Huge Ships- a reasonable consideration.

[Jaylem]

With a lot of suggestions I have seen in the past, there are numerous requests for Mega-Ships as a Pilotable Vehicle.

This isn't very reasonable due to costs and sheer size of the vessels. Not to mention interactions between PvP and PvE would be highly unfair. And also expect to be dominated by Thargoids who can kill these Mega ships with ease.

In between Large ships and Capitol/Mega Ships. there is a huge difference in scale that is missing, is it not reasonable to take 'Baby steps' first before jumping into Bigger options?

This is where I propose the next size class of Huge ships (following elite's size scaling classifications small, medium, Large and huge respectively)

reasons for this are;

-Affordable (by player standards) being almost twice that of Large ships (320-420+M) cost would be around the 2-4Billion mark to completely max. this is much more achievable for dedicated players.

-New docking systems would need to be installed, exterior docking would be highly recommended (keeps standard structures unchanged (starports, planetary bases). this can be observed by Capitol in the capital system controlled by Aisling Duval (can't remember the name...) where the military station has 2 Majestic Capitol ships docked side by side exterior to the station.

- Balanced in terms of gameplay, engineered shield strength may top out at around 4-5000Mj (at most) and weaponry may involve a new class 5 or multiple class 4's. Almost the same a comparing a corvette to a python by DPS differences (Huge-cutter). smaller ships will find these ships more difficult yes, but then again, the same could be said when the cutter and corvette were released. The Elite 'Food chain' Mentality is always open to expand. these ships will no doubt be more slower and cumbersome than the anaconda and cutter. nimble and skilled fighters could quite easily exploit this.

- Serve as an additional money sink/time killer as players now have a new goal to strive for! (I right now have to keep buying cutters and corvettes to pass the time. have enough for 4 now (including the 2 I already have maxed and own )

-Thargoid Combat will be improved slightly, these ships will no doubt be able to Solo the Thargoids with much more ease!! (which may be able to be slotted in as a part of the narrative later)

-Multi-crew Compatible!


Just a few of the Pros anyway, a big con would be the 40-100M repair costs. but other than that I have been trying to think reasonably with this one. could be a fun new addition.

Thoughts?

CMDR Jaylem

 

[Jimbodiah]

No thanks. Big 3 plus an alliance option is just fine.

 

[CMDR Yates]

I'd like to see this if only for more visual variety, to see more different sizes of vessel moving around at starports and the like.

On the other side of the coin, I'd also like to see tiny shuttle transports flitting around (even if they don't give us them as a pilotable ship-launching option, which they should), especially in instances where there's a station and a shipyard in close proximity, for example, or around installations.

 

[trollson]

As an alternative to being purchased, large ships could be loaned or rented from minor factions that you are allied with - perhaps with mandatory missions attached. More involvement with these governments, corporations, and other bodies would be welcome.

I imagine that you'd have to pay a security deposite (cf. insurance) up front, returned on safe return of the ship. However no insurance replacements - so if you are careless, then its back to your regular ship (or a sidewinder).

Continued possession of a loaned ship would require maintaining good relationships with the minor faction. If you drop below Friendly, then they'll want it back. Failure to perform mandatory missions attached to the ship would, of course, reduce your reputation with the faction.

What happens if the faction wants the ship back, but you don't hand it over? Bounties may come into play at some point, but the simplest thing is that repairs (and upgrades if applicable) are no longer possible. These large vessels are more custom built than the smaller mass-produced (3D printed?) ones, and since they cannot dock - any repairs would be by contactors coming over with equipment and parts.

I suppose you could take one of these and fly off into the void - a massive (and slow) exploration vessel. Avoid contact with humanity (i.e. reps who could give you mandatory missions), and become a space hermit...

 

[StiTch]

I think we're done past the point of credits being relevant; instead of looking for credit sinks, let's develop some actual content to use our ships for, aye?

Sounds like fleet carriers are established as the next step up in terms of ownable ship size.

 

[Jaylem]

I think we're done past the point of credits being relevant; instead of looking for credit sinks, let's develop some actual content to use our ships for, aye?

Sounds like fleet carriers are established as the next step up in terms of ownable ship size.

A much wiser Approach. although yes it would be interesting to fly a massive rig, I wouldn't mind seeing more surface missions and many more points of interactions!