Satellites?

[Theseus]

Are satellites on the road map anywhere? I'd really like to see some satellites in the game to perform a variety of functions. Now I'll be honest and say that I'm pining for some of the satellite action like in X3, but more so.

 

Going from basic to advanced here is a possible framework:

 

Commerce satellite.  This would be the first unit we could get in game. It's weak, detectable, and not particularly great until we put in some upgrades. The current upgrade frameworks would work good here as we could use upgrades to expand the reach of the unit. Say... when you first put it down it's fairly limited to the stations it can get data from but with multiple upgrades it would be able to pull data from half a sector, or something like that. Maybe even add a little armor or shields with the upgrades.

 

Military Satellite.  Armed and armored. Very expensive. Limited number per sector, as well as an overall deployment limitation. Upgrades for armor, weapons, detection distance and others

 

Stealth Satellite. More useful for PvP, I would think. Again, limited number per sector as well as overall limit. Satellite would stay detectable for some amount of time after deploying. Upgrades to reduce that initial detection time (but not remove it), expand range, reduce range at which they are detected by enemies.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

[Shrooblord]

Yes. What exactly do these satellites do for you? Aside from the combat satellite, which I think is pretty obvious, how do the Commerce and Stealth Satellites expand gameplay? Do they give you information of some sort? Like a radar?

 

Then for the idea itself: I did just an hour ago have an idea about implementing automated ships by adding in "robot System Module Upgrades". You see, the documentation shows that there are actually StatBonuses exposed that involve crew. In other words, there's a way to mod in System Module Upgrades that supply the benefits of having some types of crew on the ship, without that crew being there.

 

In this way, you could install that mod, then build satellites by making stationary crewless but automated ships, with the use of these new SMUs. But again, I'm not sure that's what you want, given that I don't completely understand what the function of the satellites is. Could you elaborate?