Ship Idea: Research Liner

[Drake]

So, the recent 'Exploration Vessel' topic gave me an idea for a character (a field scientist from the Cambridge Research Station), and from that character an idea for a new ship which, I believe, is lacking in the Discovery universe. A Research Liner.

I'm thinking Aegira (spelled correctly? probably not...) or Cambridge could have comissioned the design and creation of the new ship, specifically designed for taking scientists and researchers into hostile space (such as the Omicrons and Unknowns), surviving for indefinite periods of time, and hauling back research samples (such as Nomads and artifacts).

It should be in the Liner class of ships (hopefully Igiss will reconsider making all the liners nothing more than oversized transports), combining decent cargo with decent armaments. Since it's designed to travel outside of normal House space, it would need to be significantly smaller and more maneuverable than the current Liners so that it can maneuver through asteroid fields and such things. Maybe the size of a Kusari Destroyer, or something along those lines? Obviously it would sacrifice cargo and weaponry for the size difference... Maybe around 1300 cargo and 7 turrets (3 gunboat, 4 transport... if Igiss would allow it).

So, anyone else like the idea? Any opinions or ideas? Any modders want to volunteer to design it?

[Epholl]

I use Spatial as an exploration vessel, 1 IMG pilot, 3 spaceship crew, 7 optronics and some supplys... Or Albatross Battlecruiser is an exploration vessel too, but none of these two is a research ship.

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[RingoW]

I had some similar idea, when i made the modular design for the Kusari Transport, but gave it up, because of the problems to make exchangeable modules for one ship.

All in one, it sounds like the Hacker Spyglass, when developed in Liberty and before stolen by Hackers.

[Drake]

I had some similar idea, when i made the modular design for the Kusari Transport, but gave it up, because of the problems to make exchangeable modules for one ship.

All in one, it sounds like the Hacker Spyglass, when developed in Liberty and before stolen by Hackers.

Except the Spyglass is a really big battleship... And it's pretty much exclusively HF now. Battleships aren't the best things for traveling through the Omicrons and Unknowns. The weaponry on the research liner shouldn't be on par with a battleship... Enough to defend itself from the Nomads (and collect Nomad "samples") and pirates, and that's about it.

[Jwnantze]

With the nomad buff in beta2 you wont want to go near them with anything less than a cruiser...

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There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for. -Elizabeth Elliott

[bluntpencil2001]

Cruisers aren't research ships though, unless you plan on researching how effective your new cruiser-guns are...

Researchers can always hire Cruiser-guards, but should be better defended than transports individually.

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[alance]

Exploration vessels really would need to be able to solo; hiring help isn't easy with 50 people logged in to the server, as many systems as there are. I hope the liners are restored to hybrid class with a few gunboat turrets and gunboat shields, as long as they're not tough enough to defeat a generically-armed cruiser.

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"To gain a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence;
to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest of excellence."

[Gamazson]

I really like the idea of a research liner. It would make a very interesting ship indeed. It could probably be done. Perhaps you should put some planning into what it would look like.

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AKA Nexus

[Drake]

Well, I have no artistic ability, so I have to resort to scouring the internet for ships which might fit into Freelancer and aren't too obviously taken from somewhere else (like Star Trek or Star Wars). This is the best I found for a possible Research Liner/Science Ship... It doesn't look anything like the current liners, but I don't really thing that's a bad thing. Of course, if someone else found a better ship, or felt like designing their own, I'm hardly married to this concept.

[weylin]

That looks like a ship off of the game Homeworld II

I think that might fit really well as a reseach vessel, and looks cool while its at it. It should fit in just as well as most of the other ships.

It looks a bit like the outcast cruiser, wich is also off a HWII design.

One problem is that the ship doesnt seem to have very many good spots for turret locations, alot of it is kinda rounded out and slanted.

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