Are the ships we buy really supposed to be new?

[GunnerBill]

Over the years there's been much discussion as to why the supposedly new ships we buy are scuffed up inside and have dirty screens.

OK so the actual answer is probably just a gamey one i.e. "realism" and FD haven't implemented a "weathering over time effect", where we might buy a pristine ship that gradually weathers.

However it got me thinking: is it realistic to expect civilians (however wealthy) to be buying totally new ships? Are we really getting reconditioned & recertified airframes i.e. "as new" but not new?

Decommissioned hand-me-downs from Navies and big corporations if you like.

Should the cost of a brand new Cutter (for example) be significantly more than the mere 170,000,000 it is now?

What happens in the real world, are all those private jets bought new?


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A lot of ED ships are reconditioned, and are designs hundreds of years old that in some cases are no longer in production.

<snip>

Sidewinder 2982 - 319 years old
Cobra 3100 - 201 years old
Viper 2762 - 539 years old!
Python 2700 - 601 years old
Anaconda 2856 - 445 years old

 

[Rubbernuke]

A lot of ED ships are reconditioned, and are designs hundreds of years old that in some cases are no longer in production.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

This is one area where I think a little bit of head-canon is not only harmless, but recommended.

I say let each player decide if his ship is new or not. Personally, my Cobra Mk III was previously owned by a small mining firm who have since went out of business. They had to sell their vessels to pay off debts.

There is one exception to this "use head-canon" rule. The Eagle Mk II. That craft is confirmed out of production.

Now if anyone can provide any official lore on the "newness" of our ships, I would love to see it.

 

[Noctover]

This is one area where I think a little bit of head-canon is not only harmless, but recommended.

I say let each player decide if his ship is new or not. Personally, my Cobra Mk III was previously owned by a small mining firm who have since went out of business. They had to sell their vessels to pay of debts.

There is one exception to this "use head-canon" rule. The Eagle Mk II. That craft is confirmed out of production.

Now if anyone can provide any official lore on the "newness" of our ships, I would love to see it.

Yeah, this...

Given all the current issues with the game i think the logistical realism of how and what state the ships we buy are that have no effect on gameplay should maybe be looked at around...2026.

 

[GunnerBill]

A lot of ED ships are reconditioned, and are designs hundreds of years old that in some cases are no longer in production.

Yes actually I meant add something like this as a note

 

[Stealthie]

What happens in the real world, are all those private jets bought new?

Most "private jets" are leased through a management company that takes care of all the maintenance and provides pilots too.
They'll buy them both new and used, depending on condition, history, type-history and intended purpose.

In ED it might be nice if there was a variety of ship-pricing, depending on condition and modules fitted.
Trouble is, I suppose, that repair costs are so trivial that it's hardly worth the effort of implementing.

I'd still like to be able to go to Tionisla in a Sidey and attempt to steal a clapped-out Anaconda in return for gaining a big bounty in the system though.

 

[bootsam]

I have a 'used' vehicle (bike) thats over 20yrs old and out of production. It's immaculate. So why is the flight deck of my AspX scruffy? No way Jose. I'm not the type who wouldn't have fixed that. I run a clean and mechanically sound ship. The scruffy dash just eats at my maintenance ocd.

 

[777Driver]

To give you an idea of the age of some of these ships, I don't think we are buying new, just reconditioned. I thought all the Anaconda's had been old navy frigates converted into armed freighters? All the brand new designs look pristine Cutter/Corvette, older ships look like they have been around for a long time.


Sidewinder 2982 - 319 years old
Cobra 3100 - 201 years old
Viper 2762 - 539 years old!
Python 2700 - 601 years old
Anaconda 2856 - 445 years old

 

[znôrt]

i love my ships being rusty. as you might expect, i don't fly imperial posh crap ...

 

[Lucifera Danzig]

To give you an idea of the age of some of there ships, I don't think we are buying new, just reconditioned. I thought all the Anaconda's had been old navy frigates converted into armed freighters? All the brand new designs look pristine Cutter/Corvette, older ships look like they have been around for a long time.


Sidewinder 2982 - 319 years old
Cobra 3100 - 201 years old
Viper 2762 - 539 years old!
Python 2700 - 601 years old
Anaconda 2856 - 445 years old

Then why is the glass on the canopy of the Chieftain dirty?

 

[Rubbernuke]

Most ships in ED are like the B-52 of today, dinosaurs that never die because they simply work.

 

[Stealthie]

Then why is the glass on the canopy of the Chieftain dirty?

Cos they've all been sitting in the cargo hold of a grubby old megaship for 6 months.

Possibly.

 

[znôrt]

Then why is the glass on the canopy of the Chieftain dirty?

it's paraffin coating. you're supposed to scrub it off

 

[DNA-Decay]

I've always assumed that discounted ships are not new.

 

[GunnerBill]

it's paraffin coating. you're supposed to scrub it off

OK truth here everyone... we've all owned something then after days, weeks, even months found that the grubby cloudy screen was just a protective film from the factory...

 

[Lucifera Danzig]

OK truth here everyone... we've all owned something then after day, weeks, even months found that the grubby cloudy screen was just a protective film from the factory...

OMG I had this happen with my first smart phone. The screen got so dingy so fast and I couldn't understand why...then discovered the very very tiny edge of the protective film on the silly thing.

 

[Stealthie]

OMG I had this happen with my first smart phone. The screen got so dingy so fast and I couldn't understand why...then discovered the very very tiny edge of the protective film on the silly thing.

A mate of mine knows phones have that plastic film on the screen but still leaves it on "to protect the screen".

I don't think he understands that modern "gorilla glass" screens are almost impossible to scratch unless you're a complete rock-ape with them.

 

[GG7]

If the Asp X, Type-9 and Type-10 are anything to go by... Ships are FAR from "Brand New" right off the assembly line.

Just look at the condition of the dashboard on those ships I mentioned! I've seen 20 year old Fords and Chevys in better condition!

 

[Watcher]

Probably not new..
Then again difficult to say and we can't argue they aren't new for the newest designs like the Type-10. Then again we can perhaps argue these are cobled together from other ships??
Personally I'd quite like to see most shipyards reimagined as second hand shops with more variable stock in a wider variety of conditions and with, perhaps, previous modules and so on. Then have a few of them as actally ship manufacturing facilties, perhaps with more options for customasation and a higher price then add in some dedicated facilities with a wider range of options available.
Still, something for the future

 

[Rubbernuke]

From the description:

The Eagle is a proven combat fighter with a distinguished history. It is one of the smallest fighters available with jump capability. It has the distinction of being the only ship that has been so successful versions have been built for both the Federation and Imperial navies. This role has been superseded by the respective navies' short range fighter programmes, but the Eagle still sees extensive service across human space. Core Dynamics are no longer building these ships, but do still provide parts and servicing due to their popularity.