seems like a nice idea. long range weapons for Gallente :)
1+ support from me

I've always advocated for a drone repair module that could heal them while docked. So this is interesting to me.

Nice idea, I like it. Especially hangar-repair and warp.

I thought about a similar suggestion before. Think about some additions:

- No new drones (current ones should be reworked for it since only usable drones are Sentry and Light Hobgoblins/Warriors).
- High-slot drone hanger should take drones from your drone bay just like turrets take ammo from cargo. Therefore you have to chose which drones will you use beforehand.
- High-slot drone module should launch your drone to a target like a "living" cannonball. Thus we would get a small/medium/large drone hangers just like a turrets and T1/T2 versions with different launch speed/distance/reload etc. Those drome hangars should be able to hold up to 2 drones of corresponding size to make fitting easier for drone-oriented ships.
- Special module might be introduced to control drones better, something like high-slot Target Painter. It will give your drones greatly increased damage on painted target (making to a level of Turrets + normal drones) and allow drones to travel faster between targets (navigation to beacon is easier).
- Something like tractor beam for sentries.

while sitting on the toilet

Though an interesting proposal, it strays way too far from the original idea into something new entirely. It's also quite extreme.

Let's just keep it simple, effective and efficient.

So all the downsides plus talking up a slot and being a little tougher?

Sounds like a bad idea

An interesting idea, but



far too much information

^This

Drone turrets need to fetch new drone from cargo like normal ammo upon drone destruction, instead of drone bay, and not taking up existing bandwidth or # limit. Otherwise nobody will use a slot for it. You need to realize this is not free, you're sacrificing a gun for it.

How about this:

Each of your replaced gun slots boosts it's drone to levels comparable to the DPS of the gun / launcher it would replace.
Forget the ammo use aspect, the drones ARE the ammo. Being able to lose one effectively balances this relative cost.
(Structural damage not repairable by the module)

This is effectively a new damage type, beyond whatever the drone uses itself. Your drones only fight at close range, meaning they need to chase down targets to get in weapons range. Changing targets is something causing downtime in your DPS as well, since the drones need to travel to it.

Advantages:
Your drones distract targets at times, taking the damage that would otherwise have gone to you.
Your drones can be swapped out like an ammo type, so you could use small medium or large. Sentry would be left out of this. They are already well defined.
Drones can be ordered for repairs, and be replaced by another on standby. Each module can only work towards repairing a single drone at a time. (Structural damage not repairable by the module, need to dock for this due to delicate work)

Disadvantages:
Your drones distract targets at times, taking the damage that would otherwise have gone to you. You could very well find yourself disarmed by a smart bombing target.
Needing to change targets for whatever reason is difficult. The drones need to chase them down every time.
Cumulative structural damage is more probable, and requires a repair-shop at an outpost.

Being a drone controlling ship makes you still a priority target, and like any other strategy has counters to it.

Drone size according to gun size. Small gun for light, Large gun for heavy and sentry, sentry attaches to turret and shoots from ship like regular gun.

Each gun loads 5 or so drones, only 1 deployed, with immediate deployment upon destruction of the 1 drone in space, 10 sec reload for drone type swap. Spare drones in cargo.

So all the downsides plus talking up a slot and being a little tougher?

Sounds like a bad idea