Hi, I've been playing ED for about half the year now and I've come to notice the lack of any Frigates and the rarity of Capital ships (save the only classes we actually see, which are Farragut and Interdictor Battlecruisers). I am addressing the lack of Frigates and Capital ships by doing my own fan designs and thinking how gameplay with these Chassis in ED would work for players. Hopefully these designs and musings will help prompt Frontier Developments into implementing this as a feature in Season 3.
Today I have started sketches for the Federal Frigate, developed by Core Dynamics. The FF can suit multiple roles, while all core systems are at least 5th grade, and can further be upgraded (with upgrades solely for Frigates and Capital Ships). This is only the first concept sketch, I also want to try different designs and sub types.
Now for some gameplay mechanics I am going to address.
-Can anybody buy a Frigate/Capital Ship?
The answer is no, for a start both chassis are highly expensive. Factions only trust selling Frigates/Cap Ships to commanders of Expert experience to Elite, you also have to be allied to the faction. You wouldn't entrust such power to an untrustworthy idiot would you?
-What if everybody bought a Frigate/Cap Ships?
Here comes the issue with balancing, nobody is using their fighters and corvs anymore because everybody has made millions on CGs, anybody who doesn't have a Frigate or Cap ship is being severely beaten and power play goes out the window. FD can balance this not only with Rank and Rep requirements but by making only a certain amount immediately purchasable from Shipyards. More Frigates of course would be available compared to the number of Cap ships.
-What if all the purchasable ships have run out?
Either you wait until FD has more available... or you commission one to be built at a shipyard. Having one constructed will cost you much more than the original price, and Shipyards have a limited number of construction slots. Unlike Ship Transfer, which is near instantaneous, Frigates will take up to at least a week to fully construct, then you need to hire your crew. The cap ship has at least a months wait time.
-What if I have Rep and Rank but not the money?
That is okay, at shipyards Factions will have available commissions for the command of certain Frigates and Cap Ships. Take control of the ship, complete the mission in the allotted time and return the ship to the dock to get paid/hand ship back. Completing missions successfully will help you gain you more command points and rep, but taking the ship out being and foolish enough to have crew and ship destroyed will have factions rethink whether or not it is so wise to let a captain such your self command.
-Maintenance?
I've seen that maintenance for the best corvettes can be a credit killer, with a Frigate you have to pay even more for the amount of fuel you need, repairs, restock and re-buy. And now with 2.2 and the introduction of hire crew you will need to pay them as well.
Today I have started sketches for the Federal Frigate, developed by Core Dynamics. The FF can suit multiple roles, while all core systems are at least 5th grade, and can further be upgraded (with upgrades solely for Frigates and Capital Ships). This is only the first concept sketch, I also want to try different designs and sub types.
Now for some gameplay mechanics I am going to address.
-Can anybody buy a Frigate/Capital Ship?
The answer is no, for a start both chassis are highly expensive. Factions only trust selling Frigates/Cap Ships to commanders of Expert experience to Elite, you also have to be allied to the faction. You wouldn't entrust such power to an untrustworthy idiot would you?
-What if everybody bought a Frigate/Cap Ships?
Here comes the issue with balancing, nobody is using their fighters and corvs anymore because everybody has made millions on CGs, anybody who doesn't have a Frigate or Cap ship is being severely beaten and power play goes out the window. FD can balance this not only with Rank and Rep requirements but by making only a certain amount immediately purchasable from Shipyards. More Frigates of course would be available compared to the number of Cap ships.
-What if all the purchasable ships have run out?
Either you wait until FD has more available... or you commission one to be built at a shipyard. Having one constructed will cost you much more than the original price, and Shipyards have a limited number of construction slots. Unlike Ship Transfer, which is near instantaneous, Frigates will take up to at least a week to fully construct, then you need to hire your crew. The cap ship has at least a months wait time.
-What if I have Rep and Rank but not the money?
That is okay, at shipyards Factions will have available commissions for the command of certain Frigates and Cap Ships. Take control of the ship, complete the mission in the allotted time and return the ship to the dock to get paid/hand ship back. Completing missions successfully will help you gain you more command points and rep, but taking the ship out being and foolish enough to have crew and ship destroyed will have factions rethink whether or not it is so wise to let a captain such your self command.
-Maintenance?
I've seen that maintenance for the best corvettes can be a credit killer, with a Frigate you have to pay even more for the amount of fuel you need, repairs, restock and re-buy. And now with 2.2 and the introduction of hire crew you will need to pay them as well.
