I'm nearly certian this has been posted before, but...so has quite a bit of stuff and I dont really have time to read through every thing to find out.

but, tractor beams would add quite a bit to the game...

1. defensive/offensive possibility...(makes you hard to hit/easier to shoot your enemies if they cant go any where).

2. it could be used for a rescue mission.

3. smaller shops could haul a bit more cargo.

4. dead or ALIVE bounty missions.

5. scientific missions...(bring back a "live" bot or new type of asteroid)

6. tractor beams are cool

tech stuff...

Large port
.13 power drain

it would also be more/less effective against different ships...ie,

a smaller ship, trying to tow a larger would suffer more power drain. a slower ship towing a faster ship that didnt want to be towed would have the same affect.

bigger/faster ships might be able to break away from smaller/slower ships...etc...etc...

We've hidden it in the PLEASE READ PRIOR TO POSTING A SUGGESTION thread under "tractor beams":

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/7692

and tractor beams are lame cause then if i fly a light ship like a rev C with dual XgX and some dude has a rag with 2 tractor beams and 3 Gauss that would suck

or a pirate with a tractor beam rag and a pirate with a taur MkIII could take down entire convoys with little work

[This thread belongs in the RECYCLE BIN.]

I read the thread and didn't get my tractor beam. WTF

oh boo hoo spidey...it might make life a bit harder for you, I maintain that the benifits out weigh the negatives.

and to explain in simple terms the issues you brought out...

1. limit the use of tractor beams to 1.

2. a good pilot can already take out most of a convoy with out a tractor beam.

I suppose a repuslor beam could be introduced as well which could counter act it.

worst case scenario...

trader...hmmm it sure is boring on these long trade runs, sure hope I dont run into a pirate with a tractor beam!

pirate...ARRRR i have a tractor beam!!! i want yer booty!!!

trader...OH NO!!! whoops, wait...I have mines/missles...(F/A off, spin around missiles away...or, deploy mines dissrupt tractor beam)

pirate...ah crap

I agree with spidey, this suggestion failed in the past, it still fails now.

OFFICIAL

[Stamp of FAIL]™

Where has it failed?

I still think tractor beams are a good idea, so I do not see how Spidey and Bean agreeing makes it officially anything except posted over and over (like many ideas) - just because they have not been implemented yet, does not mean they have failed.

[STAMP OF SPIDEY-FAILED]

/me uses powers of continuing thread necromancy +1/+3 against Message Board

I like the idea of just using it for cargo, you'd have to have a tractor beam equipped with your ship to pick up cargo, although it would be standard with most ships. You'd be able to carry more cargo, although it'd have to get into space somehow first and you'd lose it if someone else targeted it with their tractor beam or you go through an ion storm. In other words, carrying cargo with a tractor beam would be only for the extremely desperate.
I Fail™
YAY!

EDIT: Note, when I meant JUST cargo, I meant a similar thing happens if you try to tractor something other than cargo as when you try to mine something that isn't an asteroid.