Nice probe idea. I wonder if the AI gets mad about drones in its space, currently. If drones had movement controls, you could include probes by making them small drones with certain settings.
I understand the concept of not wanting drones to be too much like ships, but I don't think giving them move orders would really do that.
Quantum reactors are not allowed on drones in Gold. Solar collectors are, but Sol Col III gives 150 supplies/turn, while a drone burns 200/turn even if it does nothing, and takes 20 kT of space.
Even if Q reactors were allowed, or a player uses 40 kT of drone space on two solar collector III's and/or keeps them in binary/trinary systems, I don't see these being confused with ships, or it being a balance issue. Quantum reactors are kind of expensive for a dinky drone (1000 mins) and take space (20 kT), and drones are small things - it'd be a big investement in a weak escort-sized vessel. There would be advantages over building actual escorts with Q reactors in the peculiar drone speed bonus, and the weird effect that drones are units and so don't suffer partial damage effects
and are not targettable by missiles or torpedoes
. However, in addition to being expensive, these drones are vulnerable to point defense, could not be retrofit, would not gain experience, would not be usable in fleets (hence no fleet experience), and couldn't carry cargo or the many other components not allowed on drones.
Personally, I'd think with a moveto order, that I might like to allow Q reactors on drones, just because it could be an interesting system to try to use. Of course, it's only about a four-keystroke mod.
PvK