Ship Customization

dermax

D
One of the things that I particularly love about this game is that you don't necessarily need the biggest and best ship to be competitive. In *so many* games you spend the time to get the "Immortal Sword of Infinite Doom" only to find that two levels later you need to sell it for 10 coppers to a merchant since it "cons green" to you. In most Sci-Fi media your ship is pretty much an extension of yourself. Han didn't trade in the Millennium Falcon... he just kept upgrading it - or at least the parts he felt needed it. The Falcon is as iconically linked to him as Chewie. They're a team.

ED gives you the chance to do something similar. Because there's no levels - it really comes down to skill and loadout. Currently you can upgrade your ship - and that's good - but in the end, most people's ships are going to be extremely similar based on what they're gearing up for. Once you can afford it you'll buy A-level equipment and off you go. Same.

Wouldn't it be nice to allow for some non-stock options. Perhaps have a few systems that specialize in ship customization. Maybe you could add a fifth hardpoint? Combine two "Size 3 internals" to make a "Size 6"? In short, tweak your ship to make it distinctly what you want it to be. A real world example would be the different between a lowrider, off-road, drag racer, stock, etc. At one time they were all the same car, but they were tailored and tuned to be exactly what the owner wanted.

Right now the answer to ship progression seems to be "new ships are coming". Which is fine, more options are a good thing. I, on the other hand, would be pretty happy running my Cobra for the rest of my career. I get attached to my ship. Right now it is pretty much *me* in game. I would hope that in the future, we'd have the ability to "tinker" with our ships. I'd like mine to be completely different than yours. Options never really hurt anyone.
 

Speider

S
Adding Hardpoints or combining stuff seems like it could be a bit more balance-bending than what I personally would want, but more customization is ALWAYS a good idea ^_^

I'd like to add that additional liveries would add a lot. I want a 50,000 Cr paint Job on my Type 6 Transport that makes me happy whenever I enter a hangar :)

Additional suggestions:
1: Specialized items. Why have a class A power distributor? I haven't seen a class A that EITHER maxes out weapon output OR thruster/shield energy OR FSD drive. Allowing high-class items that really excel in some areas but not all could lead to more meaningful upgrade choices.

2: The ability to name your ship. Doesn't need to show up to players on a basic scan, either. (but on warrant scans, sure)
I don't want to continue in my Type 6 Transport. After all the hours with it, I want the game to recognize "The Bicentennial Eagle", "Space Camel 6", "Undestructible 4" or whatever else I want to call my ship.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
Modifying hardpoints would be difficult as they are integral to the design of a ship by location, targeting, weapon size etc. Say a modified Eagle mounting a Large Plasma Accelerator would have a weapon many times larger than the ship. Firing the LPA would also probably use up all power and shut down systems. Additional custom equipment and weapons are the way to go as each would be tested to work properly with a specific ship.

My desire would be a paint editor so that we can all create our own personal artwork on the ships. This could easily be done if all paint is downloaded to a folder on the PC then use an app to tweak them. Alas, as FD is selling paint in the store this probably won't happen.
 
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dermax

D
Some of what I want is purely selfish, because if my Cobra had just *one more* hardpoint I'd be set :)

I don't believe that balance will be too much of an issue... or indeed a priority. One thing - among others - that ED does well is allowing you to *gimp* yourself. If you want to fly a shield-less Sidewinder with 8 cargo slots, you can. You'll probably get nailed, but you can try. As it is the difference between a stock ship and fully upgraded ship is quite different - and also dependent on pilot skill. Particularly since you'd have the tradeoff of more weight, more power, etc.

I do agree that there should be limits... it only makes sense; an Eagle simply couldn't fit a capital ship gun on it no matter who was working on it. On the other hand; ships are built to a design, but a skilled mechanic could get around that. Look at an M4 tank as a RL example. That sucker has mounted everything from a flamethrower to a howitzer, rocket launchers to minesweepers. I don't know much trouble it would be for the designers to add a few "hidden spots" on the ship - the nose of the Cobra, for example - that could fit another hardpoint. Modularity would, again, provide more options.
 
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