Looks like the Cutlass could be getting a serious do-over

[Montoya]

Posted by Ben Lesnick

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/comment/5892909/#Comment_5892909

While I'm here, let me ask you guys a theoretical question: how would you feel about replacing the Cutlass? That is: how mated are you to the current look of the ship? One thing John points out in his piece (... as best I can understand, anyway...) is that there are certain significant limitations to how we can place thrusters on the current design. So if everybody had the choice between the Cutlass commerce raider and, say, the Buccaneer interceptor that's more maneuverable but has a smaller cargo hold, would that be a reasonable compromise? It's something we've talked about internally, and so I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of the megathread. (Please don't consider that a promise of a new ship... it's something we're thinking about, but will need to decide and commit resources to first.)

Im actually in agreement with the idea of making the Cutlass more dedicated to a specific role.

It cant be the most heavily armed, most maneuverable, most cargo, most everything ship.

 

[Krystal LeChuck]

Trying to keep everyone happy is their mistake. The Cutlass was supposed to be a multi-role agile fighter with a decent cargo and a turret. Then everyone assumed it would be the best in every one of those specs and started crying like spoiled brats.
If CIG puts their foot down and say "hey this is it, like it or hate it. There are also other ships out there" this whole thing will be done and they can proceed, with a perfectly great ship in store. Maybe then revisit the idea of the Brutus?

 

[Foible]

I think Ben tried to put his foot down on the reddit channel, but got it chewed off.

 

[Black Sunder]

To me the Cutlass never 'looked' right. Thin space frame with outrigger engines. Never sat right with me. I'd like to see a redo on the visual only, not the function(s).

 

[Stubieroo]

Wasn't the cutlass supposed to be like the "Millennium Falcon" for one? I would have gotten the cutlass black if it was in the budget. So I got the 325a, and then I heard that's going to be reworked as well... I'm really wondering what's really gonna go down with these ships...

 

[PaulEPeptide]

The cutlass is the ugly duckling if it were also mentally challenged. I'm definitely curious to see how drastically they're willing to deviate from what it is now.

 

[Montoya]

The Cutlass should be slow, heavily armed, heavily armored boarding ship.

 

[Lotus]

Trying to keep everyone happy is their mistake. The Cutlass was supposed to be a multi-role agile fighter with a decent cargo and a turret. Then everyone assumed it would be the best in every one of those specs and started crying like spoiled brats.
If CIG puts their foot down and say "hey this is it, like it or hate it. There are also other ships out there" this whole thing will be done and they can proceed, with a perfectly great ship in store. Maybe then revisit the idea of the Brutus?

Agreed. Always was a fan of the Cutlass, even if it looked a bit weird like Sunder said, but I don't see the need in a remodel. Agile fighter with decent cargo seems like a great description to me for a wide range of different roles, specific role gets too boring. A whole fleet comes in as the same ships just sounds a bit off and generic to me (of course it would be a exception if they were aurora's). Diversity is big in this game, imo.

Sorry if I ranted off.

 

[Wolf Lord Caldersson]

The Cutlass should be slow, heavily armed, heavily armored boarding ship.

Ill disagree with you. Its a pirate ship and its variants are a medic and civil patrol/merc ship. All 3 of these rely on speed. Pirates hit hard and fast and leave. Medic get to survivors rapidly, cops need to chase down pirates. It should be lightly armored because it is cheap and it doesnt even have an armored feeling to it.

Cutlass should be fast, big gun, and a little cargo. Should be lightly armored.

 

[Semphis Rythorn]

I think the only way they can appease both sides is to create a new Drake Ship, that is agile and faster than a cutlass but less armed and has less cargo space.

 

[Huegpaynis]

The Cutlass should be slow, heavily armed, heavily armored boarding ship.

I think you mean "The Redeemer".

 

[Bigcracker]

I think a lot of the problem right now is that the cutlass is forced to be a dog fighter which is was not built for. Its a Heavy fighter that should be using boom and zoom tactics. Making passes with all its weapons up front and then getting the hell out with that turret being able to poke at pesky fast fighters. I think you should look at the the Cutlass like a BF110 or Beaufighter from world war 2 that hunt in packs going after slower ships and pretty much a poormans P38/ Vanguard.

 

[rogesh]

This :

I think a lot of the problem right now is that the cutlass is forced to be a dog fighter which is was not built for. Its a Heavy fighter that should be using boom and zoom tactics. Making passes with all its weapons up front and then getting the hell out with that turret being able to poke at pesky fast fighters. I think you should look at the the Cutlass like a BF110 or Beaufighter from world war 2 that hunt in packs going after slower ships and pretty much a poormans P38/ Vanguard.

Also it won't win a beauty contest but I think the look fits quite good. It's a tool not a luxury ship and the look represents that quite good. I would only change minor things of its exterior

 

[Guss De Blöd]

nooo but I like the cutlass as it is. It's not very good right now but it'll come in handy for the 2.0 as it can carry people and is inexpensive.

 

[Omusul]

Keep the Cutlass as is and make the Buccaneer interceptor to go up against the likes of Super Hornet and Sabre.
In other words two Drake ships. Then again i've a bit of a draking problem as it is :p

 

[NapalmX]

The biggest concern about the Cutlass in the past was that it was a glass cannon; heavily armed, maneuverable, but lightly armoured.
Now everyone is upset because it's not going to be a dogfighter.
IIRC, the Cutlass is a lightly armoured, well-armed, agile multi-crew ship that can tear a cargo transport a new one. A booty-laden ship that can go up against a Hornet as well? That's just wishful thinking.
Speed and agility will be compromised with cargo, that's why they were touted as "pirate" vessels that hunt in packs. I don't know. CIG promised too much or are backers expecting the world?

 

[Soven Taliesyn]

Ill disagree with you. Its a pirate ship and its variants are a medic and civil patrol/merc ship. All 3 of these rely on speed. Pirates hit hard and fast and leave. Medic get to survivors rapidly, cops need to chase down pirates. It should be lightly armored because it is cheap and it doesnt even have an armored feeling to it.

Cutlass should be fast, big gun, and a little cargo. Should be lightly armored.

That's how I've always pictured the Cutlass.

 

[Soven Taliesyn]

That's how I've always pictured the Cutlass.

One of the main points I remember most about it is that it's a cheap ship to fly. Which would also state that it's not big on armor. Cargo space for looting. Space for crew for ship to ship infiltration. The gunner might not do so well while the ship is fluttering about but it's a great lookout/defence while looting the booty. Light armor and the giant thrusters making it agile and quick for quick in and outs on the larger ships.