[delta_7890]

I think this is possible to accomplish, but before I made any major efforts, I just wanted to know if it's wanted.  These units could arrive, via a special craft designed to carry these, or by subspace.  They would be about the size of a countermeasure, and armed with one laser cannon.  They would be be weak, but, due to their size, would be fast manuverable and hard to hit.  They would work best in groups, and perhaps use stealth technology (to extend their lifespan).  They could be ordered around much like a fighter by the player, jobs could include swarming a target or working as a defensive shield for any friendly craft.  this is simply an idea I have, and I wanted to know how much it would be appreciated in the community.

[Stryke 9]

Hmmmm... meh. I prefer my new, improved drone model (110 kps, two little cannons, released by the hundreds... what more could you want?)

[delta_7890]

and would that be an in-game model?  by my knowledge, you've never put any of your creations in-game.

[WraithHost]

I did a vasudan combat drone called the Scarab about 2 months ago.

3m long with 1 cannon, 25 hull pts, 25 shield pts and moves at 60 m/s.
They are a real bastard to hit and if they outnumber you more than 2 to 1 they can be really dangerous.

A terran combat drone would be nice as-well.
 
I figured they could be carried by freighters
in special cargo bays or even in place of a few escape pods.

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Phil.
  Trust In Me &
  Fall As-well

[fabolous_blood]

that would be sweet. remindes me of those little drones that encircled a valkyrie fighter in the macross 2: SDF1 movie made a few years back with the reporter and the meltran people.

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New Dawn Resolution -COPP That for FS2!

Fabolous-Blood aka Treize K.

[Kitsune]

Autonomous laser drones that link into the valkyeres combat computer that target whoever he's targeting.

They'd be useful when set into wings with the 'guard alpha one' command.  Useful for bombers definitely!

[Stryke 9]

Er... if you were talking to me, yes, I just got everything I need last week or so, and have been cranking out bad model after bad model since... I haven't released yet, because I'm still learning skinning.

[delta_7890]

well it seems this has sparked some interest.  I'll see if I can't pump anything out.  No promises though.

[Fedaykin]

Its a good idea. I'm just wondering if there is a limit to the number of objects the Freespace Engine can handle at any one time? Could put a dampener on the effectiveness of a 'swarm' ...

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Winners never Quit, Quitters never Win.

[Shrike]

It varies, but it's in the vicinity of 80-100.

[Stryke 9]

Depends on the polys, don't it?

[Shrike]

I think there's also a point above which the missions simply become unstable.

[Setekh]

Slave them all to TAGs.

[Nico]

 

Originally posted by Shrike:
I think there's also a point above which the missions simply become unstable.

too many polys in a mission will make it crash after a minute or two...

[delta_7890]

well I'm not about to unleash a wave of a hundred of these things, that'd be overkill.  Anywhere from 6 up to 24 would be fine.  These are just support units (Though I'd like to see how well a large group of these could fare against a destroyer or even a juggernaught).

[delta_7890]

Too bad there isn't some way I could modify the ssm table to have these warp in with the targeting laser.  that way, sexps wouldn't have to be used.

[jonskowitz]

Neat, sort of like the Kushan Drone Frigate from HW.

[Kitsune]

The models don't have to be huge or high poly.
Nothing more than 50.  A spear-shape with tie-interceptor style wings.

[jonskowitz]

If you weren't too picky about the models you could probably do it with just eight polys and then go for broke on the skin.

[Setekh]

There's a ship number limit too, right?

You could build them in wings of four and make each wing of remotes one POF. That would make the only limit polys.