Watch this video. [1:30] This was my inspiration for this piece of equipment.

Dropships have a problem... ok severalGǪ ok a lot, but for now, we're going to look at one of them: tactical effectiveness, specifically extractions.

Currently, to perform an extraction under fire, a teammate must call for a dropship, explain to the pilot where they are, and stay alive long enough for the dropship get there. All the while, the dropship must find them on the ground, dive in carefully, land gently without squishing anyone, all while dodging buildings and AV. It's a delicate and tedious operation and isn't practiced much on the battlefield.

But what if we could streamline it? That's what I'm hoping this module will do. In the video of the real life version, a soldier is tethered to a line on a balloon and an aircraft comes and snatches the line, pulling in the soldier in. It's fast, it's simple, it's effective, and I think CCP can make it futuristic and effective.

Here's what I want it to do: the device uses an equipment slot and is thrown down in an open area with a clear view of the sky (I assume it can be coded to malfunction if not in an accessible space). When it is thrown down, it lights a beacon straight into they sky for the pilot to see. On the ground, the device uses a repair-tool-like tether (for show) when mercs are within its range, allowing them free range of motion to shoot, etc, and to leave the effective range and be immediately re-locked when back in range. Up in the air, when a dropship flies through the beacon, the device locks onto the ships and pulls all the mercs away with it into the dropship's passenger seats (max of six, if there are fewer seats, or flying an ADS, only those the device attached first will be pulled).

There are numerous benefits to this:

-The auto-teathering allows merc to drop it away from battle, allowing them to time extractions while engaging hostiles
-The locks are non-restricting, allowing mercs to defend themselves until extraction
-The beam is easy to see for dropship pilots to see and fly through, meaning little communication is needed between ground forces and pilots
-The maneuver can be executed at high speeds, meaning low danger for the dropships against AV and allowing quick relocation to the desired objective

Possibilities for variations:
-Number of players picked up could be tiered (2 for STD, 4 for ADV, 6 for PRO)
-Range radius of lock could be tiered (4m STD, 6m ADV, 8m PRO)
-Triage varient (ADV/PRO, 2 locks, heals 10-20/15-25 armour/ sec, very low heal rate to avoid abuse)

That's all I've got. I'd like to read what you guys think. Also, any other quirky, niche equipment people musing about? I'd like to hear them.

Thanks for reading, and Fly Safe. o7

I like it all but for when it comes to dropping off infantry a dropship should be able to deploy ropes for mercs to slide down for easy drop offs so a ship doesn't have to land. It should be the control for opening bay doors.

Nah man, there's nothing like hot dropping a squad at full speed. I once hole-in-one-ed a squad mate into the new large socket Alpha-objective silo at a moderate speed and altitude.

What's the point of having 'drop'suits if you can't rain down six bloodthirsty merc on you enemies?

Currently, to perform an extraction under fire, a teammate must call for a dropship, explain to the pilot where they are, and stay alive long enough for the dropship get there. All the while, the dropship must find them on the ground, dive in carefully, land gently without squishing anyone,

Man you have to learn to do the sling shot. To do it you have to pull hard back, while giving a count down for the jump. With that you can pretty much shoot your troops at objectives, while they use their dampeners. You haven't lived until you have done it!

I really like this idea, +1 from me!

I don't think there should be a long on time but maybe a reel time (time from pick up to entering dropship).

Perhaps another idea is for the module to create a temporary shield to protect the squad during hook up, otherwise as soon as people notice it they will start spamming grenades or other AoE attacks. The shield would last maybe 5 seconds and to offset this you only get 1 use and can only be restored at a supply depot.

False. You do NOT have to actually land. You just need to be close enough, and moving slowly enough, for the teammate to get a 'Press O to enter' prompt.

Nice idea though

Message from Godin: I saw this in the campaign for BF4. It's when you meet the annoying ass woman. Love the idea. Maybe a fast roping option as well?

What is with you guys and your primitive ways? You make the Minmatar look modern.

Watch this and then tell me "ropes" are a cool idea.

Watch this video. [1:30] This was my inspiration for this piece of equipment.

Yea, that's what I had in mind. Like it just shoots you out of the DS at a higher speed, but the pilot has to turn on the module for it to work.

Legitimate questions.
-Is there a reel in time or is the extraction process instantaneous like a reverse drop-uplink?
-How does the skyhook system account for dropship pilots 'accidently' whipping tethered mercs into building or tall obstructions?
-Does a collision affect mercs?

How about this: when you open your module wheel (R2), at the very bottom (6-o-****), there's an eject option. When selected, it gives a countdown to the passengers (from 3sec) and ejects them out the sides, keeping forward momentum and out of the way of the dropship (like the video). Within those 3 sec., the "module" can be deselected by the pilot.

People might complain that it will be abused by dropping blue dots in the redline. Well it's their fault for being in my dropship in the first place, I'm not forcing them to stay in my ship. It's just like if a LAV player drives into the redline and bails. Maybe they'll get the hint and not try shooting the MCC with my side turrets or stealing my dropships when I land to place links.

Yes!!! That would make a dropship even more like a dropship and if you can't speak to the people in the ship it would help let them know to get out.