Why Don't We Have More Ship Variants?

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
I know we got the Cobra MkIV, and a few others, but I'm actually talking about variants on the same ship model.

I've brought it up before, didn't get much attention.

I think it would be kinda cool to have variants on the same ships, much like you can buy different models of the same car.

So you'd have the basic model, which is I guess what we have now.
But we could have other versions, with extra or different internals, or additional utilities, different core class slots, different weapon classes, or even just tweaked base stats.

Maybe have it as a sort of "choose your optional extras" which adds to the ships purchase price. Or something like that.

Balancing nightmare of course. Lol

Thoughts?
 

Lateralus

Lateralus
Yeah it would be very difficult to balance, and to be honest I'd rather Fdev concentrate their design efforts on all new ships such as the Alliance range, Boa, Mamba and other familiar ships that haven't made it yet.
 

Stealthie

Stealthie
I've often said the same thing.

FDev probably don't want the hassle of hiring graphic artists and 3D modellers to create new ships all the time and that's fair enough.
There's no reason why a bit of statistical juggling couldn't provide us with stuff to get excited about though.

There are all sorts of glaringly obvious "quirks" with some of the ships in ED such as, for example, the AsP Explorer (a ship supposedly intended for exploration) which doesn't have any slots ideally sized for exploration equipment.
Scanners are C1. AspX has zero C1 slots.
SRV bays are C2/C4. AspX has zero C2/C4 slots (once you've put the scanners in the existing ones, at least).

Similar thing with mining ships, which require an array of odd-sized slots for collectors (C1/C3/C5/C7) and means you usually end up having to fit collectors into even-sized slots sub-optimally.

And then there's the CM4, with more slots than any other small-pad ship, which makes it perfect for a couple of things which no other ship can match.

Be nice if FDev could create specialist variants of pre-existing ships which address these issues.
If that would create the possibility of the new variants being over-powered, they could be nerfed in various ways.
An AspX exploration variant could, for example, get a smaller PP, PDist and/or smaller thrusters so it'd suck at anything other than exploring.

They could even introduce some new "grind" to the game, which always seems to be a goal, by making access to the specialist variants dependent on achieving certain goals in specific systems.
Deliver a squillion credits of exploration data to a station that sells the AspX and they'll let you buy the explorer variant.
Complete a heap of mining missions for the same faction and they'll let you buy the T9 mining variant.
Etc.
 

Crimson Kaim

Crimson Kaim
Ships that have variants:

ASP
Dropship
Viper
Cobra
Diamondback
Type-X
Imperial X
Eagle
Fish Ships



Standalone ships:

Vulture
Ananconda
Chieftain
FDL
Adder
Sidewinder
Hauler
Python
Corvette
Cutter



It really is just a question how you look at it. A little more variety would be nice though. Dropship with more shields for example and more utilities at the cost of internal space. Or a Gunship without a fighter bay but more speed and agility and a large hardpoint instead of two small ones ... etc.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Somewhat related, but I always thought it would be cool to have 'used' varieties.

I mean, you can sell ships, right? Who is buying them? Why can't we buy used?

Have a set of 'quirks' for used ships based on exactly how thoroughly trashed they are like slow turning to one side or the other, reduced jump range, module decay, power losses, etc.

Players could buy cheap Condas but they'd be a real chore to fly.

But, they'd have some personality too. :)
 

Eshackleton

E
I'm hoping fore a large exploration ship. That can pack vehicle hangers and fighter bays along with the usual equipment. It needs an all glass cockpit but should have weak shields and poor hardpoints. Q4 of beyond please
 
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