Rogue tech collectors shouldnt be in the rogue science legion imo. they look like they have a ship made by the shadin faction, and they dont reward research points, only scraps of complex tech.

i propose we make a new faction based around the harvesting and recycling of resources. im not sure about ALL the NPCs that can be in the faction, but i have an idea for some of em

****Containment Sphere
Junk Collectors

Spheres released long ago to collect the waste dispelled by interplanetary traffic. Recyclable resources are compressed into electronic data, and nonrecyclable resources are incinerated. Space ports have been known to contact these Spheres in times of reconstruction or expansion, and these spheres will dock and provide the stations with all the resources they need.

5 person Elite, Extremely Rare (octafari leviathan rare)

Drops:
*Containment Cages x 10
*Containment Core: An artifact that increases the resource production capacity permanently by 100. (This would affect all resources, and it would not be a planet building, but rather function as a one time use artifact, like the parts vault.)
*Electronic Compression Grid: Module, Size 15, Reduces the amount of decks used by modules by 2%. Up to 5 can be installed, and bonuses would not be multiplied, but rather added for a maximum 10% reduction in deck space. (This module would go under the devices category, because the 'devices' category implies that it is the miscellaneous module category.) This bonus would stack with the Sillix racial ability.

****Supernova Diffuser
Junk Collectors

These drones monitor spikes in radiation from stars across the galaxy. When a star shows signs of going supernova in a populated area, these drones are assigned to diffuse the star after the area has been properly evacuated.

Elite Boss, 15 People

Drops:
*Energy Battery: Module, Size 25, Allows storage of up to 10% of your total energy, Up to 3 can be equipped.
*Hydrogen Syphon: Weapon Module, Reverse engineered device used to syphon hydrogen out of stars going supernova; now used to inject concentrated hydrogen chemical mixture into energy streams. (Double damage vs. hull)
*Enhanced Reactor Core Rods: Artifact, Adds 20 energy to your ship when used. Functions much like the parts vault.

There needs to be an uncommon and a rare from this faction, but i cant think of anything that would satisfy the requirements for it. anyway, the 'Junk Collectors' was just my placeholder name for this faction, im sure if dan decides to implement em he can think of a cool sci fi name for em... and of course the Rogue Tech Collector would belong to this faction as the common NPC...

Salvager Drone Rank 350-1050 Rare NPC

Salvage Drones collect the remenants of old planets processing them and recycling them into minerals.
Boss 3 People
Drops:
*Cargo Expander: Expands cargo by 20
*Mineral Salvage: Random bundle of minerals. 100 Pawlcite(35%), 40 Dysilion(20%), 20 Kurinite(10%), 70 Dieterion(25%), 10 Aidonuim(10%)

Perhaps instead of a set amount of minerals it can drop between 500-5000 mineral points? and for the cargo expander, it seems like a rather low reward for an NPC from a faction of such high level ships. perhapse it can expand the cargo by 50-100? most players are already overloaded with cargo by then anyway.

Its free to edit, I was thinking just like 500 Minerals or something along those lines. Yea was thinking for Cargo a little higher but i didnt wanna go past MSP's but hey its a work in progress

Debris Collector
Uncommon/Rare
These ships collect debris from destroyed ships, as such, they often rare modules.
Low Hull,
High Shield,
High attack,
Moderate defense,

Drops:
Hydraulic Shield Emitter (Size 8, 30 shield)
Ion Core (Size 5, +20 energy, limit of 4)
Quantum Defense Laser (Size 10, Attack 25, Defense 30)

Damaged Salvage Hauler
Uncommon/Matched
A cruiser built to haul around discarded technology from around the galaxy.

Drops: A random artifact accessible from the artifact draw

Salvage Drone
Common
Sent to scour planets for abandoned colonies for salvageable pieces of technology
Drops: Drone Pods - Module size 8 increases scan by 65

Massive Cargo Transport
These ships are so massive that entire moons are dwarfed by their size.
Rare/Elite - 20 person
Drops - Cargo Vault - Gives 800 Cargo space 75% drop

Underground Storage Bunkers - increases production storage capacity by 500 each, increases defense of a planet by 300, all of this would be a passive bonus. 5% drop

Junk Pile - a random amount of artifact points not exceeding 3 hours production 20% drop

lol i like the idea of the massive cargo transport, but the description and difficulty level makes me think it would drop closer to 1000 cargo, instead of 100... consider this, a graxis is a 15 person drop. that is a rank 160 npc. if this fit with a higher level faction (like rank 350 like joshball suggested) then it would be approximately 36000 damage to lock in. 36000x20 would be 720000 health for this npc. if all it dropped was 100 cargo, i doubt many players would actively pursue it... the planetary bonus is good, but i think it might need another drop that would make it worth our while... not sure what tho.

I'll change it a bit then.

This is FANTASTIC, +1!!

Scrap Refinement Center
Rank 400 Boss
Refinement Centers like these are hard to find, and even harder to raid. They contain refined old-tech.

Drops: Plasma Pistol (+10 Attack. Increases raid chance by 10%, limit of 2 per ship.)
9V Battery (1 Space, 9 energy. Limit of 8 per ship)
Jet Thruster (5 Space, 60 Defense, -20 Energy. Limit of 4 per ship)

Some interesting ideas in here so far, but let me point out a couple things....

• If this is to be a higher rank Faction (which is needed BTW), none of them should be dropping anything that gives more cargo space. High ranks just don't need it.
• Octafari Leviathan rare?? I'd be maxed out inside one week even at a 90/10 rate getting the containment cages.
• The only Uncommon/Rare NPCs that drop ship modules or planet structures are mission spawned. Uncommon/Rares drop planet boosts (purifiers, optimizers, TF/QSE, etc) or ship buffs (crim amps, implants, etc.) or specialized items/one-time weapons (flux, bio-vapes, krio torp, etc.)

A Common dropping a ship mod?? Can we say tech part cash cow? I could see a temporary scan booster, but we've already got 4 of those.

Scrap Service Station
The Junk league bring their ships here to repair. Stations like this are easy to find.
Common
30xp.
No drops. (Since when did most commons give drops? Aside from crimson amps.)

i figured the rogue tech collector could be their common. since its matched it dosnt really need any other commons. thats at least how most other factions function...

Dark Smugglers Guild Commons:
Dark Runner (matched)
Dark Velocitor (etc. etc.)

Sha'din Commons:
Sha'din Charger
Shadin Corsair

Crimson Blades:
Razor Scout etc.
Blade Scout etc.
Hawk/Flamehawk.

To name but a few.

Aside from mission related commons, they don't. Crimson Hawks/Flamehawks have a high chance of dropping Obelisks and an occasional chance at an Amp (at least for Flamers).

but you dont see more than one of those at a time... except for warpers/runners and ambushers/corsairs. but thats only temporary. when you get to a certain level all thats left are the matched enemies and flamehawks.

in my defense I wrote that in the middle of the night after staying up after work, not saying it was the best idea. and obviously it can be changed.