Constellation Conversation

[AntiSqueaker]

Phoenix stats and Connie in general took a nerf in that max size is now TR5 main engines. Phoenix lost some missiles and took a big cargo nerf. With some ingenuity I think it can still be a good command ship.

Honestly, I'm not surprised the Constellation engines got nerfed. Null cargo (which most dedicated combat ships would be) the Connie was pushing less mass per TR6 thruster than the Hornet was with its TR4. While I know the Constellation is supposed to be "iconic and high powered", I don't think it should be blazing past single person fighters.

 

[Black Sunder]

Honestly, I'm not surprised the Constellation engines got nerfed. Null cargo (which most dedicated combat ships would be) the Connie was pushing less mass per TR6 thruster than the Hornet was with its TR4. While I know the Constellation is supposed to be "iconic and high powered", I don't think it should be blazing past single person fighters.

Hey man I was planning to turn my Phoenix into a luxury racer for the Murray Cup if those original stats had turned out to be true.

I'm hoping they put the max engines back to TR6 though.

 

[starkestrel]

Phoenix stats and Connie in general took a nerf in that max size is now TR5 main engines. Phoenix lost some missiles and took a big cargo nerf. With some ingenuity I think it can still be a good command ship.

I wouldn't call that a nerf. It was a typo on the ship specs page; the brochure had it right. Word is that when there's a discrepancy at release between the brochure and the website, the brochure's the one to assume is correct.

 

[WarrenPeace]

What's you explorer? The DUR?

Yep, Freelancer DUR. Another hard decision there. I loved the Missile Boat version and the cargo variant, but exploration is one of my favorite parts, and it's one of the things I really look forward to.

 

[Desterion]

I thought I was happy with the Phoenix until the revelations today. With the nerfs it's not currently an upgrade I'd have paid $125 for, especially with the overall nerf to all connie engines and how it's got less than half the stock cargo for mostly visual improvements. I'm debating contacting support to see about going back to an Andromeda. As much as I like the interior, what I've always wanted is a combat variant connie. Although it might be better to just grey market the thing for double the price in a couple of months and get a new connie.

 

[Choppanob]

Totally agree - the cockpit on the Tequila variant looks much better. (I swear, someone called it a 'Tequila' on TS, and now we must refer to it as such. Because.)

That would also be me (was drinking some Tequila floverd beer at the time, and a bit tipsy with some bad english :) )

 

[Droc]

The cockpit on the Connie is drab in general. The whole ship lacks the extreme detail I expect for the cost. Its neat and all, but look at the 300, that cockpit and interior is on a whole different level.

 

[Designated Drunk]

That would also be me (was drinking some Tequila floverd beer at the time, and a bit tipsy with some bad english :) )

And that is why your home is here in TEST.

 

[AntiSqueaker]

Though, I don't know why anyone would ruin a good beer by having it taste like tequila.

I kid, I kid.

 

[starkestrel]

I thought I was happy with the Phoenix until the revelations today. With the nerfs it's not currently an upgrade I'd have paid $125 for, especially with the overall nerf to all connie engines and how it's got less than half the stock cargo for mostly visual improvements. I'm debating contacting support to see about going back to an Andromeda. As much as I like the interior, what I've always wanted is a combat variant connie. Although it might be better to just grey market the thing for double the price in a couple of months and get a new connie.

I'd advise not trying to game the system with this particular ship. IMO, that's a lot of what happened this weekend; people saw stats that belied the function of the ship (luxury yacht) and wanted to get in on a good thing, which is reasonable, but they went beyond the ship's function. I've seen people on the boards going so far as demanding that they be able to strip out the luxury interior to replace it with a cargo bay or whatever.

With regards to your idea above, less than 600 units of a limited hull sold over three days after announcement. It's conceivable you can find a buyer in six months' time, but it generally seems like a less popular ship than the other time-limited or number-limited hulls that are commanding exorbitant amounts post sale.

 

[Designated Drunk]

It's conceivable you can find a buyer in six months' time, but it generally seems like a less popular ship than the other time-limited or number-limited hulls that are commanding exorbitant amounts post sale.

I wonder if it might be a more popular ship in, say, 18 months after things go live - when all the hardcore players will have the stuff they want and are just looking for those 'epic mounts' as status symbols.

 

[starkestrel]

It's possible. If the $400 or whatever is within someone's investment comfort zone, it might be a fair investment. Personally, I'd be concerned about the grey market getting shut down 18 months into the live game, but I'm a pretty conservative investor.

 

[Designated Drunk]

Congrats on the Phoenix! I will say, Montoya, that I'm already anticipating the awkwardness of those board meetings, when you make all of us sit in the jacuzzi while you conduct the meeting from your bed with two green-skinned ladies feeding you grapes.

*raised hand*
Montoya (annoyed at interruption): "Yes, starkestrel, what is it?"
starkestrel: "Um, could you adjust those sheets a bit?"

This makes me giggle even more after watching the interior cinematic:

 

[Walex]

I appreciate the offer, I was going to go for the Aquila since I see it as a more specialized ship, but my needs aside, we probably need a pimping C&C ship first, so the Pheonix is it, for now.

I got the upgrade, I just have not applied it yet, so its there if we need it.

If its the luxury C&C ship direction I have to go, then it is possible that this Pheonix will get swapped out for a 890 Jump when that comes out.

Congrats on the Phoenix!! (Sorry I'm so late to the party, just checked my email this morning and saw the Connie cluster fuck!) I do hope they allow you to paint it in TEST colours though!

Congrats on the Phoenix! I will say, Montoya, that I'm already anticipating the awkwardness of those board meetings, when you make all of us sit in the jacuzzi while you conduct the meeting from your bed with two green-skinned ladies feeding you grapes.

