Guesses on the Caterpillar Reveal?

[Blind Owl]

So apparently we're getting a brochure with details on the Caterpiller. Many an RSI forum discussion is ongoing as to what we shall find out. Variants, modules, uses etc.

So I figured I throw down a post here, and get some TESTie juices flowing. What do y'all think is happening with our beloved Cat? Is she just a sub-par trader now? Or does CIG have some tricks up their sleeve that'll make her into something original? Will there be a replacement for the apparent loss of some of the modularity, like the salvage module that we have apparently lost? Will we have the ability to arm her?

Please, discuss.

 

[BenjiMac]

I think this is CIG finally moving to contain rampant speculation as the Cat was going down the same road the Cutlass did.

I get the feeling it was only considered super modular because it was something they came up with before it had a purpose - and I say that as a fan of the Cat and an owner.

Im expecting an exploration variant with dragonfly capacity or maybe even a small rover of some kind because that large front door is basically asking for it.. That sounded less weird before we got to this part in the paragraph but whatever... Id guess we'll get a more armoured variant and we'll get a mercantile setup - like the bazaar in the Banu MM.

even yesterday I said on the RSI forums, seeing the game develop as it has the Cat would never be a viable boarding ship or effective pirate vessel.

I list those variants because they are easy to implement so CIG can be confident it'll work, its also minimal extra work for some extra cash... Which isn't a criticism, I built a career off that sort of thinking.

 

[BenjiMac]

oh, and maybe a medical and/or Command and control.

first one because of the cutlass red. Assuming theres a way to realistically transfer casualties from one to the other without basically throwing them from one open cargo door to another. Very TEST, but not very professional medicine.

C&C because its a role that large ships that need escorts can always do to give the illusion of purpose when they aren't actually contributing to the battle, its vague enough that people will imagine something far better than can be implemented workably and its again an easy variant that requires some sort of extra scanner and some extra screens to look legit.

 

[maynard]

...Will we have the ability to arm her?
Please, discuss.

We damn well better be able to.

Is CIG ready to deal with the PR nightmare of thousands of original Cat purchasers demanding refunds? They were led to believe they were getting an honest-to-god pirate ship with the cargo capacity to haul the booty away.

 

[supitza]

oh, and maybe a medical and/or Command and control.

first one because of the cutlass red. Assuming theres a way to realistically transfer casualties from one to the other without basically throwing them from one open cargo door to another. Very TEST, but not very professional medicine.

If there's a medical module for the Cat, I'll trade my Starfarer for a Caterpillar. Anyone interested?

 

[Blind Owl]

I think this is CIG finally moving to contain rampant speculation as the Cat was going down the same road the Cutlass did.

I get the feeling it was only considered super modular because it was something they came up with before it had a purpose - and I say that as a fan of the Cat and an owner.

Im expecting an exploration variant with dragonfly capacity or maybe even a small rover of some kind because that large front door is basically asking for it.. That sounded less weird before we got to this part in the paragraph but whatever... Id guess we'll get a more armoured variant and we'll get a mercantile setup - like the bazaar in the Banu MM.

even yesterday I said on the RSI forums, seeing the game develop as it has the Cat would never be a viable boarding ship or effective pirate vessel.

I list those variants because they are easy to implement so CIG can be confident it'll work, its also minimal extra work for some extra cash... Which isn't a criticism, I built a career off that sort of thinking.

oh, and maybe a medical and/or Command and control.

first one because of the cutlass red. Assuming theres a way to realistically transfer casualties from one to the other without basically throwing them from one open cargo door to another. Very TEST, but not very professional medicine.

C&C because its a role that large ships that need escorts can always do to give the illusion of purpose when they aren't actually contributing to the battle, its vague enough that people will imagine something far better than can be implemented workably and its again an easy variant that requires some sort of extra scanner and some extra screens to look legit.

Well I do concur with your line of thinking, it honestly disturbs me. Going with variants makes monetary sense, as it is, after all, a business. That being said, one who hope that they make it modular. We should be able to switch between said variants. But should and will are two very different animals. Not seeing BUKs or Tali modules on sale at the anniversary sale was a disturbing indicator for me.

I've been reading extensively on the RSI forums to all the thoughts and theory crafting going on, and it's actually starting to bother me. I'm usually not one to bitch about game development, especially CIG and Star Citizen, as it is just that, game development. However, if CIG is going to taker away the Cat's identity, it had damn well better give it a new one that people fucking love. Otherwise, what's the point of her?

It was supposed to be three things:
A pirate ship
A fighting freighter
Highly modular

If they go with variants and no mods, we loose the modularity.
If they don't arm her, we loose the fighting freighter
If they don't give her a means of being a pirate ship....
You get my drift.
I pray they blow my mind Friday, and give her an identify worth the hype.

We damn well better be able to.

