New ship plans

[AtheistKnight]

What I'd like to see is a gun type added to carriers (along with additional hardpoints specifically for that gun type) which 'launches' an NPC fighter or bomber of predetermined strength, and requires ammo to fire.

So basically, the order carrier as a first example might have 2 of these turret hardpoints located in the tubes at the front of the ship. It can carry up to 70 ammunition ('fighters/bombers') total, same as any other turret. These weapons would have very low refire rates, so that you can launch one fighter every 10-20 seconds from each turret.

Said fighters would last for X amount of time (say, 30 seconds, a minute, whatever) and then despawn. only way to get more fighters (ammo) is to resupply at a base that sells that ammo.

And there would be two turret types for each carrier, so for the order example:

Order Carrier Fighter Launcher
Launches a Nephthys-Class Fighter into space that will attack any targets hostile to the carrier, or join formation with the carrier if no hostile targets are found. Fighter will despawn after 1 minute.
0.1 refire rate.

Order Carrier Bomber Launcher
Launches a Sehkmet-Class Bomber into space that will attack any targets hostile to the carrier, or join formation with the carrier if no hostile targets are found. Fighter will despawn after 1 minute.
0.1 refire rate.

The class 6 turrets could work perfectly for this.

I like the idea but i'm not convinced that in a big Firefight an NPC bomber/fighter for 30-60 seconds would have any impact on the end result.

What I would suggest for light Carriers (if this is possible) is having them be inbetween a GB and Cruiser in terms of offence but be capable of launching a squadron of 4-6 bombers/fighters at once.

Now, one idea of my own i'd like to throw out there.

I think it would be really cool of there was a repair style ship that could do the following:

it would be a Bomber style ship without any Torp slots and a HF's Power array It's advantage in group scenrios though however is that instead of 2 torp slots it has the ability to repair ships in battle.

One slot could be "battery recharger" and the other "nanobot missile". I was thing the shield one could come in an instantaneous boost or shield repair over time, player's choice maybe.