Are we going to see more ship roles ?

[sivrintear]

So we have fighter/multi-purpose/freighter but how about miner/explorer/smuggler

Miner:
Mines faster, can carry lots of ore but not much normal cargo, heavy shields and hull for dealing with the harshness of space.

Explorer:
Light weapons, extremely fast, long jump distance with hardly any cargo space and room for huge scanning potential.

Smuggler:
Silent Running Optimized, fast, low cargo, chance to not have a scan succeed

To make the more ships coming worth it their purpose really needs to expand.

 

[SJT]

What are you after?

Healer

Buffer

Tank

 

[MadDogMurdock]

That's why equipment is modular, so you can create these specialized ships. Go play with it.

 

[Joe Spivey]

And let's not forget the passenger ships like the Orca.

 

[karel]

I want more specialized fighters, and support ships, should it be repairing/shielding and that are able to provide energy... or intel, or EW (disabling ships, engines, intel, whatever ... or maybe just throwing decoys and hiding signatures) ... support devices that make parts of the enemy ship overheat, ships used to track ship/plant emitters, etc

Maybe bombers for heavy ships and stations (or atmospheric fighting?), or long range engagement ships.

 

[jinja]

So we have fighter/multi-purpose/freighter but how about miner/explorer/smuggler

All already possible, with more ships and options to come...

Miner:
Mines faster, can carry lots of ore but not much normal cargo, heavy shields and hull for dealing with the harshness of space.

Sounds like maybe a Lakon T6 (or T9 for overkill) - modules: drop cargo racks for refinery modules (though I would keep some cargo space for the refined product): buy better power and shield mods/ buy better hull plating (bulkheads): fit lots of mining lasers: fit new power unit and power distributor (to keep shields up longer and keep lasers mining longer) - good luck scooping all the rocks fast enough though.

Explorer:
Light weapons, extremely fast, long jump distance with hardly any cargo space and room for huge scanning potential.

Asp, fully kitted with top-notch scanners, decent fsd, and repair units (and charges) is the best explorer ship atm. Cobra, fitted right, would better match your request for fast, and lightly armored (well, light-medium guns, I guess).

Smuggler:
Silent Running Optimized, fast, low cargo, chance to not have a scan succeed

I'm thinking Eagle or Viper here. Low power modules, and turn as much off as possible. Lots of heat-sink launchers could be a viable tactic too. Then, sneaky, sneaky...line up... go, go, go...get in the door of that starport as fast as you can!

To make the more ships coming worth it their purpose really needs to expand.

You did know you can buy different modules, right? They really can change the character of a ship significantly, (as can turning various things on/off).