It is supposed to be, but I don't want it to be stupid...
The Kestrel is much the same, but hopefully balanced by it's problems:
Twitchy, poor cargo, impared view out the front etc:
Thing is the Merlin is the same ship with an expanded hull, so it had to have comparable stats.
The Kestrel is billed as being made from Tie-Interceptor parts - hence being similar to that...
Any ideas about keeping the basic idea but changing things if general opinion agrees I've gone too far?
Would toning down the Player versions to the NPC stats be enough?
I had considered making it NPC only but where's the fun in that?
( This company is ment to be 'run' by irresponsible idiots whose only interest is in making fast ships @ any cost )
Benulobiweed.inc
By Appointment to --- : GalCoop : ---
I'm still rather new here too (the PH was my first attempt at a ship beyond retexturing), so I'm not quite sure about what stats are deemed too much. If you search the forum for "uber" you will find different discussions that mention the subject.
I think that the general opinion might be that you have to make tradeoffs in other areas compared to the stats in the basic set to give something uberspeed whatever that is. Some say anything above 400 for player ships is broken.
Btw. I like NPC ships. Most ships I've installed I would never fly myself but they add variation and flavour.
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Astromines and more in Commies. AVAILABLE HERE along with other Oolite eXpansion Packs.
Think as a general rule, the NPC and player versions should be the same with any ship. Could make it very expensive (1 Milion Credits say), make it rare by highing it only available tech 12+, or reduce the equipment available to be fitted. Not allowing fuel scoops or a Militray Shield enhancement is a major penality. Energy 500 does seem too much!
OXPS : The Assassins Guild, Asteroid Storm, The Bank of the Black Monks, Random Hits, The Galactic Almanac, Renegade Pirates can be downloaded from the Elite Wiki here.
I think they are too uber, the supercobra is probably IMHO about the max, the imperial courier would be ok if it didn't carry so much cargo.
It should be a trade off between, either very fast and small cargo or slower and more cargo. I think the supercobra stats is probably as far as you should go for an uber craft. The imperial courier is probably out of balance because it has too much cargo space for it's size, but on the other hand it's not too difficult to take out which is it's saving grace.
Giles overall rationale was to try and keep Oolite in perspective with Classic Elite, the new ships and missions have expanded Oolite into an even better game than the original, but still retaining the feel of Elite. Littelebear's Assassins Guild OXP has taken it to yet another level extending the boundaries of the game even further, I've not quite completed the mission yet, but so far I it stiill retains the feel of Elite. For what it's worth I think that too many fast and powerful large cargo carriers will upset the balance and all the original ships will dissapear, but there again I'm a traditionalist.
All that aside, well done on creating these ships, it's very welcome and much apreciated, even more so that you want peoples opinion on their relative "performance" I get very excited when I see the new creations, some of the new ships in Assassins Guild are awesome and when I recall the old wireframe appearance of ships, and what is now in Oolite now, I no longer hanker after EliteIV like I used to.
The Grey Haired Commander has spoken!
OK so I'm a PC user - "you know whats scary? Out of billions of sperm I was the fastest"
I'm about to post updates to all three of the ships I've done:
Things I wasn't happy about & feedback given so far...
The meshes will be cleaned up a bit.
A new stealth-falcon, if I can persuade the 3D engine to let me;)
Kestrel & Merlin toned down a fair bit.
All three ships rather more expensive and available in higher-tec systems.
I suspect they will still be better-specced than many will agree with.
Justification?
The back-storey of these ships bases them on imports from another galactic-system & modded by irresponsible idiots. Allowing some leaway?
They are based-off a previously released ship & so likely to have similar stats.
Most importantly, the march of technology: The ships will get slowly better.
I don't see this as a problem as long as new ships aren't ridiculously 'better' than the previous generation - I happily accept my first attempt probably went too far.
This doesn't mean the end of the old ships - My daily driver is a classic sports car which on paper can't complete with most run-of-the-mill modern cars.
