pulsar cypress
I had the idea of adding throwable or launchable EMPs and bombs, either by hand, slingshot, or a cannon-like module. These could add a new tactical layer to gameplay.
— Effects:
The EMP effect could fully disable all energy systems within a 500-meter radius, including the player’s ship. Between 500 and 1000 meters, systems would partially shut down—green energy net fields (standard systems) would go offline for 30–60 seconds, while blue fields (protected slots) remain active. Players would need to decide what to protect—whether weapons to attack disabled ships or propulsion to escape—adding more strategy to energy management.
— Balance:
To keep it fair, player ships can shield some systems, but enemy ships within 500–1000 meters would suffer random system failures (like engines, weapons, or scanners). That way, they may be unable to detect or identify you, possibly causing them to attack allies or fail to call for help.
— Throwing:
You could go outside your ship and throw the EMP device up to 300 meters. Since it's heavy, it would take up two inventory slots, but gives you time to distance yourself from the blast zone.
— Launching:
Alternatively, you could use a special module to launch EMPs or bombs much further. These modules wouldn’t take a main slot but would be mountable on the ship and allow around 3 uses before breaking. EMPs would remain rare.
— Bombs/Mines:
You could find bombs or magnetic mines on large enemy ships (like destroyers with loot) or missiles that can be launched with a railgun-like module. You’d need the crafting recipe for them. Missiles might lock on or be guided via scanners in first or third person. Bombs could detonate when within 100–170 meters of an enemy, causing heavy or total damage.
— Lore:
EMPs fit well into the lore—machines are infected by a virus and seen as evil. Survivors may have made weak, improvised EMPs as a defense. Strong EMP blueprints would have been hidden or destroyed. You’d find them in outpost of them
weary delta