F8 Lightning is going into concept sale!

[Lienna]

I would definitely be tempted. Do we know anything about it other than the concept spiel about nimble and firepower? Does it have interior space?

It's meant to be the next in a line of Carrier based fighters, expect no room for cargo or living, if you're lucky you might get a gun rack.

Unless that top turret ends up being manned... but I imagine we'll have a similar setup to the superhornet where a second player can use it from the cockpit.

 

[Lorddarthvik]

Now that's a sexy beast right there!

To me it looks like it's well armored, bulky, heavy really.
I haven't read or heard a single word about it yet so I might be very wrong here, but just by looking at the picture I would expect it to handle worse than a hornet or sabre, but make up for it with endurance. The inset cockpit, dark paintjob and the angles give me the feeling of a heavy stealth fighter-bomber. (thinking something like the Thunderbolt in WC3)
Love it! Although I don't plan on spending more money on SC, I would like to see it go into concept sale so those who can afford it can have it, and a free-fly/subscriber-loaner state at least!

 

[Thugari]

Thats why I want it - straight ahead!

Test blinders help keep test pilots from being distracted, allowing them focus only to the sun they are aiming at to crash.

 

[Printimus]

Is that 6 guns i see PLUS a turret on top AND rocket/missile bays on top?! how EXCITING!!!

 

[NKato]

You just want the ship because it's shiny.

You're not thinking about the ramifications about it. The F8 Lightning is supposed to be the UEE"s top of the line, newest fighter. There's a reason the F-22 Raptor wasn't made available for Export, you know.

The F8 Lightning is not even a competitor to the Super Hornet.

Super Hornet is a two-seater medium/heavy fighter.

The F8 is a straight up heavy fighter designed to fight the freakin' Vanduul, drubbing their asses, skinning them alive and wearing their nutsacks on its tailpipe like decorations.

CIG said that the F8 Lightning wouldn't be sold, because of lore reasons that it's so cutting edge, selling it to civilians would negate the edge the UEE Navy would have over the average Citizen. On top of that, obtaining an F8 Lightning is supposed to be an accomplishment.

With LTI F8's zipping all over the place, the idea of "rescuing" an F8 Lightning from the hangar of an on-duty Bengal Carrier becomes a lot less important.

 

[Murderer]

You just want the ship because it's shiny.

You're not thinking about the ramifications about it. The F8 Lightning is supposed to be the UEE"s top of the line, newest fighter. There's a reason the F-22 Raptor wasn't made available for Export, you know.

The F8 Lightning is not even a competitor to the Super Hornet.

Super Hornet is a two-seater medium/heavy fighter.

The F8 is a straight up heavy fighter designed to fight the freakin' Vanduul, drubbing their asses, skinning them alive and wearing their nutsacks on its tailpipe like decorations.

CIG said that the F8 Lightning wouldn't be sold, because of lore reasons that it's so cutting edge, selling it to civilians would negate the edge the UEE Navy would have over the average Citizen. On top of that, obtaining an F8 Lightning is supposed to be an accomplishment.

With LTI F8's zipping all over the place, the idea of "rescuing" an F8 Lightning from the hangar of an on-duty Bengal Carrier becomes a lot less important.

I agree with this. Imagine how many fewer Hornets you would see as most people would definitely pledge for this ship. Though with CitizenCon approching, would it be possible they do something along the lines of the Glaive sale to limit the numbers and ultimately generate new money rather than CCU's?

 

[Murderer]

Although with the Aurora being the focus of the org, I'd love to see a TEST skin for that ship!!

 

[Printimus]

I like to compare this analogy with trying to get a tank off the military base in GTA V...

 

[Dalarast]

You just want the ship because it's shiny.

You're not thinking about the ramifications about it. The F8 Lightning is supposed to be the UEE"s top of the line, newest fighter. There's a reason the F-22 Raptor wasn't made available for Export, you know.

The F8 Lightning is not even a competitor to the Super Hornet.

Super Hornet is a two-seater medium/heavy fighter.

The F8 is a straight up heavy fighter designed to fight the freakin' Vanduul, drubbing their asses, skinning them alive and wearing their nutsacks on its tailpipe like decorations.

CIG said that the F8 Lightning wouldn't be sold, because of lore reasons that it's so cutting edge, selling it to civilians would negate the edge the UEE Navy would have over the average Citizen. On top of that, obtaining an F8 Lightning is supposed to be an accomplishment.

With LTI F8's zipping all over the place, the idea of "rescuing" an F8 Lightning from the hangar of an on-duty Bengal Carrier becomes a lot less important.

Agree 100%. I want the F8 and will drop a SH and perhaps the Delta to have, what I assume, would be the far superior fighter in the black. But the idea of rescuing it is more appealing because when you see one in the wild piloted by a PC your going to know what he/she to earn it. Like a badge of honor...

Also the idea that the F8 is the superior fighter also gives the NPCs who may be enforcing or patrolling a higher edge against PCs who need policing. I jump in my SH and start violating some sectors rules or try my luck against the exhaust port on a isris... I would be deterred more and dealt with more severely if t was a F8 coming at me and not a pack of ancient Gladius or a racing m50......

 

[Thalstan]

It depends on the role/crew requirements. There might be a second seat on that thing based on the video, but unsure at the moment.

