Forums » Suggestions

Micromines, rock dumps and similar

Feb 19, 2009 zak.wilson link
I have a not-very-specific idea for a new mine-type weapon traders could use to get pirates off their tails. The basic concept is a mine launcher that drops a cloud of small mines, or even simply inert rocks that will cause damage and course deviation if hit at speed.

Example 1: micro-mine launcher
Dispenses 10 mines containing Locust Swarm warheads in a semi-random spread roughly 30M in diameter.
Damage (per mine): 750
Proximity: 15m
Splash: 25m
Capacity: 60 (can be fired six times)
Lifespan: 30s

Example 2: Rock dispenser
Drops 30-50 rocks having variable mass and moving away from each other at variable speed, up to 20m/s. Striking a rock will cause velocity-based damage similar to a collision with a ship. Capacity of 3 shots.

Example 3: Plasma dump
Vents reactor plasma as long as you hold down the trigger. Flying in to plasma damages the hull and interferes with the turbo.
Damage: 500/s
Energy: 50/s
Lifespan: 5s
Effects: cannot boost when in contact with plasma field.

Discuss!
Feb 19, 2009 peytros link
it's to easy to run already.
Feb 19, 2009 Aticephyr link
I like the ideas. These are great for the occasional ion storm, and might assist in running from a rat. Honestly though, I don't think these guys would provide THAT much more protection than concussions or the like. It would be nice to have a locust-like gun that fires backwards though.

and peytros, two things:
1) I highly doubt that a moth loaded to 150,000kg is going to consider running JUST because he has one of these things on it. He'll either run or he wont. This might make your job slightly more difficult... but not by much. Having large grid requirements for this would make it so that the rat's life isn't complete hell.
2) "its TOO easy to run already". I'm sorry, but you make that too damned easy.
Feb 19, 2009 Dascoma link
I'm new enough that I'm still getting a sense for these things, but it seems to me that countermeasures like this would be a great addition to the VO arsenal. I think such countermeasures can be broken down into two categories: offensive (or active) countermeasures like micro-mines, that are designed to do damages to an aggressor's ship; and defensive (or passive) countermeasures (like rocks or chaff), that might do nominal damage to a ship but are really designed to frustrate an offensive weapon. I'd love to see, for instance, some sort of ordnance that gave off a heat signal (and/or a radar signal), and that could be used to defeat heat-seeking missiles.