The wolfen (I)- it is an old ship built by canis industries, rather dated, having been in production for at least 50 years, but they were a very successful design having been adopted in various configurations by everyone from some militia pilots to the outlaws- however, with the recent introduction of first the Kineticore I and shortly thereafter the Kineticore II (both by United Weapons and Armors), the aging design that was the wolfen fell out of popularity- the Kineticore I having various cheap outlaw immitators to the Kineticore II being adopted by the militia as well, Canis Industries realized that they needed to bring out a new design if they wanted to remain competitive: thus was born the Wolfen II and the Wolfen III:
The Wolfen II was the first of their new designs (termed as a heavy gunship)- it was nothing more than a standard wolfen with heavier armor (and a higher capacity to load it onto the hull) and a new weapons slot. They achieved a modest success in the defense market (mainly by private contractors and korolov pilots) supplementing some of the older aging Ronin ships produced long ago by United Weapons and Armors (UWA- the producers of the kineticore series), but not nearly enough to be competitive.
The Wolfen III was an even heavier variant of the second (and termed as a "pocket corvette" or officially as a "cruiser-gunship"), but now boasted improved engine capacity, the capacity to carry heavier armor, and an additional device port, all at the expense of cargo space, leaving it with even less cargo space than a Kineticore I. The commonwealth fleet went wild with joy and purchased a huge order of the highest end variant of this ship, but due to the CW fleet's budget deficits, they have fallen behind on their payments. The wolfen III's they did receive have been given the highest acclaim by even Admiral Decker however, and that spurred smaller sales around various corporations not aligned to the Corporate Hierarchy (whom are obligated by contract to buy ships either from UWA, EI, or CS(corporate shipsyards).)
Some of the most common ships related to this that you'll see around:
Wolfen I (CI)- from outlaws to escorts to station security to commonwealth militia- they are almost everywhere and anywhere. Even the ringers have a few upgraded secondhand models. Has enough cargo space to see use even as a (very) light freighter.
Ronin series (A to E) (UWA)- generally only seen as station security, escorts and militia ships- many have been supplanted by the cheaper and superior Wolfen I
Corporate Defender (CS)- solely used as station security, they are cheap ships, and that is really their only selling point. They seem to have real problems with any major threats.
Kineticore I (UWA)- generally used by outlaws to guard their stations. Occasionally seen as escorts in korolov.
Kineticore II (UWA)- seen in the CW militia and as korolov escorts. An all-around superior ship to both the kineticore I and the Wolfen I
Wolfen II (CI)- seen as independent station security and korolov escorts. A few in the militia. Slightly less cargo space than the Wolfen I.
Wolfen III (CI)- a good mix of these (highest end variant) with the fleet (CSC terra has ONLY wolfen III's now). [Introduced after the rogue fleet rebelled, so they only have the inferior centurions.]. Also a popular ship in its lower end forms with korolov escorts and independent station security. Has THE most miserable of all playable ships maximum AND starting cargo capacities. 10 -> 110 tons cargo capacities.
[edit- Wolfen I, Kineticore II, and Wolfen III are definitely playable ships- possibly the Wolfen II and the Kineticore I, but certainly not the Ronins nor the Corporate defenders]
[edit2]- here are some preliminary pics of the general shape for the wolfen III- this is by no means close to the finished product, just more or less what it will shape up to be.
when you see it rotate in game, it's actually rather balanced out. Storyline-wise, the Wolfen III was designed from the wolfen II, and that ship has a much more truncated and rounded front.
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