Let's see, there appear to be 6 forward facing guns, a 2 gun turret, 2 Torpedos, and 2 missile racks. While it's a lot of guns, it's not the 4 S3s that the Sabre has. This could be a method of aligning the two a bit more equally.

The two by the cockpit LOOK like S3 CF-227 Panther repeaters
The inside wing weapons look like M4A laser cannons, which are a S2 weapon
The outer wing weapons look like NN-13 Neutron Guns, which are S1.
Neither wing mount looks like it has gimbels. (would be awesome if they were one size up each)
Not really sure about the turret, but that could be another set of M4As S2s, or they could be placeholders
Looks like 2 racks of 3 Marksman I (S1) missiles.
2 anti-capital ship torpedos (look to be similar to the vanguard size-wise)
If these are all controllable by the pilot, this thing will put a serious beatdown on anything in front of it.

Honestly, this looks more like something like a Vanguard competitor, not a Sabre competitor. That said, we are told it's a "Heavy fighter" The Sabre is a fighter, the Super Hornet is a space superiority machine, and the Vanguard is a long range fighter so it could be something in between (size/durability/ of the vanguard, but not the same fuel capacity) or ability to move around, or it could be a longer range, bigger, meaner Super Hornet. (2 S3, 2S2, 2S1, just like the Lightning, but with 2 more on the turret for the Lightning).

I am HOPING it is a longer ranged fighter with 2 people and MAYBE a bed (vanguard competitor) for logging out in but no cargo capacity, However, the video says "no" to my hopes and dreams as I see no passage back inside the vehicle from the pilot seat.

SPECULATION
To me the lack of a bed also puts it as short range vehicle, with maybe a little more Quantum fuel than that Sabre, but not as much as a Freelancer or a Vanguard. That means it will compete with the Bucc., Sabre, and Super Hornet for top dog status as "best space fighter".

 

[Xist]

CIG said that the F8 Lightning wouldn't be sold, because of lore reasons that it's so cutting edge, selling it to civilians would negate the edge the UEE Navy would have over the average Citizen. On top of that, obtaining an F8 Lightning is supposed to be an accomplishment.

This.

I thought it wouldn't be sold, they seemed pretty confident of that.

If they do sell it, I'm upgrading my hornets.

If they don't, then nothing has changed.

 

[Thalstan]

If they sell it, it's because they need more money. Yes, they got a cash infusion recently with the explorer pack, but with everything they have going on, (rent, salary, computers, etc), they probably need more cash to finish the game. If they need the cash, they will sell it. If not, they will keep it as an "accomplishment"

I also see it as more of a limited run...like the Phoenix...than something like a Sabre/Vanguard/Super Hornet ship where they just limit the time sold.

 

[A.Santos]

NEED ONE !

 

[Shadow Reaper]

CIG has been clear from its first mention of the F8 that players will not be able to buy them. The intention with them is to assure the UEE maintains control over its territory, rather than be taken over by players. The only way to get one is to steal one, and good luck with that. My guess is you will not even have access to them in Squadron 42, because CIG doesn't want them in the hands of players.

They made this ship so everyone knows they always have something to run away from.

 

[AeroGrizzly]

Mmmmmm, I'd crash an Aurora into that.

 

[Bruttle]

I had to vote against the F8 coming out for sale. The reason I did, is the same as a few others have mentioned. In order for NPC security to work, they need to have a "big bad wolf". They need something that we, as players, cannot compete against without some serious effort. The F8 has been in that position since the concept was introduced. If they make it available to players, they will need to come up with something else to fill that role. It could be numbers (although that would take unnecessary resources). It could be special equipment (like super stealth or extremely powerful shields). It could also be a level of skills that human players simply can't compete against.

To me, putting the F8 out for sale would represent a step in the wrong direction. That direction (as it appears now) is the abandonment of plans for the strict purpose of getting a quick buck. I watched the video though. Ben did say that the ships role did change. So perhaps they already had the change in direction and selling the F8 is merely making some profit off redirected assets. If that's the case, then I don't have an issue. By all means, put it up for sale.

Just as long as they did not make the change in direction to capitalize on making some quick cash. If they are, than they are sacrificing the long game for the benefit of the short game. That is never a good thing.

That being said, I could be way off base. I don't have access to their thoughts or internal processes. So there could be far more to this.

 

[AstroSam]

They should limit the sales numbers - problem solved.

 

[SpudNyk]

They should limit the sales numbers - problem solved.

Then you'll get all the complaints about missing the F5 refresh race.
Maybe they'll put up the vanduul stinger at the same time.

 

[Bruttle]

They should limit the sales numbers - problem solved.

That would solve the issue. Just as long as the ship remains largely unattainable to the player base. I have no issues with a company making profit. Everyone has bills to pay. CIG at 300+ employees in several locations would have a ridiculous amount of bills. I would hate to see their accounts payable inbox.

Just as long as they are not sacrificing the development time strictly to make money right now. I'm not against them making money, I'm just against them losing focus. They dance the line between maintaining financial viability and becoming a spaceship generator sim. I just don't want to see them cross that line.

 

[Murderer]

Personally, I'd like to see Esperia salvage a smaller salvage ship from the Vanduul.