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The Intel Ships in more classic looks
mustrumridcully0
Member Posts: 12,963 Arc User
So much dislike has been expressed on the boards for the new Intel ships. In the end, it's all in the eye of the beholder, but I think the shape of the Eclipse and Phantom were pretty interesting, I just was not a big fan of the Intel Materials. So when I got my Delta Rising Operation Pack and unpacked the ships, I customized them more to my liking.
So, anyone that wasn't sure or not, here may be some helpful pictures for you:
(Full Album: http://s883.photobucket.com/user/Mustrum_Ridcully/library/Startrek%20Online%20-%20Delta%20Rising)
Phantom
I think the Defiant heritage is clearly visible. I am using Material 6 and mostly Andromeda for colors, except I think Centaur for the Main Hull to give the underside a bit more features.
The parts are mostly Eclipse Beta, to avoid the bluish Intelligence features and get red bussard collectors.
Eclipse
I am a bit undecided if this is more Prometheus or Stargazer heritage, and I think I am kinda mixing between all the Tier 3 Cruiser variants in my memory. Still, it feels like a Starfleet Quad-Nacelle Cruiser.
I use also Material 6 and mostly Andromeda for pattern. I am using the Eclipse Beta nacelles for the red bussard collectors, but I actually use the standard Eclipse for the main hull because I like the Intelligence Colors here - the front looks a bit like an additional deflector/sensor array.
--
I am limited to 4 pictures anyway, but I don't have any screenshots of the Scryer yet. I am not that fond of the Scryer, to be honest, though I think it also wins a lot by non-Intelligence materials.
The customization options of all 3 ships aren't huge (but better than for the KDF and Romulan variants), but there are some neat aspects - being able to use the nacelles of any of the 3 ships (but only the "prime" variants of each, so no red bussard collectors on Phantom nacelles on the Eclipse and vice vers). The Phantom and Eclipse nacelles really work well on their sister ships IMO.
So, anyone that wasn't sure or not, here may be some helpful pictures for you:
(Full Album: http://s883.photobucket.com/user/Mustrum_Ridcully/library/Startrek%20Online%20-%20Delta%20Rising)
Phantom
I think the Defiant heritage is clearly visible. I am using Material 6 and mostly Andromeda for colors, except I think Centaur for the Main Hull to give the underside a bit more features.
The parts are mostly Eclipse Beta, to avoid the bluish Intelligence features and get red bussard collectors.
Eclipse
I am a bit undecided if this is more Prometheus or Stargazer heritage, and I think I am kinda mixing between all the Tier 3 Cruiser variants in my memory. Still, it feels like a Starfleet Quad-Nacelle Cruiser.
I use also Material 6 and mostly Andromeda for pattern. I am using the Eclipse Beta nacelles for the red bussard collectors, but I actually use the standard Eclipse for the main hull because I like the Intelligence Colors here - the front looks a bit like an additional deflector/sensor array.
--
I am limited to 4 pictures anyway, but I don't have any screenshots of the Scryer yet. I am not that fond of the Scryer, to be honest, though I think it also wins a lot by non-Intelligence materials.
The customization options of all 3 ships aren't huge (but better than for the KDF and Romulan variants), but there are some neat aspects - being able to use the nacelles of any of the 3 ships (but only the "prime" variants of each, so no red bussard collectors on Phantom nacelles on the Eclipse and vice vers). The Phantom and Eclipse nacelles really work well on their sister ships IMO.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Thanks for the pictures.
Agreed.
The Phantom has grown on me a bit, and definitely presents as a spiritual successor to the defiant.
The Eclipse just doesn't pass the test for me though. Nor does the Scryer.
I actually kind of like the wacky, weird shape of the Scryer, but its boff layout makes me sad.
Now that I have seen Eclipses in the game, holy cow is that an ugly ship. I did not realize from their initial promo shots that its nacelles were... bowlegged. It just looks very wrong.
The Eclipse works really well in its Intelligence material if you consider it a design heavily worked on by the Andorians (and the nacelles work well with that kink in them as a 'nod' to the Andorian escort's similary bent arms. I tried colouring them to be even more outlandish and it works if you approach them like that.
The science version is 'meh', as it reminds me way too much of the Star Wars Trade Federation "Donut Class" carrier.
The Guardian is lovely, and to me looks very much like a "what might have been" Ambassador.
The only ship I really don't like at all is the KDF Qin, it's just far too flat and square. It's a 1970's American Car turned into a space ship for Tron.
