Ships Why can't it launch fighters?

Its got that huge hatch on the back, its the only ship with one, so if you can't launch fighters from there... will that hatch be ever used for anything else?

Since I doubt they are gonna release a new feature for that one ship alone, does that mean that Clipper pilots kinda screwed with a ship that could be much more than it actually is?
 
Its got that huge hatch on the back, its the only ship with one, so if you can't launch fighters from there... will that hatch be ever used for anything else?

Since I doubt they are gonna release a new feature for that one ship alone, does that mean that Clipper pilots kinda screwed with a ship that could be much more than it actually is?

I agree that it's silly that the Clipper, which is larger than the Gunship, cannot launch fighters. Maybe they will surprise us?
 
Ships with the fighter bays are balanced with the fighter in mind.

So tell me ... in what way would you like the Clipper to be nerfed so she can support having launchable fighters? After all, she's already an insanely good ship for the price.
 
True.
The Clipper might have bigger size on paper.
But thats due to the Pylons. Its volume is not that big actually.


To begin with the question will be how they implement fighters.
If its an optional module the Clipper likely could get one by sacrificing its size 7 slot.

If its an Internal thats limited to certain Ships the Clipper is screwed ^^
 
The Clipper is already amazingly good. Bad-for-fixed hardpoint placements are basically the only downside to it. It really doesn't need a fighter bay too.
 
Wouldn't you guys say that the Anaconda is amazingly good with no downsides so it really doesn't need a fighter bay?

That still does not answer the question about what could the giant hatch on the back could be used for.
 
There is just not enough bulk space on it for a fighter bay, that needs a lot more room than a fold-up SRV. Clipper is thin, long with a big wing span but there isn't enough physical volume to fit a fighter bay. Only reason the Keelback can do it is because it's basically a flying brick so there's just enough bulk volume to pull it off.
 
Nope. Dimensions of FGS: 76/53/23

Dimensions of iClipper: 107/104/25

That's L/W/H. Clipper is bigger in all respects.

Most of the Clipper's dimension box is empty space, thin struts or vanity pods though. The FGS's box is pretty much 100% useable space. I'd almost say it's kinda cool that sensible ship shapes do come with their logical benefits, but at the end of the day, it probably all comes down to pure ship balance, hence why the FDS and FAS don't get fighters despite having the same frame as the FGS.
 
Most of the Clipper's dimension box is empty space, thin struts or vanity pods though. The FGS's box is pretty much 100% useable space. I'd almost say it's kinda cool that sensible ship shapes do come with their logical benefits, but at the end of the day, it probably all comes down to pure ship balance, hence why the FDS and FAS don't get fighters despite having the same frame as the FGS.

Actually, if you look here:

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from https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...gress-Complete-Full-Colour-ED-Ship-Size-Chart

The Clipper fuselage is larger than the FGS.
 
Let's start my comment by getting it out there I would adore the iClipper having launched fighters with every inch of my space heart.

But realistically, it makes sense. Ships with fighter bays are physically built around the bay. The internal volume of an iClipper and a FGS are actually quite similar, but look at the internal storage a FGS gets compared - it loses about 100T max cargo.

The balancing of module classes is one of the best considered aspects of this game, in my humble opinion. Though I still want the iClipper to have one.
 
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It's not just space, though. It's speed and agility that get affected in a BIG way by having fighter bays. That's why so few people play the Keelback and FGS right now ... the ships are far too sluggish with non-engineered thrusters.

Many Clipper captains wish they could have the Clipper's speed and agility AND have a fighter bay, which will never ever happen.
 
It is rubbish that the Feds got two ships that can launch fighters and Empire got one. There is no reason the Clipper shouldn't be able to launch fighters if the FGS can.
 
I doubt the hangar bay physically fits. Yes it's a large ships but it's got a thin, long fuselage and wide wings, accounting for it's size - but I don't see the bulk volume needed for it.
 
I doubt the hangar bay physically fits. Yes it's a large ships but it's got a thin, long fuselage and wide wings, accounting for it's size - but I don't see the bulk volume needed for it.

You'll find the iClipper fuselarge is narrower than the gunship's by a negligible amount. Certainly not too narrow to fit that bay on.

303


iClipper doesn't get it because it's relatively agile, and SLFs were obviously intended to be a "support the fat ships" kind of affair.

Yup, it's handwavium. Was anyone hoping for realism here?

Doesn't do the Imps any favours getting shafted on the SLF side, though.
 
You'll find the iClipper fuselarge is narrower than the gunship's by a negligible amount. Certainly not too narrow to fit that bay on.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...est/scale-to-width-down/303?cb=20160510154452

iClipper doesn't get it because it's relatively agile, and SLFs were obviously intended to be a "support the fat ships" kind of affair.

Yup, it's handwavium. Was anyone hoping for realism here?

Doesn't do the Imps any favours getting shafted on the SLF side, though.

It's actually not just marginally narrower, and in addition, the clipper hull's cross section is semi-circular while the gunship's is more rectangular, allowing for way more internal volume. Look, I'm a big fan of imperial ships, I own them all and I prefer them to fed stuff for the most part (will have to get the 'vette at some point, though..), and I particularly love the Clipper, have owned one for a very long time and played a lot in it. I neither think the hangar bay actually does fit, nor do I think this ship needs one, balance wise. I'd much prefer it if they added a single utility slot, that'd do a lot more for the ship than the SLF hangar.
 
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