Big Post Warning – Skip this post at own risk, but know that I have put a lot of effort into it!
Alright Thaago, I think I can offer the support, explanation, and background this idea needs to at least get noticed by the devs (if not seriously considered). Without further ado, let me tell you what I came up with for the Warp Buoys.
First ThoughtsI somewhat like the idea of "Warp Point" buoys, but I don't know if it would be too unbalanced, and become the center of every battle involving one. But, I have some ideas to avert this, as well as how this could be part of the lore.
Gameplay and BalanceInstead of being a full deploy point, what if they only allowed you to deploy up to 15 fleet points worth of ships. It could be kind of overpowered if you could deploy a pair of fighter wings, nab the point, and use your remaining fleet points to drop capital ships and cruisers onto the center of the field. But, to not limit the player
too much, each point adds 15 points to the "warp point" pool, which is the total that can be spent over all "Warp Buoys".
Example: If you captured two points, you now have up to 30 fleet points of ships you can deploy, which can be spent at either point. You could, for example, deploy a Hound (3 points) and a Condor (9 points) at one buoy, and an Odyssey (18 points) at the other point.
Technical FeasibilityThe in-game reasoning for the limit is simple: The warp network can only handle so many ships in the timeframe of one battle. Adding a second nearby warp point to the network allows it to share the energy load (or whatever awesome physics shenanigans Alex thinks up) on the first warp point.
LoreFirst, I must note: The usage for these buoys was originally for long-distance teleportation of ships, not local teleportation. More on that later.
It is not at all far-fetched to think they would not be designed to allow hundreds of ships through. Warping ships would require a significant energy collection setup, and would most likely be owned by private companies offering fast transport to groups that need a VIP or important cargo delivered somewhere safely, no questions asked (and for whom money would not be an object). Having two buoys allows for one to stay in operation all the time, even if the other is under maintenance. This would make the company known for being reliable, increasing business and making it even more profitable.
We would most likely see a higher concentration of warp buoys near stars, where solar collection would be most efficient, allowing for cheaper construction. Also, we would see some near independent orbital stations, for people needing a fast escape from the local interstellar police. Buoys far from stars were more expensive for all parties, as either large solar rigs had to be constructed, or they had to be supplied with high amounts of fuel.
Now, this whole system worked fine, until war collapsed control of the warp network. Now disconnected, warp points function the same as before, but rely on the short range of individual ships' computers for teleportation. Built to last, and function autonomously, the buoys have slowly drifted out of their orbits, landing them all across star systems. Some have been cannibalized, for their solar rigs or their quality parts, or even converted to bases of operation. A common use is for mining crews to build onto the buoy, and use it to warp back entire mining teams at once. With this capability, the main fleet can be on the move constantly, never having to wait by sites to provide protection to the mining drones.
While independent groups may have a use for the buoys is they can fund the conversion of the buoys, larger parties like the hegemony have surprisingly little use for them. Massive factory systems were required to produce the gargantuan Warp Buoys, so the limited production lines available to even the largest factions are better suited to pumping out crucial ships. Rebuilding the extensive network of warp buoys is simply not an option. As well, their efficient and unique construction reduces the number of salvageable parts that can find uses elsewhere. Even if one were to be left intact, it is very fuel-burning to drag such a behemoth around. Simply put, their demand is at an all-time low.
Since demand is so low, more than the occasional buoy can be found floating through space, relatively ignored by most factions. They are still of strategic value in a large battle, as their control would allow commanders to move powerful ships into the heart of the battle, leaving the enemy commander struggling to race his slow cruisers into a fight that is suddenly going against him.
Were a faction to have prior control of such a buoy, it would be of limited use in a battle, as the buoy would first have to me moved into the heart of the fight under constant fire. But, were an engagement to occur near a buoy, risk-taking commanders could position the battle so that control of the buoy would yield a great advantage, if they were able to link to it first...
