Vanguard modules and BUKs

Anyone here have the skinny on whether we’ll be able to mix and match parts of modules? I really want to put the Harby turret on my Sentinel but keep the Sentinel interior, lose the EMP for the Harby torps. When do we get the modules or at least an update?

What is the point of modules that can’t be interchanged? I think we must be using the word differently.

The point behind modularity, and the Battlefield Upgrade Kits ( BUK), is you can swap out the mid section of each Vanguard, and give it properties of other Vanguards. The real question is whether you can swap just one side or the other.

There was a statement back two to three months ago, that all the Vanguards have a slot large enough to fit the Harby turret, so you just need the turret to upgrade to 2S3. Not confirmed but seemed authoritative at the time. There was no word whether you’ll be able to buy just the turret or need the entire Harby module. I for one think it will be easier to find a REO if she’s switching between 2S3 Ardor and 4S2 Rattlers.

The Vanguards generally have an EM of 29k, so anything but stealthy. However, the latest Sentinel is unique, that it has 1S1 and 1S2 reactors. Flying it with just a stealth S1 and shields off, it has an sig of 5k. Generally 6k can be considered stealth. So a Sentinel with the Hoplite BUK is a true stealth troop transport. That’s still new.

I think yes, you will need the turret off the Harby to put S3s on the other ships, and then you’ll need to get hold of a pair of S3s. Any will do.

My question has more to do with other components. I’d really like to lose the EMP for something like the Harby torps, but I don’t think that can happen without losing the Sentinel’s two bunks. They’re in the same place and I’d rather the bunks than the torps.

Ideally, you could lose the EMP and place something similarly unseen, like extra fuel tanks. I am not brave enough to hope for that. I think my only Sentinel upgrade may be the Harby turret, and a couple Ardor-3. That would be a huge upgrade.

OTOH, we’ve still seen nothing that looks like the Electronic Command and Control functions that the Sentinel’s cool internal screens are supposed to support. We may never see the promised ability to mimic the signatures of other ships. Without this, the ultra cool Sentinel interior may degenerate to eye candy.

I think the BUKs only change the center of the ship. The frames retain their various armor, agility, etc. So the Sentinel has horrid armor but greater stealth and agility.

On the Hornet comparison, I agree the Sentinel is too fragile. That needs to be fixed. Hornets are one-shotting Sentinels, which should be impossible. Keep in mind though, for a fair comparison the Vanguard needs a REO. That brings the turret to the game which flown right is a serious advantage, and makes the missiles much more ready. A REO should change the balance of power. S3 guns in the turret should make it much easier to convince players to sit second seat.

And, if the electronic wizardry of the Sentinel ever comes to game, there may be an argument for a third player aboard. If they put a mini-game into the fancy console, to use it and the turret in battle will require a third player. While I’m all for overloading players with things to do, they can’t be in both rear seats at once.

In Star Wars Fantasy Flight Games TTRPG, there’s an elaborate “slicing” role that is computer invasion during combat. That would be extremely cool for the Sentinel. CIG has never said exactly what the Command and Control function will be, nor the signature spoofing they sold us. One can only guess if they’ll ever live up to those words.

Finally, one wonders what CIG plans to do about the superior missile lock time on the Vanguards. That also never came to pass. Given the Rattler’s very close missile lock ability, knocking lock time from 0.8s to 0.4s would be a huge boon, especially if they made the switch from turret guns to missiles instantaneous. That would keep the REO entertained. If the third seat was constantly switching from spoofing, signature slicing and power management, all three players would stay busy in combat.