The Huge Class: Please Fdev. Make it real!

I have mentioned at least 3 times of my idea of making the anaconda,cutter or vette be able to carry a small ship to Fdev... i never knew they had huge ships in the previous game that did this. I say please make the huge class happen but give it a bump in jump range. Better then a normal but less then a fleet carrier. Also docking limpets to station is great idea for huge class. Please make it happen!!! Please fdev make me believe there is a santa claus again and gift this to us this xmas!
 
One thing to consider is there is one station design that existed in FE2 that never got ported to ED version. There were the biggest stations you could find in the game.

fe2-huge-station.jpg


I wish a modernized version of them could be introduced. They could be the only one large enough to have landing pads for huge ships.
 
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I don't think "mail slot capable" would be appropriate.
These would be mini megaships, slightly under the size of cap ships - the maximum size that could use conventional FSDs
Dry dock parking would be essential.
If we are considering an additional (more than an slf) secondary bay, dedicated small ships (T6 for cargo transfer, ieagle/Courier for Imp, Eagle/Vulture for Fed/CD) would be reasonable.
These things should all have 0 maneuverability, and should be slow AF - the imp ship might be as quick as a G5 DD T10.
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I like the idea of "dry dock" parking, and in my mind, stations capable of taking huge ships would be rare, only found in some prestigious systems (like they were in FE2 basically). But, true, it also depends on how huge these huge ships would be. The only pb I see with dry dock installations is I can only imagine a very limited nb of them around a station, and I suspect that might lead to a parking pb in open.
 
Here's my thoughts for how to have Huge ships without making the Large ships obsolete. And yes, some of this is inspired by other comments on this thread.

Huge ships would not be able to dock (except in drydocks outside the station).
Huge ships would also have the maneuverability of beached whale and about the speed of one too. They could only be bought or outfitted in special drydocks.
Huge ships would have a much greater jump range then even a stripped down Anaconda, making them suited for long-range transport.
This way, if you are running a trade routes less then 100 (+/- 30) Ly, then a Cutter or T-9 would be the more efficient option. If you are going further then that, a Huge ship would be better because the time you lose at the stations, you get back on the travel.
For loading/unloading I like the idea of detachable sections that are essential boxes with engines and autodock.
Alternately, Huge ships would have to pull up outside the station and rely on smaller ships to load/unload cargo. To facilitate this transfer, the Huge ships would have a docking tube that connects directly to the other ship's cargo scoop, allowing direct ships-to-ship cargo transfer.

Just my thoughts anyway. I think Huge ships are a workable option but it would take some careful working to make it so they don't make T-9s go the way of the T-7.
 
I don't think "mail slot capable" would be appropriate.
These would be mini megaships, slightly under the size of cap ships - the maximum size that could use conventional FSDs
Dry dock parking would be essential.
If we are considering an additional (more than an slf) secondary bay, dedicated small ships (T6 for cargo transfer, ieagle/Courier for Imp, Eagle/Vulture for Fed/CD) would be reasonable.
These things should all have 0 maneuverability, and should be slow AF - the imp ship might be as quick as a G5 DD T10.
View attachment 225310
Another obstacle in my quest to make top 75% of a commodities CG in my sidewinder!

Make 'em dock to an external docking port.

On a rotating station.

With no autodock.

:D
 
I would think for me, the class size do the same size stap from Small to Medium to Large = Huge. So not comparable with capital ships. The Keelback can hold a fighter bay too (it just looks like a flighing fighter bay only but) so i think a Boa can handle to have a small pad in front of his bridge without looking to strange.

This is also why i would say the Boa should the only huge ship who has the small landing pad.. with the mentioned Gigantic Weapon (place holder name) on the bottem. (Back in my Dreams now ^^) That makes the Boa to the solide multipurpose ship, without any rank blocking free for everyone for a good price ^^

Here I would like to add, to one of my posts, that the view from a player in a gigantic weapon - would be in first person*
Primar fire for his two fixed ballistic cannons (depending on which manned turret installed)-(Fire Power from around 1xHuge+1xLarge Weapon). Secondary fire for two medium half gimbals, against smaller targets.

I just think they need some unigue stuff.

