Any date on when thr Mandalay goes on sale for in game credits?

[Robert Maynard]

July 2019:

Thanks for that.

Noting that the definition of "pay-to-win" tends to vary between players, and that early access rather than exclusive access might not fit the definition, for some players at least.

Also noting the use of present tense in this:

What can I spend ARX on?
As mentioned above, ARX can be spent on Game Extras such as Paint Jobs, Ship Kits, Bobbleheads and more!

Can I spend ARX on in-game items, such as commodities and materials?
No, ARX are only spent on Game Extras (such as Paint Jobs, Ship Kits, Bobbleheads and more!).

 

[Arioch]

Thanks for that.

Noting that the definition of "pay-to-win" tends to vary between players, and that early access rather than exclusive access might not fit the definition, for some players at least.

Very true - but the new ships aren’t exactly purely cosmetic, either

 

[Robert Maynard]

Very true - but the new ships aren’t exactly purely cosmetic, either

Oh, I don't disagree. However the mention of "no pay-to-win" in one of the threads on that day and a "no" to "in-game items such, as commodities and materials" in the FAQ from the same day might be an indication of what was considered to qualify as "pay-to-win".

 

[HRDiagram]

Very true - but the new ships aren’t exactly purely cosmetic, either

Of course they are!

Why do I use a Cutter instead of a T9 for trading?

Purely for cosmetic reasons, obviously!

 

[amigacooke]

Why do I use a Cutter instead of a T9 for trading?

Purely for cosmetic reasons, obviously!

They sure are pretty!

 

[Knuttin Atoll]

Very true - but the new ships aren’t exactly purely cosmetic, either

Paige's "and more!" bit at the end ... in hindsight, should've paid more attention to the fine print

 

[Arioch]

Paige's "and more!" bit at the end ... in hindsight, should've paid more attention to the fine print

That “…and more!” is doing a lot of heavy lifting

 

[metatheurgist]

Darth Paige has a ring to it

 

[jmp470]

There is no need for other ships in Elite, once you get the Mandalay! It's the most fun I've had in a long time in Elite, ship wise.

Mandalay build

 

[metatheurgist]

Somewhere, someone else said that the reason to have more ships is flavor. But when you have one overpowering flavor who needs anything else, right?

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Somewhere, someone else said that the reason to have more ships is flavor. But when you have one overpowering flavor who needs anything else, right?

indeed. if there is gonna be a handful of ships to obsolete all the others imo it means we need longish chained missions with decent rewards that come with a set supplied ship and load out more than ever.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

The only OP ship to date is the Cobra V. And it sits at rock bottom in the Inara statistics, players don't want it.

 

[amigacooke]

The only OP ship to date is the Cobra V. And it sits at rock bottom in the Inara statistics, players don't want it.

How are the Inara statistics calculated please? Do they reflect a contemporary position or is there a strong historical element?

 

[Knuttin Atoll]

Somewhere, someone else said that the reason to have more ships is flavor. But when you have one overpowering flavor who needs anything else, right?

For me it's a bit like this with the Cobra 5. Initially I had fun but I'm getting bored of it being a little too good in too many aspects in its class and even beyond. Am actually kinda longing back for the Cobra 3 but the 5s internals and hard points have spoilt me rotten. I can basically do any task with it apart from bulk hauling.

The only OP ship to date is the Cobra V. And it sits at rock bottom in the Inara statistics, players don't want it.

I'm a Cobra fanboy so got soft and bought it. No buyer's remorse as such but see above. Seen a few other players with it so wouldn't necessarily say it's Asp Scout levels of popularity, but yeah the other ships are larger so will always be more popular.

 

[vanFace]

I'm a Cobra fanboy so got soft and bought it. No buyer's remorse as such but see above. Seen a few other players with it so wouldn't necessarily say it's Asp Scout levels of popularity, but yeah the other ships are larger so will always be more popular.

And this is why I expect future large OP vessels for ARX exclusively. Anaconda rival, monster Corvette, maybe a more agile iCutter. If it is done only with a stellar-class package (30k+ ARX, no cheaper standard package) and some decent modules for a full zero-rebuy, I bet the ARX sales will rocket up. I mean, it wouldn't have to be eternal exclusive either, a year-long EA would suffice already. There are certainly many fanboys out there that will go soft and buy it.

 

[Bigmaec]

And this is why I expect future large OP vessels for ARX exclusively. Anaconda rival, monster Corvette, maybe a more agile iCutter. If it is done only with a stellar-class package (30k+ ARX, no cheaper standard package) and some decent modules for a full zero-rebuy, I bet the ARX sales will rocket up. I mean, it wouldn't have to be eternal exclusive either, a year-long EA would suffice already. There are certainly many fanboys out there that will go soft and buy it.

Panther Clipper... Shut up and take my money FD.

 

[Sublime]

And this is why I expect future large OP vessels for ARX exclusively. Anaconda rival, monster Corvette, maybe a more agile iCutter. If it is done only with a stellar-class package (30k+ ARX, no cheaper standard package) and some decent modules for a full zero-rebuy, I bet the ARX sales will rocket up. I mean, it wouldn't have to be eternal exclusive either, a year-long EA would suffice already. There are certainly many fanboys out there that will go soft and buy it.

But wouldn’t that just be full on pay to win at that point?

 

[Tifu]

But wouldn’t that just be full on pay to win at that point?

Yup. And that's why it's not going to happen.

 

[vanFace]

But wouldn’t that just be full on pay to win at that point?

It would be a little higher up in the spectrum, I guess. But even with an Anaconda rival or monster Corvette, what do you actually win? Yeah, you might have the upper hand in PvP, but that you could already argue with the PM2 back in the EA days. With the better Anni, you might be able to outpace your colleagues in exploration, but that you already can do with the Mandalay. And don't get me started with the OP Cobra MK V.

Now, with almost 4 month EA, where is the stretch in it becoming 6 month, or even a year? It is just a little longer, giving more incentive to buy in instead of sitting it out.
If we get to rank skip packages, OP exclusive modules and maybe credit/mat packages (with the later become more and more moot these days), we might be really high up in P2W, but who cares? Let's just be happy as long as it won't become a gamble with loot boxes. After all, more MTX = more money for FDEV = more incentive for development = more content for the game = longer life-span of the service.

IMHO Elite already is pay to win (to a certain degree), and that this is a good thing for the game. I want to see more of it.

 

[Sublime]

It would be a little higher up in the spectrum, I guess. But even with an Anaconda rival or monster Corvette, what do you actually win? Yeah, you might have the upper hand in PvP, but that you could already argue with the PM2 back in the EA days. With the better Anni, you might be able to outpace your colleagues in exploration, but that you already can do with the Mandalay. And don't get me started with the OP Cobra MK V.

Now, with almost 4 month EA, where is the stretch in it becoming 6 month, or even a year? It is just a little longer, giving more incentive to buy in instead of sitting it out.
If we get to rank skip packages, OP exclusive modules and maybe credit/mat packages (with the later become more and more moot these days), we might be really high up in P2W, but who cares? Let's just be happy as long as it won't become a gamble with loot boxes. After all, more MTX = more money for FDEV = more incentive for development = more content for the game = longer life-span of the service.

IMHO Elite already is pay to win (to a certain degree), and that this is a good thing for the game. I want to see more of it.

But becoming a gamble with loot boxes would generate even more money so why not just add those as well? After all as long as FDEV gets more money that’s great, that’s what counts right? Why have any limits? They should just copy the SC model, that seemed to generate a ton of cash.