Ok, in the order skype chat, a lot of people brought up that the order could put a true gunship to good use - something along the lines of the BHG gunship or the smaller 6 turret gunships in the mod. The Order gunboat is ok for general use, but it presents a ridiculously big target for bombers, and it's terribly slow. It's more of a heavy gunboat, and just doesnt keep up with our enemies.
So, after some discussion, it was decided that we can take one of two approaches:
1. Re-model the current gunboat, and change it's stats and firing arcs, so that it keeps 8 turrets but can only fire 5 forward or backward, gets lower armor, increased agility, and a smaller model.
2. Keep the current order gunboat as a heavy gunboat, and add a new one as a light gunship like the BHG gs.
Either approach works, personally I lean more towards the second option since I like the appearance of the current order gunboat, it just happens to be ineffective in fleet engagements.
Now numerous ideas as to the shape/appearance of the gunship were thrown around, and two variants were settled on:
Variant 1
Uses the same general shape and appearance as the Liberty Gunboat. Notable changes are:
-A single engine like that of the Osiris/(new)Carrier/Recon Cruiser.
-Only 5 turrets - using the 'wings' on the lib GB, put two turrets on top and two turrets on bottom, then one turret on the top where the forward gun is.
-Change of texture to match Order ships
-Maybe a more stepped/angular design on the corners, to give it that Order-ish look
Variant 2
Going on the general design scheme of the Bounty Hunter Gunship, we'd make a model that looks like an oversized Nephthys/Bastet. To me, the BHG GS looks very much like a superheavy fighter, the goal would be to make something that looks like the Order fighters, but is bigger (around the size of the BHG GS, maybe slightly larger)
Personally I'd prefer variant 1, as it would fit more into the Order's use of liberty technology and design theme, but either works.
Now, I've tried three attempts at different models so far to make this ship... and every one of them has looked like baby vomit. I'm getting frustrated with it, and I'd like to see what the more experienced modellers of the community can come up with.
' Wrote:More Order capspam? No thanks... The Order already have a full capship line, including a carrier, don't they?
The "light carrier" is just a name to go along with it's visual design. It's actually a battlecruiser with a battleship shield and turn ratio worse than a battleship, but it does have a thruster though.
' Wrote:Compared to the BHG, we have two less fighters, and one less gunboat-class ship.
You can compare a lot of factions to other factions, too. The Xenos have no ships, compared with the Rogues who have a full ship line from LF-Cruiser. By your logic... Xeno Cruiser, plox?
' Wrote:You can compare a lot of factions to other factions, too. The Xenos have no ships, compared with the Rogues who have a full ship line from LF-Cruiser. By your logic... Xeno Cruiser, plox?
Look at the factions that The Order is at war with - primarily the nomads and BHG. Both have small, agile vessels, and our gunboat currently doesnt stand a chance in that kind of environment. It was a stupid idea to give the order a cruiser-sized gunboat to begin with.
I like how our gunboat looks, but no amount of aesthetics will change the fact that it sucks.
Look at the other factions at war.
The Outcasts have two Battleships, new Battleship for Corsairs?
Liberty has a Battlecruiser and a Carrier. Battlecrusier and Carrier for Rhienland? Super Heavy Bomber for Liberty, too?
etc. etc. etc.
No. Just because your opponent has one, doesn't mean you get one as well.
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