I spawned an idea where players could "form" up with a player ship giving the impression of docking with it.
This was for carrier class large vessels and would/could work only while in a system. But would fail to work properly when trying to travel through a jump hole or jump gate since they seem to have a limit on the number of ships that can pass through the portal simultaneously.
However, this would not allow for a ship-base concept where it has a bar, equipment room, etc. , etc.
The game engine simply does not support this, which is unforturnate.

Partial Solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgogj5dUqkI

I think Dev is working on this too, fixing some flaws of my initial approach and so on..

Heheh...

Its been raised many a time before.

Mulling this over together for a while...

When you change systems the server would have to change the files of all players docked on you - it would have to search every players file to see who was docked on you every time you changed systems. The current Freelancer engine can't do that.

If it were possible even (but I can't see how anyone can write a proggie to interface with FL so that the server would be able to manage the player files), when you disconnect, your docked pals probably won't be able to get to their ships.

And when you are docked, you can't see each other - unless you populate the rooms with effigies with your own names, and you need to do that with the infocards. But then they would still be there in image even if they aren't docked.

What kind of conversation could you have with such characters?

Hmm, guess it would be boring after the first couple of visits.

Teamspeak would be a great help perhaps.

And if you are killed, would they all lose their ships?

Where would you be respawned I wonder?

I don't want to dampen your excitement, my friend, but why would you want to do this, apart from just to see if it can be done?

How about this idea instead - Take a base battleship of your liking, the same as the one you want to fly, and put it in every system you want as a base. Then you can all dock at it and pretend you're on your own ship. That's what you would have if the dockable player ship worked at all. And you can have a character called "Captain (your name)". Maybe a different pal could be the captain of each, so you can visit each other's bases?

You could put them in fog fields to make finding them more fun.

And you can use Teamspeak for added realism.

Good idea?

But there is still a Problem - you will have to do your own modding and put in the right infocards, bar staff, equipment dealer etc... without copying the ones from Manhattan. - my pet hate - Bob Swaffar is almost everywhere in some mods! Grrrr!!!

All the best.

Roleplay: - the art of self-deceipt!