Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

We've been asking for the tractor beam to work on the strategic map as well as the tactical map for a long time. If a ship with a tractor beam could just 'combine' it's mass with that of a smaller ship and move somewhat slower it'd be good enough. It's one of a zillion requests so we don't know when MM can get to it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I still don't see much real benefit from being able to dock ships together. You give up mobility and the 'spread' of targets, not to mention the defense bonus of being a small ship, for immobility and clustering everything in one place at an increased percentage to hit. Yech... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

I also like the idea of tugs (in fact, I think I mentioned it on the "SE5 wish list" thread). Anyway, the other use for tugs is adding "pallets" to the tug (I got this idea from SFB, of course). The basic idea is that the tug can tow various "pallets", each with it's own characteristics. One type of pallet is basically part of a spacestation/battlestation/starbase, another could be a "carrier" (i.e., fighter bay) pallet, another a "combat" pallet, etc. That way, you could build & store pallets, and then bring a tug in to pick up the pallet and go off to the front lines as an auxiliary carrier, attack vessel, etc. (or, as others have pointed out, put a starbase together on the front lines). I'd recommend multiple levels of tugs, just like the multiple levels of transports.

Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

Yes, maybe MM could add a new type of unit, 'cargo pallet', that can be stored on a planet or attached to a transport/tug. This could even add to the variety of the game by allowing special cargo 'container' types without requiring refit of ships to carry the different cargos. A special 'population transport container' could be required to move population, for example. It's a bit silly to have population loaded into big cargo bays like furniture...

[ July 22, 2002, 21:09: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You could make these without a new unit ... just use a ship and *don't install engines*. Want a pure-cargo pod? Small Transport with minimal controlcomponents and cargo pods for every other kT of space (or maybe some armor/shields, depending on where you're bringing it ...).

...

Actually ... also from my own SFB experience ... you could use such a system in CONJUNCTION with the Docking idea below ... tow in immobile "Pallets" / "Pods" and dock them togetehr ... *voila* instant pseudo-Base. No space wasted on engines ... and potentially a LOT mroe than "only" 2500kT of displacement, a la the StarBase.

Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

What good is a ship with no engines? Without the towing ability, all you've made is a more expensive base. Now, if 'docking bays' are added so one ship can carry another then maybe you've got something... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uhhhhhhh ... that was the point. That with towing / tugs, essentially you could manage the "pallet" effect, just using a no-engine ship.

Re: New feature wanted - - - Space Docking
 

Just thinking a little more about docking. You really would not need to give up mobility, as long as all the ships docked have engines you would basically get an average speed of all the ships combined. The other thing is you could exceed the maximum vehicle size and build enormous ships and bases, kind of like the Ultimate Vehicle Size Mod. That would make for some wide open games, you would never know how big a ship or base was that you were facing until it might be too late.