Is CIG ready to deal with the PR nightmare of thousands of original Cat purchasers demanding refunds? They were led to believe they were getting an honest-to-god pirate ship with the cargo capacity to haul the booty away.

I have been waiting with baited breath, like a high school girl on prom night, for this ship for a long, long time. To be handed a sub-par transport with lackadaisical armaments and no real purpose, at an inflated price, would be a swift kick in the balls.

If they don't give her an identity, I'll drop her like a bad habit. On that note though, I shall maintain faith until we are delivered the final word.

 

[Blind Owl]

If there's a medical module for the Cat, I'll trade my Starfarer for a Caterpillar. Anyone interested?

If it's a module, and not just a variant. Ha. Dammit. I pray they keep the modules

 

[BenjiMac]

Im afraid I see this as one of the first among a line of disappointments we're gonna be hit with to get it over with, I should clarify that Im ok with it to a minimal degree. Let me explain...

So, we all know Chris likes to let his imagination take control of his mouth now and then and things get a little out of hand on occasion, its not great of course but it does inspire passion for the project which is ultimately a good thing. As the game has developed, I get the feeling they're beginning to find inherent problems with implementing certain things and I firmly believe connecting to items together physically is one of them.

ship to ship docking has been basically killed off on the quiet, docking collars are badly placed or missing. Prowler and the new Cutlass clearly rely on EVA for boarding, I heard rumors elsewhere that whenever they tried to dock two ships in engine, the physics freaked out and the ships catapulted apart violently.. I have no problem believing this having played what's in the engine now.

that said, docking collar boarding was always, to my mind, going to be a bad mechanic. Easy to camp the collar, hard to get larger ships into position, a lot of hurdles to overcome in engine. Id rather have the game cone earlier with EVA boarding than wait months and months to try and get an inferior mechanic in. Does basically end the idea of ever flying without a full space suit but whatever.

why do I say first in a line?

because I believe this will also prevent the separation of the cockpit unit on the cat, the endeavour (which the moment it was pitched I said would never, ever work right.m too many animations to get perfect, too many corridors to align correctly) will also be effected.

rovers and bikes can be locked down like cargo, but I also worry about the snub fighters. If the game didn't have to animate it all, Id feel a bit more confident but the joining of two machines in game seems to be problematic.

this means ships that are modular need to be created in all possible combinations because you cant actually have separate modules to slip in and out. They'll try to minimize this work load now theyve overdone it with the tali.

I don't think this will ruin the final game all that much but I can see some people will be pissed off royally.

Id say expect variants going forward and not modules, switching of only non-outwardly visible components (at least at an early stage), a lot of back tracking on the Cat, genesis and especially the endeavour and Hull-E.. Which I could actually see being dropped entirely to enable the game to ship.

hold onto those ships though because they'll have to give you something truly awesome in exchange...


just my thoughts.

 

[AstroSam]

Well, I don't know what the Cat is meant to be/come. But I have an idea what I will make of her:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Screen-Shot-2015-06-12-at-01.56.32.png

 

[Doggen]

Potentially the biggest missile boat ingame. Load all kinds of explosive stuff into the cargo holds, point at ship/spacestation/Alderaan and full speed ahead. Detach command module and watch glorious explosion.

Then call insurance company with excuse and get new modules.

 

[AstroSam]

Now we are talking, haha :D

 

[Crymsan]

I can see the logic for variants, what is key is if they let current owners get the other variants cheap, like buying a module so you still get flexibility.

I only bought a cat for the flexibility and not as a pirate (If pirating is lots of fun I think there will struggle to be enough victims). I hope its ace because it looks nice but 5 crew for 500 cu cargo sucks big time and $295. It has two turrets for defence which is maybe okay if you compare it to a hull c (okay I get the message it is a cargo ship) but with turrets currently not worth spit in defence that was the first kick in the teeth.

I can see why scavenging arms would go even if they have to add them to the crucible later even if that was a key like for me among the variants. I cannot see why I would want it as a S&R boat when you can do that with the cutlass red (although it seems a possibility). As I said in the other thread it has two crew quarters already so why add another for a drop ship type option? (That is 8 beds already).

They mentioned a missile pod (I think in the anniversary live stream) which is the worst kind of armament (expensive to fire) and avoidable currently.

It already seats dragonflys in the front module so why would you add a different ground rover?

They said it could take more than dragonflys but that seems based on there being another new small dragonfly type vessel because the experiments on fitting in ships has shown they basically do not fit. Dragonflys seem fine as transport but not as a dogfighter, no one wants to be on one of them in a space fight!

Its alpha I get it but I have gone from uber excited about getting a caterpillar to thinking of selling it or ccu it has also crushed any desire to spend more on the game. There are not many big ships in game to compare to but both the connie and starfarer make its armament look a joke. I presume it will have tougher shields than a hull c but the problem with shields are if you cannot kill what is attacking you then it just takes you longer to die so just prolongs the misery.

