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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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Drone relays
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Khannea Sun-Tzu
EBSTF Holdings
#1 - 2016-03-19 13:37:02 UTC
In the real world some friends of mine have been experimenting with drone relays. Essentially it picks up the video and control channels of the parrots and amplifies them back and forth between drone and controller, extending range a considerable amount. I have seen them operate with two and three relays, but theoretically, if properly programmed, these relays can extend the operational range of any drone well beyond 2 kilometers for every relay. So if you link relays in a circle of 20 kilometers, you can fly drones all along the connectivity ring anywhere you like.

I see this have great functionality in Eve online. The device would be a non-moving deployable that's fairly loud in terms of being targeted itself. The ideal range for such a device would be in the order of several tens of kilometers. In other words, drones would be controllable within the range of the deployable, assuming the controlling ship is also within that range. By linking up a strain of several such relay systems a drone operator will be able to extend operating range considerably - that is, until the relays themselves are shot out of the sky.

Alternate relay variants of relay systems would extend operations range for all drones in an associated fleet and make quite a bit of tactical difference.
Julanna Egnald
Del's Industrial Strip Mining
#2 - 2016-03-19 17:35:00 UTC
Aren't there already drone augmentors that can increase drone control range by 24km?
Khannea Sun-Tzu
EBSTF Holdings
#3 - 2016-03-20 15:37:31 UTC
Julanna Egnald wrote:
Aren't there already drone augmentors that can increase drone control range by 24km?


Yes, in a spherical zone of control. That's just making the envelope bigger. I am describing sequential beacons that can transmit drone control along very constrained pathways, up to hundreds of kilometers. This would offer distinctly different game applications.
Danika Princip
GoonWaffe
Goonswarm Federation
#4 - 2016-03-20 16:05:24 UTC
...No, you cannot put 300 gardes on a gate and sit off grid.
Khannea Sun-Tzu
EBSTF Holdings
#5 - 2016-03-27 21:18:15 UTC
Danika Princip wrote:
...No, you cannot put 300 gardes on a gate and sit off grid.


I don't gank or PvP. I don't even understand what the above means.
Iain Cariaba
#6 - 2016-03-28 00:44:23 UTC
Khannea Sun-Tzu wrote:
Danika Princip wrote:
...No, you cannot put 300 gardes on a gate and sit off grid.


I don't gank or PvP. I don't even understand what the above means.

So you don't understand how your idea will be abused, but you threw it out anyway.

FYI: Carriers used to have the ability to assign drones and have them fight while the carrier was off grid. This ability was removed, so don't hold your breath waiting for CCP to put your idea in place.
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#7 - 2016-03-28 01:27:12 UTC  |  Edited by: ShahFluffers
Fun Fact: In EVE, drones will receive and attempt to execute orders regardless of their respective range from a target as long as your ship is within the "drone control range."

This means you can be in a situation like this...

(your ship)...................(target)........(edge of drone control range from your ship)..........................................(drones)

... and still command your drones to attack a target.


Also, no to your idea. Drones are plenty powerful without adding in the ability to attack from 8000+ kms away.

How did you Veterans start?
Pookoko
Sigma Sagittarii Inc.
#8 - 2016-03-28 08:58:11 UTC
"No" to this idea, because what others have said already.

However, I like the idea of a remote surveillance drone you can deploy n it will relay visuals. But this will not happen because it means you need less alts/fleet mates as scouts. :p