Solo Fleet carriers: The Panther Clipper

[Jonesy42]

People complain that the fleet carriers will be squadron controlled so:

Tbh, there would be a simple solution:
Add the Panther Clipper.
Not the cargo variant but the carrier variant, there are concept arts, so why not implement it as a smaller carrier?

Either be able to be piloted directly and hired NPCs or just tell them to go to location "X" and they fly there in real time.
As from the concept art it probably has 2 Hangars maybe make it customizable.
To swap the 4 small hangars with 2 medium or 1 large.

I know that there is a newer concept for a cargo version, which I am fine with. But perhaps we can also get these smaller fleet carriers, just purchase them like other ships for dunno 4 bil and it has its own scoop ships that automatically scoop the nearest star. (if there is none, the player has the task to refuel it until it can jump to the next scoopable star).

I'd really love to see the Panther Clipper (XL) or whatever the carrier was originally named.
I hope FDevs read this message and reconsider the Panther Clipper as a realistic ship to produce, as there is quite a demand for Solo carriers (judging from this thread). Thanks for reading.

 

[[VR] Goooost]

The panther clipper should require some NPC crew to fly. At least one, but best with three.

 

[Iskariot]

The panther clipper should require some NPC crew to fly. At least one, but best with three.

We need a solid npc crew system. I have been saying this forever.
Not just the Panther Clipper, but also other medium and large ships should require at least a skeleton crew to fly, but I am afraid FDev have already waited too long for this to be implemented this late in the game. It is a real shame, because it could ad some very useful and interesting gameplay to ED.

I am against appropriation of the Panther Clipper for multiplayer only, as the fleet carrier thing would suggest.
I think FDev could do a lot more interesting stuff with a new class of ships the Panther might belong to.

 

[Jonesy42]

We need a solid npc crew system. I have been saying this forever.
Not just the Panther Clipper, but also other medium and large ships should require at least a skeleton crew to fly, but I am afraid FDev have already waited too long for this to be implemented this late in the game. It is a real shame, because it could ad some very useful and interesting gameplay to ED.

I am against appropriation of the Panther Clipper for multiplayer only, as the fleet carrier thing would suggest.
I think FDev could do a lot more interesting stuff with a new class of ships the Panther might belong to.

I am not too sure what you mean by that as the title suggests "Solo" that well, it can be operated by 1 player.

 

[Iskariot]

I am not too sure what you mean by that as the title suggests "Solo" that well, it can be operated by 1 player.

Yes you are right about that.

 

[lenna]

People complain that the fleet carriers will be squadron controlled

I think the point of complaint is not that they necessarily squadron controlled but rather that at least at some point it has been suggested a minimum squadron size would be required to be able to gain access to them.

As for your suggestion, I would rather the Panther Clipper concept be kept as a player flyable asset rather than mutated into a carrier.

 

[Jonesy42]

I think the point of complaint is not that they necessarily squadron controlled but rather that at least at some point it has been suggested a minimum squadron size would be required to be able to gain access to them.

As for your suggestion, I would rather the Panther Clipper concept be kept as a player flyable asset rather than mutated into a carrier.

"Either be able to be piloted directly and hired NPCs or just tell them to go to location "X" and they fly there in real time "

 

[lenna]

"Either be able to be piloted directly and hired NPCs or just tell them to go to location "X" and they fly there in real time "

A panther clipper mutated into a carrier would arguably be unfit for the carrier role. I can not see it as being a suitable candidate for docking large pad vessels for example which the squadron/fleet carrier would be. Further more, I actually kind of disagree with the principle of having a pilotable ship being able to carry other pilotable craft beyond the types we currently have (SRV/SLF).

 

[tolm]

I like the idea - would be great to start the trek to Colonia with a few of my favourite ships in tow rather than just one.

I’ve been wondering recently if the refuelling mechanic for the fleet carriers - or indeed the Panther Clipper idea suggested here - could work on the basis of a massive “galactic” fuel scoop automatically refuelling within a few hours/days (maybe even 1 week - dunno, would need to be carefully balanced based on the jump range these things end up with) but the player (or entire squadron) can collect materials to speed up that process. That way solo players can at least have a guaranteed ability to move their carrier on a regular basis but squadrons with lots of active members could potentially jump more often.

