For those commanders who are unhappy with the current engineering protocols, perhaps an option could be hiring a Flight Engineer (FE).
There have been calls to revamp the current system of engineering buffs for modules, god knows, and some even call for the elimination of engineers altogether in favor of 'off-the-rack' mods. I happen to like playing engineering roulette, and have used the current engineering protocol with success. But I can understand commanders who for various reasons expounded in numerous threads aren't inclined to the current system of module modification via engineers.
My suggestion to FDev would be to add Flight Engineers to the Pilots' Lounge.
Specifically:
Flight Engineers are not pilot rated; thus, they cannot fly your ship launched fighter. However, they do offer a buff to modules according to their area of expertise:
Thrusters, FSD, Sensors, Weapons, etc.
A FE who specializes in Weapons, for example, might increase the damage of kinetic weapons by X amount, or the range of laser weapons, or their toast factor by X amount. Similarly, a FE who specializes in FSD, might add an incremental boost to range, and/or reduced mass of the module. You get my drift. A known buff for the hiring of a specific FE.
- FE pay is commensurate with expertise just like Pilots. Buffs increase with the expertise of the FE, quid pro quo.
- FEs modifications are not permanent, unlike currently engineered modifications. A FE dies with your ship, and you lose the corresponding modification.
- A FE will not modify a module that has been tweaked by an Engineer. The Engineer's Union will not allow this. Thus, you can't stack a FE modification if the module has the little Union Bolt sign on it.
- A FE can increase his or her expertise, as pilots do, depending upon the commander's rank and skillset.
- A FE fills your extra seat, if your ship has one, and you can multicrew with a FE without losing the buff. However, hiring a Pilot does displace the FE, losing the buff, unless you have a three seater.
I offer this as an option that I think might work. I'm sure other commanders will weigh in with elaborations or critiques. I've been out in the black (probably a bit too long) and have had a lot of time to ponder this as I head back to the Bubble. I want my FE avatar to be attractive and chatty. 30,000 ly is a long time to stare at an empty seat.
o7 commanders
There have been calls to revamp the current system of engineering buffs for modules, god knows, and some even call for the elimination of engineers altogether in favor of 'off-the-rack' mods. I happen to like playing engineering roulette, and have used the current engineering protocol with success. But I can understand commanders who for various reasons expounded in numerous threads aren't inclined to the current system of module modification via engineers.
My suggestion to FDev would be to add Flight Engineers to the Pilots' Lounge.
Specifically:
Flight Engineers are not pilot rated; thus, they cannot fly your ship launched fighter. However, they do offer a buff to modules according to their area of expertise:
Thrusters, FSD, Sensors, Weapons, etc.
A FE who specializes in Weapons, for example, might increase the damage of kinetic weapons by X amount, or the range of laser weapons, or their toast factor by X amount. Similarly, a FE who specializes in FSD, might add an incremental boost to range, and/or reduced mass of the module. You get my drift. A known buff for the hiring of a specific FE.
- FE pay is commensurate with expertise just like Pilots. Buffs increase with the expertise of the FE, quid pro quo.
- FEs modifications are not permanent, unlike currently engineered modifications. A FE dies with your ship, and you lose the corresponding modification.
- A FE will not modify a module that has been tweaked by an Engineer. The Engineer's Union will not allow this. Thus, you can't stack a FE modification if the module has the little Union Bolt sign on it.
- A FE can increase his or her expertise, as pilots do, depending upon the commander's rank and skillset.
- A FE fills your extra seat, if your ship has one, and you can multicrew with a FE without losing the buff. However, hiring a Pilot does displace the FE, losing the buff, unless you have a three seater.
I offer this as an option that I think might work. I'm sure other commanders will weigh in with elaborations or critiques. I've been out in the black (probably a bit too long) and have had a lot of time to ponder this as I head back to the Bubble. I want my FE avatar to be attractive and chatty. 30,000 ly is a long time to stare at an empty seat.
o7 commanders
