Why doesn't the Keelback use its retro thrusters?

Crusina Luachra · May 21, 2016

Seems to me like using the retro thrusters on the side for things like landing or vertical movements would give it a very unique role in the game.

Unless someone more educated on physics and all of that can explain why it wouldn't matter in space or on planets? In all honesty, this is really the only thing that interests me about this ship at all. I'm hoping in the feature that it becomes some cool VTOL ship...otherwise I'd rather use anything else especially since it's pretty ugly looking imo.

This was the only video I could find that showcases them:

[video=youtube;8puyvV3wt4Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8puyvV3wt4Y[/video]

GraXXoR · May 21, 2016

IMHO it should be an excellent High G planet landable craft.

Crusina Luachra · May 21, 2016

GraXXoR said:
IMHO it should be an excellent High G planet landable craft.

I know right?

Even if the niche of that isn't all that great in comparison to its other problems (like lower cargo and speed and being 3 million) at least it would be something highly unique.

CMDR Ash · May 21, 2016

I agree, we need a specialist ship for landing on really high G worlds. And from the looks of it the Keelback should be that ship

Bomba Luigi · May 21, 2016

Am I really the only one who had created a video with the keelback thrusters?

I first tought its a bug that the thrusters don't thrust downwards on the Planet, but appearently they are there to help manouvering and not working directly against gravity.

Crusina Luachra · May 21, 2016

Bomba Luigi said:
Am I really the only one who had created a video with the keelback thrusters?

I first tought its a bug that the thrusters don't thrust downwards on the Planet, but appearently they are there to help manouvering and not working directly against gravity.

Name how many people own one to make a video

And thats upsetting. Couldn't they be repurposed for that though then eventually?

Sandmann · May 21, 2016

I hadn't actually seen the Keelback's engines do that.. never flown on or fought one. Cool though. Now... what does it remind me of? Oh yeah... at 0:20 in this...

[video=youtube;uuGoDlG-qeA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGoDlG-qeA[/video]

"We're gonna explode? I don' wanna explode."

Frenotx · May 21, 2016

The keelback is a frustrating craft. So much unused potential in its design. It would be awesome if it actually used its movable thrusters for something other than just roll. The thing should have seven to none vertical thrust and retro thrusters, and pretty capable forward acceleration. Even if they left the abysmal pitch rate and survivability alone, I'd actually consider using the ship if it had the aforementioned unique flight advantages.

Unfortunately, as it stands its a t6 with vastly inferior speed and handling, mediocre survivability, more guns, but without the bigger power distributor needed to make them shine. But hey, at least it's cool looking, right?

TomP · May 21, 2016

If they worked as we all wish they worked, the galaxy would be deafened by thousands of voices, simultaneously shouting, "SQUEEEEEEEEEE!"

mossfoot · May 21, 2016

Hell, they should also be able to increase the pitch of the craft. If you had both thrusters pointed down at 45 degrees the ship should spin ass-over-teakettle, right?

Hell Razor5543 · May 21, 2016

I hope that when/if it hits the game the Panther Clipper rotates its thrusters. They certainly did move in the earlier games (mainly for landing and taking off). It could make manoeuvring interesting, especially if one was configured as a battleship! Done properly it could spin on a sixpence and give change! I would not want to go up against a combat configured Panther Clipper that would make Serenity look clumsy!

Bomba Luigi · May 21, 2016

Crusina Luachra said:
Name how many people own one to make a video

And thats upsetting. Couldn't they be repurposed for that though then eventually?

Not even I have one, that was beta

Sentenza · May 21, 2016

Crusina Luachra said:
Name how many people own one to make a video

And thats upsetting. Couldn't they be repurposed for that though then eventually?

I own one and I'm still trying to understand what to do with it. Well making videos may be a purpose after all!

ShadowWolf Kell · May 21, 2016

Crusina Luachra said:
Name how many people own one to make a video

And thats upsetting. Couldn't they be repurposed for that though then eventually?

I actually bought one specifically for that purpose actually. I was a little upset when I noticed the thrusters tilt only rarely. I had to redo a specific sequence 5 times before the thrusters tilted and activated. I was hoping it'd have been more like the Diamondback.

Something they need to fix I think.

Kaybe · May 22, 2016

I agree ... wish those thrusters could be used to act as potent downward facing air breaks for high g planets.

Please note that the Keelback is balanced with a feature not yet in the game, namely it's fighter bay. We shouldn't judge overly harshly until we see its full potential in 2.2

GraXXoR · May 24, 2016

mossfoot said:
Hell, they should also be able to increase the pitch of the craft. If you had both thrusters pointed down at 45 degrees the ship should spin ass-over-teakettle, right?

No, because that would require Reeyul Fizzix. ;-) /troll

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ShadowWolf Kell said:
I actually bought one specifically for that purpose actually. I was a little upset when I noticed the thrusters tilt only rarely. I had to redo a specific sequence 5 times before the thrusters tilted and activated. I was hoping it'd have been more like the Diamondback.

Something they need to fix I think.

I can't be sure, but I seem to rememeber when it first came out they flippy flappied a bit more than they do now... Or maybe I just wasn't used to them...

Crusina Luachra · May 26, 2016

Honestly I can't imagine the keelback turning that fast at any point lol

Frenotx · May 26, 2016

mossfoot said:
Hell, they should also be able to increase the pitch of the craft. If you had both thrusters pointed down at 45 degrees the ship should spin ass-over-teakettle, right?

Negative. That would just push the up and forwards. Rotating thrusters on either side of the ship gives you vertical thrust (both pointing up or down), forward / retro thrust (both pointing backwards or forward), roll (one up, one down), and yaw (one forward, one back).

Incidentally, that would give the keelback some very interesting flight characteristics. Amazing roll, yaw, vertical and retro thrust, yet bad pitch and lateral thrust.

mossfoot · May 26, 2016

Frenotx said:
Negative. That would just push the up and forwards. Rotating thrusters on either side of the ship gives you vertical thrust (both pointing up or down), forward / retro thrust (both pointing backwards or forward), roll (one up, one down), and yaw (one forward, one back).

Incidentally, that would give the keelback some very interesting flight characteristics. Amazing roll, yaw, vertical and retro thrust, yet bad pitch and lateral thrust.

That depends on the center of mass, doesn't it? if more mass is located on the front end of the pivot point than the back, then using both thrusters angled down at 45 degrees would lift the back end more than the front. Or am I wrong?

GTwannabe · May 26, 2016

Kaybe said:
I agree ... wish those thrusters could be used to act as potent downward facing air breaks for high g planets.

Please note that the Keelback is balanced with a feature not yet in the game, namely it's fighter bay. We shouldn't judge overly harshly until we see its full potential in 2.2

It's supposed to be a convoy escort... but why bring 2 utterly terrible ships to a fight vs. 1 good one? Can't exactly swarm an attacker with deployed Sidewinders unless convoys are made much larger.