Ships Imperial Cutter Speculation Thread

[Poseidal]

As it is now 'officially announced', what do people speculate about the Imperial Cutter?



We have the concept (above). Plus it was mentioned in Michael Brookes' novel as ligher armoured but more manoeuvrable than the 'Conda.

I think it is the successor the Imperial Explorer from FFE (although I would still like an Imperial Explorer as a separate, exploring ship), as it fits that bracket size-wise.

Any more news or speculation on it?

 

[Clumsywordsmith]

Looks like a big clipper.

Judging from the specs on its Fed equivalent, two huge hard points -- one on each wing pod -- but with convergence issues even worse than the clipper's due to size difference.

Competitive outfit will cost about 500m, but have shields equivalent to an FDL/Python outfitted for 100m.

Will require grinding a couple thousand charity missions to pilot.

Though I am quite excited about this ship... Actually the only ship so far I'm wanting to get back in and grind the credits for. Just keeping my expectations.... Realistic...

 

[Futuristic Kung Fu]

I think that concept art turned into the Clipper. As for the Cutter, I think it will be awhile before I have the credits and rank to get it.

 

[Vreynn]

It seems more like this is the Cutter, all the way on the right:

Which was later colored:

The cockpit canopy is farther up and back (FDL style), the main fuselage is much wider, it appears to slope down in back (similar to the Courier), and the engine pods have much more triangular profiles. This particular art feels like a nice cross between an FDL and Courier for something as big or slightly bigger than the Clipper. If the Cutter wound up based off of the concept art in the first post, I feel it would feel far too samey to the existing Clipper, while the design in these two images is different enough from existing designs while still evoking Gutamaya design inspiration.

 

[Futuristic Kung Fu]

It seems more like this is the Cutter, all the way on the right:

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb...ous/images/0/0a/Imperial_Courier_sketches.jpg

Which was later colored:

http://s5.postimg.org/5q4sdl747/724_max.jpg

The cockpit canopy is farther up and back (FDL style), the main fuselage is much wider, it appears to slope down in back (similar to the Courier), and the engine pods have much more triangular profiles. This particular art feels like a nice cross between an FDL and Courier for something as big or slightly bigger than the Clipper. If the Cutter wound up based off of the concept art in the first post, I feel it would feel far too samey to the existing Clipper, while the design in these two images is different enough from existing designs while still evoking Gutamaya design inspiration.

Can't decide wether your pics are weird or awesome!!
As to the pic in the OP, look at the wing. That is the clipper.

 

[newman1702]

My speculation is that it will be a royal pain to grind the ranks for it. Maybe I'll get lucky again, the new Emperor will fall into a coma and wake up, and they'll have a celebratory rank relaxation again

Would be cool if the Cutter would have enough space for a Courier or two on board. I also have this weird need to use an Adder as a shuttle. I would also speculate that the ship will probably inherit the Clipper's advantages and drawbacks; good speed and maneuverability for it's size, nice firepower though hardpoint placements requires gimbals / turrets, maxed out shields still aren't great but cost a fortune.

 

[Poseidal]

It seems more like this is the Cutter, all the way on the right:

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb...ous/images/0/0a/Imperial_Courier_sketches.jpg

Which was later colored:

http://s5.postimg.org/5q4sdl747/724_max.jpg

The cockpit canopy is farther up and back (FDL style), the main fuselage is much wider, it appears to slope down in back (similar to the Courier), and the engine pods have much more triangular profiles. This particular art feels like a nice cross between an FDL and Courier for something as big or slightly bigger than the Clipper. If the Cutter wound up based off of the concept art in the first post, I feel it would feel far too samey to the existing Clipper, while the design in these two images is different enough from existing designs while still evoking Gutamaya design inspiration.

I think that is an older concept than the more Clipper looking Cutter, though if you can find the dates when they were posted and made, that would settle things.

I miss the old 'hammerhead' on the Imperial Explorer though...

 

[Futuristic Kung Fu]

I think that is an older concept than the more Clipper looking Cutter, though if you can find the dates when they were posted and made, that would settle things.

I miss the old 'hammerhead' on the Imperial Explorer though...

That concept art is to similar to the Clipper. Especially the wing. It is the Clipper. I'll keep on believing that until I'm proven wrong by the devs. Which is probably just a matter of time.

 

[Poseidal]

That concept art is to similar to the Clipper. Especially the wing. It is the Clipper. I'll keep on believing that until I'm proven wrong by the devs. Which is probably just a matter of time.

The nacelles are more forward placed (similar to the Courier) on that concept than the Clipper. The Clipper nacelles are in line with her rear, while on the concept labelled Cutter, they are about 2/3 or 3/4 the way down.

It has the large sweeping back part in the centre the Clipper doesn't have.

 

[Mephane]

Well, the artwork in the OP looks quite clearly like a direct precursor to the design of the Imperial Clipper. I would hazard a guess that very early on already FD made the concept art for the various ships released over the past months as well as the ones yet to come. The picture above was meant to become the Cutter, and some other design the Clipper, and then they swapped, for example. Or after making that design, they had an idea for a different Imperial design and wanted to use that for the Cutter instead, but also use the design they had already made, and thus the Clipper was born. Who knows.

