So, I'll start off with the usual "I did a search" thing, and say I did do a search, anything remotely (that I found with a quick search) like this was posted back in 2015 and I felt a new thread was better then a necro post on that. Especially as there's plenty of differences.
Now for the idea.
Resupply and support is a vital part of military operations, though not (if it can be avoided) a direct part of the battle, or in the firing line. They're always close enough to provide more ammunition then the combatants may be able to carry alone, or to bring the injured back to a proper medical facility.
With the Thargoid threat being on the rise again, and with the powerplay factions vying for control of different systems, I feel that this is a role that Elite is missing, and I at least could enjoy doing.
Federation and Imperial navy missions could send you out to resupply their patrols, making you possibly go behind enemy lines to make sure their ships have the ammunition (and possibly fuel?) it takes to continue their assigned tasks. Allow Powerplay factions to cooperate to keep the pressure on the enemy by keeping their combat units ready. The supply ship could fly back and forth to fill up while the combatants can go back to the fight and then find the supply ship back when they are out of ammo.
I realise that helping players with this, as there's no way to trade money might be a little lacking in profits. But (If it's reasonable to program, I know not everything that sounds easy is) they could get vouchers for supplying ships pledged to the same faction in systems being prepared/fortified.
Missions to resupply the forces fighting the Thargoids!
Other new missions could be transporting the Injured back behind your own lines to recieve further medical aid there, with the new passenger cabin "Medivac" or "Medical Transport"
There's plenty of possibilities of a slightly different kind of trader gameplay this way. Slightly more dangerous then regular trading, with enemies quite happy to interdict and hunt you down, possible even more so then combatants. After all, without support, a unit won't last long.
I admit I would love to see the Federal dropship hurtling down to the planetary surface under fire to do a combat drop of soldiers. But that's (At least for the forseeable future) unlikely to happen.
Here's my suggestion on limitations and actual mechanics. I don't claim these to be balanced, I'm throwing them on the wall and see what sticks.
Resupplies would also make Torpedos and missiles weapons more convenient to use for warships who has the support to carry out their missions. This would allow for "Torpedo boat" builds for smaller ships, if they play as a group.
So, what do you people think? Would it be fun? overpowered? Useless? Not worth the dev time on it? Any suggestions for improvements?
Now for the idea.
Resupply and support is a vital part of military operations, though not (if it can be avoided) a direct part of the battle, or in the firing line. They're always close enough to provide more ammunition then the combatants may be able to carry alone, or to bring the injured back to a proper medical facility.
With the Thargoid threat being on the rise again, and with the powerplay factions vying for control of different systems, I feel that this is a role that Elite is missing, and I at least could enjoy doing.
Federation and Imperial navy missions could send you out to resupply their patrols, making you possibly go behind enemy lines to make sure their ships have the ammunition (and possibly fuel?) it takes to continue their assigned tasks. Allow Powerplay factions to cooperate to keep the pressure on the enemy by keeping their combat units ready. The supply ship could fly back and forth to fill up while the combatants can go back to the fight and then find the supply ship back when they are out of ammo.
I realise that helping players with this, as there's no way to trade money might be a little lacking in profits. But (If it's reasonable to program, I know not everything that sounds easy is) they could get vouchers for supplying ships pledged to the same faction in systems being prepared/fortified.
Missions to resupply the forces fighting the Thargoids!
Other new missions could be transporting the Injured back behind your own lines to recieve further medical aid there, with the new passenger cabin "Medivac" or "Medical Transport"
There's plenty of possibilities of a slightly different kind of trader gameplay this way. Slightly more dangerous then regular trading, with enemies quite happy to interdict and hunt you down, possible even more so then combatants. After all, without support, a unit won't last long.
I admit I would love to see the Federal dropship hurtling down to the planetary surface under fire to do a combat drop of soldiers. But that's (At least for the forseeable future) unlikely to happen.
Here's my suggestion on limitations and actual mechanics. I don't claim these to be balanced, I'm throwing them on the wall and see what sticks.
- Shields of both the supplying ship, and the ship being resupplied needs to be turned off.
- The ships need to both have their speed at 0m/s and be close to eachother.
- It should take time, depending on what's being reloaded. Say a couple of minutes for a full resupply of ammo. Make it equivalent or a little faster than going to a startport to resupply, but far more convenient then flying back to friendly space to resupply.
- Each limpet would fly back and forth between the ships, loading the weapons. Maybe being able to carry one reload per round.
- Special internal slots to carry the ammo, to make it accessible, organised and safe stowage.
- Your hardpoints control the resupply limpets. Making you choose to give up firepower to arm someone else. Keeping some weapons to defend yourself would mean a slower resupply.
- There's the risk of enemies dropping in to interrupt the resupply, the other ships will have to protect the defenseless ships.
- You can NOT resupply your own ship.
- Possibly able to repair hull (Class 8 internal slot required? That would limit it to the Type 9 and Imperial Cutter, though I'd much rather leave it to the type 9 alone. Possibly only able to repair small/medium ships?)
Resupplies would also make Torpedos and missiles weapons more convenient to use for warships who has the support to carry out their missions. This would allow for "Torpedo boat" builds for smaller ships, if they play as a group.
So, what do you people think? Would it be fun? overpowered? Useless? Not worth the dev time on it? Any suggestions for improvements?