The Eclipse, though, gets worse by the minute. It's just wrong on so many levels...
The Scryer is simply odd, but I'll wait, perhaps with some trying, it may become bearable to look at it.
You mean the Qib intel battlecruiser? Qin is a Tier 5 raptor.
What I've noticed is the two Tier 6 KDF ships look like they should be longer/with smaller 'wingspan'. From some angles, they look a bit like after a crash.
Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider.
Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Don't make ARC mandatory! Keep it optional only!
Here's mine:
The Guardian captures the general Fed cruiser aesthetic pretty well. Size-wise (and design-wise) it is in between the Galaxy and Odyssey, which limits the Ambassador comparison.
A very early design for the Ambassador Class which I was reminded of, is shown in more detail here: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Ambassador_class_model
The 'painting' in the article shows a ship concept that's half-way between an Excelsior and a Galaxy. I was particularly struck by the Guardian's neck and deflector arrangement. I didn't go searching for the image before my comment so looking back there are marked differences, but it was certainly what I was most reminded of by the Guardian's design.
I agree the Guardian is far more advanced-looking than this early Ambassador concept. Basically a more Guardian-style sleekness could have (not saying 'would have', I don't know) made it to production if they had the time, but tight schedules and budget constraints on the show meant the canon Ambassador Class had to be far less curvy.
All 3 Intelligence ships can interchange their nacelles. I think the Phantom ones look good, but some may find them too short.
Each also has access to one variant of its own nacelles, with the classic red bussard collector. (But you don't have access to the red bussard collectors when you pick a nacelle from a different ship.)
I mostly play my Tac Alt right now, and I can safely say the Phantom is definitely sexy. I don't get tired of looking at it blowing up stuff. That might actually make it feel even more like a Defiant sucessor to me.
Personally tho the Scryer with the Eclipse nacelles does not look half bad either
I am good with the Guardian as it has the more traditional Starfleet features we expect for a Federation ship. It is just too bad that the good old Galaxy-R didn't have her BOFF layout.
I am comfortable with the Scryer's curves as they are similar to the Luna. This was the only ship I really considered trying out as far as the intel ships go, but I didn't have a captain that was geared towards heavy Science.
The Eclipse is just all messed up. Whoever designed that should be fired.
- I don't yet know about the Scryer and Phantom first hand (though I maintain the Phantom doesn't look much worse than a defiant in traditional material - that's good enough for me considering flying it).
- I've basically said the Eclipse is a mess. After some playing in the ship tailor, I came up with this:
The nacelles are no longer wonky and held at strange angles, the lines are relatively clean. Now I can say: If the nacelles had a (little) more traditional look - not so wide yet slim at the Bussard collectors and more progressively extending rear - the Eclipse could actually look good. The way it is now barely passable, if you don't look much at the nacelles (still far better than I expected from pics and glimpses in game so far).
- However I have rather praised the Qib before. Sadly even here I was wrong. It looks far worse in 'person'. While the usual materials look good on it, the basic shapes (and no customization to speak of) make it terrible.
The hull itself and wings could work, but the paper thin neck, forward section and nacelles make it look non realistic even. The deflector is barely there as well, it must be the size of one Klingon warrior at most. And the neck could be longer (I guess it would break then, due to how thin it is).
- And last, I was sadly disappointed with the Faeht warbird. I thought: "it's got wings, a beak -> looks like a warbird, will be fine". However I found it looks fat in all 3 wing positions. That might be because it's got a very short neck and small 'head' in comparison with the large hull and wings.
Overall it's funny how the Romulan intel warbird is the most 'massive' while the Klingon intel battlecruiser is by far the skinniest. I would have expected the opposite and that's why I may not like them at all.
EDIT: After some playing in order to get the Eclipse starship trait, it also becomes plainly obvious it is (the Eclipse) far too big for a battlecruiser. Heck it's in the same league size wise as the Odyssey, the Guardian or the Galaxy. Quite larger than all assault cruisers or the previous Starfleet battlecruiser, the Avenger. Again, quite an illogical choice for what should be a 'stealthy' intel ship.
Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider.
Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Don't make ARC mandatory! Keep it optional only!
My character Tsin'xing
I let it count, because Starship pr
So far, I've been surprised by 4 out of 5 intel ships (the only rather positive one was the Eclipse), wonder what the Scryer will look like.
Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider.
Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Don't make ARC mandatory! Keep it optional only!