because I can deal with increased power draw on basically
any ship: I like power management, that's just more fun. As long as my powerplant can theoretically power it, even if I need to turn
everything else off, I'm
gonna get it online and useful.
And I can deal with it repairing less overall, because no matter how long it ends up taking me, I can re-stock it by synthesizing AFMU mats so that no matter what, as long as I can keep my ship alive, I can
always keep my ship running smooth - thanks AFMU's!
The "repair procees" might just sometimes involve running around in my SRV, scouring planets for rare materials.
I dunno, seems like the technology is all there, in game and out?
It makes plausible sense for that to be a product someone would sell.
As for recognizing this is a game, it'd be an interesting consideration for explorer builds. Might even make people re-think some "deep space extended-duration" combat builds. Add some RP-flair for scavengers and people who prefer living out in the fringes.
It can be made into something that can't really be abused mid-fight - your powerplant and
everything needs to be off, your ship must come to a complete stop in realspace before using, the repair procees takes time to complete, if you're at all shot during a delicate power plant repair, you'll mess up and you'll probably instant-detonate your ship.
This could take the form of a new type of AFMU, or it could even take the form of an AFMU limpet: Really short-range and slow-working, requires a cargohold and specialist AFMU-limpets in it. But that's cool, because it's an AFMU on a limpet, so it can still repair all your internals
or someone elses, if they enter those same conditions
and accept a chatscreen UI prompt from their own ship's computer, like on a mission update.
Either form of this is cool, but obviously limpets would kind of be cooler, for the new gameplay options it could enable.
So it's entirely a plausible thing to make, in-game and out.
So gimmie. I really wanna put one in my Krait Mk II.