Ship Launch Reconnaissance - SLR

[wentbackward]

Now we have a number of ships with fighter bays, I feel this would add an interesting dimension to gameplay. Idea-ization only:

Ship Launched Reconnaissance Craft
- Small amount of cargo space, and a cargo hatch. Maybe 3 - 5t
- Data Link Scanner
- Small guns, perhaps same as on the SRV
- Small shield, perhaps same as on the SRV
- Flight Assist Off only flight
- Default 15% thermal with low detection. Boosting, weapon fire etc all add heat and draw attention as per the SRV
- Can scoop mats/cargo from planet surfaces
- Targetable by skimmers, ground turrets and ground to air turrets once detected
- fixed undercarriage to land on the surface
- Different configurations could include, Kill Warrant Scanner, Manifest Scanner, Ability to launch limpets, small cargo bay or small passenger cabin, xeno scanner, meta alloy cargo rack
- Possibly timed explosives
- Longer range from mother ship than a fighter

General useage could be to go in early on bases to sabotage them, ship or SRV can come in after. Would allow more interesting exploration of mega ships. Could do rescue work at stations etc etc. Further has interesting possibilities in thargoid interaction and in more advanced collection strategies than limpets (multi-crew mining)

Wentbackward

 

[YinYin]

Cool. Similar to my Zorgon Peterson ship launched shuttle thread. But I like the differences to it.

Range to the mother ship is a technical limitation. As long as you've got significant weapons, remote control and many rebuilds that's not going away.

You'd have to enter it in person like an SRV and not be much of a threat. I guess that's the intent though?

 

[Lestat]

It best to have Frontier look at it. It might be good. We also have to talk about gravity and fuel usage. More fuel on heavy G planets and such.

 

[Iskariot]

Now we have a number of ships with fighter bays, I feel this would add an interesting dimension to gameplay. Idea-ization only:

Ship Launched Reconnaissance Craft
- Small amount of cargo space, and a cargo hatch. Maybe 3 - 5t
- Data Link Scanner
- Small guns, perhaps same as on the SRV
- Small shield, perhaps same as on the SRV
- Flight Assist Off only flight
- Default 15% thermal with low detection. Boosting, weapon fire etc all add heat and draw attention as per the SRV
- Can scoop mats/cargo from planet surfaces
- Targetable by skimmers, ground turrets and ground to air turrets once detected
- fixed undercarriage to land on the surface
- Different configurations could include, Kill Warrant Scanner, Manifest Scanner, Ability to launch limpets, small cargo bay or small passenger cabin, xeno scanner, meta alloy cargo rack
- Possibly timed explosives
- Longer range from mother ship than a fighter

General useage could be to go in early on bases to sabotage them, ship or SRV can come in after. Would allow more interesting exploration of mega ships. Could do rescue work at stations etc etc. Further has interesting possibilities in thargoid interaction and in more advanced collection strategies than limpets (multi-crew mining)

Wentbackward

Yes. I like that idea.
A commander should be able to board an SLR in person to enable him to explore planets while sending his main ship into orbit.
I talked a bit about that in a thread about possible new SRV types.

I proposed the addition of a ship launched miner (SLM) in a different thread myself.
This would be a utility vehicle that attaches charges to big asteroids to break them apart (new mining mechanic as shown in concept art by FDev), and perhaps could do other mining tasks, like prospecting, analyzing etc.

 

[wentbackward]

You'd have to enter it in person like an SRV and not be much of a threat. I guess that's the intent though?

Yes absolutely. I think as much of a threat as an SRV, can take out power grids, skimmers etc. maybe as it can fly some limitations like fixed weapons or something for balance

It best to have Frontier look at it. It might be good. We also have to talk about gravity and fuel usage. More fuel on heavy G planets and such.

Yes deffo ... I think it'll be fairly heavy and slow relative to an SLF, but should be able to handle the higher G's better

 

[wentbackward]

I proposed the addition of a ship launched miner (SLM) in a different thread myself.
This would be a utility vehicle that attaches charges to big asteroids to break them apart (new mining mechanic as shown in concept art by FDev), and perhaps could do other mining tasks, like prospecting, analyzing etc.

Ah I didn't see that thread ... yes definitely a mining variant would be very useful and play well into the new mechanics, especially if they require some skill. Keeping your utility vehicle alive and with dangers around as per the SRV would be part of the fun for sure.

Maybe the variants could be unlocked as per the new goid fighters, but through human tech brokers.