[RFE] Concept for implementation of Drone Remote systems into MegaMek

[Grave-Accent]

Enhancement Type *

Implementation of Missing Official Rule

Brief Description of Enhancement *

I am making this new feature request because the other one for the drone remote systems was labled outdated.

Drone Remote Operating System and Drone Remote Carrier Control System are both implemented in MegaMekLab, but are non-functional in MegaMek, I have an idea for how the implementation could work.

In the lobby menu, units with Drone Remote Operating Systems (DROS) would need to be connected to units with Drone Remote Carrier Control System (DRCCS) in a similar manner to connecting C3 units, a DRCCS unit would be able to connect with as many units as its DRCCS allows (A DRCCS weighs .5 tons more for every unit it can control), units with DROS would still have Pilots assigned to them, but the Pilots would be inside the DRCCS unit (Rules state that the DRCCS itself incorporates space for the drone's operators.)

The unit with the DRCCS would be able to be deployed off-map, as ground-based DRCCS is stated to have a range of 160 map sheets, and aerospace-based DRCCS has a range of ~6 million map sheets.

In-Game, DROS units would draw a line between themselves and their assigned control unit, if either unit enters ECM, or the line crosses a hex within enemy ECM, the DROS unit is unable to be controlled, and cannot move or attack, essentially being shutdown until the ECM is dealt with.

On the ground map, if the DRCCS is a ground unit and deployed off-map, then the DROS unit draws its line to the nearest hex on the border of the map sheet in the direction its controller is deployed in. If the DRCCS is an Aerospace unit deployed off-map, then the DROS unit does not draw any lines, and the connection can only suffer interference if the DROS unit itself enters ECM.

Attach Files

Mockup of Lobby connections, nearly identical to C3 connections.

Mockup of connection types in-game.

The effects of ECM on connections.

MegaMek Suite Version *

0.50.03

Final Verification

• I confirm this request hasn't already been submitted (checked the tracker)
• I've discussed or asked about this enhancement on MegaMek Discord
• I’m opening this on the correct repo (MegaMek, MegaMekLab, or MekHQ)