 

[Azmuth Divarchchron]

People complain that the fleet carriers will be squadron controlled so:

Tbh, there would be a simple solution:
Add the Panther Clipper.
Not the cargo variant but the carrier variant, there are concept arts, so why not implement it as a smaller carrier?

Either be able to be piloted directly and hired NPCs or just tell them to go to location "X" and they fly there in real time.
As from the concept art it probably has 2 Hangars maybe make it customizable.
To swap the 4 small hangars with 2 medium or 1 large.

I know that there is a newer concept for a cargo version, which I am fine with. But perhaps we can also get these smaller fleet carriers, just purchase them like other ships for dunno 4 bil and it has its own scoop ships that automatically scoop the nearest star. (if there is none, the player has the task to refuel it until it can jump to the next scoopable star).

I'd really love to see the Panther Clipper (XL) or whatever the carrier was originally named.
I hope FDevs read this message and reconsider the Panther Clipper as a realistic ship to produce, as there is quite a demand for Solo carriers (judging from this thread). Thanks for reading.

Its my understanding that the panther clipper will be a part of class 4 (Huge) vessels that will get their own landing pad/docking mechanisms outside large stations if I recall what frontier said correctly.
Either that or they will be introducing a new station type that will only have large and huge docking peripherals.

 

[IPFreely]

People complain that the fleet carriers will be squadron controlled so:

Tbh, there would be a simple solution:
Add the Panther Clipper.
Not the cargo variant but the carrier variant, there are concept arts, so why not implement it as a smaller carrier?

Either be able to be piloted directly and hired NPCs or just tell them to go to location "X" and they fly there in real time.
As from the concept art it probably has 2 Hangars maybe make it customizable.
To swap the 4 small hangars with 2 medium or 1 large.

I know that there is a newer concept for a cargo version, which I am fine with. But perhaps we can also get these smaller fleet carriers, just purchase them like other ships for dunno 4 bil and it has its own scoop ships that automatically scoop the nearest star. (if there is none, the player has the task to refuel it until it can jump to the next scoopable star).

I'd really love to see the Panther Clipper (XL) or whatever the carrier was originally named.
I hope FDevs read this message and reconsider the Panther Clipper as a realistic ship to produce, as there is quite a demand for Solo carriers (judging from this thread). Thanks for reading.

Realistically, This concept of the Panther Clipper is a good idea, -- But, I disagree with the Large Pads being included on this ship - The inclusion of Large pads defeats the purpose of Carriers in general, -- 'Condas, Cutters, T-9's, 10's or other large pad ships should not be Carrier-based due to the fact those ships can haul more than 128 tons as standard equipment on purchase --
It appears in the picture shown that the small ship is a Hauler type/size, not a Python or FDL - The reason for a Carrier is to "store" collected materials delivered from smaller ships instead of the ungainly large pad models -
Lets say, the Carrier has a basic model which can be expanded thru module additions - Carriers can be module upgraded but NOT engineered beyond the Grade 5 limit per module due to being unable to enter stations or perform planetfall -
Modules can only be upgraded via module exchange from a previously upgraded module from another ship - with the limitations placed on engineering instead of module size or grade for that particular slot --
Carriers are supposed to be slower, they are not a fighting machine but a fighter / miner / exploration / storage ship or for a combination of any of those 4 classes.
Carriers should NOT have extended jump range, 25 or 30Ly per jump should be maximum grade 5 FSD due to mass and module slot size with the emphasis on defense instead or aggressive weaponry -

 

[Jonesy42]

A panther clipper mutated into a carrier would arguably be unfit for the carrier role. I can not see it as being a suitable candidate for docking large pad vessels for example which the squadron/fleet carrier would be. Further more, I actually kind of disagree with the principle of having a pilotable ship being able to carry other pilotable craft beyond the types we currently have (SRV/SLF).

If I may ask, why do you disagree with the principle of piloting a ship that can carry other pilotable ships?