Forums » Suggestions
Universal Charter/Transport system
(moved from another thread, where it was quasi-off-topic and getting no replies)
I did some brainstorming on the transportation network idea the other day (I got bored in lit class), and came up with a few ideas which I think have some potential to relly add something to the game.
So here's my idea...
First thing that has to be considered, is the type of transports. They would be capital-class vessels, with a main role of transporting people and goods along designated routes. I actually drew up a sketch of a ship design, but can't seem to find it (or my scanner drivers) at the moment... I'll post it eventually. It's essentially a huge passenger liner with cabin space and cargo bays built around a hollow central drive core and two large engine nacelles. It wouldn't use a standard drive like other ships, which would give it an excuse to move faster, but turn slower than other vessels of comparable size (Hello HAC). It would also need considerable time to speed up after entering a sector (a couple minutes at the least) and would navigate as if it used flight-assist.
It's main defence would be some particularily lethal energy turrets below the bridge, with a limited range. The turrets would only protect the two docking bays (on the inside of the structure, above the central drive tunnel). It would carry a complement of six fighters (and yes, I did a sketch of these too...) which it could slowly replenish if some were destroyed.
The fighters, slightly larger than a vulture, and with downward-angled, thin, flat nacelles, they would be like a smaller, slimmer version of the transport. They would carry one small weapon port on the underside of each nacelle, and one dirctly below the cockpit. They would have an extremely narrow profile from the front, and would present a reasonably large target from any other angle. The working principle to their effectiveness would be speed - about the same agility as the Cent IBG, but highly vulnerable to fire due to the fragile nature of it's design. Light, fast, agile, and with three s-ports, but with virtually no armor to speak of, and a battery incapable of making more than one jump due to no recharge rate. They would depend on the transport to recharge. Their primary weapons ould draw very little power, as would their boost (5/sec boost, but the boost itself wouldn't be very much faster than it can travel without it). The weapons would be similar to Neut IIs, except for the color and energy requirement, and could NOT be equipped on any other ship.
The transport would take extended stops at the capital systems to let boarders arrive, and would announce their scheduled/actual stops on a designated channel. Warning would be given five minutes before their arrival, and (10 minutes later), five minutes before their departure. You could load up and store ships and equipment, as well as cargo on it like a station (within reason - more space allocated per player if fewer players board) If the transport was destroyed by pirates, or razed by the hive, you'd lose all of your stuff - Great incentive to defend it! While on board, you could man one of the turrets or fighters for this task (which only launch when the ship is threatened), or fly your own ship. (if flying one of their fighters, you could 'home' on the transport)
It could be escorted by NPC special ships of it's home nation as well, which it would accrue each time it stops at it's own capitol. (there would be one transport for each nation, which follow the same route, which would alow you to board one friendly to you) Escort missions would be available from nation capitals for protecting the transport, and raiding missions available from Corvus. Both would pay well. Effects of destroying these transports could be felt by the economy on a national scale perhaps (higher prices for manufactured goods and some raw materials)
While they wouldn't be very efficient at moving you quickly from point A to point B, they should be a good way to move a lot of stuff (and charge you by the ton - yay moneysink!) and would add a good deal of gameplay to the universe (Yay 'CONTENT'!)
Heck, you could even add a bar/casino to the ship to give bored tarvellers something fun to do on uneventful runs (until that klaxon sounds warning of an impending pirate attack) (enter a Roleplay opportunity)
you'd need to come up with some kind of faction balance for them, which would prevent transport defenders from taking big faction hits for killing pirate attackers, but that could be worked out...
/givemoney devs 2c
I did some brainstorming on the transportation network idea the other day (I got bored in lit class), and came up with a few ideas which I think have some potential to relly add something to the game.
So here's my idea...
First thing that has to be considered, is the type of transports. They would be capital-class vessels, with a main role of transporting people and goods along designated routes. I actually drew up a sketch of a ship design, but can't seem to find it (or my scanner drivers) at the moment... I'll post it eventually. It's essentially a huge passenger liner with cabin space and cargo bays built around a hollow central drive core and two large engine nacelles. It wouldn't use a standard drive like other ships, which would give it an excuse to move faster, but turn slower than other vessels of comparable size (Hello HAC). It would also need considerable time to speed up after entering a sector (a couple minutes at the least) and would navigate as if it used flight-assist.
