I don't feel like external cargo pods make sense for a mobile smelter. How do you get the smelted metal into them? Makes more sense to rely on internal cargo for that one.
The actual smelter bit of the model is gonna be connected to (and cover parts of) the pods. They won't be hanging out in the open as they currently are. It doesn't make all that much sense, but then again, what in FL does? might as well go with something that has a bit more flavor than the bland ol' box-for-belly mining ship design.
(12-02-2018, 12:40 AM)Minh Wrote:
I may sound controversial with the idea: make it the actual gunboat. However, it would have less turrets (4-5), a bit weaker powercore and less base armor, yet it would hold a bit bigger cargo capacity than a typical gunboat (around 700) and better base speed (think Pelican's 100m/s).
Why?
Because it could be a design that initially was supposed to be a cheap, light transport... but someone in the middle of planning decided to adjust the powercore and turn design into more combat capable ship.
Result? A fancy low-cost blockade runner, armed smuggler or convoy raider!
That's an interesting idea for a hybrid, but unfortunately I feel like it wouldn't really offer much practical use in-game, just like all the other unique and interesting transports that no one uses just because of their triple-digit cargo space. Though, as mentioned in the first post, this ship is going to have a CD mount (which is why, as a drawback, its being pushed more toward the transport end up the hybrid rather than gunboat), so it will still be a viable choice for those less-than-lawful activities you've listed... Just not an absolute tank while doing it.
Going back and making more niche ships to fill the smaller gaps in the lines is of course always an option further down the line, but to get the whole BW trans line started, I feel like sticking to the ship types that offer more universal use could probably work better.
