Oolite Bulletins

Here's what I have on my Wings3d drawing board right now... Thought I would try for some input as to which ones (if any) I should work to release next... Some are further along than others obviously, but I need to start completing the ones I have instead of building more new ones each day. };] So, I thought I would try out the poll thingy, and see if any of these generate any interest. I will then try to finish those chosen in order. Also, I am running out of name ideas for most of these, so any suggestions along those lines in comments would be appreciated! };]

The DTT Manta:


Prototype 2 (might be too small for a player ship...?)


Prototype 11 (looks like a tanker to me but could be a player trader...)


Prototype 14 (looks more like a liner, but could be a fighter/trader too)


Prototype 16 (Hurry Robin! To the ... Bat Spaceship!)


Prototype 17 (I call this one The Razor... with mustache/side-burn/beard trimmer attachments! };])


Prototype 19 (... I got nothin'...)

like the Manta best (personal opinion is that it is the most "Oolitey" of your ship designs) - although I do like Prototype 2 - as a station-planet-station persona transport it would work well (although it does look quite small!)

The name "Manta" (at least as in "Manta Ray") is of course already taken. But "RTT Manta" is probably different enough to not be mixed up with other ships.

DaddyHoggy wrote:

like the Manta best (personal opinion is that it is the most "Oolitey" of your ship designs) - although I do like Prototype 2 - as a station-planet-station persona transport it would work well (although it does look quite small!)

LOL! Considering that D.T.T stands for Death To Triangles, and my own personal goal to expand the OOniverse away from it's 1980s Elite look, I guess I should take that as an insult! };]
By the way, P16 and P17 were both directly inspired from the new Elite game concept drawings. };]
As for P2, I could alter the canopy to make it look bigger, but it still has the overall look of that little fish from Disney's "Finding Nemo", and just feels tiny. Will look into a planet-station role perhaps. We need some futuristic little personal transports flitting around the space stations anyways!

Commander McLane wrote:

The name "Manta" (at least as in "Manta Ray") is of course already taken. But "RTT Manta" is probably different enough to not be mixed up with other ships.

Yup, most of the good names are, hence the request for name ideas. I will probably use the D.T.T prefix with all the rest of my ships to avoid the problem.

I like the Manta and Prototype 17 best.

Shipbuilder wrote:

I like the Manta and Prototype 17 best.

Looks like the D.T.T Manta is definitely in the lead, so working on finishing it now.. Strange problem with it that I will post elsewhere though...

P14 and P17 are the ones I like the best...

Your ships all look amazing! Nice work.

Can't say I agree with the sentiment of getting away from the 80s Elite look in a game that's essentially a homage to that 80s game, but if it creates ships like this, who am I to criticise!?

Selezen wrote:

Your ships all look amazing! Nice work.

Can't say I agree with the sentiment of getting away from the 80s Elite look in a game that's essentially a homage to that 80s game, but if it creates ships like this, who am I to criticise!?

I think my perspective is different because I do not come from an "Elite" background. Even though I started out with a TI-99/4A, and also had an Amiga 1000, an Amiga 500, then on to a 386-dx 25 mhz with DOS 3.0 (I think...) etc, I had never heard of Elite... At least not that I can recall. I simply don't have the nostalgia that most of you do. I see a game capable of some really cool, modern graphics, but using styles that are 30 years old. Fortunately, the coders for Oolite have given us the best of both worlds, and allowed us to both replicate the old Elite classic feel, as well as make use of todays technology, and step away from the triangle! };]
Anyways, glad you like the ship! I will try to create more "unconventional" vehicles to temp you with! };]

Ok, the Manta has been released, and looks like Prototype 17 is the next most popular, so I am off to slice, dice, and texture! };] Also open to any naming ideas other than Razor for it, as well as any of the others!
Thank you all for your input so far! I appreciate your responses (more than I thought I would get!)!.

You could call the Razor the Razorback, if you wanted to stick with the semi-convention of naming ship types after creatures. For the other ships it's often easier to think of names when there's a rough idea of the ship characteristics and stats. Prototype 14, for example, could be called something like "Impala" for a fast light trader - but if it's a large liner then something else might be more appropriate.

Disembodied wrote:

You could call the Razor the Razorback, if you wanted to stick with the semi-convention of naming ship types after creatures. For the other ships it's often easier to think of names when there's a rough idea of the ship characteristics and stats. Prototype 14, for example, could be called something like "Impala" for a fast light trader - but if it's a large liner then something else might be more appropriate.

Maybe I need to work backwards on these. As soon as I saw Razorback, I kinda get an idea of what a ship with that name should look like... needs 2 upthrusting protrusions in the front to tie in with the "tusks" image in my head...
Now Imapala... I like that. Long, sleek, fast... The narrow front nose.. I can see that. Thank you Commander, I think you're on to something there!

I voted prototype17, I love it's chunky feel, i'm not sure if i'd have that fin thing at the back - unless of course you're envisioning it as a fast ship? to me it makes it look like something a boy racer would fly around in and slightly at odds with the heavy feel of the rest of the hull, then again it does add a nice sense of balance to the design.
It's a great model though, got to love those bevelled edges

Griff wrote:

I voted prototype17, I love it's chunky feel, i'm not sure if i'd have that fin thing at the back - unless of course you're envisioning it as a fast ship? to me it makes it look like something a boy racer would fly around in and slightly at odds with the heavy feel of the rest of the hull, then again it does add a nice sense of balance to the design.
It's a great model though, got to love those bevelled edges

It just needed something back there... Not sure that the spoiler was the right choice, but I tried a couple things, and that was the best of the lot... I will have it finished and up for download later today. It's all done now, I just have to tweak the custom views, give it a coat of wax, and out the door she goes. };] I finally figured out what it reminded me of...



So, in honor of the British Mark 1 tank, I have named it the D.T.T. MK-1. };]

This also looks great Paradox.

Shipbuilder wrote:

This also looks great Paradox.

I thank you Shipbuilder! };]