Carriers and different playstyles: Why Sqdn Megaships aren't necessarily pew-pew

[Goose4291]

Okay, already we're seeing the 'this is more pew-pew content' complaints starting to gain cohesion, based purely on the group system getting the name 'squadrons' and the megaship ownership 'carriers'

But (rampant speculation time) what if each Sqdn could own ONE megaship type, and they each had different attributes or abilities that might reflect that groups playstyle?

For Example:

Sqdn Mining Ship
Jump range: Medium, RES Sites/Asteroid belt/Rings only.
Outfitting: No
Refuel/Repair: Yes
Rearm: No
Cargo Capacity: Yes, moderate
Module Storage: No
Materials Storage: Yes
Special Ability: Can be moved by Sqdn Commander into RES sites or rings, where players can launch SLF sized mining fighters (which they command) which in effect carry 2x the largest refinery modules worth of material bins. When the SLF has filled its module bins, the mining ship launches a limpet which retrieves these bins for processing, which get automatically dumped into the cargo storage.
Think: The Canterbury from the Expanse

Sqdn Exploration Ship
Jump range: Large, to Orbiting Star Only
Outfitting: No (Although SRV's are available to restock)
Refuel/Repair: Yes
Rearm: No
Cargo Capacity: Yes, small
Module Storage: No
Materials Storage: Yes
Data Storage: Yes
Special Ability: Universal Cartographics Connection, allowing sale of scan data whilst on long range deployments.
Think: The USS Grissom from Star Trek 3

Sqdn Trade Ship
Jump range: Small, Station/Outpost to Station/Outpost only
Outfitting: No
Refuel/Repair: Yes
Rearm: No
Cargo Capacity: Large
Module Storage: No
Materials Storage: No
Data Storage: No
Special Ability: Ability to deploy non-FSD lifter type craft, able to dock at Outposts and ferry larger quantities of materials to/from the megaship than currently possible with for example, a Python.
Think: The Nostromo from Alien

Sqdn Warship
Jump range: Small (CZ's only, see special ability)
Outfitting: Yes
Refuel/Repair: Yes
Rearm: Yes
Cargo Capacity: Large
Module Storage: Yes
Materials Storage: No
Data Storage: No
Special Ability: Able to be deployed into systems in a war/civil war state, and will automatically generate a CZ around them. While embarked players can launch using SLF's from the Warship. Note: The ship model itself will be determined by the superpower the Sqdns is aligned with, and will be one of their associated capital ships (so Interdictor/Farragut/Alliance Placeholder/Generic Independent)
Think: Battlestar Galactica

 

[Bomba Luigi]

I would highly recommend people look at the Canon and what they can do with there Megaship as referenzpoint. I don't think you can go shoot stuff, or mine stuff with it, maybe a bit more options of making it go to places so you don't have to wait for servermaintance.

There could be more to it, sure, but I wouldn't get too far away from that with your hopes.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

Okay, already we're seeing the 'this is more pew-pew content' complaints starting to gain cohesion, …

We all know that if it can be used for "pewpew" it will be used for "pewpew" no matter what other uses it might have.
We all know that if it can be used to hurt other players it will be used that way.

So, yes it will become a primarily "pewpew" content if "pewpew" is allowed.

Unless the carriers are nothing more than mobile repair-refuel-rearm stations things will get ugly very quickly.

Even "just" having them connected to the BGS will result in a disaster.

I hope that FD has learned something in the last three years and avoids all the potential problems.

 

[Badben]

I doubt there will be that many different carriers. Much more likely though will be the ability to outfit them differently for different roles. What I hope though is that the carriers will not be super warships that you bring into battle, but a vulnerable asset that you need to protect.

 

[etien]

Multi crew was supposed to be multi content. It’s almost 100% pewpew

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

I don't know what they are planning, but I can see varous non-pew-pew applications for a mobile base ship as well.

 

[Vasious]

I just assumed it would be somewhere to refuel, rearm, repair and refit.

So if you are operating in a system for BGS work for instance, you can jumps the carrier in so as not to worry about large ships where are no large pads, or systems that lack rearm or repair at the key ports, and outfit for the mission at hand, may not sell any modules but has outfitting for livery and storage.

Mobile Infrastructre

 

[Goose4291]

I just assumed it would be somewhere to refuel, rearm, repair and refit.

So if you are operating in a system for BGS work for instance, you can jumps the carrier in so as not to worry about large ships where are no large pads, or systems that lack rearm or repair at the key ports, and outfit for the mission at hand, may not sell any modules but has outfitting for livery and storage.

Mobile Infrastructre

I would highly recommend people look at the Canon and what they can do with there Megaship as referenzpoint. I don't think you can go shoot stuff, or mine stuff with it, maybe a bit more options of making it go to places so you don't have to wait for servermaintance.

There could be more to it, sure, but I wouldn't get too far away from that with your hopes.

I'll be honest, hand on heart, I'm entirely expecting it just to be a Gnosis for every group type thing (which I don't mind, as anyone who reads my post history will know I rail quite badly against content exclusive for specific player groups). This was just a bit of speculation to highlight that not everything has to be combat orientated, so we can try and discuss something without panic "OMG Griefers! MEGASHIPS! DOOOOOM!" posts by folk who don't understand game mechanics.

 

[Tuub t Tute]

I can imagine the knee-jerk reaction will be "M0g! teh ganksters will have a mobile deathstar to jump instantly from CG to CG forcing teh killing death on the unsuspecting in their apex tuned alpha FDLs..."

Don't play in Open, don't be someone else's content... but, but but...

