Community Event / Creation Asp Explorer - reimagined

Zaptruder

Zaptruder
I decided to redesign the Asp Explorer. I know Frontier Devs have already made a version for it for Elite Dangerous, but like the Imperial Courier they did, I wasn't too enamoured with it (although the new Asp is better and more fitting than the Imperial Courier is compared to its original).

To be fair, I wasn't even that enamoured with the original! But I *did* like the in universe description of the ship, and the general idea of it - designed to be the step above the Cobra MKIII - 50 tons more space for equipment, but just as fast.

In the war against the Empire, the Asp explorers were the original scout ships. Built to be fast and resilient, a surprising number of these managed to survive the reconnaissance missions they were sent upon, more often than not saved by their surprising turn of speed. All that acceleration power was often too much for one man to handle, and the two man crew often consisted of a navigator/pilot and an engine operation, whose sole task it was to monitor the engines, which were known to overheat quite rapidly in those early technology days. All engine troubles are fixed now, but the interior design of this small craft has remained more or less the same, still needed the same two man crew to fly, with navigation and piloting controls split over two consoles.

Bob’s thoughts:
This, I have to say, is one of the best looking craft to come
out of the 28th Century. I will never forget the poster I had of an Asp on my
bedroom wall as a boy — it’s sleek lines, the flat design, the way you almost
couldn’t see it when it flew head on. An Asp is a dream to fly, has enough in
the way of back seat space to carry guns that count for something, and that
acceleration. . . I’ll tell you, you haven’t felt anything until you’ve felt a 22g pull as you leave a class 3 planet atmosphere. By the way, did I mention that my Uncle Edo has a large selection of Asp’s in his warehouse at Ganymede? Tell him I sent you, and he’ll be happy to arrange a deal for you.

Jade’s thoughts:
Probably one of the best fighters going, the Asp is ideal
for the combat pilot who wants that extra bit of fire power but still have the
thruster power to keep up in combat. Asps used to be only available to military pilots, and had special self-destruct devices to prevent unauthorised use. The Explorer is the publicly available version. To get the best out of this ship, you should really consider getting a military drive, which will allow you more space for equipment or even to fit a bigger drive. When equipped with a Class 3 military drive, the Asp is ideal for courier/passenger runs and most assassination contracts. Only being able to fit one missile can be a disadvantage to the more adventurous combateer.
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So basically something sleek, violent looking fast and angular/off centered hexagon. A bit of sketching and I arrived at a shape akin to a broad head arrow tip crossed with a stealth bomber.

Let me know what you think.

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Zieman

Zieman
Zaptruder said:
To be fair, I wasn't even that enamoured with the original! But I *did* like the in universe description of the ship, and the general idea of it - designed to be the step above the Cobra MKIII - 50 tons more space for equipment, but just as fast.
Click to expand...
The ORIGINAL Asp is much faster than the Cobra mk III. :)

Elite Manual said:
Galactic Navy vessel designed and manufactured in government workshops, incorporating secret self-destruct devices which are primed to activate when the astrogation controls are used by unfamiliar hands. Integument has chameleon properties enabling the ship to assume effective camouflage in any type of environment. Intended for reconnaissance and the transport of high-ranking military personnel from combat it is very fast and maneuverable. Despite its hazardous nature it makes an ideal pirate vessel, primarily because of the speed, camouflage and high intensity Hassoni-Kruger Burst-lasers. The Asp II has room for powerful shield generators, but only one missile port.
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Zaptruder

Zaptruder
Cheers guys.

Zieman said:
I don't know what that ship is. It is not Asp.

Looks fast & dangerous though. :)
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It is quite divergent from the original design... but I chose to reimagine the design in the spirit of the original flavour text and in its role design relative to other ships (i.e. bigger faster than the Cobra, military scout ship turned civilian, fast and sleek and menacing).

If it's not the Asp Explorer... then lets call it the Asp Explorer MKII! (or the Asp MKIV).
 

Zieman

Zieman
Zaptruder said:
Cheers guys.



It is quite divergent from the original design... but I chose to reimagine the design in the spirit of the original flavour text and in its role design relative to other ships (i.e. bigger faster than the Cobra, military scout ship turned civilian, fast and sleek and menacing).

If it's not the Asp Explorer... then lets call it the Asp Explorer MKII! (or the Asp MKIV).
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Or Drake mk III ;)

Drake mk II:
Drakemk2_sm.png
 

Zaptruder

Zaptruder
It really isn't anything like the Drake.

If anything it might be a Moray Starboat.
Or its new brother the Moray Killboat.
 

Cosmos

C
I'd have never thought it was an ASP from the initial schematics you showed but I see where you are coming with the later pics.

It looks awesome fully rendered. :eek: Green engine colours too.. nice :)

I do hope we get some jaw dropping ships in game. I like the ships they've put in the game so far but none of them as it stands have a look that says, 'I must have that ship', but I could defo see myself in this bad boy ;) I want one!
 
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Zaptruder

Zaptruder
Cosmos said:
I'd have never thought it was an ASP from the initial schematics you showed but I see where you are coming with the later pics.

It looks awesome fully rendered. :eek: Green engine colours too.. nice :)

I do hope we get some jaw dropping ships in game. I like the ships they've put in the game so far but none of them as it stands have a look that says, 'I must have that ship', but I could defo see myself in this bad boy ;) I want one!
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I'm starting to warm to the name the Moray Killboat. Where the manufacturers decided to embrace the legacy of the Starboat and go all out into a warship.

Performance profile is based off the Asp - 150 tons (or 1.5 times the size of a Cobra MKIII), faster ship with capacity for more equipment and better shielding.

But whatever the case is, I'd agree with the sentiment... the game needs a series of Whoa I want that ships in each class/category - ships that you trade up from and then ships that you keep because they're just that cool.
 

Cosmos

C
Zaptruder said:
I'm starting to warm to the name the Moray Killboat. Where the manufacturers decided to embrace the legacy of the Starboat and go all out into a warship.

Performance profile is based off the Asp - 150 tons (or 1.5 times the size of a Cobra MKIII), faster ship with capacity for more equipment and better shielding.
.
Click to expand...

I'm not fond of the killboat name myself. I think one thing we aren't considering is that the ships have various versions. In the old flight manual it says Asp MK II. So what did the MK I look like? maybe this could be the MK III?

I could think of a few names that have a bit of punch to them, just some ideas..

Tiamat
Fulcrum
Hydra
Medusa
Typhon

:)
 

Asp Explorer

Asp Explorer
It's a nice model, but it doesn't have that Asp vibe for me.

I can agree with the Moray Starboat feel in it though.

And if it's definitely a snake-ship and not an eel-ship, how about Keelback as a name? Still, nicely done!
 
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