It would be great for dedicated space haulers to have an odometer to show mileage on a specific freighter and combined mileage for the hauling corp coming from haulers, freighters etc.
Would also be interesting to have npc space gas stations that can be tethered to by hauler/freighter/jump freighter (also industrials using fuel) - class ships. The player/corp would be responsible for stocking the station with fuels, and would have safe access. The operation would be like that of a MOBILE DEPOT but tethered.
Specific to freighters. since they dont fuel. it could be a “truck stop” along the way to stop and take a break then continue on. Obviously, they can be bumped off tether, so afk for an extended period of time w/o logging out or being active would be unwise. but a respite. They would also be able to access the station to fill load/ unload fuels for their other fuel guzzling ship or perhaps even sell fuel .
Tether without repair. To make it fair and not abuse the system. The Gas stations could be tether without repair but with invulnerability.
Thoughts - This would open up some safe harbors and good waypoints for hauler class in null sec among other areas of new eden. Would also help the fuel market place and give market options.
Ganking camping or claiming in null. Null has its on mechanics of course. an alliance claiming ownership in the area can defend these stations. Being an NPC station though, creates a freeport to fuel align and be gone.
Could this be used by other capitals ( fighting capitals) Not the scope of my idea, but always possible to expand it, though this create an exploit in a war scenario.
How? your ships stock it, you can use it… or others can sell it you buy it.
And add just how many gigabytes to game’s server database? For what?
We already have player owned stations. What? You are too lazy to dock and undock and want even more structure and overview spam because of that? How would the market work in those structures? There is currently no system implemented that would limit the market in a specific structure only to a specific item ID(s). To be honest, that’s way too complicated to implement for no added gameplay value at all.
Its hard to assume a simple counter can cause a ton of drag on servers.. there a bunch of counters running all of the time in EVE… its better for a DEV to chime in vs your speculation on server load… for haulers, the value added is in the mileage accrued by their ships. This would be tantamount to an assault ship’s score in Zkillboard. Different industries have different benchmarks that they are trying to reach. how many Km / Miles in spqace they push is a cool potential feature.
Gas Stations. Im talking about a different concept all together. NOT Docking, but simply stopping in space, loading up and shooting away… Obviously, you could multibox cloaked haulers in null or elsewhere and solve the problem, but not everyone multiboxes. Nothing in EVE gameplay is lazy (without consequence). what is lazy is being complacent and not thinking about new ways to add potential value to New Eden.
And again, unless you are a DEV its a bit ignorant on your part to assume that adding a feature like this is “complicated to implement”
If im running a jump freighter or any ship that is running low on fuel, with no player or NPC stations near to DOCK TO and I have stocked a “gas station” and can top up, and go, believe me, that’s value added.
Marketwise? you can bring your fuels to the “gas station” like you would an upwell and post them for sale. A jump ship might jump in , thisty for fuel, buy your fuel, and zip off. Hell, even upwells could buy fuel from these stations if they are in a pinch.
As far as ganking etc. thats another topic… could the NPC gas stations only allow haulers to dock? is it tethered docking? could a jump frieghter litterally sell items or transfer items while docked? can the gas station or arease around it be bubbled or will it have inherent resistances to bubbling?
Im sure there are some advanced game dynamics to consider. But my base idea might help jump freighting and otherwise fueling fuel required ships in places like Null
I would love to have that odometer value be scannable and be present on the killmail. So the gankers could specifically hunt these old ships that have survived this long for no reason…maybe have a bonus payout for environmental protection for removing those old and overused and undermaintained ships from space…