Older and obsolete ships

[Asteconn]

In lore, we have something like 400 years or so of shipbuilding heritage that is for the most part utterly untapped. I think adding obsolete and old vessels into the game, mostly for NPCs but perhaps available for players to use too, would be an easy way to add some living history to the game.

The easiest way to do so would be to use existing or substantially similar models to existing in-game ships. An indicative list could be:

• Eagle Mk1
• Cobra Mk1 and Mk2
• Viper Mk1 and Mk2
• Lakon Type 5 (could use the type 6 model)
• Asp Mk1 and Mk2 (could use an altered Scout model)

These ships could be perhaps about 75% of the cost and perhaps 50% of the effectiveness of modern vessels. They are supposed to be obsolete after all. Low-level Pirates and vagabonds especially could be armed with these figurative high-milers. These more obsolete vessels could help pad out the shipyard offerings of non-industrial economies, agriculture in particular perhaps.

Other new obsolete ships could be modelled with 'older' structural architecture, such as exposed internals, solar panels and a less sophisticated look to them.

 

[Madrax573]

I drive a 20yr old jeep. I approve of this.

They would have to be sub par in performance to their newer cousins but should be usable with engineering but not OP.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

In lore, we have something like 400 years or so of shipbuilding heritage that is for the most part utterly untapped. I think adding obsolete and old vessels into the game, mostly for NPCs but perhaps available for players to use too, would be an easy way to add some living history to the game.

The easiest way to do so would be to use existing or substantially similar models to existing in-game ships. An indicative list could be:

• Eagle Mk1
• Cobra Mk1 and Mk2
• Viper Mk1 and Mk2
• Lakon Type 5 (could use the type 6 model)
• Asp Mk1 and Mk2 (could use an altered Scout model)

These ships could be perhaps about 75% of the cost and perhaps 50% of the effectiveness of modern vessels. They are supposed to be obsolete after all. Low-level Pirates and vagabonds especially could be armed with these figurative high-milers. These more obsolete vessels could help pad out the shipyard offerings of non-industrial economies, agriculture in particular perhaps.

Other new obsolete ships could be modelled with 'older' structural architecture, such as exposed internals, solar panels and a less sophisticated look to them.

Better yet, what if these obsolete ships turned up in crash sites & at debris fields.....and you could salvage them & either sell them for scrap or modify them more up to modern specs, within limits .

 

[Lestat]

I agree with this. But leave out Cobra Mk2 out. it had a design fault and was never produced.

 

[Lori Jameson]

I agree with this. But leave out Cobra Mk2 out. it had a design fault and was never produced.

Tell that to the Pinto.

 

[Privata]

That would be so cool.
I want to fly a lifter , just because a bunch of boxes with engines on it are awesome

 

[JimSan]

I would very much like to see all the old ships in one way or another (definitely wanting my Viper mk 1 again), wouldn't mind seeing production variants of ships as well to have more variety, eg a 3100s Cobra could look different to a 3300s Cobra.

 

[Deadspin]

I drive a 20yr old jeep. I approve of this.

They would have to be sub par in performance to their newer cousins but should be usable with engineering but not OP.

Heeeey fellow Jeep owner!

I would very much like to see all the old ships in one way or another (definitely wanting my Viper mk 1 again), wouldn't mind seeing production variants of ships as well to have more variety, eg a 3100s Cobra could look different to a 3300s Cobra.

Evolving designs over hundreds of years? Blasphemy.

 

[Trickylion]

There was no cobra mk 2, moray starboat for water world landings, kraits, boas, shuttles, transporters, mamba the ultimate pirate, can't remember what else

 

[Cmdr Travers]

In lore, we have something like 400 years or so of shipbuilding heritage that is for the most part utterly untapped. I think adding obsolete and old vessels into the game, mostly for NPCs but perhaps available for players to use too, would be an easy way to add some living history to the game.

The easiest way to do so would be to use existing or substantially similar models to existing in-game ships. An indicative list could be:

• Eagle Mk1
• Cobra Mk1 and Mk2
• Viper Mk1 and Mk2
• Lakon Type 5 (could use the type 6 model)
• Asp Mk1 and Mk2 (could use an altered Scout model)

These ships could be perhaps about 75% of the cost and perhaps 50% of the effectiveness of modern vessels. They are supposed to be obsolete after all. Low-level Pirates and vagabonds especially could be armed with these figurative high-milers. These more obsolete vessels could help pad out the shipyard offerings of non-industrial economies, agriculture in particular perhaps.

Other new obsolete ships could be modelled with 'older' structural architecture, such as exposed internals, solar panels and a less sophisticated look to them.

This is a great idea

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

It's a great idea if it wasn't so difficult to add a new ship to the game. :/

Having them as NPC only ships or crash sites would work though, then FD can skip the modelling of the insides, and faffing with balancing too much.

Although, didn't older class ships not have FSDs?

My lore is a little rusty. Lol

 

[MickyG1982]

OP, great idea & combined with a "second hand" shipyard would be perfect. I want to be able to buy ships with varying levels of specification & spaceworthyness. I mean, imagine if you could choose to buy a rusty junker with some unique mods & a few hundred million ly on the FSD. I'd prefer to do that than simply buy a base model new ship & outfit it - the same base model ship as everyone else...

It'd be awesome to find some rare, wrecked "Unicorn" vessels appear in the market (or out in space) that you could fix up & bring back to working order (perhaps a new mission opportunity for parts too) - these could then be fitted by yourself as the pilot (for extra bonuses) or fitted by the station (for standard rates).

It'd probably never happen, but it's something I'd like to see.