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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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Mobile Drone Link Augmentor (Controls 4 Drones, Must fly with drones past ship control range)
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Infinion
Awesome Corp
#1 - 2013-02-14 23:03:44 UTC  |  Edited by: Infinion
Misconception: Title is not referring to 4 additional drones controlled.
Proposing the following:

A drone that acts to extend drone control range past the ship's standard drone control range.
The same drone would control 4 other drones to allow them to function.

How far?

Extended range would be dictated by ship's maximum targeting range.

Why targeting range?

Because it can be exploited by players through modules and bonuses, and serves as an acceptable weakness for the utility it offers.

Provide details on the weaknesses


  • If the user (or the drone) is subject to successful ECM, the MDLA (mobile drone link augmentor) will lose its influence over the combat/ewar drones. If the drones are within the maximum drone control range of the ship, control will fall back to said ship. (subject to change) If outside the control range, the drones will be rendered incapacitated until scooped.

  • If the MDLA is destroyed, the same control event will occur as stated above.

  • (Subject to change) If the drones fall outside of the MDLA's drone control radius of 15 - 30 km depending on tier, the drones will either return to orbit the ship, the MDLA, or be incapacitated.


Any behavior not mentioned can be assumed to work the same as conventional means.

Wouldn't this obsolesce the need for Drone Link Augmentor modules?

No, certain ships will lose substantial amounts of DPS depending on the bandwidth they are capable of. Ships capable of using 5 drones benefit the most from this module.

A lot of ships can use 5 drones, so this drone still has everything to gain and the Drone Link Augmentor has everything to lose.

(Subject to change) As a means of preventing this from being true, the bandwidth needed to run a MDLA will be 10 or 15 Mbit/sec

(Subject to change) Alternatively, size class restrictions can be imposed where small/medium/large MDLAs run at 5/10/25 Mbit/sec and can only be used by frigate-destroyer/cruiser-battlecruiser/battleship-capital sized ships respectively.

Thoughts?
Comments on if this is a desirable drone ingame?
Comments on ranges/behaviors proposed?
Kirimeena D'Zbrkesbris
Republic Military Tax Avoiders
#2 - 2013-02-14 23:17:37 UTC  |  Edited by: Kirimeena D'Zbrkesbris
I cant think of any situation where this new MDLA will be of any use.

Also you didnt specify situation when that MDLA drone gets out of your ship's control range. As i understand from your description - it'll be incapacitated > it wont provide extended range > drones outside of control range will either have to return to ship's orbit or become incapacitated too. Conclusion: useless.

Opinions are like assholes. Everybody got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks.
Infinion
Awesome Corp
#3 - 2013-02-14 23:24:38 UTC
Kirimeena D'Zbrkesbris wrote:
I can't think of any situation where this new MDLA will be of any use.


When a ship's targetting range exceeds the player's drone control range (generally 57 km).

If you fit sensor boosters on your ship, you could quite easily use your drones past 57 km upwards of 100 km or however many sensor boosters you throw on your ship. We're talking fighter control ranges here, except with the MDLA being the feature's Achilles heel.
Infinion
Awesome Corp
#4 - 2013-02-14 23:27:47 UTC
Kirimeena D'Zbrkesbris wrote:

Also you didnt specify situation when that MDLA drone gets out of your ship's control range. As i understand from your description - it'll be incapacitated > it wont provide extended range > drones outside of control range will either have to return to ship's orbit or become incapacitated too. Conclusion: useless.



Which is why I said the suggestion was subject to change. I thought an MDLA would be too OP which is why I proposed crippling the user's drones.


As per your concerns, they can simply return to your ship.
Mike Voidstar
Voidstar Free Flight Foundation
#5 - 2013-02-15 02:29:03 UTC
Why would you not simply use Drone Link Augmentors in your high slots?

The only ships that would use such a thing are the drone bonused ships like the Dominix. If Drone Control range is an issue 2 DLA would put your control range out past your targeting range.

I just don't see the point. Any ship that would benefit from this can afford a high slot or 3 since the drones are the primary weapon system anyway. Is there something I'm missing?