Newcomer / Intro Possible to only unlock Mandalay?

[SargonX]

I'm a returning player but want to restart completely again. As a wanna-be explorer I'd like to get a Mandalay. But if I understand correctly, the Mandalay is only available via ARX at the moment. The "Mandalay Standard" package not only unlocks the ship type though but also gives me a ship. Is it therefore not possible to only unlock the ship type? ("the journey is the reward" etc. ) Thanks!

Edit: just saw that "Mandalay Stellar" comes with a red paint job, that doesn't seem to be available otherwise from the store. At least yet? Damn it looks beautiful...

 

[Helmut Grokenberger]

The stellar edition might also be worth it for the thunder ship kit that comes with it, if you happen to like it (it changes the look drastically). Here's what my Mandalay looks with that (note that the paint job is not included):

In any case, whichever version you buy, you always get the shipyard unlock plus the deployable pre-built(s). Personally I ignored the prebuilt ships and just bought a fresh hull from the shipyard, and now have my "own" built Mandalay to fly with as well as the standard and stellar prebuilts at my disposal at any time, should I need them.

 

[aRJay]

No purchasing either variant for Arx will let you deploy that ship at a shipyard of your choice and unlocks the ship for purchase with credits, it might be possible to purchase the ship without having deployed it after the Arx purchase.

 

[AEBRAM]

Right now, the Mandalay is unlocked via ARX. You can buy the standard and easily earn credits to buy modules on what the Stellar version offers.

I started my progress over and purchased the Mandalay to be my next up ship from the Sidewinder in one game session.