Make it an Imperial exploration ship.
The problem with the Panther Clipper
- Thread starter Dagwit
- Start date
Make it an Imperial exploration ship.
My 2p's worth and probably already been said:
I would see this as a 2000+ tonne carrier that requires new infrastructure to dock.
Selected High output Extraction, industrial and Agricultural systems could have new Starports or Planet side facilities to take these ships.
Routes to market systems with reciprocal facilities would be available and the payout's per tonne should reflect bulk shipment but be viable as a high end reward occupation, comparable to the 20-40 Cr million Wing missions.
So you'd see concentrations of Panthers on specific routes, with outfitting etc available only at these hubs. The hubs themselves would be large enough to allow FD to introduce bigger ships if required.
Like many truck stops around the world small ships would not be allowed.
Massive FSD is obligatory and the price for a "A" rated ship should be ~ 2bn Cr. An engineered loaded jump range of 30+ ly is reasonable IMO.
I would see this as a 2000+ tonne carrier that requires new infrastructure to dock.
Selected High output Extraction, industrial and Agricultural systems could have new Starports or Planet side facilities to take these ships.
Routes to market systems with reciprocal facilities would be available and the payout's per tonne should reflect bulk shipment but be viable as a high end reward occupation, comparable to the 20-40 Cr million Wing missions.
So you'd see concentrations of Panthers on specific routes, with outfitting etc available only at these hubs. The hubs themselves would be large enough to allow FD to introduce bigger ships if required.
Like many truck stops around the world small ships would not be allowed.
Massive FSD is obligatory and the price for a "A" rated ship should be ~ 2bn Cr. An engineered loaded jump range of 30+ ly is reasonable IMO.
Then lets have a Boa instead. How about something a bit off the wall...
The Boa template is now owned by Core Dynamics and the modern day Boa is designed as a military transport. It's cargo capacity is around the pre buff T9, so a little more than an Anaconda. It is not overly fast or manoeuvrable, but sports thick amour, one or two military slots (yes you read that right) and six utilities. Weapons are small and med, but it has unique rear facing turret hard points. It is also a pig to mass lock. And the best bit, the cool Core Dynamics cockpit style (see Dropship and Co), right on the nose of an old school Python/Conda style wedge.
It is not fast and not good at fighting, but is very good at staying alive, and escaping with a max cargo of about 400 - 500 Tonnes.
The Boa template is now owned by Core Dynamics and the modern day Boa is designed as a military transport. It's cargo capacity is around the pre buff T9, so a little more than an Anaconda. It is not overly fast or manoeuvrable, but sports thick amour, one or two military slots (yes you read that right) and six utilities. Weapons are small and med, but it has unique rear facing turret hard points. It is also a pig to mass lock. And the best bit, the cool Core Dynamics cockpit style (see Dropship and Co), right on the nose of an old school Python/Conda style wedge.
It is not fast and not good at fighting, but is very good at staying alive, and escaping with a max cargo of about 400 - 500 Tonnes.
And lots of defence turrets/mine launchers.
Not the Cutter
Give the Panther this :
And for Braben's sake don't let the Conda have it - it's already way overpowered as it is.
*inserts obligatory "why not both" gif*
That all being said, I do feel that it is a bit of a waste for the Anaconda's bigger cousin to be reduced to an armed trader that is basically a gimped Anaconda with slightly increased cargo capacity. Those that want an Anacondaesque ships from Core Dynamics already have the Federal Corvette for that exact purpose.
I'd much prefer the Boa to be closer to its FFE incarnation as being the embiggened Anaconda, offering a similar flight style but on a slightly bigger ship with greater internals. Assuming that they want a generation of ships to exist past the Cutter, give the Boa roughly double the internal capacity of the Anaconda with a similar jump range (plus probably a light year or two extra unladen jump range when engineered to keep the explorers happy, they are always wanting new exploration ships) and a trader outfitted cost of ~600 million credits (using undersized PD and generator to reduce weight and cost), give it a plethora of class 7-9 core internals and a smattering of various hardpoints as would befit a hypothetical class 9 PD. Alternatively, if they want the Cutter to remain a top-tier ship then they should be looking at around 600-650 tonnes of shielded cargo with similar jump range to the Anaconda, making it a better long range trader but with lower performance in short range trading.
But they did work on it at one point and even announced it was coming "soon".
That's why it won't carry double, my guess, around 950tons.
Maybe they can't balance such a huge ship?
Maybe they can't spare the staff hours to make it?
IMO, the main problem with the Panther Clipper is the mail slot. The ship is supposed to be absolutely huge, and we already have ships in game that barely fit through it as is. Even the largest landing pad would be too big for this thing.
So the only way it would work would be to downsize it, and god knows there will be a lot of hate if they don't meet player expectations here.
So the only way it would work would be to downsize it, and god knows there will be a lot of hate if they don't meet player expectations here.
It was already downsized the moment the talked about adding its all those years ago and showed off the model so I doubt that.
I think just have mega-limpets be able to transfer 100 cargo each to docking limpet ports on the exterior of the station(s).
Closer you are, the faster they work.
Might be cool to allow for a pirate to zoom in and scoop them or something...
I think there maybe 6 or so standard on the ship, and they might need repair/replace/or engineering...
Anyway... I don't see massive issues with needing to fit into existing docking.
Cheers... o7
Why do people keep assuming Panther clipper will be some sort of mega ship?
The only info there was about the new panther is the concept art and the gif of the model docking on L pad.
If it will come, it will be ship that will fit into mail slot and will fit on L pad. It is Panther Clipper LX after all. Not the original old Panther design
The only info there was about the new panther is the concept art and the gif of the model docking on L pad.
If it will come, it will be ship that will fit into mail slot and will fit on L pad. It is Panther Clipper LX after all. Not the original old Panther design