Imperial Clipper should be considered a medium size ship not large

[-VR- Max Factor]

There haven't been many asking for large ships to dock at outposts as most people respect the reason why they can't.

As for people asking for a medium sized empire ship, yes it has been asked for a lot. Many would like an empire explorer, some would like another empire SLF capable ship. I would prefer both.

We know new ships are coming next year. There will be Alliance navy ships - we have seen one already, and we will be getting the Krait which I love the look of personally.

So we may be getting another empire ship too. Let's wait and see.

I am looking forward to the updates next year. Should make the game much more enjoyable.

 

[nanite2000]

I'd like to know who continues to use their £200,000 house once they have a £5mill house.

Me too! Please enlighten me.

Edit: to be clear, I don't know what point you're trying to make here. I can't even tell if you're agreeing with me or not.

 

[MBaldelli]

Forgive me, I'm a bit confused now...

Is the problem that the Clipper, for its capabilities, should not be classified as a Large ship? (thread title, I know)

Or is the real problem that the Empire doesn't have a suitable Medium ship?

I've been trying to approach this as a compromise. Given it's apparent the problem isn't that there's no medium ship in the Imperial fleet; the problem is the fact that people look at the build out for the Clipper and think it should be the medium ship.

But it's just too big in its current configuration. So they're pushing hard for the Clipper to be resized to medium so that they can land at outposts like the Python and get the materials that get dried out from larger stations.

The other problem which is beginning to dawn on some is the fact that production is going to take longer than anticipated. So it's a recycle for the Clipper to be a medium dockable ship and it's just not going to happen.

As for people asking for a medium sized empire ship, yes it has been asked for a lot. Many would like an empire explorer, some would like another empire SLF capable ship. I would prefer both.

Well this isn't quite the answer I was looking for, but definitely the one that I needed. Seems that this "make the clipper a medium ship" is the new push for it given that people are getting impatient for waiting. Pity it seems to be falling on deaf ears though as the medium ship still isn't coming.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

I've been trying to approach this as a compromise. Given it's apparent the problem isn't that there's no medium ship in the Imperial fleet; the problem is the fact that people look at the build out for the Clipper and think it should be the medium ship.

But it's just too big in its current configuration. So they're pushing hard for the Clipper to be resized to medium so that they can land at outposts like the Python and get the materials that get dried out from larger stations.

The other problem which is beginning to dawn on some is the fact that production is going to take longer than anticipated. So it's a recycle for the Clipper to be a medium dockable ship and it's just not going to happen.



Well this isn't quite the answer I was looking for, but definitely the one that I needed. Seems that this "make the clipper a medium ship" is the new push for it given that people are getting impatient for waiting. Pity it seems to be falling on deaf ears though as the medium ship still isn't coming.

You misunderstand. You can't just turn the clipper into a medium sized ship, it would require just as much work as creating a new one. And it is fine as a large ship with a bit of tweaking.

It's new ships that are needed. Not remodeled ships.

 

[MBaldelli]

You misunderstand. You can't just turn the clipper into a medium sized ship, it would require just as much work as creating a new one. And it is fine as a large ship with a bit of tweaking.

It's new ships that are needed. Not remodeled ships.

Oh I do understand, Max Factor... Wholeheartedly. I don't want the Clipper made into a medium ship because people can't judge the size of the beast (and this is why I posted the ship comparison on page one of this thread. I was sold on the "logic" that the Empire built the Clipper and Cutter based on the psychological presence.

However, there seems to be some sort of insane push because for it to be medium from a lot of people...

Hell after listening to you and Stitch, I came to the sort of compromise to push a re-vamped Python instead if only because of the Eagle existing both as a straight out buy and the Imperial Eagle which is a reputation buy.

All in all though, I suspect it's not happening either. Not for a while because of the promises and hype pushed at the expo. But I'm a patient man, I can sit back and play the game as it currently is.

 

[BurntJello]

Fixed it:

I'm pretty sure the medium pad is a bit bigger than that... but 20% smaller is the same length as Python. Then it's just a matter of narrowing it a little.
If the internals would need to change then I would suggest: 6,6,5,4,4,3,2,2 otherwise leave internals as-is. (afterall, how python has 3 c6 slots...)

This would put the Clipper as a "medium" competitor to Python and FDL.

 

[sandkid]

Disclaimer: I don't own any imperial ships (just unlocked gunship for feds)...

Personally, I'd rather see the Clipper BUFFED - the variety among large ships is a bit lacking in my opinion.

This leaves open the opportunity to develop future medium ships, one of which could be imperial. I really want to see a small federal ship as well, so my motives are a bit all over the place.

The work it takes to fool with getting the clipper to be medium sized just isn't reasonable. That's a fact. It's true, FDev seems to be a bit slow on rolling out new ships and features...but this will have to be one of them (someday).

 

[nanite2000]

Disclaimer: I don't own any imperial ships (just unlocked gunship for feds)...

Personally, I'd rather see the Clipper BUFFED - the variety among large ships is a bit lacking in my opinion.

This leaves open the opportunity to develop future medium ships, one of which could be imperial. I really want to see a small federal ship as well, so my motives are a bit all over the place.

The work it takes to fool with getting the clipper to be medium sized just isn't reasonable. That's a fact. It's true, FDev seems to be a bit slow on rolling out new ships and features...but this will have to be one of them (someday).

