These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

The new forums are live and can be found at https://forums.eveonline.com/

Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
 

Grand Theft Drone
Author
Previous Topic Next Topic
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#1 - 2014-02-04 23:09:17 UTC
Here is an interesting spin on drones, in my opinion.

Create small, medium, and large sizes of a new class of drone, designed to intercept and override command and control functions of enemy drones.

These drones will NOT survive use, due to the nature of their operation.
(They effectively merge key components of their own hardware into an enemy drone, resulting in it's removal from grid ultimately)

What they do:
These are launched as unarmed interceptor drones, chasing down their counterparts. They use bandwidth exactly as their size class dictates, and when awaiting use take up space in a drone bay comparable to normal drones of their size.

Upon contact with their target drone, the interceptor simply fries the command functions of that target, and ejects it's own computer core into the now brain dead target.

The now captured drone is NOT combat ready, having no shields or armor, and only 50% hull. The command functions for combat do not exist, and the drones will automatically orbit the capturing vessel until scooped to drone or cargo bay.

Now confiscated, the captured drones can be restored to their full function only after their hulls have been repaired to 100%.
At that point they will act as the target drone did originally, all traces of the interceptor drone absorbed by repairs.

Obviously these are one time use, and the primary purpose is to deprive another pilot of drones.
A suspect flag will be incurred, as this is a form of theft of property belonging to another.

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#2 - 2014-02-05 14:31:16 UTC
I am figuring the price point of these should be about half the cost of the T1 scout drone of that size.

It can convert into a drone of the same size class, if the pilot is good enough to successfully jack the target.

It could even be profitable if they had T2 or faction drones.

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...
NiGhTTraX
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#3 - 2014-02-05 15:02:11 UTC
Or I could just shoot the enemy's drones and use my own drones?

If you're gonna post here thinking your idea is the greatest thing since bacon and that it will save EVE and possibly all humankind with it, you're gonna have a bad time.
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#4 - 2014-02-05 15:09:09 UTC
NiGhTTraX wrote:
Or I could just shoot the enemy's drones and use my own drones?

Quite true!

Buuuutt.... you would also get criminal flagged in high sec then, no?

We all know what happens next, Concord shows up, pops your ship, you tell them that the Vespa was making eyes at your Hobgoblin, and you just wanted to bring them together.

Romeo and Juliet all over again, I know. These tragic romances may read well, but in the end the ship loses out because it cared for the drones, and wanted to control them too much....

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...
Gimme more Cynos
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#5 - 2014-02-05 15:09:46 UTC
I kinda like the idea itself, BUT:

Do drones need another counter?


I would say they don't. Yes, they are pretty strong right now, but that's not because they don't have enough counters. It's because of drone assist...
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#6 - 2014-02-05 15:13:34 UTC
Gimme more Cynos wrote:
I kinda like the idea itself, BUT:

Do drones need another counter?


I would say they don't. Yes, they are pretty strong right now, but that's not because they don't have enough counters. It's because of drone assist...

Not necessarily a counter, but certainly capable of acting in that manner.

It is also a means of creating mischief for those willing to risk being shot at in return.
With that mischief, comes the potential to make profits. Maybe not much, but certainly some will find the way.

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...
Noxisia Arkana
Deadspace Knights
#7 - 2014-02-05 15:54:50 UTC
You definitely need to have a criminal timer if you start taking over someones sentries in a mission. I mean, it'd be more profitable to scan down mission runners and steal their T2 drones than to actually run missions.
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#8 - 2014-02-05 16:15:37 UTC
Noxisia Arkana wrote:
You definitely need to have a criminal timer if you start taking over someones sentries in a mission. I mean, it'd be more profitable to scan down mission runners and steal their T2 drones than to actually run missions.

I see your point, but I don't agree with it.

Taking an abandoned drone would not be a criminal act.

While outwardly, it may be a gray area to force convert an actively controlled drone into an abandoned equivalent, and then salvaging that as an abandoned drone, it falls on loopholes regarding Concord jurisdiction.

>> Neither player ship is directly involved, this is strictly drone on drone interaction.
>> Damage to the target drone is incidental, and not the primary intent. Damage to the opposing player's ship does not occur.
(The interceptor drones have pirate transponders, flagging them as NPC to Concord)
>> The point at which the aggressive player's ship is involved, the drone is no longer under direct control though still recognized as another's property, meaning a suspect flag is incurred by the aggressor interacting with it.

They do walk a fine line, and they are open to being shot at, but Concord won't step in.

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...