Suggestion;

A half-payload space module with the ability to produce one point of negative tractor energy. More than one may be carried by any drone - their effects are cumulative. There is no other effect.

Mainly a means for Type-H, and to a lesser extent Type-IV drones to trade damage potential for improved defence penetration. Inspired by the Qari Scud in C4, so maybe limited to simulator use.

I havn't seen this proposed before, though it probably has been, and I don't think it's covered by the auto-reject list.

By Jeff Williams (Jeff) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:00 pm: Edit

It's an idea I've always thought would be a fairly interesting application of technology. Might require some play-testing to balance it right though. 1 point negative for a half space seems a bit strong, but that could be balanced out maybe. Personally I think 1 point for 1 space seems a bit better, but that's just an opinion. Also, tactically speaking, how big of a counter is this to drone defenses? Possibly making him burn extra batteries or not be able to tractor as many as he thought?

Also, what would be the technical specs? Would this be general, limited, or restricted technology? What would the cost of this module be? Would the tractoring unit get to auction to overcome negative? (would assume so)

I'd at least favor testing this out if we got the specs. Possibly a balance factor I've overlooked that might make this unworkable, but who knows??

By John Trauger (Vorlonagent) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:22 pm: Edit

I think 1 nrgative tractor for 1 space works also It means that a Type I drone wouldn't use the option through.

We could set a max of 2 modules or something like that to keep it in line...

By Kenneth Jones (Kludge) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 10:55 pm: Edit

Dan your suggestion is essentially already in play. In Omega Tachyon Missiles.

By Andrew Harding (Warlock) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 12:48 am: Edit

Though in Omega, a standard cruiser throws one missile per turn, not up to six (plus a scatterpack).

Would, as with all new drone modules, improve all drones, even those without the module (e.g. two enemy drones are about to strike your down shield, your drone defences have been exhausted except for the two reserve power and two tractors you still have available. Can you risk trying to grab both?)

By Dan Ibekwe (Danibq) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 05:21 am: Edit

Um. I didn't know about the Omega Tachyons.

I'd suggest making it general availibility, 1 commander's option point per module.

The presence of the module can be detected by sucessfully 'labbing' the drone.

Hopefully, it's self-balancing due to the reduction in warhead strength, but I havn't playtested it.

The tractoring unit *does* get the option of increasing tractor energy after the drone first fights the tractor - I should have stated that more clearly.

I changed 'One space' to 'Half space' at the last moment...maybe the standard is a one-space module introduced in Y162 by the Kzinti, copied the following year by all other drone users, and the half space module appears in Y185 (to soak up all those X batteries).

The Y162 start date might be a spur to the Klingon 'B' (ADD) refits.

By Robert Snook (Verdick) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 11:18 am: Edit

I would put it under either limited or restricted percentages, since it is a specialty drone module that any drone ship captain would love to get.

By Jeff Williams (Jeff) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 11:55 pm: Edit

Agreed, should not be general availability. Just knee-jerk, I'd say should be limited. We don't want the map to be flooded with these puppies.

By Adam James Villatorio (Merlinfmct87) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 04:15 am: Edit

Or maybe standard X-Tech. It would be an interesting way to spice things up a little...

Adam

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 08:05 pm: Edit

The trouble with a Full space module is that it precludes Type I drones ( unless someone develops offsensive external modules ).


I would make it a drone frame cost so that not only can type I drones mount the thing but also type IV drones cost a mint to grant these things to.


Try slippery drones.
• Slippery drone are of limited availibility.
• Slippery drones have a sprecial magnetically distorting shell that allows them to shrug off certain effects.
..... These effects are, is treated as though the drone is generating 1 point of anti-tractor.
..... The drone takes three quarters the damage from a Pulsar that it normally would.
• Slipery drones are expensive and difficult to handle ( the coating is carsonogenic thus ships do not cover their hulls with the coating ) so each warhead space of drone requires handling facilities that cost 3 BPV each.


The other trouble with a anti-tractor module is; "If I can build a 1/2 space module with an anti-tractor, why can't a build a one space module with a tractor ability!?!" and one type IVF-TRac will be able to grab two drones ( making it more powerful than a two space Starfish drone at drone killing ) and radically change the nature of the game.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 05:52 pm: Edit

Seems more complicated than it needs...also, why wouldnt 2 drones be superior to using one slipery drone?

Plus, do the drone racks use a magnetic "lock" to hold the drones in place?!? wouldnt the inability to use a standard drone rack or fighter launch rail materially decrease the utility of such drones?

Also, if the entire drone is coated with this "stuff" wouldnt it interfere with the drones guidance system (assuming it uses components that interact with electric/gravitic/magnetic spectrums in some manner)...the possibility exists that such a slippery dron is uncontrollable...not to mention the possible problems using ATG (Active Terminal Guidance)...i mean, if the reflected signals from the target can't penetrate the special coatings..then the ATG is blinded and unable to function as designed.

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 08:33 pm: Edit

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Seems more complicated than it needs...also, why wouldnt 2 drones be superior to using one slipery drone?

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(e.g. two enemy drones are about to strike your down shield, your drone defences have been exhausted except for the two reserve power and two tractors you still have available. Can you risk trying to grab both?)

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Plus, do the drone racks use a magnetic "lock" to hold the drones in place?!? wouldnt the inability to use a standard drone rack or fighter launch rail materially decrease the utility of such drones?

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Also, if the entire drone is coated with this "stuff" wouldnt it interfere with the drones guidance system (assuming it uses components that interact with electric/gravitic/magnetic spectrums in some manner)...the possibility exists that such a slippery dron is uncontrollable...not to mention the possible problems using ATG (Active Terminal Guidance)...i mean, if the reflected signals from the target can't penetrate the special coatings..then the ATG is blinded and unable to function as designed.

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By David Kass (Dkass) on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 08:51 pm: Edit

I would prefer not to see this because it removes one of the unique features of the Omega weapons.

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 10:17 pm: Edit

I'm not for it either, but if it is made I think it should be a drone frame upgrade rather than a warhead module.

By Robert Eddy (Tar_Zhay) on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 08:07 pm: Edit

If you want to really make it this a useful module…

(JFDx.71) Negative Tractor Module ½ space module and produce 2 points of negative tractor only. (Due to the small size the batteries can not be used as an offensive tractor beam.)

(JFDx.74) There is no limit to the number of modules that can be exchanged.

(JFDx.73) The cost for exchanging a NTM with an ½ space explosive module is 2 points.

(JFDx.74) Negative Tractor Module are a limited warhead module.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 03:30 pm: Edit

This topic is under consideration for SFB Extreme missions module.