Ship variants I actually WANT to see in game.

[Gryphorim]

Imperial Clipper exploration variant.

FSD increased to a class 6
Fuel tank increased to class 6
Sensor increased to class 7
x6 utility points

Replace the two large hard hard points with mediums.
Replace the two mediums with small hard points.

The back of the ship should be redesigned to look a bit more like the Cutters.

I was sorta thinking this with the two designs in OP, in particular the lighter one. I figured the lighter frame should make it worthy of long-range work, without needing to be a dedicated explorer. Though I think in general Gutamaya refuse to arm anything with the class 1 hardpoint. (I-Eagle being derived from Core Dynamics design makes it an exception.)

I can think of lots of NEW ships I'd like to see in the game, like the Imperial Explorer, the Panther Clipper, the Boa, etc. Variants though mean different versions of existing ships, with different role focuses. In that light, here are some I'd love to see:

• Cobra MkV: Exploration variant of the Cobra III. Much longer jump range (similar to Orca or Asp), but gives up PP size, 2xS hardpoints, and converts 2xC4 internals to 2xC3 to do so.
• T-8 Explorer: A slightly smaller version of the T-7 with Anaconda like jump range. Height is 2m less so it now fits on a medium pad. Keeps the same number of internals but downsizes a few of them so less overall cargo cap, but only a bit under the Python cargo cap. Doubles as a new medium cargo vessel.
• Imperial Adder: An Imperial version of the Adder meant to compete with the Cobra MkIV. More expensive, heavier Adder with more internals but slower overall speed and less agility.

I could see a CobraX being incredibly popular.
T8 - I just wish that this modification gets done to the T7. Bring it back to it's old capacity and lower the roofline some, or adjust landing pads to give that extra clearance. T8 could be the "tall body" model we have now, though it could use a slightly buffed defensive armament. (Turrets or mines focused, not more forward arc stuff)
I always felt that the Courier was the Imperial answer to the Adder.

 

[Gryphorim]

Double post

 

[Ian Skippy]

Eagle Mk.3.

Convert all hardpoints to medium, PD, PP and Sensors to C3. That would add +-13t, reducing the speed and agility a fair bit. Priced around 7.5m it would be a small, modern state-of-the-art bounty hunter since the F63 and GU97 took the military role from the Eagle Mk.2.

 

[jasonbirder]

Do ALL ships HAVE to be Player Flyable?
Wouldn't it be easier to create some NPC only ships...than we encounter but don't fly...shuttles, repair ships, "Jump Frames" (The ones that do the Ship Transfers) Huge Bulk Cargo Vessels too big to enter stations, Automated Mining Vessels etc etc...give us some great flavour and environment without all the work that creating a Player Purchasable/Flyable ship would involve...

 

[CMDR_Halceon]

I'd like to see a small pad ship with 9+ optional module slots, so I can kit it out just as I would a Conda but entirely with class 1 & 2 modules. If it were a medium pad ship I think it might be a little too OP, and we have the Python already to fill that role.

I'd quite like a MASSIVE trader too, say 1,000t cargo capacity with enough shields to be survivable in Open. The T-9 comes close since it's buff a while back.

Yes, please. Given the number of limpets that might be useful when you run into unknown content, it would be great to have a Swiss Army ship that still had the feel of a single person ship flown by a lone eccentric, which I feel is enshrined in Elite lore. Of course a limpet rack could make the Cobra that ship again.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Boa Mk III please.

This^

OMG, a military Python too.
Beefier than the original, SLF capable, shorter range, but faster and tougher, 5 large hardpoints, less internal space.

 

[Elyssaen]

Yes, please. Given the number of limpets that might be useful when you run into unknown content, it would be great to have a Swiss Army ship that still had the feel of a single person ship flown by a lone eccentric, which I feel is enshrined in Elite lore. Of course a limpet rack could make the Cobra that ship again.

Plz to not let my attempted prod to FDev about a Limpet Module Bay fall onto page 2 with no replies then? https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/457724-Limpet-Module-Bay-–-still-incoming (shameless of me, huh)

Limpet controllers really add so much content to the game, so it's a shame how hard it is to actually equip a ship to be decently versatile. Small ships are especially squeezed out now, which is a real shame as I loved flying my old Diamondback Scout but it's inconceivable now.

 

[Julio Montega]

I'd like to see a small pad ship with 9+ optional module slots, so I can kit it out just as I would a Conda but entirely with class 1 & 2 modules. If it were a medium pad ship I think it might be a little too OP, and we have the Python already to fill that role.

I'd quite like a MASSIVE trader too, say 1,000t cargo capacity with enough shields to be survivable in Open. The T-9 comes close since it's buff a while back.

Elite's equivalent of Battletech's "Kit Fox" with small slots for a lot of utility?
Sure that'd be very welcome!

Also The Outrider Krait variant catering towards the toolbox attempt of playing
but with a Fighter bay and a lot of smaller hardpoints for tools.

