What real use are escape pods?

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

GM uses for escape pods:

1/ Use up PC money

2/ Reduce PC income by using up tonnage in non income generating ways.

3/ Provide a way for PCs to survive the destruction of their ship in combat without being obvious.

4/ Escape route for prisoners whether it be the PCs, NPCs that they need to encounter or NPCs escaping.

5/ A less obtrusive means of getting someone planet side without taking them in on the ship.

6/ Independent life support for a time if the ship has "issues" with that takes it offline.

 

[AndrewW]

There is one situation where an escape craft might be useful, which is where hostile forces are intent on capture but would not be able to chase escaping objects. There's always the risk that they may shoot them, but if that's the reason you have them you'd probably build in countermeasures to spoof lots of fake signatures as part of the ejection process. THOSE kind of escape pods (and their dummies) would probably want maneuver capacity to get to other ships in the squadron. Ships designed to operate solo wouldn't benefit much from these.

Just use droids, they may not shoot them if there are no life signs.