Panther clipper.... Have we preemptively hyped it out of existence?

[Unknown Zombie]

I wish they'd just release a ship called the Panther Clipper so everyone could stop making posts about when we'll ever get one.

This isn't a dig at the OP -- I think the OP is right on the money that no matter what the ship turns out to be it will not live up to the very strange level of hype it has grown.

 

[Siobhan]

Hmm, just a thought... might the mighty panther clipper be introduced as the much vaunted (and equally vaporous) fleet carrier?

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

Hmm, just a thought... might the mighty panther clipper be introduced as the much vaunted (and equally vaporous) fleet carrier?

That's been speculated on a lot too, and I'd be furious if it really happens.

 

[777Driver]

over about 500t the profit per canister goes down (for A-B trading)

The bulk freighter tax does slightly help to balance things. However, from what I was seeing with the BGS trading, profits can still be enormous A-B-A if you fly the correct routes (no idea if that has changed over the last 6 weeks)

Still, we could really do with 1500/2000T capacity workhorse for combining humanitarian and repair missions with regular A-B-A and standard high paying missions. I rarely take the humanitarian freighter missions, time is money in this game.. 788T capacity on a T9, I'm filling that hold up with high paying metals or narcotics/weapons.

Personally, I'd like to see the Panther as the first ship that requires an NPC crew. Make it an extreme profit ship, but also give it a running cost.

 

[DDastardly00]

I don't see why people want a ship the size of a Panther Clipper, it's not like it's hard to earn credits in ED.
Cutter, Corvette, Beluga, T9 and T10 are big enough imho.
I'm all for new ships, ED is all about ships, but a Panther Clipper is definitely not what I'm waiting for, a medium sized Gutamaya ship or explorer, that's a whole other story!

This is where I'm at too, we already have Type 9 and a Type 10, we don't need a Type-11. I would rather see a new medium pad ship or new small fighter than another large transport ship that flies like a cement block dipped in iron.

 

[Stealthie]

Be carefult what you wish for.

If people make a big fuss about the Panther Clipper, FDev might just decide to provide it in the form of a mutant cross between a Keelback and a T9, and that'll be your lot. It's done, finished, cross it off the "to do" list.

Personally, I'd rather wait until there's additional functionality in the game to allow for delivery-shuttles or exterior-docking for extra-large ships etc.

 

[Siobhan]

Be carefult what you wish for.

If people make a big fuss about the Panther Clipper, FDev might just decide to provide it in the form of a mutant cross between a Keelback and a T9, and that'll be your lot. It's done, finished, cross it off the "to do" list.

Personally, I'd rather wait until there's additional functionality in the game to allow for delivery-shuttles or exterior-docking for extra-large ships etc.

You mean... a T-10?

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

Be carefult what you wish for.

If people make a big fuss about the Panther Clipper, FDev might just decide to provide it in the form of a mutant cross between a Keelback and a T9, and that'll be your lot. It's done, finished, cross it off the "to do" list.

Give me, give me, give me. New stuff for new ships, Panther for heavy workload.

 

[Jaggedmallard]

Didn't they originally plan for it to be added with Umbilical docking? I imagine the existence of megaships has done more to prevent its addition though, it calls into question the purpose of a ship thats too big to compete with ships capable of standard docking but too small to compete with megaships.

 

[777Driver]

I imagine the existence of megaships has done more to prevent its addition though.

The ship was originally designed to fit on a large pad. You can find plenty of concept art for the Panther Clipper. Here's a pic that was used to Promote Horizons.

Megaships are the equivalent of 'OOCL G-Class' Container ships or Ultra Large Crude Carriers. Absolute monsters. There was never meant to be any competition with player ships, they are just assets to interact with.

As far as player controlled freighters, plenty of room on an L pad for a larger class freighter, the design would need to be boxy, like the concept art we have seen.