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I can't see this ever happening, becuase with the CU devs have made a very clear point....they want more group! Anything that would encournge it (like needing gunners) is something the devs want. They wont dash their hard work by offering things that assist in soloing.

My YT1300 is probably my most favorite item in the game. I agree with you that it's difficult to find a crew (let alone a good crew) and that some sort of game system support would go a long way to seeing these used more. As with other aspects of SWG, piloting a POB ship should represent a play-style, not a FOTM. So it's going to take some thought and consideration to make sure any changes are implemented in a smart/balanced way. (As a side, remember that the recent POB only components was a huge step forward).

I suggest that if capitol ships are coming, some immediate modifications to current POB ships is a great opportunity for the development team to get the basics working on a much smaller scale. Here are some immediate changes I'd recommend:

1. Ship repair droid module: Add a new droid module that can be placed in Astromech droids that is similar to the old stim-pack dispensers. With this module, droids can be loaded with SW-crafted repair kits and can then be set lose on a ship and repair while in flight. This adds to the DE and SW business, but will still provide an advantage to ships who man a human engineer (as the engineer will be faster then the droid)

2. Lock turrets forward: Add the ability to lock turrets forward and be fired from the pilot chair, only with a reduction in weapon damage. This provides an advantage to manned turrets but still allows POB ships to be flown in combat by a pilot.

3. Add NPC or droid co-pilots: Currently only the co-pilot can execute droid commands. Add the ability for pilots to purchase (or hire) NPC co-pilots. Pilots would then issue commands to the co-pilot such as shunt capacitor to shields or take us to this WP.

Overall, the idea is to add some degree of "command" to the task of flying a POB ship. With our current POBs (YT, Nove, and VT49) we're talking about a pilot having command of a droid + one NPC. When capitol ships come along, this could eventually be expanded to command an entire capitol crew.

I wouldn't want gunnery droids, the best part is how you get to play with your friends in POB ships. The only problem with them is that they aren't strong enough: the POB-only components need to be made more powerful by quite a bit to make it worth having 4-5 people in one ship rather then 4-5 people in seperate ships (basically, POB ships need to be as powerful offensively and defensively as 4 ships).

My problem is that the game is not popular enough to warrant the group dynamics, and the rewards that are found in space combat are minor compared to what you get from setting up a bunch of hunting missions and grinding that way.

They need to offer a better soloing experience. Everyone in my guild are off doing their own thing, most of them are Jedi, and while i could hunt with them, they are focused on getting their jedi stats upped. I can find few starpilots on Sunrunner willing to group for space missions because the missions offer such paltry rewards.

I have to disagree about space not being popular; at least on Chilastra Since the release of RoTW, I've seen so many ace hopefuls calling for assistance and asking for help. Everyone wants to get their hands on the new ships and fly them around.

Again, I would like to see POB ships being able to fly solo, but there should be an advantage to bring a crew. Instead of /manturret, I'd ask for locking the turrets forward and letting them be fired from the pilot chair, but the weapons fire at a % reduction of normal damage. Maybe 25 to 40 percent. This gives an incentive to bringing a crew, but still allows the ships to be flown for people who want to do so.

I think they should have a new profession for politing big ships like you reach ace then after that you go on to captain or something.

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DreanGrott wrote:
I think they should have a new profession for politing big ships like you reach ace then after that you go on to captain or something.

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That'd be an awesome Idea. So that Novice Space Commander (or whatever) you can pilot Vette class, then Tier 1 to Tier 2, Nebulon B, going up to small Mon Cal vessels and Victory Class SDs. Although I'm SA myself, I'm not sure if Privateers should be able to fly Cap Ships. Though I'd love to, and would probably drop Master Freelancer (when I get it) and then grind a factional profession just to get in charge of a Cap Ship, I don't see any reason for Privateers to have a Cap Ship, certainly not one that'd rival Factional Ships, since the whole point of being a Smuggler or Freelancer is not to get noticed...

Also, if they did add a "Space Commander" profession, they should give it abilities similar to Squad Leaders, so that they can improve damage output on friendly fighters ina group for a short time, or maybe allow them to overcharge engines for a rapid getaway. Another nice touch would be decreased Hyperdrive calculation times, so that if you do need to escape a critical defeat, you can do it more swiftly, using the massive computers on board a capital vessel.

Also, allow repairs to a fighter when it's docked with a Cap Ship! Maybe allow you to 'manage' your ship, as on the ground. Maybe even give them cloning centres, to allow deceased pilots or crewmen to spawn right back into the action.

Man, this update, when and if it ever comes out, will be soooooo sweet...

I'd love to have some AI turrets on my ship when they're not manned be a player. Or atleast have them lock in the forward position and let the pilot fire them.
I love my Nova Cruiser, and she looks awsome inside and out. But I never have a chance to take her out because she's pretty much useless. Unless I have two gunners and atleast one other person with me, she'll go down in no time. And most people in my guild claim that turrets make them dizzy and sick, and are just plain too hard to control.
This is something that needs to be addressed...
Hell, I'd even be happy if the Devs just added a third weapon slot that equips on the front of the ship and lets the pilot fire...

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GrandMoffHocker wrote:

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DreanGrott wrote:
I think they should have a new profession for politing big ships like you reach ace then after that you go on to captain or something.

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That'd be an awesome Idea. So that Novice Space Commander (or whatever) you can pilot Vette class, then Tier 1 to Tier 2, Nebulon B, going up to small Mon Cal vessels and Victory Class SDs. Although I'm SA myself, I'm not sure if Privateers should be able to fly Cap Ships. Though I'd love to, and would probably drop Master Freelancer (when I get it) and then grind a factional profession just to get in charge of a Cap Ship, I don't see any reason for Privateers to have a Cap Ship, certainly not one that'd rival Factional Ships, since the whole point of being a Smuggler or Freelancer is not to get noticed...

Also, if they did add a "Space Commander" profession, they should give it abilities similar to Squad Leaders, so that they can improve damage output on friendly fighters ina group for a short time, or maybe allow them to overcharge engines for a rapid getaway. Another nice touch would be decreased Hyperdrive calculation times, so that if you do need to escape a critical defeat, you can do it more swiftly, using the massive computers on board a capital vessel.

Also, allow repairs to a fighter when it's docked with a Cap Ship! Maybe allow you to 'manage' your ship, as on the ground. Maybe even give them cloning centres, to allow deceased pilots or crewmen to spawn right back into the action.

Man, this update, when and if it ever comes out, will be soooooo sweet...

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This should be really hard to do two. Make it so that if you see a master commander, you go wow, he's not on his ship. Or I; thought thouse guy became there ships... Ect. They should be rare like the jedi where. I think easy to become one like up to tier 2 but after that you would really have to strive.

I was actually thinking of something like gunnery droids myself, depending on how many turrets these have. Was thinking maybe a droid-manned turret could do damage like, say, a Vette does, while a player-manned turret would do full PVP damage. Would be a nice way to get DEs some more business, too.

Something along those lines, anyway, haven't thought it through yet. I definitely think capital ships should need a fairly significant crew, but depending on just how big they end up being, they may need a little help in that department.