It just dawned on me about 2.1....

[Tinman]

This is the first major expansion where there are no new ships! Nor are we getting any additional SRV types.

I fully appreciate all the hard work that has gone into getting this release done, but it does feel like it would also be a good time to add some new variants, especially in the mid-range (basically I'm saying a new Python variant).

I suspect the reason is FDev would rather test the balancing of all the new modifications on existing ships.

But additionally no new SRV? This one does surprise me due to the nature of Horizons (and also what appears to be no blueprints for upgrading SRVs with better drives, jumps, etc).

Anyway this wasn't really a complaint, more an observation. I'm super pumped for the beta landing and will actually be making time to do another long overdue video

I'll just copy&paste something I wrote a couple of days ago in response to another question:

From an old interview with one of the 3D modellers:

Some of our forum members are curious about how the ship interiors are coming along. How much of the cockpit and general interior will be fully modelled for initial release?

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7412

There are other times when they've said the same thing.

So the interiors are blocked out and planned for even if the details at that time wasn't a priority. Obviously these "blockout pieces" are not in the game currently because there would be no reason to include them yet.

Notice how last year they "finished off" the "promised" 30 ships? Notice how we aren't going to get a new ship in 2.1 and that they have said that new ships are not a priority this Season...(I still suspect a passenger ship or two might appear though)

Notice what the next bulletpoint on this list "in no particular order" is:

• Landing / driving / prospecting on airless rocky planets, moons & asteroids (Elite Dangerous: Horizons)
• Walking around interiors and combative boarding of other ships
• Combat and other interactions with other players and AIs in the internal areas of star ports
• Accessing richly detailed planetary surfaces
• Availability of giant ‘executive control’ ships to players

What could they possibly be up too?

If they are indeed working on ship interiors for Season 3 it would make sense to limit any new ships coming out. The exception might be a passenger ship or two (beyond the Orca) if that is coming in 2.2.

 

[Allant Doran]

I am totally okay with not seeing new ships for a long while. New ships, while adding to the flavour, are often quick bursts of satisfaction. They are more instantly gratifying than working on new gameplay mechanics and fleshing out old ones.

At the moment I feel Elite has a fantastic variety of ships for the variety of gameplay it offers. It is not worth the time and effort, in my mind, spending resources on a new ship that is basically summed up as ''A python with less health, more speed and different hardpoints.''

It is my personal opinion as to what is wrong with Star Citizen currently. They are constantly releasing ship after ship after ship after ship and yet there is no gameplay there for anything that isn't designed to have guns and fight other ships.

I am optimistic about SC as a game, but I prefer what Elite is doing currently. We have our backbone of ships, now it is time to spend a year (the 2.x cycle, in my mind) getting some more features in the game before adding more ships.

 

[xondk]

I saw that as well, but it looked more like just concept art where the cargo rack in the back was more prominent.

This was what I saw.

Yeah, front mounted weapons too, and bigger cargo area, we will see.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

This is the first major expansion where there are no new ships! Nor are we getting any additional SRV types.

I fully appreciate all the hard work that has gone into getting this release done, but it does feel like it would also be a good time to add some new variants, especially in the mid-range (basically I'm saying a new Python variant).

I suspect the reason is FDev would rather test the balancing of all the new modifications on existing ships.

But additionally no new SRV? This one does surprise me due to the nature of Horizons (and also what appears to be no blueprints for upgrading SRVs with better drives, jumps, etc).

Anyway this wasn't really a complaint, more an observation. I'm super pumped for the beta landing and will actually be making time to do another long overdue video

My guess is that, if 2.2 truly is about passenger missions, then more ships are guaranteed-if only the Beluga & Dolphin class......though I suspect we might see a Puma & Panther thrown in as well!

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Makes a ok sense in my book, get stuff out and test it with existing stuff, get it balanced, that way when you add the new ships and such those can be balanced according to the balance that then is in 2.1.

I mean 2.2 is going to upset balance again, with fighters, could imagine them adding srv's at least there at that time, unsure about other ships.

Oh, imagine combat specialist SRV's going head-to-head with fighters at low altitude .

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I'll just copy&paste something I wrote a couple of days ago in response to another question:



If they are indeed working on ship interiors for Season 3 it would make sense to limit any new ships coming out. The exception might be a passenger ship or two (beyond the Orca) if that is coming in 2.2.

Not just the strict passenger ships. I suspect we will see the rest of the truly huge trade & transport ships before this year is out-Tiger, Lion, Puma & Panther. Tell you what, though, I'd *love* to see Lynx Bulk Carriers flying around within star systems!!!

 

[Ozric]

I think that we will get at least 1 new SRV type with Guardians to go along with the ships from CQC for ship launched fighters... including the Krait!

 

[Voz]

Remember which newsletter?

#120

 

[TheDayman]

I really want a hoverbike-type SRV. Don't know why, but I think it'd be a lot of fun canyon racing in those.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

I think that we will get at least 1 new SRV type with Guardians to go along with the ships from CQC for ship launched fighters... including the Krait!