It's main defence would be some particularily lethal energy turrets below the bridge, with a limited range. The turrets would only protect the two docking bays (on the inside of the structure, above the central drive tunnel). It would carry a complement of six fighters (and yes, I did a sketch of these too...) which it could slowly replenish if some were destroyed.
The fighters, slightly larger than a vulture, and with downward-angled, thin, flat nacelles, they would be like a smaller, slimmer version of the transport. They would carry one small weapon port on the underside of each nacelle, and one dirctly below the cockpit. They would have an extremely narrow profile from the front, and would present a reasonably large target from any other angle. The working principle to their effectiveness would be speed - about the same agility as the Cent IBG, but highly vulnerable to fire due to the fragile nature of it's design. Light, fast, agile, and with three s-ports, but with virtually no armor to speak of, and a battery incapable of making more than one jump due to no recharge rate. They would depend on the transport to recharge. Their primary weapons ould draw very little power, as would their boost (5/sec boost, but the boost itself wouldn't be very much faster than it can travel without it). The weapons would be similar to Neut IIs, except for the color and energy requirement, and could NOT be equipped on any other ship.
The transport would take extended stops at the capital systems to let boarders arrive, and would announce their scheduled/actual stops on a designated channel. Warning would be given five minutes before their arrival, and (10 minutes later), five minutes before their departure. You could load up and store ships and equipment, as well as cargo on it like a station (within reason - more space allocated per player if fewer players board) If the transport was destroyed by pirates, or razed by the hive, you'd lose all of your stuff - Great incentive to defend it! While on board, you could man one of the turrets or fighters for this task (which only launch when the ship is threatened), or fly your own ship. (if flying one of their fighters, you could 'home' on the transport)
It could be escorted by NPC special ships of it's home nation as well, which it would accrue each time it stops at it's own capitol. (there would be one transport for each nation, which follow the same route, which would alow you to board one friendly to you) Escort missions would be available from nation capitals for protecting the transport, and raiding missions available from Corvus. Both would pay well. Effects of destroying these transports could be felt by the economy on a national scale perhaps (higher prices for manufactured goods and some raw materials)
While they wouldn't be very efficient at moving you quickly from point A to point B, they should be a good way to move a lot of stuff (and charge you by the ton - yay moneysink!) and would add a good deal of gameplay to the universe (Yay 'CONTENT'!)
Heck, you could even add a bar/casino to the ship to give bored tarvellers something fun to do on uneventful runs (until that klaxon sounds warning of an impending pirate attack) (enter a Roleplay opportunity)
you'd need to come up with some kind of faction balance for them, which would prevent transport defenders from taking big faction hits for killing pirate attackers, but that could be worked out...
/givemoney devs 2c
*iBump*
sad..
sad..
bump
interesting concept
interesting concept
*bump*
thanks..
thanks..
I read this, and while the idea seems very good in theory, I'm not quite sure of the practicality of the concept.
I suppose what I would like to know is, who would need to use such a vessel? What need does the vessel fulfill? Mass-movement of items without insurance? After the economy redux, and station limits, I have a feeling that there will be less hoarding of items, and quicker item->credit liquidation.
Now, I'm not saying your idea is bad. No, I like it. I just would like to understand how it fits into the Big Picture.
Oh, and the fighters seem awfully nerfed. A well planned attack by even three pilots could take them all out, and have the entire transport to themselves.
I suppose what I would like to know is, who would need to use such a vessel? What need does the vessel fulfill? Mass-movement of items without insurance? After the economy redux, and station limits, I have a feeling that there will be less hoarding of items, and quicker item->credit liquidation.
Now, I'm not saying your idea is bad. No, I like it. I just would like to understand how it fits into the Big Picture.
Oh, and the fighters seem awfully nerfed. A well planned attack by even three pilots could take them all out, and have the entire transport to themselves.