New idea for torpedos/escape pods/mass drivers

[schadavi]

I just had a nice idea how torpedo-launchers like in star trek could be implemented (being able to shoot torpedos, probes, corpses and other stuff)

Accelerator blocks.

The acc. blocks push the blocks encased by more than one into the build direction.

The bigger the rails, the more energy is needed, but also the projectile is faster. This could be used for torpedo launchers, simple railguns as well as escape pods - perhaps even for some kind of in-ship-transport, just launch yourself through tubes equipped with a few acc. blocks.



Damage by railguns obviously needs collision damage to work, but schema probably only needs a few weeks for that :D

And once manufacturing is more user-friendly, you could build a whole array into your ship that automatically uses your ressources to build new torpedos to equip the torpedo-launchers...

This would also work for boarding/orbital drop pods. 1. Build a 3x5x3 tube from heavy metall, 2. launch towards target, 3. bring freedom.



The biggest advantage of this over other solutions would be that there are no rails/carts, launcher prefabs etc needed, as that would all be fullfilled by one simple block. Only user input would be build direction, an power on/off.



Good idea, or waste of developers time?

 

[ImperialDonut]

You want a block that can be placed in long lines to propel other objects forward?

Thats sounds like fun, tho to make it work you would probably need a new type of dock to put the object you wish to fire into, the new acc. block would have to only work in a tunnel leading straight from said dock and a way to remotely fire ships weapons if you wish to use it as an escape pod.

All in all I think you\'d be better off making it into a new weapon type and adding consumable modules you can fabricate to the game (think probe launchers in EVE), that might include scanner probes, all kinds of mines, a possible shuttle projectile that fires the pilot or passengers to a target (escapepod or droppod) and lots more...



Also, this: \"but schema probably only needs a few weeks for that\" is something you cannot (and don\'t even need to) predict, he can do a LOT in a few weeks, just post your idea and let him decide if its worth the effort. ; )

 

[schadavi]

My first concept of the idea included a new \"chamber\" block, from which you build the chamber the accelerator draws its projectile from, like in a real gun.

I first scrapped it for easier handling, but i think it wouls be very usefull so the acc.block know WHAT to fire. Build your projectile in the chamber, power the rails, voila. Add a fabrication block and storage to the chamber so it automatically restocks and rebuilds projectiles.

And a thrid block, the \"prefab dispenser\" could be used for missiles, probes or mines - these can be made beforehand, in on-board fabrication plants, then placed in the dispenser and drawn from it by the accelerator rails...

 

[Calbiri]

An orientable, short range grav block could manage this, line several up along a tube, and link them to a computer, on switch, and your package gets launched

 

[Calbiri]

Add the option for being always on and you can build transport systems resembling the pneumatic tube transport in futurama

 

[schadavi]

Yeah, that would be a super versatile system.

Perhaps the acc.blocks would push/pull every not connected block near them if not attached to a chamber - that way a big mining vessel could suck in an asteroid, or a mothership could collect the remnants of destroyed fighters...

Or you could use them as lifts for planetary landing, hold your ships position on the planet and slowly let down tanks and prebuilt camps.

 

[Arclight]

I stumbled across this thread when I was looking for something exactly like this. I would love the idea of custom torpedos and mass drivers. Being able to build your own AI controlled torpedo sounds amazing. Then a player can put their own ordinace into the design. You can use your rails to fire the torpedo and maybe have a limited AI that does some kind of minor course correction.



Mass Driver Ammo and system:

Matter Condenser? - Uses a miniature singularity to condense matter from the associated PlexStorage into an area and then accelerates it into enemy ships! Damage caused is directly proportional to mass of the projectile. Higher mass to area ratio requires more power. New block - \"Condensed Matter\" with a mass value equal to the total mass of the matter consumed from the PlexStorage.

Having physical ammo will make mining and battle prep even more important as you need to supply your cannons.

Since blocks in this game all have a mass associated with them, I think this system is pretty feasible.