pilot tool: strafe left/right OR low drag

[UmmonTL]

My initial idea was to have a ship that can strafe, basically turn it's engine and fly sideways. But then I realized it would need extra controls to fly which I guess won't happen.
So now I think the best idea would be a set of strafing tools that change the direction the ship accelerates towards. It should be more effective at lower speeds, allowing for slow flight at a 45-60° angle from the main axis and full speed at 10-15°. Maybe the angle would depend on the size and shape of the ship, is there a latitudinal drag component? Since it would be used over longer stretches of time for downsides I'm thinking slight damage to engines over time and reduced engine output.
Of course taking both strafe tools at once as a pilot is quite a lot of commitment but taking only one could still be a huge boon especially on ships with a strong side like the pyramidion. Smaller and faster ships would greatly benefit on maps with a lot of narrow paths between obstacles.

The other idea to achieve sideways motion was a tool that reduces all drag significantly, allowing you to keep drifting in the direction you are going while turning. If I understand the drag mechanics correctly this would also allow for greater speeds in all directions as well as faster rotation but not necessarily faster acceleration. It would have to be balanced carefully, so that the top speeds don't get too ridiculous. It should probably damage balloons and armor but I'm not sure how much exactly.
Compared to the strafing tool it would be harder to use effectively but it would be even better for certain ships. Baiscally any ship that gets caught on it's weak side could turn towards the enemy without giving up their momentum which would make it harder for the attacker to stay on that weak side. At the same time, on maps with a lot of obstructions you could use it to face your guns towards a gap while moving past it.

[Crafeksterty]

I belive the low drag would be an awesome tool.

It depends on how Low it is.

I usually fly the spire, and i always dream of side strafing somehow. So why not this drag tool? Its balanced and would work.
Only ship that could be dangerous with it is the Galleon. Which would be nice to see. It would charge, and then turn, but it has a very slow turning speed anyway so its a pretty large build up for it. Junkers is the one that may be most dangerous with it as it then can sort of charge in with its side (Sort of).

Junker = Most usefull
Spire = Usefull
Galleon = Would be good
Goldfish = Would be good
Mobula = Very Specific
Pyra = Very specific
Squid = Very Specific

[vyew]

Airship drift racing on Paritan Rumble

[SirNotlag]

the low drag tool could be cool maybe call it inertial sails and make it slowly damage the balloon or something, doesn't have to make sense just has to be cool and balanced.

 Another way to get strafing to work work maybe would be to change the controls when you have the tools selected so you cant turn any more and instead drift in the direction you would normally be turning. So it changes all forward force from the engines 90 degrees  into the direction the wheel is turning and maybe damages the engines as well.

[UmmonTL]

My explanation for the drag tool would be that you coat the hull and balloon in a special friction-reducing concoction hence it would damage both of those. Another steam-punk typical effect could be that it's flammable with a chance of igniting the components and/or preventing chem spray to be used on them. 
I can imagine a lot of maneuvers with the low drag tool especially in combination with other tools such as Moonshine or Kerosene. You could drift sideways into a tight turn only to switch to Moonshine powered forward motion as you clear the obstacle while the sudden normal drag slows your sideways motion. You could go forward at full speed, turn 180° and switch to full reverse. Or as vyew suggested you could try to drift around the more cluttered maps at full speed just to see how fast you can go.

Another way to get strafing to work work maybe would be to change the controls when you have the tools selected so you cant turn any more and instead drift in the direction you would normally be turning. So it changes all forward force from the engines 90 degrees  into the direction the wheel is turning and maybe damages the engines as well.

My problem with a pure strafing tool is that it might make strafing too fast/easy. Can't have a Galleon going full speed sideways, there still needs to be a limit. If you make it a tool that strafes instead of turning it should probably have it's own limited speed. Again, as an explanation for how it works the pilot could be venting balloon air on one side of the ship, damaging the balloon while actively using it.
But then I'm not sure if a change of controls is that easy to do, the advantage of the two seperate strafing tools would be that it keeps all controls the same and only messes with the mechanics a bit.

[Neithrantulre]

I want to see this. Imagine Kerosening a Galleon toward a target and then you turn the low drag on and drift right up to them with a hearty BUMP and two Hwachas. Or you could use it to take a few potshots with the side guns of Galleon or Junker while running away without losing too much ground on your retreat. On Paritan Rumble if you know an enemy is around a building, you can drift a goldfish sideways around the corner and shoot instantly. This would take away some of the advantage of having forward facing guns and could revitalize competitive play, making Galleon and Junker into way more aggressive ships, as well as giving Squid more ways to decouple its movement and its weapon arcs, you could drift straight past someone all the while firing your fore gun or training your bifecta. In my opinion this would benefit most, in order, Junker, Galleon, Goldfish, Squid, Spire, Pyra, Mobula. There would be a lot more dynamic fights, particularly the sniping fights would be more interesting.

Man this would be fun!

[Sprayer]

Or you could turn it on when your squid just lost all its engines to a hwacha barrage....

[Spud Nick]

If you put a harpoon on the side of a galleon and poon a ship it will drift sideways a bit.

[Byron Cavendish]

I belive the low drag would be an awesome tool.

It depends on how Low it is.

I usually fly the spire, and i always dream of side strafing somehow. So why not this drag tool? Its balanced and would work.
Only ship that could be dangerous with it is the Galleon. Which would be nice to see. It would charge, and then turn, but it has a very slow turning speed anyway so its a pretty large build up for it. Junkers is the one that may be most dangerous with it as it then can sort of charge in with its side (Sort of).

Junker = Most usefull
Spire = Usefull
Galleon = Would be good
Goldfish = Would be good
Mobula = Very Specific
Pyra = Very specific
Squid = Very Specific

I agree, I brought that up to Howard a long time. The spire needs some kind of kite ability.