Let docks on ships slowly repair subordinate ships, please!

[Frienby]

First, I want to state that I love the game and unique identity of support ships. I do not want carriers and AUX ships to lose their place. However, there is a problem I have discovered in the late game that begs addressing.

Problem: If we want to utilize S and M docks on ships, then we assign subordinates to them. They disappear into a command group. If they are assigned to a commander, say a Destroyer assigned to defend a station, that command group gets buried twice. Three times for an S ship assigned to an M ship on an L ship. It becomes a nesting doll nightmare to locate these subordinates. There may go days without engagements, however, the slow repair speed of S and M crews combined with tiny bits of damage over time may end up having them die completely preventable deaths simply because they are invisible to the player under layers of menus.

Two possible solutions come to mind:

We know the AI for subordinates knowing when it is time to dock and repair already exists, so both solutions take advantage of that without another layer of micro.

1. To make crew on larger ships more rewarding, simply use the average crew skill of the ship with the dock to repair the docked ship. Make it slow enough that it doesn't replace the need for AUX and Carriers in active battles, but fast enough that between long engagements, they can repair.

2. Let repair drones on larger ships repair subordinates. This utilizes a destroy-able consumable and doesn't require any additional crew calculations. May give drone carrying frigates a new support role that did not exist prior.

[Frienby]

A third idea also comes to mind, utilizing the new "Replace Lost Ships" mechanic. Maybe a global order that after so much time without engagements, ships naturally go to the nearest player owned carrier/ aux/ equipment dock for repairs.

[Doom]

How about...

* Docked ship uses maximum between its own repair skill and L ship repair skill. That would play into your idea of "passing engineer giving advice". Meaning if L ship has skilled crew, faster repair. Otherwise normal repair.
* Docking on L ship triggers internal repair. Normally the ship waits for a threshold which is at minimum is 60 percent and is affected by combined skill of the crew. And only begins repairs after it is reached. Docking would start repair immediately regardless of threshold. This might be already implemented as ships seem to self-repair when they're on stations.
* (Optional) Docked ship only receives any sort of repair boost if there are free repair drones available. The ship is repaired by the drones which could be animated. The ship has to be from the same faction.

[FuryoftheStars]

Originally posted by Frienby:

1. To make crew on larger ships more rewarding, simply use the average crew skill of the ship with the dock to repair the docked ship. Make it slow enough that it doesn't replace the need for AUX and Carriers in active battles, but fast enough that between long engagements, they can repair.

This would be my vote.

[Frienby]

I like Doom's ideas too. I am mostly wanting to see making use of docks a more self-sustaining and rewarding thing. If I go through the time to invest resources and experiment with different subordinates to different ships, then I want to know they'll at least do some self-management while I engage in other parts of the game.