The problem with mounting a ranged weapon on a drone is twofold. First, as others have pointed out it tends to rush in and ram first, so it often doesn't get to fire. Second, in order to do a reasonable amount of damage with that ONE shot it has to be given insane damage levels. MM needs to fix drones so warheads with 'special' damage types work properly. The one ranged-weapon that is a good idea on drones is PDC because fighters are an excellent counter-measure against drones. They are also fast and can be even more numerous than an attacking wave of drones.
It would also be nice if some form of 'boarding attack' was possible at range. Boarding shuttles would be most logical, and could be doable with boarding parties on a fighter hull, but a simple range attack might be just as good. Call it 'transporter' if you like.
This would have to be very high tech, of course.
[ June 14, 2002, 15:28: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]