Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Changes to boosting have been suggested, but one ship in particular has a unique set of needs and functions that make it special.

Here is my idea, to give the Rorqual a role on grid as a booster, and give mining PvE a reason to take more risks.

First, it is known the Rorqual must be in deployed mode in order to deliver boosts with a bonus.
This is also needed so it can compress ores / ice.
Let's limit the boost range to ships on grid with it.
(Possible Balance point: dev option: Bonus to boosts for ships on grid, and to only give unbonused boosts to ships off grid)

Now, let's also give it a shield, (like a small POS), while it is deployed.
The Rorqual will retain the ability to target objects, to retain use of tractor beams, etc.

The moment the Rorqual shields go up, it must remain online till it leaves deployed mode. The pilot can log off, ending the usefulness of boosting and tractor beams, but the ship will remain with the shields up. So it is possible to lock it online. Getting a defense in place to protect it for that precious 5 minutes while it shifts back to being mobile could be crucial, if hostiles intend to destroy it.

Then the moment a rorqual is forced into reinforced mode, it will remain present in space for the duration of that timer.
It cannot leave deployed mode once reinforced till the timer expires.
Hostiles who reinforced it will know when to return and kill it, and the defenders will know when to show up and try and defend it.

Do you really think that there will special cases allowed when the changes go through .. off-grid is off-grid, no matter what ship is involved.

Why not just say that it has the full bonus without sieging, ie. the indy core is only used when compressing ice?

... Or you could suck it up and use a command ship on site.
... Or come up with additional features that can be applied to the Rorq/Orca that makes them worth bringing even if they dont have links.

In short: Do not expect any special consideration for the mining boosters, come to terms with it or suggest alternatives that help numb the pain.

No, that is a fragment of this idea.
It leaves out the majority of the details, and only suggests a shield by itself.

A rather limiting view. One that would make the Rorqual far more niche than it is now.
You even suggest using command ships as an alternative.

I respect your views that PvP should have unfettered access to targets, especially ones that affect combat outcomes between players, but the Rorqual is not part of this play style on that level.

Lacking meaningful offensive capability, it does warrant special consideration to perform it's role.