Ships & Modules

Hakaimono gave me the idea with one of his posts, although my implementation is different. I thought I would post this and see what people think of the idea.

A Mortar would be like a Bomb except that you could set the distance (time) it travels before it explodes, and the explosion radius would be smaller than a bomb (maybe 5km). The smaller area of effect would be to offset the increased targeting versatility.

Hakaimono’s suggestion was for a module that could be used from off grid. My version of the Mortar could be used off grid as well by using the Align To option to align to a fleet member in a cloaky ship near your target in order to aim, and use your directional scan to get the distance. If they don’t notice your incoming mortar shell show up on their overview you might get a hit even from off grid.

Hakaimono also suggested a new Destroyer class to use this module. I was thinking of just giving Destroyers a class bonus to allow them to equip 1 of these modules. The idea would be for it to be like a real life mortar: easy to take out if you get close to it, tricky to aim, but devastating if it hits. Instead of whistling through the air when incoming, it would show up on people’s overview.

I think a manually targeted weapon like this would be fun to play with. Granted the effect on a non stationary target might be more psychological than physical, but it would be fun to make a gate camp take evasive manoeuvres, and if someone is siting still and not watching their overview, it could be deadly.

QFT

Taking into account that XX century railguns hit harder, further and with more accuracy than EvE railguns from a gazillion sci-fi years past our time, and that many of our spaceships are decorated with forest and urban camo paintjobs, I wouldn't dismiss any rumours about naval ramming spikes and other ancient crap being implemented in the future.

In fact, XXI century GROUND vehicles can already cloak out of "D-scan"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkkWya-oun0

So, I wouldn't be surprised if things got out of hand up to the point where we see loinclothed barbarians wielding wooden clubs in Dust and they retconned the universe up and down to make them fit.

Remote Doomsdays were removed for a reason.

I can live with that. Then no one will know who dunnit.

Bad idea. Last thing we need is to be blown up from off grid when doing...well...ANYTHING, really. Think about the havoc this would wreak just about anywhere. Would turn EVE into a 64 person M320 match on Metro in BF3....ever been in one of those? dying randomly every 3.4 seconds? not fun. Horrible, horrible idea.

when you launch a bomb with a SB you commit your ship to a fight because the range is short and you have to be aligned to the target, if there is a fast locker your bomber will probably die.
shooting stuff from where the enemy cant even see you (offgrid) its just plain bad for the gameplay.

if we have to take inspiration from old ww2 stuff i would like to see dive bombers introduced to the game something like the old cavalry ravens, that was fun.

The ship that fires such a mortar cannot move for 30 seconds, and is able to be warped to from the overview during that time. Also, the range on it has to be limited so that, even if offgrid, a tackler can land on it in that time.

Just to clarify, I dislike this idea, but something along those lines would really be interesting.

Why does this seem to be the centerpiece of nearly every terrible idea?

Probably a bad idea. You only suggest it so you can apply dmg while not having to commit yourself. Thats bad.

But lets say we run with this. Lets also say that

• it also long time for the round to travel (or 'warp' as it was), we talking minutes, not seconds
• the mortar ship is rendered imobile while the round travels to its target
• as soon as the round is fired, any ship that is in its aim gets a indication that theres incoming and a option to warp to its source

Still want that mortar? Did not think so.