Blue grape ladies are standard. Upgrading to green ladies costs a little bit extra.

Montoya:

"I trust the orgy pit has been scraped and buttered!"

I did upgrade from a 300i to a Connie last november (right before I found TEST!). I always saw it as a sort of Millennium Falcon? A mid-size cargo ship that could be used for exploring, cargo hauling, smuggling, self-sufficient scouting, escorting, or fighting depending on how you outfitted it. I'm really overwhelmed by all the choices on the variants though :( I think I'd primarily want to use it for exploring, but I hate to upgrade to something specialized and realize it was not what I wanted later. Giving up the fighter for a land rover seems like a hefty tradeoff for better sensors. The rover is not going to help you much in a space battle unless this is Saints Row. I picked up an Aegis Gladius, so I figured that's what I'd be doing any early dogfighting in.

I think the main thing we have to decide now is whether to upgrade to the Phoenix or not? (There are a limited number that I presume also factor into the number of upgrades that are available?). It looks so tempting :O I think the general consensus is that it's definitely a distinct upgrade from the Andromeda though

And upgrades to the Phoenix also disappear from the store this Friday as well, right?

 

[Walex]

Hey man I was planning to turn my Phoenix into a luxury racer for the Murray Cup if those original stats had turned out to be true.

I'm hoping they put the max engines back to TR6 though.

Based on the old stats, it'd be like a Monster Truck showing up to an F1 race:
"HEEEEEE-YOOOOOO, BOYS! IS IT TOO LATE TO ENTER THE RACE?"

"God damnit."

[Revs engine] "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEAK UP, I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE SOUND OF HOW AWESOME THIS IS!"

And then proceed to just bump the other racers out of the way as you blaze down the course.

 

[SkippyLeDoo]

Hey man I was planning to turn my Phoenix into a luxury racer for the Murray Cup if those original stats had turned out to be true.

I'm hoping they put the max engines back to TR6 though.

I think it would be a cool idea to have a high stakes large ship race like on stargate: http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Loop_of_Kon_Garat

 

[starkestrel]

I think the main thing we have to decide now is whether to upgrade to the Phoenix or not? (There are a limited number that I presume also factor into the number of upgrades that are available?). It looks so tempting :O I think the general consensus is that it's definitely a distinct upgrade from the Andromeda though

And upgrades to the Phoenix also disappear from the store this Friday as well, right?

I believe it's Monday the 25th, but you should check sources. Or until the 5000 hulls run out. Currently around 4400, you can see the exact number when you look under Other Purchases tab on the Buy Phoenix page.

I wouldn't call it a distinct upgrade. It can have a max size 6 power plant, which is higher than the other Connies, and it will have a dedicated point defense battery. That said, it's still very much a luxury vessel. You can upgrade its components to be a yacht with nice armaments, but it'll never have the customization possibilities of an Andromeda. I personally believe all of that customization trumps the size 6 power plant, but it can only be pure speculation at this point. We won't know what a size 6 versus a size 5 will allow until we're playing the game.

With regards to the Aquila, I'd generally advise (if you buy the upgrade) not applying it until we know a lot more about the ships and are closer to playing the game. You can always melt an unattached upgrade if they develop in a direction you don't like.

I'm leaning towards the Aquila myself, but I want to know more about how any of these ships customize, and so will be buying an Andro and the Aquila upgrade separately and waiting for more info from CIG. It may be that I can get what I want from the Aquila in a customized Andromeda (minus the sweet command deck), though at an expected steep cost in-game.

 

[Walex]

I believe it's Monday the 25th, but you should check sources. Or until the 5000 hulls run out. Currently around 4400, you can see the exact number when you look under Other Purchases tab on the Buy Phoenix page.

I wouldn't call it a distinct upgrade. It can have a max size 6 power plant, which is higher than the other Connies, and it will have a dedicated point defense battery. That said, it's still very much a luxury vessel. You can upgrade its components to be a yacht with nice armaments, but it'll never have the customization possibilities of an Andromeda. I personally believe all of that customization trumps the size 6 power plant, but it can only be pure speculation at this point. We won't know what a size 6 versus a size 5 will allow until we're playing the game.

With regards to the Aquila, I'd generally advise (if you buy the upgrade) not applying it until we know a lot more about the ships and are closer to playing the game. You can always melt an unattached upgrade if they develop in a direction you don't like.

I'm leaning towards the Aquila myself, but I want to know more about how any of these ships customize, and so will be buying an Andro and the Aquila upgrade separately and waiting for more info from CIG. It may be that I can get what I want from the Aquila in a customized Andromeda (minus the sweet command deck), though at an expected steep cost in-game.

Ah, that makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the info! It completely blew over my head that you could buy an upgrade and then wait to apply it. I haven't upgraded anything, so I was assuming it was applied upon purchase!
D'OH!

I usually always think about spending money on parts upgrades rather than luxury decor (which is probably telling of my actual bare bones apartment!)

I think I need to take another look at the Tequila. I know I'm heavily leaning exploration. But I agree with you, customization/versatility is going to be very important!

Thanks again!

 

[starkestrel]

I would encourage everyone to read Ben Lesnick's clarification post about the Phoenix, which just went up:

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/comment/3157196/#Comment_3157196

 

[Desterion]

It's a nice way of saying deal with it, but I don't think it's going to stop a lot of people from wanting that downgrade. In the last 12 hours they've only sold like 15 more Phoenix. It certainly is going to be rare as hell. I think I'l just keep it, even if they misled us on things. It looks however like it's not a C&C ship by default, but we'l have to use our upgrade on it to get that functionality. The same upgrade that any of the other connies can get.