 

[Vasious]

I'd like to see the oft-mentioned Panther Clipper. It'd have to be re-imagined like the Krait and Mamba were, but considering the original game claimed it could do 2,000t, and knowing the Cutter can do 760t or so, it wouldn't need to be as big as it said in the original game (so big it had to park outside stations so you could take a shuttle over...) Simply widen the cutter's fuselage x3, take off the wings, and it'd not be any wider than a T9, and there's your 2k tons, but you'd still fit through the mail slot.

2000tons was the internal space, but that need to account for engines fuel shields scanners etc
Wasn't it's cargo capacity.
It also had not problems landing in Coriolis docking portals so not sure where the it is so big it couldnt dock comes from either.

No, the Boa was an Anaconda variant. Specifically it was described as looking exactly like an Anaconda only larger.

In the original Elite, the Boa was a smaller modernised Python
In FE2 and FFE the Boa was a Larger Anaconda.

So could be either or neither if reimagined in E|D

 

[ShadowWolf Kell]

Afaik that bottom concept was for the Python.

True but it appears they decided to still use it rather than let it go to waste. The first is from the Elite RPG. I wonder if they plan to do the same with the Clipper's original concept too and apply it to the Imperial Explorer or something. It's nice to see they aren't letting their artwork go to waste.

In FE2 and FFE the Boa was a Larger Anaconda.

So could be either or neither if reimagined in E|D

This is the Boa I've been hoping for. It was my primary exploration ship in FE2. Fuel scoop came installed, and it was actually a joy to fly while fuel scooping from the upper atmosphere of gas giants. Best part is, it handled better than an Anaconda too.

 

[Ethaidan]

I want a one-man Eva suit rocket scooter, extra small, I medium hardpoint on the front.

Oh, and warship Ajax, large 20 small hardpoints, with optional Hawkmen.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

True but it appears they decided to still use it rather than let it go to waste. The first is from the Elite RPG. I wonder if they plan to do the same with the Clipper's original concept too and apply it to the Imperial Explorer or something. It's nice to see they aren't letting their artwork go to waste.

Now that thing actually became the Cutter. The front section of the final version is still pretty close to the concept, and you also see the heatsink sharkfins.

 

[kpmop]

Eagle Mk.3.

Convert all hardpoints to medium, PD, PP and Sensors to C3. That would add +-13t, reducing the speed and agility a fair bit. Priced around 7.5m it would be a small, modern state-of-the-art bounty hunter since the F63 and GU97 took the military role from the Eagle Mk.2.

Or an iCourier? Just sayin'

For me: rename the Annie the "Annie:Gosh Darned Noob Melon Farmer" and tweak the mass lock appropriately, and create a new variant "Annie:Pro" with proportional weight/jump range.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

Everything pretty much has or is a variant...

- Id also agree with anaconda, there’s scope in the lore for a modern revision of the hull and interior. Lots of potential. Should make it epic and replace the clutter on top in price and capability.
- Delete the type 10 and start again. The type 9 has such a presence in the game itself it deserves better. Proof, get in the cockpit, turn on headlock and turn your head. It’s out of standard to elite quality even ship kits have more effort applied. Truly terrible.

 

[znôrt]

a real mamba. i mean this: http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Mamba_(Classic)

 

[V'larr]

I'm going to be 'that guy' here and say that adding variants of ships is a bad idea.

I don't think bloating the game with quantity is the right way to make ship selection interesting.

World of Tanks has overbloated their game with a quantity of vehicles that are all so many hitpoint sponges for gold ammo and RNG to abuse.

Mechwarrior Online took variant-spam and used it as monetization at a price akin to highway robbery.

Straying from purely vehicular games, HotS keeps adding hero after hero after hero, yet the game is not getting any better, because none of its developers give a damn about core, consistent design balance. (Kind of a problem all Blizzard games share, really, save perhaps the first classic Starcraft. I've heard good things about the old Warcraft games, too.)

Warframe has HEAPS of "variant bloat". There's some weapons in that game that have 4 different versions (and oftentimes they all still suck, sadly). DE is rather infamous for doing things that are blatant grind inflation, and the variant bloat is one of the tactics they've adopted for that.

So I'd like to caution against taking this too far.

What's been proposed in the OP, is reasonable, the idea has merit worth considering and all, just take heed lest you become like any of the above (undesirable, in my eyes at least) examples.

 

[Red Anders]

In the original Elite, the Boa was a smaller modernised Python
In FE2 and FFE the Boa was a Larger Anaconda.

So could be either or neither if reimagined in E|D

I don't remember it at all from the original Elite. That's age for you I guess

 

[Riverside]

My personal headcanon is that the modern Anaconda (which is pretty sleek and slimline compared to the old one) is the modern version.
I want an old Anaconda which is even brickier and more cargo-oriented. Would probably have fewer total internal compartments, but they'd be larger than the stock Anaconda's to reflect lack of versatility. Would also only have 1 hardpoint, because heheheheHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH

I'd love the old Python, without the flat bottom of the new one - the Krait, Viper & Cobra show that it can be done

I'd love to see some older ships too, the Cobra MkI is a perfect example.

 

[Gizzard]

I'd love to see this larger imperial Courier variant from the old games!

 

[Ian Skippy]

I'd love to see this larger imperial Courier variant from the old games!

Isnt that kinda like a Clipper?