Vanduul Stinger

Word is there will be an Esperia release soon of this heavy fighter. Conjectures contradict one another but it is a heavy fighter with 1S5 pilot gun, 2S2 turret and 2S5 missile launchers, intended for a crew of 3 and built for ramming. Pics are of a beautiful heavy fighter and the unusual thing is certainly the crew of 3.

I would not be surprised if it has 2S5 pilot guns (dedicated plasma cannons), and 4S2 turret. It is big, approaching gunship size.

The main trouble I see with the Esperia designs is you can’t change out the weapons. The Vanduul plasma cannons are designed to overheat the target while they shred which is pretty fun, but no options for designing your ride save putting a stealth reactor in. That means no shields so no ramming, which is what the Vanduul designs are all about.

DirectorGunner said:

Built for ramming? Did they forget about the one with two blades in front? :3

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So far as I am aware, all of the Vanduul designs are based around ramming. To do that you need to power the shields, which in their case means you are not using stealth. Vanduul designs run hot, and are not well suited to stealth, though they can be equipped for limited sneaking.

My fear is this same philosophy of design will spill over into the Plasma Lance. If the Lance detects on personal sensors as electrical even when powered down, that will kill all player interest in wielding them. As currently proposed, the Plasma Lance is the perfect Reaper weapon—massive damage as a blade and able to perform at range when needed. It should become the choice of the elite assassin. One hopes.