The Glade 4.0

And here's what everybody's been waiting for.. well, everybody who's all-in on the trading aspect of the persistent universe. We get our first look (and, yes, opportunity to acquire) at the dedicated haulers and supertransports.

There are 5 sizes, and they're all pretty similar in appearance. Their cargo capacity comes via collapsible racks that anchor different numbers (and, it appears, sizes) of cargo containers. Here's a shot of their silhouettes next to other ships. Yes, that's an Idris on the far left.



The Hull B is Freelancer sized, and actually comes in under 3 digits, for once (and the Hull A is even smaller, competing with Aurorae and Mustangs but with a pure-hauling mission), while the Hull C, D, and E range from big to ginormous. The page goes out of its way to warn that merely loading a D will (initially, at least) be a task for mid-sized organizations, and an E's cargo will be more costly than the ship itself.

B



C



It's a nifty look that I like. I might trade off my Freelancer Max for a Hull C.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

so that's how scores of Aurorae get delivered...

_________________
I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"

As I was saying...



Oooh pretty.

Edit.. go watch around the verse.. the intro is great, and SQ42 Capture interview will melt your heart and replace it will pure promise and hope... and then there are space toilets!

_________________
I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"

Looks like one of those container ships with Sealand vans all over the top, only In Space.

_________________
"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

For anybody interested in the scale of the size differences... Yikes.

Comparison of the wireframe ship-viewer assets for the Hull series:


Note that this video was made before the SCU adjustment that came on Wednesday, so his cargo capacities are out of date.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

That E is pretty massive. So much potential for profit off just one run, but so many potential tears if it's lost...

I'm still pondering for which I want to melt my Freelancer MAX. Hull C, or Hull D?

Or, do I decide "screw it, I don't need a Banu Merchantman" and melt that to get both? I like the look of the Banu, and I like the novelty of it being an alien ship, but its mission as a bazaar-on-wheelsengines doesn't really speak to me.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

If it were me, I'd keep the Banu. As far as haulage, the D is going to take some pretty serious logistics to run it, carrying five times the cargo of a hull C. The C looks like it'll carry a smidge more than the Starfarer (I'm still not clear on whether that is fuel tanks, dry goods, dry in addition to the fuel tanks..).

What do we think we can handle as an Organization? Can we field security for a slower, bigger truck?

The Banu is just plain sexier

_________________
I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"

Get the D, you can haul the guild around with you and if anyone bothers you we just break out of the boxes.

_________________
"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

I traded in the MM for a D, and my MAX + Avenger for a C on the other account. The only appeal for the Merchantman was the exotic nature and look, and, well.. I'd rather have something I'll get use out of, and I *also* like the look of the other stuff. I think the Hull D will be more versatile as a hauler.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

I still want a banu someday. I kind of like the idea of just going on space walkabout buying and selling and trying get rich and not dead.

_________________
I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"