Something that I always wanted for Elite that I believe has been sorely neglected are tail launched vehicles. These would be especially useful for high G worlds where traditional ships tend to have problems landing and taking off. (On such worlds players may need exo-skeletal assist mechanisms to move about on the surface more easily.) Tail launched rockets would also be a welcome change from standard spacecraft control and thrust systems, accentuating instead, main engines for landing (who would've imagined that?
). This would add a whole new and challenging gameplay mechanic that could add more realism to planetary landings. Such vehicles could be limited in their use as surface to orbit supply ships that could ferry goods and personelle to orbiting fleet carriers - which seem ideally suited to accomodate landing of such types of craft (as are orbital stations that have external landing pads.) Lack of these craft seems a glaring omission if you are trying to represent space travel wholey and realistically IMHO.
Edit: In regards to landing platforms where a rocket's height might prevent it from being lowered safely into the FC's hold or servicing area. In such cases the lowering function could be ghosted out, so that any maintainance, refuel would be performed ONLY above deck.
Edit2: Another idea that allows for telescoping of a tall rocket's height to a lower profile could be an alternate solution as well as a gantry arm that could grab the rocket and fold it sideways before lowering into hold or service area on FC's (or any station with external landing pads.)
). This would add a whole new and challenging gameplay mechanic that could add more realism to planetary landings. Such vehicles could be limited in their use as surface to orbit supply ships that could ferry goods and personelle to orbiting fleet carriers - which seem ideally suited to accomodate landing of such types of craft (as are orbital stations that have external landing pads.) Lack of these craft seems a glaring omission if you are trying to represent space travel wholey and realistically IMHO.Edit: In regards to landing platforms where a rocket's height might prevent it from being lowered safely into the FC's hold or servicing area. In such cases the lowering function could be ghosted out, so that any maintainance, refuel would be performed ONLY above deck.
Edit2: Another idea that allows for telescoping of a tall rocket's height to a lower profile could be an alternate solution as well as a gantry arm that could grab the rocket and fold it sideways before lowering into hold or service area on FC's (or any station with external landing pads.)
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