So we got the official word to expect a twin-seat SRV from FDev recently. Sounds like the rumors about the Scorpion may be finally coming true. I'll definitely be interested to see how this pans out. That said, it got me thinking that we'll now have a general purpose SRV and a combat SRV. Frankly, I see the general purpose SRV making a good fit for salvage ops and surface prospecting. But there's still another major aspect of Elite: Dangerous to consider, and that is exploration.
It can definitely be argued that you know longer really need an SRV for exploring, but not having one completely eliminates any possibility of surface prospecting (would love to see on-foot mining tools added) and moving around to collect biological scan data can be really tedious. Often times you're either getting back in your ship and taking off and landing over relatively short distances, or you're running on foot for what can feel like forever.
This is where an exploration SRV might come in super handy. I've got a few thoughts on implementing something I think would fit the bill. First off, I'm thinking it takes a completely different approach that the traditional SRV. My first and main thought is that instead of being a rolling, ground vehicle, base it off of the skimmers and make it a small hovering vehicle. It doesn't fly like a ship would, it only hovers. Next, strip it of all weapons and cargo space and give minimal shielding to tremendously reduce the weight and storage space required. You could also still have it be viable for some surface prospecting by having a low-power mining laser. I'm thinking it would do the job, but not as effectively as the dual-repeater on the Scarab.
Anyway, I think it would be a neat addition for exploration. It would give you some weight savings for those deep space adventures, but also give you a way to bop around quickly on the surface. Plus, it would be fun to run a canyon at high speed while only a few meters off the ground.
It can definitely be argued that you know longer really need an SRV for exploring, but not having one completely eliminates any possibility of surface prospecting (would love to see on-foot mining tools added) and moving around to collect biological scan data can be really tedious. Often times you're either getting back in your ship and taking off and landing over relatively short distances, or you're running on foot for what can feel like forever.
This is where an exploration SRV might come in super handy. I've got a few thoughts on implementing something I think would fit the bill. First off, I'm thinking it takes a completely different approach that the traditional SRV. My first and main thought is that instead of being a rolling, ground vehicle, base it off of the skimmers and make it a small hovering vehicle. It doesn't fly like a ship would, it only hovers. Next, strip it of all weapons and cargo space and give minimal shielding to tremendously reduce the weight and storage space required. You could also still have it be viable for some surface prospecting by having a low-power mining laser. I'm thinking it would do the job, but not as effectively as the dual-repeater on the Scarab.
Anyway, I think it would be a neat addition for exploration. It would give you some weight savings for those deep space adventures, but also give you a way to bop around quickly on the surface. Plus, it would be fun to run a canyon at high speed while only a few meters off the ground.