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

I just assumed it would be somewhere to refuel, rearm, repair and refit.

So if you are operating in a system for BGS work for instance, you can jumps the carrier in so as not to worry about large ships where are no large pads, or systems that lack rearm or repair at the key ports, and outfit for the mission at hand, may not sell any modules but has outfitting for livery and storage.

Mobile Infrastructre

For pewpew

Without being able to dock at stations in a system there is nothing much you can do to affect the BGS beside pewpew.
If you need to rearm in the system you have done pewpew.
If you need to repair in the system you are a bad and lazy pilot or you have done pewpew.

Mobile infrastructure to facilitate pewpew.

Yes, there could be a lot of interesting and non-pewpew activities for a carrier. It really depends on how FD implements the carrier (and squadrons). It could result in a really nice addition for everybody or it could be nothing more than pewpew.
Sadly I don't have a lot of faith when it comes to FD and pewpew.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

I'll be honest, hand on heart, I'm entirely expecting it just to be a Gnosis for every group type thing …

Something like that could be a really cool addition to the game.

If:
- lone players can get a small version of those carriers
- the carriers can't be damaged or destroyed by other players or the environment or NPCs or…
- no connection to the BGS
- the only ones that are able to interact (dock, refuel…) with those carriers are the owner and/or squadron members - maybe special friends.

While we are at it tiny planetary outposts could be cool too. With the same restrictions.

 

[Dommarraa]

I'll be honest, hand on heart, I'm entirely expecting it just to be a Gnosis for every group type thing (which I don't mind, as anyone who reads my post history will know I rail quite badly against content exclusive for specific player groups). This was just a bit of speculation to highlight that not everything has to be combat orientated, so we can try and discuss something without panic "OMG Griefers! MEGASHIPS! DOOOOOM!" posts by folk who don't understand game mechanics.

Yes, when it was "given" to Canonn (we HAD begged for one since before there were PGs, and it was part of faction lore), it was made clear by FD it was a test for something. Its a good guess that it was a test for Squadron Carriers.
It appears to be of extremely limited pew-pew value, zero BGS value, zero commercial value. Sure they will probably add stuff, but its role at the moment is very limited to exactly what the Canonn wanted it for (a Mobile Science Base)

 

[Muetdhiver]

I'm so looking forward to wild west style mining expeditions in pristine rings with a nice nebula backdrop with a team of good friends.

Would be so damn awesome.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

There are many different play styles for group within such game as ED. And it is not a theory, this is evidence already in game.

 

[Goose4291]

If you need to repair in the system you are a bad and lazy pilot or you have done pewpew.

I think several members of the explorer community might want a word with you shortly

Something like that could be a really cool addition to the game.

If:
- lone players can get a small version of those carriers
- the carriers can't be damaged or destroyed by other players or the environment or NPCs or…
- no connection to the BGS
- the only ones that are able to interact (dock, refuel…) with those carriers are the owner and/or squadron members - maybe special friends.

While we are at it tiny planetary outposts could be cool too. With the same restrictions.

The middle two are currently what the Gnosis does, but everyone can dock at it (as no sqdn mechanic to determine where your allegiances lay is currently available) I do have to ask though (as a lone player who doesn't really do groups anymore) why would you or I need/want a carrier?

 

[Vorxian]

That's exactly what I want! A carrier outfitted for cargo / mass trading. Call it a freighter.

What I'd pay for a vessel capable of emptying station inventories at a time...

I reccon I could go from 50bn credits to 2 trillion in a long weekend.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

I think several members of the explorer community might want a word with you shortly

Yes, some explorers might want to repair their ships after some neutron star jumping if they are doing roundtrips and the exploration carrier is is used as a mobil base out in the black.
In that case it wouldn't be for BGS work.

…I do have to ask though (as a lone player who doesn't really do groups anymore) why would you or I need/want a carrier?

I think a nice little home somewhere on a rock or in an empty system could be fun to have.
As you mentioned above, for exploration it could be useful and fun.
Just having one could be nice.

Purely nice to have and not "need".

 

[lysan]

It all depends, can the mega ships be runned by one person only? if not can you hire NPCS to take PC positions? or will SOLO players get shafted? how far can these megaships jump? how long will it take to prepare for a jump? Do they require materials to make a jump? will you be able to make them special and more oriented to certain tasks?

I like the idear that you can build a mega ship to be a mining, combat, research, trading, pirat platform, but we will need to see how FDEV will implement this.

 

[Bomba Luigi]

I'll be honest, hand on heart, I'm entirely expecting it just to be a Gnosis for every group type thing (which I don't mind, as anyone who reads my post history will know I rail quite badly against content exclusive for specific player groups). This was just a bit of speculation to highlight that not everything has to be combat orientated, so we can try and discuss something without panic "OMG Griefers! MEGASHIPS! DOOOOOM!" posts by folk who don't understand game mechanics.

The entiere problem with doing something like combat with it is something people who want it maybe don't quite think trough. When it is something that reacts to input of players 1:1 it is something anybody needs to get in instance with to interact with. When your group has more then 20 people that can become a serious problem. It being a static object that can change location is much more likley, so that people in diffrent instances can interact with it at the same time.

 

[StiTch]

Squadron: "a unit of one of the armed forces..."

In its many definitions a squadron is at least military. Hopefully that's not how it plays out ofc, but the main thing is they must be little more than a convenience.

Allow them to actually hook their roots into the game and its narrative, and it will be compulsory to be in a decent-standing group to make headway in those areas. Hence "oh noes, not the eve-bomb"