So, about those "functional differences" for new ships... (spoilers, maybe?)

Jmanis

Jmanis
Just watched the announcements from the livestream, of course, Thargoid stuff, PP 2.0 and such will be a hot topic, and as said (spoiler maybe?) the Python MK 2 is "a thing".

But what's caught me most is that this (and "other variants") will be "functionally different". I'm super intrigued by what that could mean... because to me "functionally different" in this context might not mean like how T9 and T10 are "functionally different" (T9 being a hauler primarily, T10 being combat primarily), since any ship can be a combat ship or hauling ship really, it just depends on your outfitting.

To take snippets from what Art also specifically said "for the eagle eyed commanders, she is a variant in more than just name ... she will be functionally different as well... there's a reason for that... we'll let players discover that... will be coming relatively soon within this year... one of at least four planned"

So that has me quite intrigued about what that "functional difference" might be... so what better way than with a blatant speculation thread XD

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And, as a reference...
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So... where to start. Apparently "eagle eyed commanders" might notice it, so looking at it...


On the surface, it's got a lot more bells and whistles for atmospheric flight... but I'm very doubtful we're going to see atmospheric planets anytime soon... although I remember ages ago there was the concept of gas giant flying in a tech demo or something? I dunno... that sort of thing seems too far off for us to suddenly get it this year. But certainly flying in a gaseous environment might be on the cards, something something Thargoids and ammonia environments?

It might just be because it's concept art, but (at least the upper surface that we can see) seems more robust and "whole" compared to the usual python hull... which might mean strengthening, or "sealing" to protect it from a hazardous environment. Two possibilities there are:
  • Again, a Thargoid environment that standard line ships simply can't withstand, or
  • Maybe these ships can finally take advantage of Thargoid wakes, or the Titan/Spire portals, or even have a new travel mechanism available to them (thus the fins and stuff)?
  • If 4 ships are slated for this this-year, it suggests an upgrading of a subset of ships (likely independent models) to allow exploitation of a new environment?
  • It's hard to imagine that the only functional difference these ships have would be something minor like "break the 4-experimental limit without modules" or "are the only ship to fit X type of new module in the pipe", with the exception of that last point being the gating to an environment these ships are meant to enter.
  • The fact players will "discover" what these are for, at the very least suggests it's something new.

There doesn't appear to be any sort of significant changes to the engines or heatsinks that i can see which might suggest new travel modes of power mechanisms (e.g a whole guardian-tech based ship), particularly if you compare to guardian fighters, so i don't think that's so much on the cards... but yeah... the whole thing reads like it's designed to go into more hazardous environments, potentially gaseous ones that require aerodynamic stabilisation, which is either (for me)
  • Gas giants (unlikely?)
  • Thargoid environments (likely)
  • Exploiting thargoid travel mechanisms (portals, wakes)

Or, it's all just artistic flair! :D



Other thoughts?
 

Jmanis

Jmanis
SharkBiscuit said:
Hmmm. Well, they have quite a current day Stealth aircraft look to them.

My first impression anyway. Probably quite a stretch in retrospect.

I REALLY hope that's a docking hatch on the back!
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Incidentally, the principles of a stealth hull (designed to not reflect things back) and a hull for environmental protection (absorb and dissipate e.g lead protection from radiation) are quite similar. Not entirely similar depending on the type of hazard you're protecting against, but that's why I gave radiation protection as an example... you want to protect the contents through total reflection (not very stealth) or total absorption (very stealth)... either way, the hazard doesn't get inside.
 

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous
Hey maybe the landing gears can go down so to fit on the next size pad down, so a new orca and type-7 can get competing with the new python for reals in the medium pad space against. That would be sweet

Oh

Oh here it is also pure speculation but they could add wing windows. (Personally I'd use an undersized life support system and save more weight, if my onionhead G usage weren't so hard on it).

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Elpapo

Elpapo
Jmanis said:
But what's caught me most is that this (and "other variants") will be "functionally different". I'm super intrigued by what that could mean... because to me "functionally different" in this context might not mean like how T9 and T10 are "functionally different" (T9 being a hauler primarily, T10 being combat primarily), since any ship can be a combat ship or hauling ship really, it just depends on your outfitting.
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Not so overhyped about this. Diffrences might be just that, like cobra 3 and 4 are or krait/phantom, or T-9/T-10. I wound not expect anything else than that.

