The Stars Beyond

[Arisaya]

0.4.3.1 is now on the multiverse too

[Arisaya]

We're contemplating putting 0.4.4.0 out early for API55 as well - however 0.4.4.0 may break savegames due to some UNID changes, so this is just a heads up to finish up any playthroughs with it if you happen to care about them.

So far the main changes in 0.4.4.0 are:
* TSB's encounter system is completely redone to reflect the new topology. Its still being polished as of this post, but *generally* stuff is spawning in more appropriate locations.
* new Canis Industries graphics & ships
* new Sapiens Order graphics & ships (& some new mining weapons)
* more new Freight-R ships
* new Frontier Industrial ships (via EUC)
* fixed the VSS Perentie-class destroyer's graphics

[136166]

Weapons feedback:
CI gamma cannon: Slow, but it packs a punch. The armour-damage bonus is a bonus against some solarites, though handicapped by fire rate. I put them into Velociraptor hardpoints.
Domain Ion Howitzer: The WMD and damage allows it to smash any shipwrecks. I used it to destroy even Solarite Battleship wrecks.
CI K6 shield: Bit low on HP so I boosted it with some diamond lattice crystals and that shield booster gimmick.
VSS Torpedo Launcher: Awesome, but impractical. The weight of the torpedoes and speed make it tricky. I find that there are many variables. A nice addition would be some course-correction sensors. At least then that isn't 16 tons of thermonuclear doom going into a friendly station.
VSS Recoilless autocannon: I thought about mounting two of these in the Velociraptor's hardpoints for fun. Pretty much the definition of More Dakka. Maybe put on a cannon accelerator.

Also, what is Freight-R?

[Arisaya]

Freight-R is a manufacturer of freighters in the Frontier. Their ships are modular and they have have tanker & combat conversions via (in-lore) installable modules. In game however, currently its is only planned to have them pre-installed as an entire hull, because of limitations of the overlay system and us wanting the sprites to look *perfectly correct*

A lot of the items are just broad strokes prototypes at the moment so everything will get adjusted once the balance for Chronicles is a bit more nailed down (and mass classes for devices other than armor are supported)
And yes, the CI shields are all intended to be low HP but high Regen and rely on the boosters (which take up a device slot iirc) & other mechanics to boost their HP to more useful levels.

[136166]

So Freight-R makes those tankers, as well?

[Arisaya]

There aren't any Freight-R tankers yet in the version that is currently available to play - those are coming in the next version

The big tankers (ex, FC600K) that currently show up are made by a different company, Frontier Industrial (due to a copy paste error, a bunch of them say they are made by Frontier Industries)

[136166]

So, there are
Canis Industries,
Viper Space Shipyards,
Nakura Shipyards,
Frontier Industrial,
Freight-R,
And those are probably just the tip of the spear when it comes to shipyards in the Frontier. I believe FI shields are the ones which are essentially the polar opposite compared to CI shields.