Ultimately, I suspect we will end up with an SRV specialized for carrying cargo (great cargo capacity & decent speed, but poor weapons and sensors) & one specialized for combat (no cargo capacity, decent sensors & great weapons/defense).

 

[CMDR Poet Starwind]

Untrue, there is a new vehicle for 2.1 - a shiny new hype train!

 

[Titus Balls]

Untrue, there is a new vehicle for 2.1 - a shiny new hype train!

 

[Iskariot]

This is the first major expansion where there are no new ships! Nor are we getting any additional SRV types.

I fully appreciate all the hard work that has gone into getting this release done, but it does feel like it would also be a good time to add some new variants, especially in the mid-range (basically I'm saying a new Python variant).

I suspect the reason is FDev would rather test the balancing of all the new modifications on existing ships.

But additionally no new SRV? This one does surprise me due to the nature of Horizons (and also what appears to be no blueprints for upgrading SRVs with better drives, jumps, etc).

Anyway this wasn't really a complaint, more an observation. I'm super pumped for the beta landing and will actually be making time to do another long overdue video

Who could be against it?
Everybody wants new toys. I sure do.

A Python variant would be interesting for sure, if it also got some interesting physical changes.

I myself would also love to see a militarized version of the T-9.
I think the T-9 is an awesome looking monster, but it is so weak.
The T-9 looks so incredibly awesome as it takes of in this Horizons launch trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiDpiP0OE8k),
but you can destroy that beast in no time.
It would be cool to have a much more expensive, heavily armoured and armed variant.

 

[Ozric]

I really want a hoverbike-type SRV. Don't know why, but I think it'd be a lot of fun canyon racing in those.

Oh yeah, like the speeder bikes in RotJ

Ultimately, I suspect we will end up with an SRV specialized for carrying cargo (great cargo capacity & decent speed, but poor weapons and sensors) & one specialized for combat (no cargo capacity, decent sensors & great weapons/defense).

Ultimately I'm hoping there's gonna be more than 3 types, I think DBOBE already hinted at 4 types, you are also missing the tank SRV

 

[kofeyh]

Who could be against it?
Every body wants new toys. I sure do.

A Python variant would be interesting for sure, if it also got some interesting physical changes.

I myself would also love to see a militarized version of the T-9.
I think the T-9 is an awesome looking monster, but it is so weak.
It would be cool to have a much more expensive, heavily armoured and armed variant.

That would be the Cutter.

 

[Monk]

Personally, I'm quite happy that much of the focus of this expansion is in core updates.

Engineers are snazzy and all but the following are what I get excited about:

Improved AI
AI ships to engage near planet surface
Asteroid graphics improvement!!!!!
Terrain graphics improvement
Lighting overhaul
New weapons
Variation in weapon FX
Thruster upgrades for small ships
ATC comm chatter with stations
Mission overhaul
Mission personalization
Increased mission information
USS overhaul
Nav Beacons made relevant
ICE MINING AND RES!!!
New wrecks
Outfitting UI overhaul
And probably more I can't think of


If this is what I get for forgoing new ships and shinies this update, then I think it is a very worth while compromise.

 

[Iskariot]

That would be the Cutter.

No not at all. There is more than enough room to give a militarized T9 version it's own niche.
I am thinking of a base price approximately between 100 and 120 million credits.
That is much more expensive than the current T9 price of just over 73 mil. but much less expensive than the Cutter and also still less expensive than the Anaconda.
This military variant would lose some cargo space to make room for perhaps more power and a larger FSD.
This would be necessary, because it would weigh a lot more as it is heavier because of the added armour.
It would also get a better weapon placement and better weapons in general.

If I were the FD ship designer I would really go to town with the redesign and make it look even more menacing and monstrous and give it a more enclosed bridge as opposed to the very open and fragile glass bridge the current T9 has.
The ship should look so evil that everybody would want one .

 

[kofeyh]

Improved AI

There are some swell toys and what not. Yay for map waypoints. New weapon options will be tight; but really at this point? - this is all I actually genuinely care about. AI that isn't (as) stupid. The QoL improvement this has the potential to bring is pretty sizable.

 

[Kicks]

There are some swell toys and what not. Yay for map waypoints. New weapon options will be tight; but really at this point? - this is all I actually genuinely care about. AI that isn't (as) stupid. The QoL this has the potential to bring is pretty sizable.

Truth. In fact the only thing that annoyed me about some of the other Betas were the QoL improvements, and then not having them in the main game until, you know, release.

First world Kicks Problems.

 

[John Stoutbeard]

It just dawned on me ...

This is the first beta stage I haven't seen anyone go bananas demanding to abandon all development and releases in favour of fixing the the broken game.
Where did they go?

 

[TheDayman]

It just dawned on me ...

This is the first beta stage I haven't seen anyone go bananas demanding to abandon all development and releases in favour of fixing the the broken game.
Where did they go?

Shhh, you'll startle them from hibernation