Seems like that diffrence with that new ship is seems more combat suited, as it looks toughter, and have better hardpoint placement over mk1(its seems similar to krait mk2 - 3L on top, while 2meds are next to each other right on nose). I doubt it would have some radiacally new features exclusive to new ships. If anything, maybe some bulid-in AX features (I doubt that would be the case), or similar to military/passager slots, AX tech dedicated slots maybe? Hangar bay maybe? Extra large or medium hardpoint somewhere? Hard to tell just from 2 pictures.

Anyway, regardless what in end it will be, even its new 4 ships are just variants of existing ones, its always something, better than nothing I guess.
 
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Northpin

Northpin
Well, it may be that "functionally different" might be actually all they know about the ship at this very moment moment - so a lot of things could waiting to be agreed upon/designed, including maybe the final looks of the ship might change along the road to release.

I remember when they initially announced the carriers - in 2019, before delaying the launch to 2020 and us getting a very different carrier from what was pitched initially (no "module" ship determining the abilities of the carrier)
 

Alien

Alien
Northpin said:
Well, it may be that "functionally different" might be actually all they know about the ship at this very moment moment - so a lot of things could waiting to be agreed upon/designed, including maybe the final looks of the ship might change along the road to release.

I remember when they initially announced the carriers - in 2019, before delaying the launch to 2020 and us getting a very different carrier from what was pitched initially (no "module" ship determining the abilities of the carrier)
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So are you saying they came up with a phrase and now have to deliver on that phrase?
Because I still can't forget about "Neil Armstrong moment".
Frontier don't have a good history with delivering on phrases.
 

Northpin

Northpin
Alien said:
Because I still can't forget about "Neil Armstrong moment".
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That was a player made issue, not a Frontier Issue
What Piers Jackson said in that stream was: "... the idea that you kind of get that Neil Armstrong moment" (emphasis is mine)

And people took it literally, completely ignoring the kind of get part - and imagined them sliding of the Eagle' stairs and touching the ground - when by simply finding yourself on the ground and watching your footprints in the dirt was enough for me as an Armstrong moment - so i wasnt bothered at all by the teleport mechanics.

Alien said:
So are you saying they came up with a phrase and now have to deliver on that phrase?
Click to expand...

No, i'm saying that things might not have been decided yet - they may have several ideas to work with but nothing set in stone yet.
"Work in Progress"
 

Jmanis

Jmanis
It very much could just be that it's "simply a little bit different"... but assuming that's true, it's possibly the most obtuse way to say it, with bizarre cross references to otherwise irrelevant platitudes about "reasons why they are different" and "for players to discover that".

If you weren't sure what role the ship has, you'd say "we're still threshing out what these ships are for, you'll get details when they're available".

If you were just genuinely interested to see how players used a new ship, you'd say, well, exactly that.

If there's a specific reason for the variance, and it's mundane, why even say it? Also, it wasn't just "functionality different" to the ships predecessor, it was implied to be functionally different "to ships" which i took as a whole.

So yeah, absolutely, could just be "more variants"... but if so, it's an incredibly awkward pitch (and I've seen FD staff squirm before... this felt nothing like that).

I'd throw on to, there's a "whole new activity" or words to that effect coming, so could be related? Maybe not? It's a long bow to draw.

EDIT: in terms of expectation management... I'm someone who saw what Odyssey delivered and was completely unsurprised... it sounded like exactly what got pitched to me. So dunno if that helps?
 
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The Lawful

The Lawful
Apart from that she looks cool, stealthy and fit for combat (mind the decals), the canopy looks kind of battered, maybe for a reason.

O7,
🙃
 

RBHM Spoons

RBHM Spoons
Jmanis said:
Incidentally, the principles of a stealth hull (designed to not reflect things back) and a hull for environmental protection (absorb and dissipate e.g lead protection from radiation) are quite similar. Not entirely similar depending on the type of hazard you're protecting against, but that's why I gave radiation protection as an example... you want to protect the contents through total reflection (not very stealth) or total absorption (very stealth)... either way, the hazard doesn't get inside.
Click to expand...
not that stealth/cold builds matter at all when night vision is a thing...
 
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