But this class should not outrun the other size classes. For limite their docking use in space there should really only exist a few of this FE2 space Stations, if huge ships will get landing zones in Space. (but i like that found).
The Gigantic Weapons are there too, to give (in my idea) the other Huge ships something Spezial too, because of this Small landing pad only for the Boa. The Panter Clipper will get one of those weapons on top of his hull. It’s a Transporter ship and this weapon is more to defending it against pirates. The big issue with the Type 7 is the same size landing pad typ like the type 9, but I still think it is ok because of the high prices difference. Thats why we need no Panter Clipper as a size Large ship... i think the Type 9 should be still the best Option at this class. So what will bring us a Panter Clipper as a Large ship? Around 900T full Cargo space? Just to top the type 9 and cutter... They can‘t give them really more, because of scale to the size. This is the most expected ships at the moment. What i think what we all really want to see from it, is around 2000T cargo space, as the top best Hauler in game. But as large? Never i think, that wouldn‘t be fair to the other ships. We need it as Huge.

Narwhal Liner is in my list the only ship without gigantic weapon. It will still have a fighter bay as all huge ships too but again only the Boa will have a small pad. The Liner as the endgame passanger ship.. of course these ships will still have Hardpoints. But it’s similar to their smaller siblings.

Imperial Explorer, as the name says, will have a solide good jump range for his mass and the best meta drive range (explained in previous post). But it will can fight also, with two gigantic weapons mounted on the sides. One right, one left.

Federal Battleship, as a hull beast fighter. One gigantic on top, one at the bottom.

As one of my prescribers said, these ships are very bad in their maneuverability. It will offer to use turret weapons on them, but how the players wants. I said they will have access to size 9 and 10 core Internals. But this should not over power them. They will all have a minimum upgradable FSD size to 9, because this is the only size where meta drives can be bought for. This means not that their standard jump range rises over all limits.. compare to their mass is it below average.
Same to the other core internals.. expensive stuff..
And also access to size 9 and 10 optional internal compartments. But there are not any module available at 9 and 10. So a size 9/10 Shield Generator will never exist... A Panter Clipper can get now a cargo rack with 512T space at 9 and/or 1024T at size 10. New passanger cabins, limpeds, fuel scoops/tanks, refineries...

As some space stations becoming an upgrade for limped transfer cargo, will the fleet carrier get also an upgrade. I thinks it should be easy to patch this. Because huge ships should definitely allowed to trade with carriers. They need to consider some gameplay points, but it’s all in a good way possible to design. These 5 Ships will be perfect to the game as a alternative endgame. Fleet Carriers was the best free Update so far i think and the Huge ship class will definitely toping that. New paint jobs for around 10£$€ each. (I would buy at least five ^^).

(I hope my english was understandable :/ ^^)
 
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The Panther was always a Large-pad ship, the biggest that could fit through a station mailslot. Anything bigger than that isn't a Panther, it's something else. And the model we've actually seen would fit on a Large pad anyhow.

A ship barely capable of fitting through the mailslot and onto a Large pad could still be at least 2-3 times bigger than any existing Large ship, due to the amount of wasted space in all of the existing Large designs (like the Beluga's fins, the Cutter's outriggers, and the too-short T9 and T10).

A ship like that would actually be useful, for loading/unloading a Carrier. It would become a lot less useful if it wouldn't fit on a Carrier's large pads.

But there is the balancing issue, with the T9 and Cutter.
 
The Panther was always a Large-pad ship, the biggest that could fit through a station mailslot. Anything bigger than that isn't a Panther, it's something else. And the model we've actually seen would fit on a Large pad anyhow.

A ship barely capable of fitting through the mailslot and onto a Large pad could still be at least 2-3 times bigger than any existing Large ship, due to the amount of wasted space in all of the existing Large designs (like the Beluga's fins, the Cutter's outriggers, and the too-short T9 and T10).

A ship like that would actually be useful, for loading/unloading a Carrier. It would become a lot less useful if it wouldn't fit on a Carrier's large pads.

But there is the balancing issue, with the T9 and Cutter.
What’s with Imperial Explorer or Boa, they are bigger or? I don‘t know...
The Panter Clipper will definitely come to the game (as large probably) i think, but what should it bring? Just higher/more Internals for carrying more then the Type 9, mh. That makes the type 9 pointless in the most cases. They can make it much more expansive, but don’t would say more then a cutter. It’s better then nothing when it comes, it would be cool to have a Panter Clipper after all, but maybe it’s better to change his size along with a Huge ship DLC. I don‘t wanna go against the history of the game..

