Starter package

[Lethal1961]

I see they have the Carrack and several other ships listed in a bundle on the RSI site is it worth it though ?. I have thought about melting a couple and buying it but everything I have right now can be flown and I have use of the a few weapons as well .
The Carrack although a fantastic ship has no pilot usable weapons and that is a turn off for me . What's your thoughts on this.

 

[vahadar]

You mean the UEE Exploration 2950 ?
Everything in this pack can be flown also.

 

[Deroth]

I see they have the Carrack and several other ships listed in a bundle on the RSI site is it worth it though ?. I have thought about melting a couple and buying it but everything I have right now can be flown and I have use of the a few weapons as well .
The Carrack although a fantastic ship has no pilot usable weapons and that is a turn off for me . What's your thoughts on this.

The Carrack is a great ship that as more systems (both the kind we fly to and the type that adds functionality within the game) are added will get better, but as you noted it isn't great if you expect to be primarily solo. If you expect to be mostly solo but want a ship that is comparable and also fun when you have others with you then you might want to look at the MSR instead.
While some of the issues with the Carrack requiring crew may be negated by blade servers on the ship as well as NPCs we can employ, we still don't know the details, such as cost, capabilities, and limitations, these will have.

...this coming from someone that owns a BMM and mostly plays as a loaner...

 

[Dirtbag_Leader]

The Carrack although a fantastic ship has no pilot usable weapons and that is a turn off for me . What's your thoughts on this.

You definitely don't buy a Carrack with the intent to pilot it. Rather, you buy a Carrack with the intent to UTILIZE it, and by that I mean fly it around with a group of friends and rotate through who pilots, who flys the shuttle/snub, who mans the turrets, who's in charge of the vehicle in the front bay, etc. Carrack is still by far the favorite ship in my fleet, but only gets used when I have a good play session with 2 to 3 other people planned. If it's just me or me and a buddy, there many far better options for just tooling around/fighting. So consider both your short and long term play-goals and crew pool before deciding!
^ I'm currently in the conundrum where I feel I can comfortably crew up my Carrack on a regular basis, but am not convinced I can claim the same for the Polaris. . .

 

[Vavrik]

I see they have the Carrack and several other ships listed in a bundle on the RSI site is it worth it though ?. I have thought about melting a couple and buying it but everything I have right now can be flown and I have use of the a few weapons as well .
The Carrack although a fantastic ship has no pilot usable weapons and that is a turn off for me . What's your thoughts on this.

My best advice is, don't buy a pack you like if it contains even a single ship you don't like but wouldn't be able to upgrade to something you do like. With the Carrack that's a hard task if you like flying alone. It is built to be a multi-crew ship period.

It CAN be used as a trade ship, but you can't even throw a spitball in your defense if you're alone.

 

[Lethal1961]

My best advice is, don't buy a pack you like if it contains even a single ship you don't like but wouldn't be able to upgrade to something you do like. With the Carrack that's a hard task if you like flying alone. It is built to be a multi-crew ship period.

It CAN be used as a trade ship, but you can't even throw a spitball in your defense if you're alone.

That's the thing with me I like the ship and think the package as a whole is an ok deal but the whole thing about not having any control over the weapons just kill's it for me . I realize that blades will be introduced sometime in the future but I don't want a dust magnet I want to use it . I just really liked the med bay and think that it will be useful in the future when it's implemented in game.

 

[Vavrik]

I just really liked the med bay and think that it will be useful in the future when it's implemented in game.

We already use the med bay in our Carracks in game as a respawn point. The only drawback is if you're alone, it's a hard ship to defend. If you have crew on the other hand, I mean hop into Discord on like Wednesday evening (or look for the schedule for "SC and drinks" for example), plenty of TESTies don't mind flying as gunners in a comfortable ship with a med bay. Also if you buy the pack it comes in, there are ships in it you can fly alone so it won't go to waste. And every other ship in the pack is easy to upgrade.
... trying to say there are options. And if you think you screwed yourself over somehow, you can always melt the pack and then start over till you get it how you like it or buy a different pack and whatnot.

 

[Richard Bong]

The Carrack is a great ship that as more systems (both the kind we fly to and the type that adds functionality within the game) are added will get better, but as you noted it isn't great if you expect to be primarily solo. If you expect to be mostly solo but want a ship that is comparable and also fun when you have others with you then you might want to look at the MSR instead.
While some of the issues with the Carrack requiring crew may be negated by blade servers on the ship as well as NPCs we can employ, we still don't know the details, such as cost, capabilities, and limitations, these will have.

...this coming from someone that owns a BMM and mostly plays as a loaner...