They even removed the naughty button.......

If I closed my eyes and imagined this vessel as the centre of a pirate fleet with fitting whatever modules you can imagine, I just cannot see how it would work? Did you buy the caterpillar as a shop???? Does it have a pool table module so the pirates have r&r? Is that its goal as a stationary home for pirates to laze around in? At least now thoroughly deflated I cannot imagine the brochure bringing me down anymore.

 

[Blind Owl]

Im afraid I see this as one of the first among a line of disappointments we're gonna be hit with to get it over with, I should clarify that Im ok with it to a minimal degree. Let me explain...

So, we all know Chris likes to let his imagination take control of his mouth now and then and things get a little out of hand on occasion, its not great of course but it does inspire passion for the project which is ultimately a good thing. As the game has developed, I get the feeling they're beginning to find inherent problems with implementing certain things and I firmly believe connecting to items together physically is one of them.

ship to ship docking has been basically killed off on the quiet, docking collars are badly placed or missing. Prowler and the new Cutlass clearly rely on EVA for boarding, I heard rumors elsewhere that whenever they tried to dock two ships in engine, the physics freaked out and the ships catapulted apart violently.. I have no problem believing this having played what's in the engine now.

that said, docking collar boarding was always, to my mind, going to be a bad mechanic. Easy to camp the collar, hard to get larger ships into position, a lot of hurdles to overcome in engine. Id rather have the game cone earlier with EVA boarding than wait months and months to try and get an inferior mechanic in. Does basically end the idea of ever flying without a full space suit but whatever.

why do I say first in a line?

because I believe this will also prevent the separation of the cockpit unit on the cat, the endeavour (which the moment it was pitched I said would never, ever work right.m too many animations to get perfect, too many corridors to align correctly) will also be effected.

rovers and bikes can be locked down like cargo, but I also worry about the snub fighters. If the game didn't have to animate it all, Id feel a bit more confident but the joining of two machines in game seems to be problematic.

this means ships that are modular need to be created in all possible combinations because you cant actually have separate modules to slip in and out. They'll try to minimize this work load now theyve overdone it with the tali.

I don't think this will ruin the final game all that much but I can see some people will be pissed off royally.

Id say expect variants going forward and not modules, switching of only non-outwardly visible components (at least at an early stage), a lot of back tracking on the Cat, genesis and especially the endeavour and Hull-E.. Which I could actually see being dropped entirely to enable the game to ship.

hold onto those ships though because they'll have to give you something truly awesome in exchange...


just my thoughts.

Well thought out, and well put. It never occurred to me that they may be having issues with modularity. Oh well. If it's true, that makes me sad, as I've based my fleet on modularity.

 

[Blind Owl]

Well, I don't know what the Cat is meant to be/come. But I have an idea what I will make of her:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Screen-Shot-2015-06-12-at-01.56.32.png

This is what I wanted. Haha

 

[Blind Owl]

Potentially the biggest missile boat ingame. Load all kinds of explosive stuff into the cargo holds, point at ship/spacestation/Alderaan and full speed ahead. Detach command module and watch glorious explosion.

Then call insurance company with excuse and get new modules.

I can get on board with this, haha.

 

[Blind Owl]

I can see the logic for variants, what is key is if they let current owners get the other variants cheap, like buying a module so you still get flexibility.

I only bought a cat for the flexibility and not as a pirate (If pirating is lots of fun I think there will struggle to be enough victims). I hope its ace because it looks nice but 5 crew for 500 cu cargo sucks big time and $295. It has two turrets for defence which is maybe okay if you compare it to a hull c (okay I get the message it is a cargo ship) but with turrets currently not worth spit in defence that was the first kick in the teeth.

I can see why scavenging arms would go even if they have to add them to the crucible later even if that was a key like for me among the variants. I cannot see why I would want it as a S&R boat when you can do that with the cutlass red (although it seems a possibility). As I said in the other thread it has two crew quarters already so why add another for a drop ship type option? (That is 8 beds already).

They mentioned a missile pod (I think in the anniversary live stream) which is the worst kind of armament (expensive to fire) and avoidable currently.

It already seats dragonflys in the front module so why would you add a different ground rover?

They said it could take more than dragonflys but that seems based on there being another new small dragonfly type vessel because the experiments on fitting in ships has shown they basically do not fit. Dragonflys seem fine as transport but not as a dogfighter, no one wants to be on one of them in a space fight!

Its alpha I get it but I have gone from uber excited about getting a caterpillar to thinking of selling it or ccu it has also crushed any desire to spend more on the game. There are not many big ships in game to compare to but both the connie and starfarer make its armament look a joke. I presume it will have tougher shields than a hull c but the problem with shields are if you cannot kill what is attacking you then it just takes you longer to die so just prolongs the misery.

