Unique Roles Suggestion Thread

[N-Zed]

If given the right tools inside this sandbox we could start filling roles outside the standard: Fighter, Bounty Hunter, Pirate, Smuggler, and Trader. This thread is for people who would like to voice what kinds of other roles they would play and what tools they would need to play it.

For example: I would like to someday in ED be able to be a Space Police Officer. Different from Bounty Hunter, rather than hunt and kill to collect money - I want to be given assignments and the tools of the trade to help the Federation protect and secure areas. Scan ships coming in and out of stations, help stranded explorers in need, stop criminal activity (yes very similar to BH but in the name of the Federation or local PD).

What types of specific roles could you dream of being if given the right tools and how would you play it?

 

[Captain Breton]

I would love to someday salvage derelict ships and Equipment. Perhaps old malfunctioned satellites, or for a fantastic (maybe rare) haul, an old abandoned space station.

If they really do let you leave the ship one day (=> completely moving in a new direction from the original Elite games) entering hollowed out asteroids, Welding spacewalking whilst repairing Your ship from the outside?

A salvager is definatly something I'd love to see

 

[N-Zed]

An excellent idea Breton! I hope more people share their ideas too

 

[Cosmo Bozo]

Rescue ship

 

[WalterHWhite]

Maverick, doing the opposite of all co-ordinated attempts to influence systems, kills everything by ramming, docks upside down

 

[Shyeer Alvarin]

Special tasks mercenaries/fighters.

Tools of the trade being something small, fast, maneuverable, and practically invisible (read as super efficient heat dissipation.)

More or less forward combat scouts meant to target and engage an enemy while waiting for the heavy artillery to come in.

 

[EMarkM]

You missed Explorer off your default list: I'd like to be able to mix my current Explorer rôle with the Rescuer mentioned above: finding a lonely commander in need of fuel to get them back to safety.

 

[Greebie]

I was thinking about this the other day and I thought, once we have the ability to get out of our ships, it would be nice to have the option of being a ship courier.

Other commanders have ships dotted about the galaxy in various locations and a lot of people don't really like having to fly back to change them. FD have a plan to implement a system that allows you to have your ship transferred to a station of your choice and this is where ship couriers would come in. There would be a fee charged to have your distant ship piloted to wherever you'd like to pick it up that covered the cost of fuel, wear and tear and a percentage for the courier (could be dependent on final destination of the vessel; anarchy systems cost more than policed systems due to "danger money").

If you, as a courier, decide you quite like the ship yourself then you could steal it but it would come at a particularly heavy bounty cost, one that would not be quite so easy to shift as simply flying to a station and paying it of (not quite sure how that mechanic would work, yet!) The pilot whose ship has been purloined would be notified that their ship hadn't turned up when expected and they could choose to report it stolen. It would also badly affect your reputation as a courier, leading to it being less likely people would use you in the future?

Likewise, a nefarious commander could direct a well-meaning courier to a ship that isn't theirs and have said hapless courier steal it for them!

Stolen ships could also generate a interesting addition to the existing "Black Market" mechanic, where you sell stolen vessels and even buy them on the cheap, knowing they've been knocked off and that you could end up with the law on your tail once the original owner realises that their prized possession has gone walkabout. There could also be some sort of "ringer" mechanic where you could take ship to certain locations and have all identifying marks, etc, removed but at a hefty cost and over a period of time.

Probably not all that workable but a nice thought!

 

[GlumReaper]

Really nice idea. I also like the idea of being 'space emergency services'.

Or working from a large cruise liner as a defence fighter or shuttle.

Once we get planetary landings I'd hope for end-to-end transport or taxi services, from a ground location to one on another planet.

Also bulk haulage maybe. Capital ship-sized cargo vessels.

And how about racing ships? Competitions looping around solar systems in forcefield-protected 'tracks'.