I’d like to see a game mechanic that allows one to modify the attributes of one ship to match another ship that is of similar size and role. This could allow pilots to start to fly ships they never would otherwise.
For example, say I like the look of the Scythe, but want the module layout and attributes of the Osprey. By applying the ship modification, I now have a Scythe whose ship bonuses and modules layout match that of the Osprey. This gives me a Scythe with 5x high slots (instead of 3), 5x mid slots (no change), and 3x low slots (instead of 5). All other attributes on the Scythe (fittings, nav, drones, targeting, structure, armor, shields) would now match the Osprey. I would also need the Caldari Cruiser bonuses to gain the role bonuses and any Osprey required skills in order to apply the Ospreys attributes to the Scythe. I would still need the matching Scythe skills as well. To gain the full role bonus, I’d need both the Minmatar and Caldari Cruiser bonus to 5. If one of these is only a 4, then 4 is the max bonus applied. This mechanic doesn’t absolve one from still needing the required skills of the Osprey or the Sycthe in this example.
How would I implement this to allow ship attribute changes? I would introduce new skills. Something like “Hull Mechanic” along with specific hull skills. These would probably be in “Engineering.” Want to swap attributes on a Frigate? Train “Frigate Hull” to 1 and you can swap attributes with a Bantam and a Burst. Train to level 5 and you can now swap a Heron with a Probe. Something along these lines. So not only do you need the specific race skills for the hull you want to modify, but you also need skills to make the changes.
I would only allow this in the Tech I and Navy Frigates, Destroyers, Cruisers, Battlecruisers, and Battleships, at least to start, increasing the # of skill points required for the larger ships. The “Frigate Hull” skill might only need 512k skills for level 5 but the “Battleship Hull” skill will require 2.048M skills as an example. There would also be an ISK cost associated with modifying a ship. And if that ship is destroyed, you would have to modify another to get back into it. Also, modified ships cannot be sold or traded as modified ships. They would only transfer in their original configuration. Pilots must modify them themselves.
This mechanic would only apply to ships from the 4x main races and each ship would have specific ships you could swap attributes with. The Magnate, Heron, Imicus, and Probe could modify to each other, but no other ship. In other words, every ship will be able to take on the attributes of only one other ship from another race.
Lastly, any modified ships could be marked while in space to indicate it’s been changed. I’m not completely sold on this idea, but see it as an option. I suspect a lot of pilots, especially PVP pilots, have memorized the hull attributes of a lot of ships. Being marked someway would at least indicate that this ship is not what it seems. Maybe it’s marked by removing, adding, or changing the look a ship part. On the Thrasher, for example, if it’s modified maybe a couple of the front solar panels are missing, or a panel is discolored. However, not marking ships and not knowing a hull has been modified could also surprise a lot of pilots. It could lead to some interesting interactions.
This could be expanded to other ships, but I think there is probably a limit to how far you go. I also acknowledge there has to be some level of balance involved, which is why I only proposed a limited number of ships and not making this a quick thing to do. This will still require a lot of skill training, but it could be fun having ships with identical attributes for the same mission/role.