It's funny - the two smaller ships were only done fill out the inventory of a new company.
The Falcon seems to have caused no comment at all & that was the reason for my first poor attempt @ 3D moddeling & .oxp's...
Benulobiweed.inc
By Appointment to --- : GalCoop : ---
I suppose one compromise might be that as the 'Next-Gen' ships are released, the designers at Benulobiweed Inc. (R) (TM) could start to compromise upon their chosen designs to keep up with 'demand', such as having only a forward firing weapon mount, no cargo capacity (even no expansions) and possibly even twitchier controls.
Captain Hesperus
"I always plan for contingencies. Take the two Black Bony Lobsters from Teorge I have as Technicians. Should we get trapped in Witchspace without food, there's still TWO emergency Thermadores."
New versions of all three of my ships are now available @ the link below:
-All ships have been made more expensive & only available @ higher-tec systems.
-All my ships were supposed to come with rear twin plasma cannons as standard.
Now fixed I hope.
-There is a new NPC & Player Falcon. The Falcon-S.
-The different NPC Falcons should now appear in their own liveries. ( oops )
-I've updated the Falcon model to make it nicer @ the cost of some extra polys.
The original .dat file is included for those who didn't mind the rough edges.
-The Merlin ( & Kestrel ) have had some updates in line with feedback given.
NPC & Player versions are now the same.
Their stats in general have been made 'less extreme', though I hope not to their detriment.
-Kestrel is now down to 8t of cargo.
-Merlin is now down to 25t with no option to add extra space.
Let me know what you think.
Like the new Falcon? ( Not quite as I intended - limits of the 3D engine )
Kestrel & Merlin better balanced? Suggestions?
I'm reluctant to make further cuts as they may stop being the ships I intended.
( Oolite seems to keep most Player-ship stats in the save file so changes may not be apparent without buying a new ship or some editing )
Benulobiweed.inc will be back with new ships as soon as I can think of a sufficiently daft reason...
Benulobiweed.inc
By Appointment to --- : GalCoop : ---
I'm glad you like...
Yes the nacelles are animated with some nice effects.
I think this ship looks much better in the flesh.
( More to come in future updates )
I'm glad you like the Falcon too. It was the reason I started making .oxp's
I was wondering if anyone had tried it. ( My usual ship )
As a result of feedback I've made all these ships much harder to find & more expensive.
Would it be worth posting game-saves to allow people to 'test-drive'?
More ships to come, though the next .oxp is most likely to be simple stuff for the Benulobiweed.inc home planet. ( These ships the most common in that system etc )
Thanks for the kind comments.
P.S.
Anyone read the stupid back-story in the ReadMe? It sort-of explains the point of these ships.
Benulobiweed.inc
By Appointment to --- : GalCoop : ---
A Public Statement from:
Benulobiweed.inc Public Relations Dept.
- We have been made aware that upcomming articles in 'What Craft' and 'Spaceship Monthly' have made some negative comments regarding handling anomalies of the wonderful new Swift.
- Benulobiweed.inc would like to make clear that the flight computer is more than capable of handling the dynamic demands of our craft's exceptional performance.
- At no point during official tests has the flight computer become so confused as to cause the fantastic Swift to fly sideways.
- As for the scandalous comments in a certain Swedish trade magazine about the beautiful Swift failing their 'Moose Test'. We feel that it is only fair to point out that the moose is generally not encountered in interstellar space and so this is unlikely to be a problem for responsible pilots.
- Finally we would like to assure our customers that should you experience any such difficulties with the amazing Swift it is most probably due to your own incompetence at the helm.
- We hope this puts to rest any filthy rumors you may have encountered.
Signed.
Q.
Chief Exec & President.
Benulobiweed.inc
( Please note Benulobiweed.inc is so confident in our craft that we have no expectation of ever honoring any warranty claims )
Benulobiweed.inc
By Appointment to --- : GalCoop : ---