I would recommend the Hercules C2 as closer to the capabilities of the Carrack for solo play. If you want a big Explorer then the Aquila or the 600i would be the closer equivalent for someone that is primarily solo.

Otherwise, I agree with your assessment.

 

[Richard Bong]

You definitely don't buy a Carrack with the intent to pilot it. Rather, you buy a Carrack with the intent to UTILIZE it, and by that I mean fly it around with a group of friends and rotate through who pilots, who flys the shuttle/snub, who mans the turrets, who's in charge of the vehicle in the front bay, etc. Carrack is still by far the favorite ship in my fleet, but only gets used when I have a good play session with 2 to 3 other people planned. If it's just me or me and a buddy, there many far better options for just tooling around/fighting. So consider both your short and long term play-goals and crew pool before deciding!
^ I'm currently in the conundrum where I feel I can comfortably crew up my Carrack on a regular basis, but am not convinced I can claim the same for the Polaris. . .

This. Very much this.

I ditched my Polaris for the crew reason. In fact, about a year ago I reorganized my fleet around that concept. I was tying up too much money in ships that I would spend too much time getting crew for, instead of playing.

 

[Richard Bong]

I see they have the Carrack and several other ships listed in a bundle on the RSI site is it worth it though ?. I have thought about melting a couple and buying it but everything I have right now can be flown and I have use of the a few weapons as well .
The Carrack although a fantastic ship has no pilot usable weapons and that is a turn off for me . What's your thoughts on this.

My game package is a Scoundrel Pack. It makes my fleet a little less flexible when it comes to what can and can't be done with it. I see the appeal in consolidating a pack for that purpose, especially since all of my ships have LTI but keep in mind it does limit your options in terms of what ships you can have.

Note that Concierge Support can strip a CCU off a ship in a pack for you, if you change your mind after applying one, but I wouldn't recommend making a habit of it or counting on it.

 

[Bambooza]

I would have thought by now CIG would have clearly stated that progression in the game is not from small ships to capital ships. That the large and capital class ships are intended for multiple players working together. And while they have said that blades and NPC's will be able to fill in the missing crew roles on ships I would bet a lot of people will be greatly upset with the results when they try to fly their multi-crew ship solo.

But as @Vavrik said previously test is full of drunkards looking for a fun time and as long as you are up for shenanigans there will always be others willing to join you. As I also fully expect @Black Sunder to have the calendar full of mining ops that I can just show up to and make some much-needed money to keep me rolling in hookers and blow.

 

[Richard Bong]

I would have thought by now CIG would have clearly stated that progression in the game is not from small ships to capital ships. That the large and capital class ships are intended for multiple players working together. And while they have said that blades and NPC's will be able to fill in the missing crew roles on ships I would bet a lot of people will be greatly upset with the results when they try to fly their multi-crew ship solo.

But as @Vavrik said previously test is full of drunkards looking for a fun time and as long as you are up for shenanigans there will always be others willing to join you. As I also fully expect @Black Sunder to have the calendar full of mining ops that I can just show up to and make some much-needed money to keep me rolling in hookers and blow.

Can't sell the big ships if CIG admits that soloing multi-crew ships is not going to be practical.
It isn't about playing the game, it is about making money to fund the development.

 

[Vavrik]

But as @Vavrik said previously test is full of drunkards looking for a fun time and as long as you are up for shenanigans there will always be others willing to join you. As I also fully expect @Black Sunder to have the calendar full of mining ops that I can just show up to and make some much-needed money to keep me rolling in hookers and blow.

Just for anyone's info: If you have time and an idea for a mining op, go ahead and log one. Or any other kind of op. The events don't need to be managed by officers anymore. If you let @Chromeninja know some of the details, he might be able to include it in his weekly updates. Or you can post a message about your event and do your own advertising.

And there is already a weekly mining op on Thursday evenings (US time). Check it out.

 

[vahadar]

That's the thing with me I like the ship and think the package as a whole is an ok deal but the whole thing about not having any control over the weapons just kill's it for me . I realize that blades will be introduced sometime in the future but I don't want a dust magnet I want to use it . I just really liked the med bay and think that it will be useful in the future when it's implemented in game.

Have you tried it extensively?
Carrack is a great ship, but really it's intended for group play. As you said having no gun for the pilot is meh

In the same price range you have the Merchantman (550 atm). It has a med bay if it is one of your main criteria, 2*S8 pilot controlled guns, cargo for all your needs and a bigger hangar. Not an exploration ship obviously, unless a Terrapin can fit in the hangar bay.

 

[vahadar]

I'm currently in the conundrum where I feel I can comfortably crew up my Carrack on a regular basis, but am not convinced I can claim the same for the Polaris. . .

