Krait? (Again)

Steph · Jan 19, 2015

I have faith! There has probably been quite an amount of decision making going on inside Frontier Towers about which ships have to be in from the start for the sake of progression and variety. After that its a case of "fleshing out" the list of available ships, hopefully towards a number significantly larger than 30 so that NPCs come in all shapes and sizes [as well as PCs].

The Krait [and hopefully the Mamba, Saker (for those who joined the party at Frontier First Encounters)] are unlikely to be at the top of the list for v1.1, 1.2 etc but I have faith that they will arrive in time.

Tacheel · Jan 19, 2015

Hexcaliber said:
It has been known for some time that the krait is one of the 30 ships that will be in game.

Actually the last update confirmed it wasn't in the 30 ships - they may reevaluate with enough player interest.

[edit: Basically what Riedquat posted]

Stormprooter · Jan 19, 2015

Tacheel said:
Actually the last update confirmed it wasn't in the 30 ships - they may reevaluate with enough player interest.

[edit: Basically what Riedquat posted]

Would really love to see this ship come onto FD's development radar at some point this year - though I understand they have other priorities....

It would be nice (when the right time comes along) if FD could perhaps create a poll of potential new ships to add to the game, and the top N voted for, get added onto the following iteration of ship additions - whenever that may be . . . .

Tacheel · Jan 19, 2015

Stormprooter said:
Would really love to see this ship come onto FD's development radar at some point this year - though I understand they have other priorities....

It would be nice (when the right time comes along) if FD could perhaps create a poll of potential new ships to add to the game, and the top N voted for, get added onto the following iteration of ship additions - whenever that may be . . . .

Yeah - I'm much of the same mind - there was a poll around trying to capture the interest after that latest announcement, which I tried to help push. I don't think it quite captured FD's radar though.

deMangler · Jan 19, 2015

As long as they don't do to it's appearance whatever they did to the Adder.
No I am never going to let that lie....

Zieman · Jan 19, 2015

deMangler said:
As long as they don't do to it's appearance whatever they did to the Adder.
No I am never going to let that lie....

Don't forget the butchery of Fer-de-Lance!

Chris B · Jan 19, 2015

I recall the original game manual stating that the Krait was no longer manufactured and was dying out. That was the 3100s so I'm surprised it's still around in 3301.

sohara · Jan 19, 2015

From memory, the Krait was perceived as a 'discontinued' model back in FE2 (100 years before Dangerous) so I'd be surprised if it made it to the 30 ships list.

Also, not really sure where it would fit. It's only a couple of tons heavier than a Sidey, and it's only really useful point was it's missile capacity. Such a thing doesn't really exist in Dangerous (there's no hard distinction between weapon/missile rack hardpoints), so it kinda loses it's primary role as missile boat.

Still, undeniably fun to fly a ship with teeth on it!

EDIT: Ninja'd!

Stormprooter · Jan 19, 2015

Tacheel said:
Yeah - I'm much of the same mind - there was a poll around trying to capture the interest after that latest announcement, which I tried to help push. I don't think it quite captured FD's radar though.

They are probably aware there is some interest - but at the same time, I think they already have ships roll-out up to 30 already planned, so anything extra would have to come after that, and then fit in with other development.

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mkten said:
Also, not really sure where it would fit. It's only a couple of tons heavier than a Sidey, and it's only really useful point was it's missile capacity. Such a thing doesn't really exist in Dangerous (there's no hard distinction between weapon/missile rack hardpoints), so it kinda loses it's primary role as missile boat.

Yeah, perhaps the Eagle is now the closet fit to the Krait's role - I'd still love to see it though.

EdzUp · Jan 23, 2015

I think the main issue I see is everyone coming for Elite, Frontier or First Encounters will expect at least the ships that were in Elite/FFE its only fifty years iirc so there should be some of the First Encounters ships around heck even today I still see VW Beetles in the UK and they are over fifty years old so why should this change in space where you hardly see anyone or have anything to crash into.

I think the best way to 'explain away' the ships is to say there was a massive war between the three sides where loads of the old ship chassis were lost forever having been blasted out of space forever only to remain in museum collections etc

Lethargus · Jan 23, 2015

The Emperor has decreed nothing should be faster than the Imperial Clipper. Therefore, we will never see the Krait. Any sighted will be scrapped immediately to remove the dangerous and archaic systems from our space ways.

Spur · Jan 23, 2015

So, can the people over 16 tell me about the Krait? All I know is that it's a fighter, but where would it fit in the current (and near-futuristic) Eagle > Viper > Fer-der-Lance/Vulture > Python meta?

EDIT: And Mambas while they're at it, I hear that name thrown around a lot.

shadragon · Jan 23, 2015

I'm trading up from my Sidey soon so this sounds like a decent option.

Defacto · Jan 23, 2015

Spur said:
So, can the people over 16 tell me about the Krait? All I know is that it's a fighter, but where would it fit in the current (and near-futuristic) Eagle > Viper > Fer-der-Lance/Vulture > Python meta?

AFAIK, all we have is a very early concept from long ago. It's quite possible that it isn't even being worked on currently.

Lorewise, it was designed by FaulconDeLacy, around 3000 (it's almost 300 years old). It's a fighter, slightly heavier than the Eagle. It's almost two centuries older than the first Eagle, though. It was fast in its time, but more efficent drive technology has removed most of its speed advantage, although it remains a relatively fast and agile ship. Even in FE2, it's an old ship, superceded long ago in naval service, and now mostly found in the old worlds and the outworlds, quite often as a pirate ship.

I'm not sure what role this ship would play in ED. Even the Eagle is gettting old, this ship is basically an antique. Maybe the ship model will be resurrected as a Krait Mk.II? Then it could maybe have a role as a ridicilously fast counterpart to the Eagle, with exceptional speed, but weaker protection and possibly a bit less agility.

EAGLE 5 · Jan 23, 2015

Spur said:
So, can the people over 16 tell me about the Krait? All I know is that it's a fighter, but where would it fit in the current (and near-futuristic) Eagle > Viper > Fer-der-Lance/Vulture > Python meta?

EDIT: And Mambas while they're at it, I hear that name thrown around a lot.

Take what's been said so far and add to it that the Krait unfortunately was already and aging ship during Frontier Elite 2 which was mostly used by pirates, and sold mostly out in frontier systems. I remember reading they were being scrapped or converted to minin ships or used as combat drones for target practice. An inglorious finish to a great looking ship. in Elite it was one of the higher bounty ships which indicated its combat nature.

The Mamba was a very very fast triangular shaped ship that was small and had oversized engines. It was essentially a deathtrap that was used mainly by racers but in game by pirates wanting to hit and run. It blew up very easily once you started firing on it just because of how flimsy it was. This one became outlawed.

ash73 · Jan 23, 2015

I don't care if it was discontinued, the Krait was one of the best looking ships in original Elite, and favoured throughout the 8 galaxies by pirates. I expect they were manufactured without license for several hundred years afterwards

and an "iron ass" Krait would give a Viper a run for its money. Would love to see it in ED.

QuicksilverJPR · Jan 23, 2015

Julio Montega said:
We the people and players of E: D shall have a vote for the glory of the Krait!

We don't need more cargo haulers,
we don't need more multi-purpose ships refitted into something else,
we need a solid combat ship and a solid explorer in the lower price rankings
to come.

Vote krait!

Can't get much cheaper than the Hauler as an explorer....