Space Tethers! (With illustrations!)

[Betty Jade]

Space Tether!
It just came to me that we need space tethers in Elite: Dangerous, and the reasoning for it is so obvious when you think about it!

1. Use the space tether to attach your ship to another ship. This will allow you to tow ships back to port if they break down or run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. It can also be used to move more than one ship at a time to a different station or system.
   New profession: Space Towing
   
   
   
   
2. Attach the space tethers to a net to make it easier to collect cargo and loose pieces from asteroids.
   
   
   
   
3. Attach the space tether to a wrecking ball. The wrecking ball can then be used either as a weapon against other ships, or against large asteroids to break free lots of smaller pieces in one go.
   
   
   
   
   Space Tether!
   The possibilities are endless! What other uses can you think of for the Space Tether?

 

[Feldspar]

This:
but with less water and more space.

 

[Mobius]

tractor beams existed in previous elite games so there's no reason why you shouldn't see something at a later date.

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

tractor beams existed in previous elite games so there's no reason why you shouldn't see something at a later date.

Actually, this is more of a revamp of the franchise than a continuation of the previous games. They threw continuity overboard when they decided against reconstructing systems like Lave and Ross 154 the way they originally were, and when they decided that convenient features like the autopilot had to be pulled from the game.

So sadly, your argument is invalid.

 

[QziQza]

I do like the idea of the tether, very practical solution to some of the more tedious or awkward situations we encounter, as for the wrecking ball dude.. just awesome!! lol.

Im still hoping that they implement specialist roles into the game at some point too, id really like to play a SAR role, the tether would be great for that, or maybe employed as System Security.. wrecking ball anyone?

Actually, this is more of a revamp of the franchise than a continuation of the previous games. They threw continuity overboard when they decided against reconstructing systems like Lave and Ross 154 the way they originally were, and when they decided that convenient features like the autopilot had to be pulled from the game.

So sadly, your argument is invalid.

How exactly can conveying a reasoned opinion, based on a prior mechanic, be considered an argument? and even if it was, how does a loss in continuity translate to invalidating, the possiblity of something different, yet similar, being introduced? does your comment 'throwing continuity overboard' not mean that the chances of introducing a tether, which is similar to a tractor beam, is possibly a more likely option than not bringing anything back at all? in which case your comment actually supports what Mobius was saying.. or have i read that wrong?

 

[Tryst]

So how would a tether be any different to a tractor beam?

I can understand that towing another ship would be useful but it should not be possible to use it against another powered ship as a weapon or in any way to hinder it. Possibly the ship being towed must be fully powered down or it can cause considerable damage to your ship but without incurring damage to the ship you try to tether. Once the tether is in place on a powered down ship, it cannot power engines up again or use any systems other than those required for defence and general operation (shield and life support etc). The tether cannot be broken unless both ships are at full stop so there's no chance of launching the other ship like an unpowered missile.

As for netting chunks, I see the idea but wouldn't it be better to have the tether grab the chunks just like a normal tractor beam?

The wrecking ball? No. Just NO! That's just downright silly and I can't see players wanting this game to be an unrealistic arcade game.

 

[QziQza]

So how would a tether be any different to a tractor beam?

I can understand that towing another ship would be useful but it should not be possible to use it against another powered ship as a weapon or in any way to hinder it. Possibly the ship being towed must be fully powered down or it can cause considerable damage to your ship but without incurring damage to the ship you try to tether. Once the tether is in place on a powered down ship, it cannot power engines up again or use any systems other than those required for defence and general operation (shield and life support etc). The tether cannot be broken unless both ships are at full stop so there's no chance of launching the other ship like an unpowered missile.

As for netting chunks, I see the idea but wouldn't it be better to have the tether grab the chunks just like a normal tractor beam?

The wrecking ball? No. Just NO! That's just downright silly and I can't see players wanting this game to be an unrealistic arcade game.

im fairly sure the wrecking ball was meant in light humour.. i think the woman riding it was a clue