Frontier: Please show the Imperial Clipper some love in 2019 and give it a buff !

[SAB380]

So many drawbacks stop this from being more useful:

• No ability to land on medium pad
• Small fuel tank
• Heavy mass
• Low shields (particularly odd relative to the Courier and Cutter which are known for great shield strength)
• Bad weapon convergence

The fantasy of course is the Clipper being able to land on medium pads but that requires a fair bit of rework on the ship and Frontier want to concentrate on new ships instead. Not going to argue with them ... instead how can we ask for the ship to become more useful:


We've seen Frontier is willing and able to go back and fix ships by tweaking the stats.
This has HUGELY improved ships like the Type 9 (and even the already popular FDL)

Easy stat based fix options for the Clipper:

1. Increase fuel tank from 16T to 32T or even 64T
2. Decrease the mass from 400 to 300

These two changes together would make it more useful as an explorer and long range traveller - people have requested an Imperial ship to explore in for a long time and this would provide the option without need for releasing another ship.
Both the Python and Krait have 32T tanks and are still both a fair bit lighter.

With a little more work Frontier could look at the long underside of the ship that currently has nothing there:

• Add a large hardpoint on the underside of the ship. and/or
• Add a fighter bay (through personally not a fan of this option)

Maybe something unique to seperate it more from the Python/Krait weapon layout - delete the two medium weapons on the wing tips and put a huge hard point underneath for a total of 1H + 2L

Even with multiple changes together, it still doesn't become unbalanced and a lot of people are still going to prefer their Python or Krait (or FDL for combat). But this would provide an alternative for those that want something different.

Thoughts?

 

[Freelancer Knux]

Imho it only requires an increase in shield strength. A 7A shield should not produce such a low number it is ridiculous.

 

[Captain Willard]

I own three, it's perfect as is. We definitely don't need another combat ship. If you don't like it. Don't fly it.

 

[SAB380]

I own three, it's perfect as is. We definitely don't need another combat ship. If you don't like it. Don't fly it.

What a bizarre post.

 

[Bortas]

Maybe something unique to seperate it more from the Python/Krait weapon layout - delete the two medium weapons on the wing tips and put a huge hard point underneath for a total of 1H + 2L

Even with multiple changes together, it still doesn't become unbalanced and a lot of people are still going to prefer their Python or Krait (or FDL for combat). But this would provide an alternative for those that want something different.

Thoughts?

Anything requiring to change the ship model (hardpoints, size, fighter bay etc.) isn't going to happen. If anything they could tweak the base stats a bit.

But let's take a closer look at it and let's compare it to its federal counterpart, the Dropship.

- Hull mass: Tbh 400t seems reasonable for a ship of this size, especially if you compare it to the smaller Dropship's 580t. If anything, the Dropship could use a mass reduction, not the Clipper
- Fuel tank: With 16t it's sitting in the same boat with the Dropship. Sure, 32t would be nice for both and wouldn't unbalance things, so why not. Otoh other ships, like the Mamba and FdL are cursed by even smaller tanks.
- Shield strength: This is indeed a bit low for a ship of this size. The Dropship has even weaker shields though. A small buff in the 20-30% range would be nice for both.

 

[rrobes]

Requests have been made for ship modifications regularly. Few are made.

We all have ships that could be made much more enjoyable (for ourselves), sometimes I think that FD doesn't do this because they fear the ripple effect of the change(s).

I would love a Corvette MkII, a bit more speed and get rid of the #1 and #3 hard points and make them #2s, something to make it different.

 

[Bortas]

Requests have been made for ship modifications regularly. Few are made.

We all have ships that could be made much more enjoyable (for ourselves), sometimes I think that FD doesn't do this because they fear the ripple effect of the change(s).

I would love a Corvette MkII, a bit more speed and get rid of the #1 and #3 hard points and make them #2s, something to make it different.

Well there's still a chance we will get a few new imperial ships in 2019, maybe even Clipper variants. The feds got their dropship variants and the Alliance got the chieftains, so the Imperials will probably be next.

 

[SAB380]

Anything requiring to change the ship model (hardpoints, size, fighter bay etc.) isn't going to happen. If anything they could tweak the base stats a bit.

But let's take a closer look at it and let's compare it to its federal counterpart, the Dropship.

- Hull mass: Tbh 400t seems reasonable for a ship of this size, especially if you compare it to the smaller Dropship's 580t. If anything, the Dropship could use a mass reduction, not the Clipper
- Fuel tank: With 16t it's sitting in the same boat with the Dropship. Sure, 32t would be nice for both and wouldn't unbalance things, so why not. Otoh other ships, like the Mamba and FdL are cursed by even smaller tanks.
- Shield strength: This is indeed a bit low for a ship of this size. The Dropship has even weaker shields though. A small buff in the 20-30% range would be nice for both.

I agree, ship remodelling has basically zero chance.
The Mamba and FDL are both cursed by small tanks but are extremely strong at in their intended roles. (The Mamba probably needs changes to make it more of an alternative to the FDL but that's another thread!)

 

[SAB380]

Requests have been made for ship modifications regularly. Few are made.

We all have ships that could be made much more enjoyable (for ourselves), sometimes I think that FD doesn't do this because they fear the ripple effect of the change(s).

I would love a Corvette MkII, a bit more speed and get rid of the #1 and #3 hard points and make them #2s, something to make it different.