They can make one or two new bigger ships with that fins/outriggers for large pads, but i don‘t think this is the idea of the design from huge ships. We don’t need more larger large ships, what we have in this area is perfect i think and should be stay as the top tier in large. The huge class should not outrun the large ships too.. that’s why i mentioned some limitations to them. They should be spezial in their way but not just only bigger with more of anything then before.

You can park them at the Huge pads on new planetside stations or maybe at a few of those FE2 stations in space. They are still be able to trade with carriers, just not to dock. Do you would say then = You wouldn’t play them?

But ok let the Panter Clipper as Large, nevermind ^^ then a complete new Huge trading ship like my Federal Battleship xD for this suggestion Thread :)
 
Sry if my post sounds like - against anything except me xD sorry that’s not my purpose :(
I just don‘t know how to write it better in English.
 
But ok let the Panter Clipper as Large, nevermind ^^ then a complete new Huge trading ship like my Federal Battleship xD for this suggestion Thread
I think there is room for a Large ship with more capacity then a T-9 or Cutter but it would about have to be the maximum large size (just barely fit through the mail slot and just barely fit on the pad).
The other thing to consider about the Panther. With super low maneuverability, it would usually not be able to evade interdictions. Also, as a rule, freighters don't have the hardpoints to really defend themselves. I do not think a Panther should be an exception. Between these two things, using a Panther would be a risky business, unless you had a heavy escort. Because it would be so risky, many people might be more inclined to use a T-9 or Cutter just to lower the risk. I still think we should have a Panther (and the others) but this way the Panther is a higher risk for higher reward as compared to the T-9 or Cutter.

I am also not sure about the idea of gigantic weapons. It is already a pain to lock onto a target with a Cutter's Huge weapon, so a ship with even less maneuverability would be even worse. I think the Hardpoints as outlined in the original post would be plenty, especially with the ability to carry a small ship.
 
I think there is room for a Large ship with more capacity then a T-9 or Cutter but it would about have to be the maximum large size (just barely fit through the mail slot and just barely fit on the pad).
The other thing to consider about the Panther. With super low maneuverability, it would usually not be able to evade interdictions. Also, as a rule, freighters don't have the hardpoints to really defend themselves. I do not think a Panther should be an exception. Between these two things, using a Panther would be a risky business, unless you had a heavy escort. Because it would be so risky, many people might be more inclined to use a T-9 or Cutter just to lower the risk. I still think we should have a Panther (and the others) but this way the Panther is a higher risk for higher reward as compared to the T-9 or Cutter.

I am also not sure about the idea of gigantic weapons. It is already a pain to lock onto a target with a Cutter's Huge weapon, so a ship with even less maneuverability would be even worse. I think the Hardpoints as outlined in the original post would be plenty, especially with the ability to carry a small ship.
:)
My idea of the gigantic weapon is a manned Turret, only playable with a player in (multi crew) or like a (autonom) Turret with a npc crew member. It doesn’t run without.
It can turn faster then the ship, for defend and attack, so it should be fine ^^

-and the pilot can go into it too like with fighters. If there is a npc crew member then it will take the control of the ship*
 
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I think there is room for a Large ship with more capacity then a T-9 or Cutter but it would about have to be the maximum large size (just barely fit through the mail slot and just barely fit on the pad).
The other thing to consider about the Panther. With super low maneuverability, it would usually not be able to evade interdictions. Also, as a rule, freighters don't have the hardpoints to really defend themselves. I do not think a Panther should be an exception. Between these two things, using a Panther would be a risky business, unless you had a heavy escort
And what they'll mostly end up being used for is massive cargo shuttles from FC to station during cargo CGs.
 
So a less maneuverable ship that you can tank up on shields and armor but not pay actual penalties for the loss of manoeuvrability?

Every ship in the game is designed around being a turn fighter. It would make sense that a huge ship becomes a turret boat (and personally I'd like to see some large ships as turret boats too).

No idea how you'd balance it though, the idea of a huge ship with 10k+ shields makes sense, and probably should be more powerful. But you're just gonna drop into a CZ with a laser party and reap all the credits.

