A Possible Look at Rubicon 1.1 Deployables
As CCP Fozzie posted in the Features and Ideas Discussion, the devs on Team Five-O have already picked out what mobile structures are to be included in Rubicon 1.1. Though Fozzie didn't say anything further, it appears Michael Harari of Hydra Reloaded may have some insights, as posted above. This image is from the Singularity test server, according to Michael. Some of these structures' names seem pretty straightforward, but I'm curious as to what a "Mobile Power Core" could be. So without further ado, let's go through the list!
Logistics Array
The general purpose is rather clear here by the name "Logistics," but I'm surprised we see this as one item and not split into Shield and Armor like most remote-repping-related modules/rigs/etc are. Perhaps this structure is for a purpose other than repair, then. Perhaps it functions as a deployable cross between the Mobile Depot and the redesigned Hoarder—a floating ammo bay that can be accessed by fleet mates. It could even be used in conjunction with the Hoarder if the stats are similar to the Depot. Picture a speed-built Hoarder running around with 10 of these things (500m3 capacity of the Hoarder ÷ 50m3 per Depot) deploying them and stocking them from its ammo bay. It would certainly be a bit easier than jettisoning canisters in big fleet fights. I'm out on a limb here, but if that seems cool to you, you can post that in the forum thread linked above!
Mobile Sentry Guns
It'll be interesting to see how CCP balances these things out between Sentry Drones and POS Guns if they come to Tranquility. Expect stats to be in between those two categories and most definitely a grid limit.
Mobile Laboratory
This could be a great tool for start-up researchers who need to avoid the often-crowded NPC station labs but don't have access to a POS or outpost laboratory or the capital to build one themselves.
Mobile Power Core
This one is the great mystery to me. The only thing I feel I can safely assume is that this will likely interact with other mobile structures. Perhaps the Mobile Guns will rely on the Power Core to fire (this could take the place of a hard cap on guns per grid, and make it more of a soft cap if CCP releases different Meta Levels of both the Power Core and the Guns that generate more power/consume less power, respectively.
Mobile Reactor
Now we return to the obviously-named structures! This will in all likelihood be a small-scale mirror of POS reactors. I'm imagining using a Siphon to steal another corp's moon goo and running off to a safespot to process it in my Mobile Reactor. Could make using the Siphon more profitable when used on Moon Mining Arrays pulling up less-valuable materials.
Mobile Shield Generator
This would appear to most likely be a portable POS forcefield. Nothing much to add, really, other than that I hope it has a high volume and/or price, because I'd hate to see it abused by tiny frigates to push out aggressors and allow themselves to warp away.
Overall Thoughts
If this is the direction CCP is headed, it's clear to me that this is how they're planning on phasing out the current POS system and replacing it with the promised modular system. "How?" you ask? These structures are all free-standing just like current POS structures. Yes, but as CCP has stated repeatedly in the past, the current POS system (coding especially) is a can of worms, and overhauling the entire system was going to have to be gradual.
With these mobile structures having a completely separate codebase from the POS system, CCP can write new and better code that can give them wiggle room in future expansions to make a modular POS system. As the new structures on this list indicate, CCP is hacking apart POS modules bit by bit. I think we're going to see somewhere down the line at least some, hopefully not all, of these mobile structures replaced by similar ones that can be assembled together to form a POS. Perhaps CCP will even go with a "Power Rangers"-style mechanic that allows the current and future Mobile Structures to combine into a POS (although this would reduce the cost of POS assembly and thus a) make them too ubiquitous and b) get rid of a significant ISK sink).
Wherever CCP is intending to go with these Mobile Structures, I'm sure it'll be pretty cool!