They even removed the naughty button.......

If I closed my eyes and imagined this vessel as the centre of a pirate fleet with fitting whatever modules you can imagine, I just cannot see how it would work? Did you buy the caterpillar as a shop???? Does it have a pool table module so the pirates have r&r? Is that its goal as a stationary home for pirates to laze around in? At least now thoroughly deflated I cannot imagine the brochure bringing me down anymore.

I pray that brochure give her and identity, as I feel the same way man.

 

[BenjiMac]

I can see the logic for variants, what is key is if they let current owners get the other variants cheap, like buying a module so you still get flexibility.

I only bought a cat for the flexibility and not as a pirate (If pirating is lots of fun I think there will struggle to be enough victims). I hope its ace because it looks nice but 5 crew for 500 cu cargo sucks big time and $295. It has two turrets for defence which is maybe okay if you compare it to a hull c (okay I get the message it is a cargo ship) but with turrets currently not worth spit in defence that was the first kick in the teeth.

I can see why scavenging arms would go even if they have to add them to the crucible later even if that was a key like for me among the variants. I cannot see why I would want it as a S&R boat when you can do that with the cutlass red (although it seems a possibility). As I said in the other thread it has two crew quarters already so why add another for a drop ship type option? (That is 8 beds already).

They mentioned a missile pod (I think in the anniversary live stream) which is the worst kind of armament (expensive to fire) and avoidable currently.

It already seats dragonflys in the front module so why would you add a different ground rover?

They said it could take more than dragonflys but that seems based on there being another new small dragonfly type vessel because the experiments on fitting in ships has shown they basically do not fit. Dragonflys seem fine as transport but not as a dogfighter, no one wants to be on one of them in a space fight!

Its alpha I get it but I have gone from uber excited about getting a caterpillar to thinking of selling it or ccu it has also crushed any desire to spend more on the game. There are not many big ships in game to compare to but both the connie and starfarer make its armament look a joke. I presume it will have tougher shields than a hull c but the problem with shields are if you cannot kill what is attacking you then it just takes you longer to die so just prolongs the misery.

They even removed the naughty button.......

If I closed my eyes and imagined this vessel as the centre of a pirate fleet with fitting whatever modules you can imagine, I just cannot see how it would work? Did you buy the caterpillar as a shop???? Does it have a pool table module so the pirates have r&r? Is that its goal as a stationary home for pirates to laze around in? At least now thoroughly deflated I cannot imagine the brochure bringing me down anymore.

No, I didn't buy it as a shop initially but I feel travelling frontier world merchant may be a role it plays to quite well.

None of us saw it unfolding this way. I bought it as a support vessel, something that was capable of contributing almost any service as required. Easier to run ops with one cat fitted for C&C, refuelling and repair than it is to field a Star-G, crucible and an aquila.. Even if the cat does none if these roles as well as a specialized vessel.

But we only believed that because CIG focussed on selling the thing before working out what it could realistically do and what they were willing to work on it doing.

It could turn into the biggest disappointment since the mk.1 Cutlass, I have no problem seeing that.

it now seems we get a fairly slow, large profiled floating target with little capacity to defend itself, no clear use and possibly no meaningful modularity.

Id also agree that a missile module for it is very much like installing a condom machine in a nunnery.

 

[Blind Owl]

No, I didn't buy it as a shop initially but I feel travelling frontier world merchant may be a role it plays to quite well.

None of us saw it unfolding this way. I bought it as a support vessel, something that was capable of contributing almost any service as required. Easier to run ops with one cat fitted for C&C, refuelling and repair than it is to field a Star-G, crucible and an aquila.. Even if the cat does none if these roles as well as a specialized vessel.

But we only believed that because CIG focussed on selling the thing before working out what it could realistically do and what they were willing to work on it doing.

It could turn into the biggest disappointment since the mk.1 Cutlass, I have no problem seeing that.

it now seems we get a fairly slow, large profiled floating target with little capacity to defend itself, no clear use and possibly no meaningful modularity.

Id also agree that a missile module for it is very much like installing a condom machine in a nunnery.

Haha, I'm loving your write-ups.

 

[FluffyVonRage]

Potentially the biggest missile boat ingame. Load all kinds of explosive stuff into the cargo holds, point at ship/spacestation/Alderaan and full speed ahead. Detach command module and watch glorious explosion.

Then call insurance company with excuse and get new modules.

I was thinking more BattleTech style missile pods facing out the bay doors. You'd get what, 50 missiles out of each door? 300+ tiny bundles of joy should be enough to turn anything below a javelin into so much debris field.

 

[Blind Owl]

I was thinking more BattleTech style missile pods facing out the bay doors. You'd get what, 50 missiles out of each door? 300+ tiny bundles of joy should be enough to turn anything below a javelin into so much debris field.

Dare to dream