Artificial Intelligence Transport

[The_Crew]

I love the whole AI concept and hate having to go away from the ships they have when using a transport.

So here's my proposed model which would allows most of the current hardpoints to remain where they are (I think the CM launcher might have got scrunched but that's about all).

I'll leave it up to the powers that be to decide what sort of weapons it would use but to go through house space, I'm assuming transport turrets would be it. I thought it would be nice though if it kept the shields and powerplant of the cruiser in order to retain the maneuverability it has (it already is one of those slightly lane glitched models).

Anyway, debate the merits, here's the model which is essentially the cruiser with straightened vanes a cargo pod and connecting supports.

AI Transport

The model is done in Milkshape and is a modified version of the in-game cruiser exported out. Anyone who would like to make it game ready is welcome to the MS3D file or whatever format you want--just let me know. It should be able to use the stock textures already on the model for probably everything. I've never done Freelancer texturing unfortunately.

The modified part of the original model is only two groups and another couple of groups are added for the fuel tank and supports.

[sajjukar]

VERY NICE!!!!!!!

Only one problem...does the engine burn trough the cargo pod?

[ai_ascendant]

Nope--fireproof.

Engines are far enough ahead and pod is streamlined and heat shielded.

It's AI technology...they can do anything.

[The_Crew]

Close enough AI guy.

If you look at the original model, the antennae are actually inline with the thrusters so a heat shielded cargo tank way back is pretty reasonable.

I didn't want to add a new funky ship to Disco--I figure that arties would be efficient and having interchangeable functions for hulls is realistic. In this model, only the after part of the "vanes" get altered and I have modified the fuel/cargo tank so it connects by a single hydraulic shaft to the current cruiser hull. It could literally be popped off with a switch of a button and be a cruiser again.

I would love for this to be a ship that could mount cruiser OR transport guns--then it would be a perfect hybrid--serving to gather nomad samples, defending itself or peacefully transiting house space with cargo as the role required.

Perhaps dropping the power plant output slightly could adjust for the extra mass added and the resulting power drain for propulsion.

[Snapp]

It could literally be popped off with a switch of a button and be a cruiser again.

Reminds me of a German Cockroach, love it!

[The_Crew]

Reminds me of a German Cockroach, love it!

I grew up down south and I actually had a cockroach egg in mind when I made the cargo pod. Kind of gross but true.

[JayDee Kasane]

I will not say that current AI dont even need a transport. I also wont say that nothing will be changed in AI untill it have official faction again.

but Ill say that this model is just no. no offence, but just taking Cruiser and adding there cargo pod or smthn like that is not a Transport.
and in my eyes, AI more need Gunboat then Transport. Because they can use many different transports from Civilian craft (up to 4200 cargo hold), but only one GB - Ahoudori (if its not Kusari civilian, otherwise they cant have GB at all)

GB would be good RP element as wild space recearcher with enough power to defend from different Guard NPCs or even players.
Transport cannot fit that role, also AI not IMG or IC, they not powertrading with Ore or actually care to. their goals different

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[The_Crew]

The AI will never have a battleship and allowing this to be a cruiser with a larger cargo and an option for transport or cruiser turrets does several things:

It gives them a ship that can harvest resources and store them while harvesting.
It gives them a jump capable model--very minimally.

Both of these are things that every faction has a need of. AI also are limited to 3600 cargo just as Freelancers.

Yes they can use other transports but the point is that many people don't want "house ships" for their AI characters (for those that do they already can get them).

I wouldn't mind on the cargo version of the cruiser if the guns were dropped down to a mix of gunboat and cruiser types (with the option of having transport turrets too) since the power supply would have to be large for them to be jump capable.

The whole concept is for the AI to be different in form than human built ships. I also am not setting out to build a whole class of ships--just the one. It could be (as described here) as gunboat/cruiser/transport/miner--which is four role types filled with a single model.

Asking for an AI battleship, AI cruiser, AI gunboat, AI bomber, AI light Fighter, AI Transport, etc., etc. is a lot to ask of the devs. This is a simple solution that gives AI a way to mission and trade well enough to build a character financially and to rp with others.

I think the option to use house ships should be there like it is for those that have that rp--I'm not addressing that. An ID change allowing the AI to use house gunboats would also give you a gunboat class with no model required.

But a gunboat isn't going to give you a trade ship which you need to grow with.

[Sabru]

As an AI player, if this ship was added it would make things more flexible.

Like has been said, i could be mining or trading, and if i get attacked by nomads i would have the firepower to properly defend myself against them.

As for cargo space, seeing its size (and given AI technical skills) maybe make the cargo space 4200 or something.

It would allow us AI players to really make good money from trading.

The trouble i have, is what would it officially be clsssed as?

And would it require permission to enter house space to trade.

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