Originally Posted by Botanybay:Could the word we're looking for here be "espionage?"
What's wrong if Goerdi LaForge would realize the Romulans to use a far superior way of adjusting their shields and to copy that technique? Nothing. And it is far easier to study a wrecked enemy ship, then an intact one.
The nice thing about the idea, to make information and data the loot is, that it feels more like studying your enemy, then looting. When adding the teamplay aspect, this kind of loot would make no sense for the singleplayer. The social aspect would make it feel even more starfleet. So, it serves the same purpose as looting in any other usual MMO, but it doesn't show the nasty side effects (egoism, heavy grinding), and it's absolutely canon.
The nice thing about thinking of "information looting" in this way is that you don't have to have wrecked the target first. It might help, but it's not required.
It also allows you to target friends... but they might not be friends any longer if they catch you in the act. :)