All true. Don't want a ripple effect of constant requests. But they have shown they will alter ship stats if the ship is so far under par it needs something added to cause people to use it.
The fact the Corvette is extremely popular and extremely good in certain aspects means its unlikely to be tweaked.
I'd be curious to see ship ownership and usage rates from the devs .... how many people are actually using the Clipper when the Python or Krait are better in almost every way?

 

[Red Rocket]

I like the clipper but only having 16 tons of fuel on a large ship is ridiculous.
16 tons on a large ship is just plain stupid.

 

[SAB380]

Well there's still a chance we will get a few new imperial ships in 2019, maybe even Clipper variants. The feds got their dropship variants and the Alliance got the chieftains, so the Imperials will probably be next.

I look at this in 2 ways:

1. A new medium Imperial ship would be great and would reduce the need to tweak the Clipper
2. A new medium Imperial ship if its any good (a larger iCourier?) would kill Clipper usage all together. What reason would anyone have to use it at that point?

 

[mrxtheta]

1. Increase of fuel tank.
2. Reduce mass.
3. Increase size of FSD module.

 

[metatheurgist]

Fuel tank issue can be fixed by a extra tank...but no one wants to compromise now do they.

 

[Bortas]

Fuel tank issue can be fixed by a extra tank...but no one wants to compromise now do they.

Not if they can buy a ship which doesn't require such compromise and just use that instead, which is perfectly reasonable.

 

[SAB380]

1. Increase of fuel tank.
2. Reduce mass.
3. Increase size of FSD module.

FSD range is decent already and reducing the hull mass will provide a good jump in FSD range automatically.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

The Clipper is in a great position where it is. Its not a shield tank, its fast, that's its main draw and packs a decent punch as well while having lots of internals. As a multirole ship it excels.

In terms of ships that need looking at, the Clipper is waaaay down the list.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

Not if they can buy a ship which doesn't require such compromise and just use that instead, which is perfectly reasonable.

My Clipper got me to Sag A absolutely fine with a fuel tank added (pre-3.3, so I'd have an extra slot now). That's the only time the small tank was an issue for. Not saying I wouldn't mind a tweak though, I don't think this is it's biggest problem. Properly engineered you can get 50ly jump range with all the modules you'd need including a fuel tank.

Hardpoints are the only issue for me. It's a big ship, so why can it only fit the same hardpoints as a Krait Phantom? Also, I don't think there's a ship with worse convergence. Trouble is, tweak it too much and I'd have no reason to use anything else.

 

[Crimson Kaim]

Imho it only requires an increase in shield strength. A 7A shield should not produce such a low number it is ridiculous.

This and maybe an extra fighter bay. It has alot of internal space but was developed upon release where fighter bays weren't a thing or being thought of. I believe a bay would do the Clipper some good.

 

[xondk]

So many drawbacks stop this from being more useful:

• No ability to land on medium pad
• Small fuel tank
• Heavy mass
• Low shields (particularly odd relative to the Courier and Cutter which are known for great shield strength)
• Bad weapon convergence

The fantasy of course is the Clipper being able to land on medium pads but that requires a fair bit of rework on the ship and Frontier want to concentrate on new ships instead. Not going to argue with them ... instead how can we ask for the ship to become more useful:


We've seen Frontier is willing and able to go back and fix ships by tweaking the stats.
This has HUGELY improved ships like the Type 9 (and even the already popular FDL)

Easy stat based fix options for the Clipper:

1. Increase fuel tank from 16T to 32T or even 64T
2. Decrease the mass from 400 to 300

These two changes together would make it more useful as an explorer and long range traveller - people have requested an Imperial ship to explore in for a long time and this would provide the option without need for releasing another ship.
Both the Python and Krait have 32T tanks and are still both a fair bit lighter.

With a little more work Frontier could look at the long underside of the ship that currently has nothing there:

• Add a large hardpoint on the underside of the ship. and/or
• Add a fighter bay (through personally not a fan of this option)

Maybe something unique to seperate it more from the Python/Krait weapon layout - delete the two medium weapons on the wing tips and put a huge hard point underneath for a total of 1H + 2L

Even with multiple changes together, it still doesn't become unbalanced and a lot of people are still going to prefer their Python or Krait (or FDL for combat). But this would provide an alternative for those that want something different.

Thoughts?

Yeah, it has disadvantages, but its advantages are quite big especially its price point, it really doesn't seem like it needs an upgrade, otherwise you'll just end up blanding, you need variety and differences, it is a great ship especially for its price.

 

[Bortas]

The Clipper is in a great position where it is. Its not a shield tank, its fast, that's its main draw and packs a decent punch as well while having lots of internals. As a multirole ship it excels.

Does it? Speed aside, as this is mostly uselss in most situations... what exactly does the Clipper excel at, if you compare it to - say - the Python?

- The Clipper has considarably lower internal space, despite being a large ship
- The Clipper has considerably weaker shields, despite being larger
- The Clipper has smaller core internals (PP and PD) despite being larger
- The Clipper has fewer hardpoints despite being larger
- To make things worse, these hardpoints have horrible convergence
- The Clipper has lower MLF, despite being larger.
- Being a large ship, it can't dock at Outposts, excluding it from doing the most profitable missions.

Sure, flying the Clipper feels good... it's cool, but let's be honest. Once you get over it, what's left to rectify chosing a Clipper?

And before you are saying the Python is an anomly... just compare it with the Krait MK2 or the Phantom... same result.

So all that is left is that it's faster... but... so what? Speed is probably the least useful stat for a multi role ship. I would prefer it being 20% slower but better in all the other regards.

And that's in a great position? Really?