Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Currently, one cannot jettison a Mobile Depot in space. The mobile depot is a planck container. This means that for practical purposes, you cannot deploy the depot conveniently with an alt unless both pilots fly the same ship classes, since the depot must be in the cargohold of whatever pilot is anchoring the depot.

If one desires to set up a network of mobile depots or to have an alt in covops transport fly the depot(s) in, the other alt must also be able to fly covops transport. A DST, carrier, or other hangar-equipped ship obviates the need, but if you have ships of these kind you probably don't need the mobile depot to begin with.

Options for transferring mobile depots currently include:

1) Pilots swap ships with one ship having the container in cargo
2) Pilots launch and then recover depots with the different ship they'd like to use

I would like to propose ONE of the following:

• Mobile depots are able to be jetcanned (easiest option and most balanced IMHO)
• Mobile depots are able to be have ownership transferred with the consent of both pilots, say once every 24 hours
• Mobile depots are able to be password protected, with some limitations e.g. access timers/withdrawal limitations
• Mobile depots are able to be "usable by fleet"
• An alternative class of mobile depot gets introduced that allows specific pieces of this functionality at a higher cost

I believe that making one of these changes is necessary even with the structure changes and additions that have been proposed. I understand there are inherent balance concerns with mobile depots becoming mini refit boxes for larger groups, but I think in practice many pilots will choose to carry a small mobile depot with them anyway if they suspect they'll be in need of a refit.

The mobile depot is one of the best things to happen to EVE and any one of these relatively minor changes would have a significant positive impact on its flexibility.