Fri May 09, 2003 5:27 am
Some thoughts about the strange ship designs in Freelancer
After playing this game through hours on end, I've thought through some of the stranger aspects of the game. Feel free to add your thoughts, or observations of other oddities.
* Why do the Liberty Rouges fly Bloodhounds?
I found it rather interesting that the Rouges inside Liberty all fly Bloodhounds ( sold at the Junker base ), yet they sell the Dagger at Buffalo Base. The other two thirds of the triumverate ( Outcasts, Lane Hackers ) use Daggers at this level of play, and why not? They have an extra gun slot, more armor, plus they make a much smaller target.
The answer is simple though. Liberty Rouges are the single plot concentration in the first part of the Single Player missions. The Bloodhound is inherently an easier target, and couple that with the Rouge AI's poor handling of the ship, and you've got the perfect low-level combo. This is the very same reason the Rouges use their own crappy laser weapons instead of the Junker Barragers, they need the novice balance.
* Why is the Startracker so unbalanced?
I was expecting a more powerful Starflier. I was astounded when I first purchased the Startracker to try it out, and found it handles worse than a Bloodhound or Dagger. The higher-class power and weapon mount is nice, but you can't get good level 4 weapons anywhere in Liberty, nor can you get higher than a class 3 shield.
The answer is obvious here, in Single Player the game is making an effort to steer you toward buying either a Patriot or a Defender. Make a note that these are the two ships your wings fly, in that order. The lack of a class 4 shield to max out the Startracker is intended to make you consider the higher-powered HF version of the Class 3 shield. The key factor here is those 4 and 5 weapon ships have a distinct advantage: in Liberty, the standard Class 1 guns are really cheap and add a lot of damage, so for the pilot on a budget it's better to have a lot of crappy guns over a few Level 2/3 guns.
* Why is the Hawk such a mixed bag compared to the Falcon and Eagle?
The Hawk is not at all consistent with it's higher-priced brothers but there's method to this madness. The Hawk is balanced to give you a hard time making a decision in Single Player.
Thanks to the game designers, it has similar specs to the Barricuda HF, including matching power level, armor, cargo and price. So the player is left to choose between the best package: a smaller target with less firepower and shielding, or a larger target with more firepower and shielding. That or else you can have the very different Drake.
* Why does the Wolfhound exist?
This is one ship that can't find a home anywhere. It's priced in the same range as the Barricuda, same power level, BUT:
- Wolfhound has 5 less cargo space ( 40 ) ( Barricuda: 45 )
- Wolfhound is a much larger target than the Baricuda
- Wolfhound has 5/1 weapons ( Barricuda: 6/0 ), and unlike the Bloodhound the turret is useless
- Wolfhound turns slower than the Barricuda
It looks very ornate, and the side-mounted weapons make it possible for you to use it as a turret platform ( the AI flying the Wolfhound will often stop dead and use this tactic ), but the armor is lacking for such an exercise.
If it had 60 cargo space ( to justify it's enormous bulk ) or cost the same as a Drake, it would actually make sense. Anyone have any idea why it's around?
* Why does the Banshee exist?
You would think the highest level Light Fighter in the game would actually be worth buying, possibly a Class 7 machine that maneuvers as good as the Startracker? Possibly add a fifth weapon mount, or a forward-firing turret like the Dagger Light Fighter? Considering that the Falcon aces it in every category ( 100k more ), and it's not much of an upgrade for the Hawk ( that goes for half the price ), why would anyone even bother to create this loner?
The reason is so simple, most people miss it. The Banshee sucks so you can make Single Player easy without making it seem too easy. Banshees are the earliest Rhienland ships you encounter. Imagine your frustration if you had to go up against something like the Drake early on - fast and tough, you'd throw up your hands in frustration. Banshees have a lot of armor, but the earliest versions you meet have wussy arms and shields, and the fat rear-end makes it easy to pummel through that armor.
