Thought of this while posting to Willis' secret sector thread. I suggested tying secret sector wh's to storms, the shortfall being if there was no storm in the system, you wouldn't be able to get there.

So, what about a mine that could spawn and possibly maintain a storm? Would be awesome for netting players :p

Some possible stats:

Name: Storm Mine? Storm Spawner Mine?
Ammo: 1
Cost to refill: 50,000c
Energy: 450
Mass: 5000kgs
Duration: 10 minutes
Large port
Available: Research and Capital stations, +200 standing at that station.

These are merely rough estimations. The cost and energy are high, but duration is low in an attempt to be realistic.

I think PaKettle suggested something like this, it was a good idea and it still is. One question though... just for clarification, would this mine "detonate" on contact, prox fuse, a timer, instantly or even cooler... remotely detonated?

As a mine its gives traders, miners and runners a bit of an advantage but the same advantage extends to pirates, military and others. All in all it seems pretty well balanced and fun.

I would make the duration the same as regular storms - Controlling mother nature is difficult at best and it will keep everyone guessing...

Storm Salter System?

I was thinking Grey space research stations with a high standing might be more... realistic.

RR said something nice about my earlier suggestion... I must mark this on my colander.

Something similar already proposed, and my opinion about it remains the same. From Verasi Industrial (I5) existence, that is said to become foggy due its mining activity, I would prefer that:

1) You can create a FOG in sector by blowing Xcu of some minerals, as Xith (green) or Apicene. Blow a ship, or put the crates near a prox.mine then blow the mine. It lasts Mminutes. (First prop: X=80, M=60)

2) That Hive Queens, mining, also produces temp foggy sector

3) (new) make some periodic system-wide ion storms. Not sector, system-wide, affecting all sectors with roids. And make that be announced at news.

4) If most decide for a weapon, I'd prefer it more expensive, but lasts longer than 10min, but random duration (15<T<60)min. And it should have a timer fuse, 30sec after deployed. And have a strong blast!

These are all a bit off topic, Alloh. Focus on a mine.

ok, so focused, -1.

Must be bigger and more complex and expensive than a mine

First, considering that a mine is simply a method in which to deliver a payload, I don't think it's a poor way to implement this idea.

Second, I know that I at least am not considering "fog", and "storms", to be the same thing. Fog is something "produced", storms are a phenomenon. A phenomenon that could quite rationally be triggered. With something resembling a mine.

Name: Storm Seeder System (Thank's Pa)
Ammo: 2
Cost to purchase: 250,000c
Cost to refill: 50,000c
Port: Large/Utility (If and when those show up)
Energy: 450 (although I could go to 550)
Mass: 10,000kgs
Duration: However long storms last now, although destroying the device would end the storm sooner/immediately, not sure there.
Available: Research stations, +850 standing at that station.
Grid usage: 18 (Or however much is needed to ensure it's the only equipment/weapon on board)

I bumped the ammo up, simply because one seems like it wouldn't be that useful from a strategic standpoint. Three seems like it would begin to start getting easy for rich pita's to seed an entire system. Perhaps there could be a limit on how many storms a system could contain?

Duration I tied to the current length, simply because I assumed it would be easier to implement, and more realistic.

I upped the mass so that the thing would be unwieldy, and, along with the grid usage, would ensure whatever ship wielding it would be vulnerable.

And the standing I increased so that when the faction standing fix comes out, you will only be able to obtain these from your chosen faction. As per PaKettle's suggestion, you would only be able to obtain these from Research stations.

-999

Storms are not fun

Induced fogs, on other hand, could be very very interesting...

-Hmm, this sector was not foggy. Is it a miner hiding himself, a miner was destryoed, or a trap?

I'd be for fog induction... but not storm induction. Storms are just too darned annoying. Plus, fogging Odia B13 (for example) would be a damned interesting exercise.

Nicely done snax. +1000

Storms are great fun!

for reference:

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/22804

Thanks Maalik.

CS, the main reason storms suck, is because they have absolutely zero use. This would inject a reason for them to exist into the mechanic. If you ran into a storm in an empty sector, well, you would likely be in a bit of danger. As opposed to simply having time wasted.

As to why Storms > Fog: Someone stated this in the thread Maalik linked to, but it doesn't make much sense to be able to fog an entire sector with the click of a button. Storms on the other hand happen relatively quickly as is, and dissapear just as quickly.

The other thing about fog is that it technically wouldn't pull a ship out of warp. It would be an entirely aesthetic effect, and therefore, fairly useless.

Anyway, sorry for jacking your idea PaKettle. Searching is for noobs :P