I guess if the huge ships were multicrew required it could balance out the OPness. A full crewed Huge class ship could or should be on par with a wing in some respects.

If you're flying a huge ship solo for the purposes of bulk trade you'd lose all the benefits of the manned turrets or other multicrewed benefits
 
So a less maneuverable ship that you can tank up on shields and armor but not pay actual penalties for the loss of manoeuvrability?
Sure a loss of „actual penalties“. I can‘t explain it, so that you see what I see xD Hm..
It is a mounted gigantic weapon, let’s say on the bottom of the huge „Boa“. If you buy the ship, you will get the ship with a -installed gigantic mounted slot as standard like the Fighter bay. Let’s say the ballistic cannon comes along with the ship, so this mounted slot has a retracted ballistic cannon. If you want to use it then you just fly outside the station and switch into the Gigantic Gunner seat. Now the weapon extends, looks like let’s say a small round tower with two massive guns and two medium.
You can buy a few different gigantic Weapons, let’s say a Plasma Cannon (Primar fire) with two medium gimballed Pulse lasers as secondary fire. This cannons are big, bigger then size 4 weapons.

So and the Boa has only one of thoes gigantic weapons. But sure it will get his designed other weapon slots too. Let’s say 1 Huge 4 Large 4 Medium 2 Small. The maneuverability of the Boa is definitely less designed then our large ships. Now its your decision what you want to install in these Huge, large, medium and small weapons. If you use Fixed weapons then it will be hard to get your target in front. You can also buy turreted weapons or gimballed, what ever you like.

But the gigantic weapon doesn’t have this options.. its a manned Turret. You hire a npc crew member and move her/him into the weapon, now you can use it as a Turret with the fire power of around 1Huge+1Large for Primar fire and two Medium for secondary fire. Let’s say the movement speed of the gigantic weapons is like a large Turret, but that’s should be frontiers design job ^^

You can also use it itself, then the npc crew member takes the ship control.

There was some players except me, who want that ships needs more people (npc) for run it. So that’s would be also be the case a bit¿ You can have a other crew member in your fighter and a third one in the Small ship in your Small landing bay at the Boa. If you want to do this, then you need all three possible npc crew members in your Team or a Player takes a place :) But you can also have two players in with three npc’s , at the secondary fighter or at the normal gunner seat. It’s their choice, i mean they can go into the gigantic seat or into the small ship :)
Its expansive, i mean three crew members cost you each approximately 2-15% of your earned credits, and this i think would be fair.


After all it’s just one Gigantic weapon in the Boa. If you want to win against a A rated cutter, then you still need your other weapons too.
 
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Every ship in the game is designed around being a turn fighter. It would make sense that a huge ship becomes a turret boat (and personally I'd like to see some large ships as turret boats too).

No idea how you'd balance it though, the idea of a huge ship with 10k+ shields makes sense, and probably should be more powerful. But you're just gonna drop into a CZ with a laser party and reap all the credits.

I guess if the huge ships were multicrew required it could balance out the OPness. A full crewed Huge class ship could or should be on par with a wing in some respects.

If you're flying a huge ship solo for the purposes of bulk trade you'd lose all the benefits of the manned turrets or other multicrewed benefits
Yes i like to see it too ^^

The thing with the 10K shields = that’s why i would say a 9 or 10 Internal Shield Generatior doesn’t exist. The standard shield strength of the Imperial Explorer is just saying a bit higher then the Imperial Cutter. So it has more shield power at the end with the exact same 8A prismatic shield generator then the cutter. But surely they huge ships shouldn’t be over powered.
And the Boa has more hull.. Federal Battleship in both a bit...
The Nawhal Liner don‘t need that, less then Anaconda. And so on ^^
 
One tip, keep expectations low, it might not be at launch, but we know it exists, files, description, fsd class 8 introduction, there are even screenshots of the bridge, but it was unfinished
 
At this point i need to make clear, my small ship hangar at the Boa is like a fighter bay too, just with small ships. You can move on the huge hangar bay at the shipyard a small ship of yours into your Boa. The FSD from the small ship will be disabled for supercruise/hyperspace, as long as it is in your Boa. I know that’s probably not what others here want from it. But i don‘t think the other way would be happen..

It is another support Fessel. If the mothership explode then you have to rebuy both of course.
 
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