That said, I wish they had made another Light Fighter that's actually worth purchasing. In MP a ship as fast as the Drake with Banshee power would be quite tempting, even against Class 10 powerhouses.
Anyone have more to add?
* Why do the Liberty Rouges fly Bloodhounds?
I found it rather interesting that the Rouges inside Liberty all fly Bloodhounds ( sold at the Junker base ), yet they sell the Dagger at Buffalo Base. The other two thirds of the triumverate ( Outcasts, Lane Hackers ) use Daggers at this level of play, and why not? They have an extra gun slot, more armor, plus they make a much smaller target.
The answer is simple though. Liberty Rouges are the single plot concentration in the first part of the Single Player missions. The Bloodhound is inherently an easier target, and couple that with the Rouge AI's poor handling of the ship, and you've got the perfect low-level combo. This is the very same reason the Rouges use their own crappy laser weapons instead of the Junker Barragers, they need the novice balance.
* Why is the Startracker so unbalanced?
I was expecting a more powerful Starflier. I was astounded when I first purchased the Startracker to try it out, and found it handles worse than a Bloodhound or Dagger. The higher-class power and weapon mount is nice, but you can't get good level 4 weapons anywhere in Liberty, nor can you get higher than a class 3 shield.
The answer is obvious here, in Single Player the game is making an effort to steer you toward buying either a Patriot or a Defender. Make a note that these are the two ships your wings fly, in that order. The lack of a class 4 shield to max out the Startracker is intended to make you consider the higher-powered HF version of the Class 3 shield. The key factor here is those 4 and 5 weapon ships have a distinct advantage: in Liberty, the standard Class 1 guns are really cheap and add a lot of damage, so for the pilot on a budget it's better to have a lot of crappy guns over a few Level 2/3 guns.
* Why is the Hawk such a mixed bag compared to the Falcon and Eagle?
The Hawk is not at all consistent with it's higher-priced brothers but there's method to this madness. The Hawk is balanced to give you a hard time making a decision in Single Player.
Thanks to the game designers, it has similar specs to the Barricuda HF, including matching power level, armor, cargo and price. So the player is left to choose between the best package: a smaller target with less firepower and shielding, or a larger target with more firepower and shielding. That or else you can have the very different Drake.
* Why does the Wolfhound exist?
This is one ship that can't find a home anywhere. It's priced in the same range as the Barricuda, same power level, BUT:
- Wolfhound has 5 less cargo space ( 40 ) ( Barricuda: 45 )
- Wolfhound is a much larger target than the Baricuda
- Wolfhound has 5/1 weapons ( Barricuda: 6/0 ), and unlike the Bloodhound the turret is useless
- Wolfhound turns slower than the Barricuda
It looks very ornate, and the side-mounted weapons make it possible for you to use it as a turret platform ( the AI flying the Wolfhound will often stop dead and use this tactic ), but the armor is lacking for such an exercise.
If it had 60 cargo space ( to justify it's enormous bulk ) or cost the same as a Drake, it would actually make sense. Anyone have any idea why it's around?
* Why does the Banshee exist?
You would think the highest level Light Fighter in the game would actually be worth buying, possibly a Class 7 machine that maneuvers as good as the Startracker? Possibly add a fifth weapon mount, or a forward-firing turret like the Dagger Light Fighter? Considering that the Falcon aces it in every category ( 100k more ), and it's not much of an upgrade for the Hawk ( that goes for half the price ), why would anyone even bother to create this loner?
The reason is so simple, most people miss it. The Banshee sucks so you can make Single Player easy without making it seem too easy. Banshees are the earliest Rhienland ships you encounter. Imagine your frustration if you had to go up against something like the Drake early on - fast and tough, you'd throw up your hands in frustration. Banshees have a lot of armor, but the earliest versions you meet have wussy arms and shields, and the fat rear-end makes it easy to pummel through that armor.
That said, I wish they had made another Light Fighter that's actually worth purchasing. In MP a ship as fast as the Drake with Banshee power would be quite tempting, even against Class 10 powerhouses.
Anyone have more to add?
