Sybbiana Dawning
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Posted - 2006.11.26 03:49:00 -
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Here are my feelings on the drone issue(s). I am relatively new to the game, so this isn't the voice of experience as much as application of reasoning and logic.
The interesting aspect about drones, and what seems to be sparking this debate, is that a drone fills the role of a weapon (much as a laser does) and the role of spacecraft. To make arguments based solely on the assertion that a drone is comparable to a frigate is valid, but incomplete, as it leaves out the weapon system aspect; arguments based on drones being floating guns tend to overlook the flight aspect. To add to this, drones are automated and thus act similar to NPCs. Based on these observations, I think that both the advantages and disadvantages attributed to weapons, spacecraft and automated items should apply to drones as well.
Specifically, we know that pilots with the necessary skills and items can essentially hack various systems in an opponent's craft, for instance target jamming, warp scrambling, etc... In keeping with the paradigm established within EVE, it would make sense to state that a pilot can attain the necessary skill(s) and obtain the necessary item(s) to disrupt another pilot's drone control system, possibly with effects as dramatic as over-riding drone control, if the skill set was strong enough. Understand, the pilot attempting to hack the drone pilot's system would have to be substantially stronger in linking and drone control skills than the pilot controlling the drones for this to happen. This would represent the most extreme capability on a spectrum of drone interruption skills, with the lowest level simply being a modest reduction in the drone pilot's maximum drone-control range. Other effects could include reducing drone combat capability; rendering drones inert, but still in the possession of the drone pilot; and causing drones to malfunction completely, exhibiting randomized behavior. Whether these specific suggestions are valid or not, I do feel that the end result is that it should be possible for a person to become an anti-drone skill specialist.
Also note, I am not at all addressing the subject of a frigate's worthiness against drones or against a battleship carrying drones. Only that a pilot should be able to train skills and learn to implement items that allow them to be anti-drone specialists. As with any skill or specialty, a larger craft tends to allow for more options in a pilot's specialization or skill of choice; thus it would be for anti-drone pilots as well.
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