I think many are scared by the Polaris total crew of 24.
But they confirmed many times that it is because it's intended to have crew working in shifts.

It is probably not that far from an almost full crewed Hammerhead.

HH is 1 pilot + 6 gunners, 7 total to be fully effective with guns and missiles.

Polaris is 1 pilot + 1 torpedo guy + 5/6 gunners out of 7 turrets, as bottom rear turret is automated, and the pilot can control the front bottom S5 twin turret so you can choose not to man this one. So 7-8 guys to be somewhat fully effective with weapons.

Polaris also has a med bay.

It is reworked currently as said during Citcon 2021. Getting bigger, capital shield and components, even the loadout is reworked.

A Carrack still needs 5 crew to be effective, 1 pilot and 4 gunners. Actually that is not a big difference with the bigger toys, 2-3 difference with a Polaris.

 

[Richard Bong]

I think many are scared by the Polaris total crew of 24.
But they confirmed many times that it is because it's intended to have crew working in shifts.

It is probably not that far from an almost full crewed Hammerhead.

HH is 1 pilot + 6 gunners, 7 total to be fully effective with guns and missiles.

Polaris is 1 pilot + 1 torpedo guy + 5/6 gunners out of 7 turrets, as bottom rear turret is automated, and the pilot can control the front bottom S5 twin turret so you can choose not to man this one. So 7-8 guys to be somewhat fully effective with weapons.

Polaris also has a med bay.

It is reworked currently as said during Citcon 2021. Getting bigger, capital shield and components, even the loadout is reworked.

A Carrack still needs 5 crew to be effective, 1 pilot and 4 gunners. Actually that is not a big difference with the bigger toys, 2-3 difference with a Polaris.

You are leaving out the flight engineer for the fully crewed Hammerhead, at a minimum.
There are other positions on both the Carrack and the Polaris.

Pilot and gunner is only short term.

 

[vahadar]

You are leaving out the flight engineer for the fully crewed Hammerhead, at a minimum.
There are other positions on both the Carrack and the Polaris.

Pilot and gunner is only short term.

Oh yes it's very basic and short term view. And I know I'm not mentioning other positions on purpose.

Combat wise, just for manning weapons they are all similar in the end. I just wanted to highlight that.

What's probably needed and missing for all 3 is the engineer as you pointed, but it adds one crew for all 3 so the same.

But I hardly see a Carrack do piloting and run its engineering, drones, mapping room, med bay, repair shop, hangar bay, vehicle bay, cargo bay and/or modules and all its weapons at once.
Same for the other 2 ships, so a barebone crew of full gunners and pilot (+engineer to be effective I guess) can still use those ships and switch role when needed.

 

[Richard Bong]

Oh yes it's very basic and short term view. And I know I'm not mentioning other positions on purpose.

Combat wise, just for manning weapons they are all similar in the end. I just wanted to highlight that.

What's probably needed and missing for all 3 is the engineer as you pointed, but it adds one crew for all 3 so the same.

But I hardly see a Carrack do piloting and run its engineering, drones, mapping room, med bay, repair shop, hangar bay, vehicle bay, cargo bay and/or modules and all its weapons at once.
Same for the other 2 ships, so a barebone crew of full gunners and pilot (+engineer to be effective I guess) can still use those ships and switch role when needed.

In combat the engineering crew is responsible for damage control. I'd think that was rather important.
Depending on the engineering space there may be more than one engineer required.
The Carrack has too small a maximum crew, which is a life support limitation. According to CIG's definition of minimum crew, which is man main functions of the ship plus half the guns. The Carrack has 7 bridge stations, forget about the rest of the ship.

 

[vahadar]

Life support is indeed a factor yes I know.

That is why having redundant crew position on the Polaris because of the shifts is welcomed.

It does not mean you need 24 guys to be effective on that ship, but that you won't be affected by life support as much as on a Carrack for exemple if manning all positions at once, which is not possible on a Carrack as you pointed.

 

[GPcustoms]

I see they have the Carrack and several other ships listed in a bundle on the RSI site is it worth it though ?. I have thought about melting a couple and buying it but everything I have right now can be flown and I have use of the a few weapons as well .
The Carrack although a fantastic ship has no pilot usable weapons and that is a turn off for me . What's your thoughts on this.

Perhaps the lack of pilot weapons is why I melted mine
Aside from that one issue I absolutely loved and enjoyed flying it about....But sometimes I just didn't want to head back to a base to retrieve a ship with guns when running solo so I could do a little pew pew.
Carrack is an iconic ship that I am sure I will want down the road but couldn't justify being a predominate solo pilot in the pixel verse.
Happy Thoughts