I like the idea of a force field. Hows this: a small or large port item, which draws all items within say 250m nearer to you.

I don't know about anyone else, but while using targetless and dodging levi, when u spot an item u want at 5K meters, sometimes you get *this* close to it and you're like omg, I wish I had some kind of tractor beam.

Also, if you just sit in one spot, you could potentially get all items within 250m. Ofc, you can turn it on and off by pressing the "fire" button.

If this happens, which I doubt it will, it'd need huge energy requirements.

The prototype scavenging beam recovers about 2cu a second, out to 100m, for the small port version, and the large port 4cu a second to 150m. If only they could fix that annoying problem where all weapons fired in or into that volume of space do instant damage to the beam operator. Combined with the two minute power up/down delay it can be quiet dangerous to operate in the wrong parts of space.

See: Dr. Lecter "Hey, as long as that bubble triggers prox fuses, I'm OK with it."
http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/22217#275005

Hmmm... instead of making easier to pick up things, I'd prefer to make it harder, like, every ship has a tractor beam, nicknamed "hook", and instead of simply fly over it, to pick up cargo one must use it very like a mining beam.

I love this thread just for the fact momerath burns the hell out of ladron.

Roda Slane: That idea sounds good, too... it would work for the situation(s) I had in mind.