Anyway, it'll probably feature the same central hull + nacelles layout and of course the distinct white+black colour and blue glowing detail, but otherwise may have a quite original look. Just compare the Clipper and the Courier and how they look quite different even though they both start with the same premise.

I personally hope it'll be not as wide as the Clipper, with the nacelles closer to the central hull, possibly even without any connecting "wing" piece, but organically emerging from the hull, beginning at about the middle between fore and aft and then stretching all the way back to aft.

 

[Arubeto]

I don't know if it was in "Legacy", but I am pretty sure I read somewhere that the Cutter is supposed to be significantly larger than the Clipper, not just slightly. If the Cutter is supposed to be the imperial counterpart of the Federal Corvette, as in it being the largest player controllable ship in the Empire, I am really looking forward to see and fly one of those things eventually. I really like the visual and audio designs of the ships constructed by Gutamaya, so seeing, hearing and witnessing their largest creation - apart from the capital ship class "Interdictor" - will be awesome!

I still hope that we eventually get some major faction related missions, where we will be part of large scale operations - something similar to the big standoff at the end of "Elite Dangerous Reclamation" - with fleets consisting completely of faction specific ships. Just imagine being part of an Imperial fleet consisting of an Interdictor, several Cutters and Clippers and a lot of Couriers and Imperial Eagles, to raid some pirate stronghold or defend some system from invading Thargoids! To me, that sounds exactly like the type of mission I was hoping for from the beginning!

 

[TheSisko]

Gutamaya sure know how to build their ships.

Loved the Clipper and the Courier. Looking forward to seeing the Cutter.

 

[Krezan]

Really hoping this is good or I might defect. Imperial ships just aren't doing it fore me at the minute. Just seem to be show offs with no real purpose (although I haven't tried the clipper at the minute). Wondering how they carved out an empire in the first place.

 

[Arrichion]

The Clipper is one of the best all-around ships in the game and blows the Dropship out of the water. It has excellent speed, good maneuverability, strong shields, a tough hull, lots of module space, and abundant power. The only drawbacks are hard point placement and physical size.

 

[Lily from anim.o.v.e]

The Clipper is one of the best all-around ships in the game and blows the Dropship out of the water. It has excellent speed, good maneuverability, strong shields, a tough hull, lots of module space, and abundant power. The only drawbacks are hard point placement and physical size.

You mean as long as this "all-around" is not around outposts.

tbh at he moment a ship can not even dock at outposts it's kinda losing it's allrounder ability, because it already starts to be very restrictive in usage.
less trading possibilities, less mission possibilities, less refit and refule possibilities.

 

[Mephane]

You mean as long as this "all-around" is not around outposts.

tbh at he moment a ship can not even dock at outposts it's kinda losing it's allrounder ability, because it already starts to be very restrictive in usage.
less trading possibilities, less mission possibilities, less refit and refule possibilities.

And if you are fighting in a system with only outposts, you cannot collect bounties or combat bonds without having a small ship parked at a starport to switch over to. (This is one thing the hangar+fighter feature next year will be awesome for, but I don't expect the Clipper to carry a fighter - but the Cutter should, according to the Elite: Legacy, be able to carry 2 Imperial Fighters.)

 

[who?]

You mean as long as this "all-around" is not around outposts.

tbh at he moment a ship can not even dock at outposts it's kinda losing it's allrounder ability, because it already starts to be very restrictive in usage. less trading possibilities, less mission possibilities, less refit and refule possibilities.

I wonder if the ability to launch craft in Horizons might change this - if the Clipper (or Cutter etc.) can launch Sideys etc. which can dock with Outposts, can you then fulfil (non-cargo) missions? Can you refuel your Clipper from a Sidewinder?

 

[Vreynn]

It's possible the reason why the very large trading ships are reserved for season 2 is because the ships require huge landing pads, which would only be found on planet surfaces. Non-season 2 owners wouldn't be able to purchase ships which could only be docked on huge pads.

Having a smaller dockable ship on board these would allow these enormous ships to interact with stations for all but outfitting and shipyard services.

 

[Arubeto]

Can you refuel your Clipper from a Sidewinder?

If the Sidewinder has a fuel transfer drone, why not?

But seriously, enabling very large ships - Anaconda and above - to interact with Outposts, albeit in a slightly more complicated way, using their small ship-launched fighter craft could be a cool addition and would add a very welcome layer of complexity when deciding which ship to use.

 

[Lily from anim.o.v.e]

I wonder if the ability to launch craft in Horizons might change this - if the Clipper (or Cutter etc.) can launch Sideys etc. which can dock with Outposts, can you then fulfil (non-cargo) missions? Can you refuel your Clipper from a Sidewinder?

with outfitting your sidewinder with a fuel limpet controller and some fuel cargo space AND limpet drones (which consume cargo space) it would work with the current system. But that would be a painfull slow process just for like 4 tons of fuel to be transferred.
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=701,5QG5QG,2-3w3w3w2M2M2M22,5Bk03w5f6
If the game even will have a mechanic to directly laod cargo form the motherships cargo to the shuttle cargo, then yes just slap in extra fuel cargo. it would at leats help to refuel when suddenly running out of fuel. And maybe the clipper will be able to house a single imperial fighter. I wonder if carrying fighters will require putting a fighter bay into a internal module slot or of this will be an additional "free slot"