I suggested something in reference to this idea before it was fully fleshed out in Features and Ideas to "test the waters" and get ideas/support for the idea before making the proposal here.
The original posting can be found here:
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=296673#post296673It met much support, so I figured to post it here with the full listing of ideas that were proposed.
Now for the proposal itself:
Too long have people been complaining in reference to the inability to haul fitted/rigged vessels, to which the response was always "get an Orca." The inherent problem here, was that the Orca was severely limited in size of vessels which would be transported, as it was only designed to carry a couple of mining barges.
What I propose is a ship capable of hauling three fitted/rigged Tier 3 Battleships (but no capital ships). The vessels would be Tier 2 Freighters, broken down by race. And rather than a Ship Hangar Array, they would have a Ship Transport Bay (which would only allow for transport, but not launching or switching of ships in space). They would have no high slots, but would have a small amount of low and medium slots to allow them to fit a modest tank and ECM/Sensor Damps, etc, so that they would not be sitting ducks due to the cargo types they'd be hauling, and they'd be highly specialized for their job.
The Amarr would have the Pillar-class Support Tug:
Manufactured by Imperial Shipment
Support Tug Skill Bonus:
Would receive a 5% bonus to Armor Resistances per level and 10% bonus to Ship Transport Bay per level
The Caldari would have the Pelican-class Support Tug:
Manufactured by Lai Dai
Support Tug Skill Bonus:
Would receive a 5% bonus to Shield Capacity per level and 10% bonus to Ship Transport Bay per level
The Minmatar would have the Bedouin-class Support Tug:
Manufactured by Freedom Extension
Support Tug Skill Bonus:
Would receive a 5% bonus to Agility per level and a 10% bonus to Ship Transport Bay per level
The Gallente would have the Monolith-class Support Tug:
Manufactured by Transtellar Shipping
Support Tug Skill Bonus:
Would receive a 5% bonus to Armor Hitpoints and a 10% bonus to Ship Transport Bay per level
Freighter Skill Bonus:
+0.6 Warp Strength per level
Necessary Skills:
Racial Freighter II
- Advanced Spaceship Command I
-- Spaceship Command V
Racial Industrial V
- Spaceship Command III
-- Racial Frigate III
-- Spaceship Command I
These ships would allow for the transport of a maximum of three fitted/rigged Tier 3 Battleships or a plethora of smaller ships for long distance hauling (would be useful for those pilots who move frequently, neutral contractors who could haul ships for war stricken parties, and it would give a new level of immersion for dedicated industrialists or "space truckers.") These ships would fill a necessary logistical gap in overall operations for the ever-changing sandbox that is the EVE Online universe.