Good points suggested here. If the Clipper could carry more cargo than a Python and have a higher jump range (+ a fighter bay for defence), then it would provide a suitable competitor to the Anaconda, but risks being too similar to the Cutter.

Right now, it has only one advantage over the Python - speed.

Anyway, that aside, you-re right that underlying issue is the lack of a Medium sized Imperial ship, so everyone's trying to turn the Clipper into one. Personally, I don't mind if they make the Clipper a medium ship, or simply provide a new Imperial medium sized ship altogether.

If they do provide a medium ship, I hope it's a sick looking explorer. I would retire to the black then...

 

[Strangepork]

I’m looking at the Clipper and comparing it to the locked Federal ships. I don’t understand why the Imperial Clipper isn’t also a medium ship in terms of the landing pad. Also what reason is there that this ship was made as a large vs medium because I can’t find any.

Its considered large but cant use a fighter hanger, only had 4 hardpoints and by comparison of features seems out of line among other non rank ships.

In which case why The Python?

 

[nanite2000]

In which case why The Python?

I think you accidentally a word.

 

[nop277]

I'm okay with it being a large ship but I wish they had given it a SLF. The Federal Gunship gets one and is only a medium ship. It's the main reason I dropped the clipper for the cutter, and at the moment if you want a imperial ship and a ship launched fighter the cutter is the only ship available which I think is unfortunate.

 

[CMDR Yates]

As others have said, getting it to fit on a medium pad would need a complete redesign, and that effort would better be channeled into making a new medium Imperial ship.

So instead, why not buff the Clipper. Make it even faster, more maneuverable - a big, formidable interceptor - while retaining its weird weapon layout to keep it from becoming too desirable.

 

[StiTch]

Me too! Please enlighten me.

Edit: to be clear, I don't know what point you're trying to make here. I can't even tell if you're agreeing with me or not.

Combat fit iClipper costs approx 90 to 120 mill. Combat fit iCutter, 1 to 1.3 bill.

You tell me

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Maybe all the clipper needs are some military compartments. Not too sure why it hasn't got them anyway as it seems to be a Naval ship.

 

[Sylveria]

Maybe all the clipper needs are some military compartments. Not too sure why it hasn't got them anyway as it seems to be a Naval ship.

Actually you make a really good point regarding Imperial Navy ships in general- most "Federation" ships indeed have military compartments- and even some that aren't strictly rank grind (Vulture, etc.) but neither the Courier nor the Clipper have military compartments. People like to throw out a "speed" difference by way of comparison- but I think they tend to forget the Cobra MKIII (not even a grind ship) is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) ships in the game and it has NO offset in comparison... plenty of internals and expansion capability, decent jump ranges, etc. (which is why many still use it even after they've obtained "better" ones later)

Both the Courier and Clipper need some love. I think we all know it, too. What form that actually takes down the road- I don't know. But I do know that I'd love to see an Imperial ship that fits medium pads and isn't purposely gimped by comparison because of a ridiculous notion that "speed" means it needs to be crippled in another way.

 

[MBaldelli]

Both the Courier and Clipper need some love. I think we all know it, too. What form that actually takes down the road- I don't know. But I do know that I'd love to see an Imperial ship that fits medium pads and isn't purposely gimped by comparison because of a ridiculous notion that "speed" means it needs to be crippled in another way.

This (along with Stitch and Max Factor's comments) I can wholeheartedly agree with. For a ship that should be packing a hell of a punch, based on the current build, it would appear the Clipper and the Cutter seems to rely -- too heavily -- on psychological presence more than actual punch/bite with its default build out.

 

[Sylveria]

This (along with Stitch and Max Factor's comments) I can wholeheartedly agree with. For a ship that should be packing a hell of a punch, based on the current build, it would appear the Clipper and the Cutter seems to rely -- too heavily -- on psychological presence more than actual punch/bite with its default build out.

I think we're all familiar with the expression "All bark and no bite".

Psychological affect isn't a game mechanic that affects NPC's either... so I find that point to be invalid. If you can't back up projection with action, then it's meaningless.

 

[nanite2000]

Combat fit iClipper costs approx 90 to 120 mill. Combat fit iCutter, 1 to 1.3 bill.

You tell me

Sorry, I'm still not sure what point you're trying to make here.

Are you suggesting that once you have the Cutter there's no reason to ever use a Clipper? Why? Because it makes for a better combat ship?

To reiterate, my whole point was that once someone has a Cutter, there's no reason to use the Clipper any more. But a well designed ship will still have uses, as evidenced by the Python which definitely has a role to play even though the Cutter is bigger and more expensive.

I'm suggesting that with a bit of re-work, the Clipper can still have value even when you have the Cutter.

 

[Sylveria]

Sorry, I'm still not sure what point you're trying to make here.

Are you suggesting that once you have the Cutter there's no reason to ever use a Clipper? Why? Because it makes for a better combat ship?

To reiterate, my whole point was that once someone has a Cutter, there's no reason to use the Clipper any more. But a well designed ship will still have uses, as evidenced by the Python which definitely has a role to play even though the Cutter is bigger and more expensive.

I'm suggesting that with a bit of re-work, the Clipper can still have value even when you have the Cutter.

It's because of the "bigger" (and reflectively more expensive) means "better" paradigm.