Well, what would be technically possible is to require fuel to use jump gates and jump holes. This requires server sides changes but they are not too difficult to do - actually pretty easy.
If we did it, I could see this working in the following way:
- Big miltary ships would require a lot of fuel to jump. Their internal storage capacity might be good for 4-6 jumps, may be less, may be more. Big military ships will *need* to take fuel transports with them if they intend to travel any great distance. They will need to defend these transports.
- Big transports would use not that much fuel. They are intended to be efficient transporters of goods and have efficient engines to match. Their internal storage capacity might be good for 20-40 jumps, may be less, may be more.
- Freighters and fighters, bombers would use very little fuel - if any at all. This will actually give an advantage to Freighter drivers - they cost much less to operate than transports.
- Where fuel (MOX? H3? Deut? Pluto?) is not available ships would need to buy it off other players. I see this creating lots of RP opportunities for people buying, selling and pirating fuel.
- When ships run out of fuel in omicron lost they'll need to call for resupply...the resupplier will probably charge lots to come out that way and top up the tanks.
- Also could make all ships work on all types of fuel - but some fuels work better (the ship uses less to jump) - and create greater demand for good fuels.
- Could make ships take damage through the JH/JG. Big military ships more damage, transports, etc less. Jump holes more damage than jump gates.
I see this helping to solve part of cap-whore problem...with this capital ships will need to work with transports just to move around and need fighters to defend the transports.
This idea has been discussed before. It may or may not be appropriate for this server. Personally I like it but I think the most of the community would need to be in agreement before it was implemented.
EDIT: I should note that when the ship passes through the JH/JG the server would deduct the appropriate amount of fuel from the cargo - the fuel doesn't need to be perishable. Also if a ship is out of fuel it could allow them to jump, but with a 50% chance of exploding or if they survive arriving at a random system...just a thought.
Proud member of "the most paranoid group of people in the community"
