Mralexs's great big pods rework idea thread thing

[RelentlessGarbage]

So pods are kind of lackluster in their current iteration. I am not saying they aren't powerful, but the options we have to improve and tinker with them are fairly limited. I propose a pod rework. Here are some of the features I would love to see:

• Weapon power: Weapons should draw from a reservoir of energy that is charged by the engine. Each weapon would have different power draws, and having low weapons power would prevent you from firing.
  
• Shields: also charged by the engine, most pods would have basic shielding systems that would recharge slowly and basically protect the ship from impacts. 
  
• Afterburners: A limited speed boost that would run off another energy reservoir like weapons. Recharge rate would scale with how much energy is set to the propulsion system, which leads me too…
  
• Energy manipulation: basically the ability to shunt engine power around. Want more weapons energy? Take energy from the shields and propulsion system. 
  
• Subsystem damage: in the current iteration, it seems like the only system on the pod that takes damage is the engine, which is totally destroyed. I propose that subsystems, like the comms and weapons could be damaged. This doesn't mean destroyed, but for example if the weapons system is destroyed, the ship is unable to fire their weapons until the system is repaired. Systems would start having degraded performance when damaged and could auto repair slowly to full if the damage is above 50-60%.
  
• New weapons: the weapons we have are very basic and are just a scale. I propose more guns, each with different use cases. Have an enemy with a thick hull but anemic shields? Take a gun that does more hull than shield damage. Want to capture someone in a pod alive? Take a disruptor and damage their subsystems with little to no hull damage. I'd also love secondary weapons like missiles and rockets. Mining could have concussion rockets to blast away rock, Security could have heatseeking EMP missiles, the syndicate could give their operatives radar guided swarm missiles for taking down any possible threats.
  
• New hull types. So right now we have big pods and small putts. Now I don't want to just diversify them into different fighter classes, but also utility ones. Stuff like cargo tugs and exploration vessels would be great to have. 
  
• Comms: Right now all comms are used for opening portals. I propose that comms should be used to communicate to the station when you're on another z level. Your radio headset shouldn't be able to reach the station when you're in deep space!
  
• Sensors: I know this would be difficult to add, but radar for detecting things instead of sensor pings would be nice. The mining radar could be better at detecting rocks but has trouble making out enemy drones/pods for example of how radar could be differentiated. 
  

These are just a few ideas I had, feel free to add or give me much better ideas!

I'm guessing this thread is in development, then?

Personally, pods seem like they're in an alright place. I'd be curious to see what changes you'd propose, though.