Chris Roberts Back in your wallet - STAR CITIZEN

[Teleku]

Yeah, seeing that now.  From all the chatter I thought there were all sorts of diffrent ships you could buy to get into the game.  I just didn't realize the only sane'ish package was the one you linked with that specific ship.  Seriously, how people are paying so much for just one random fucking ship which they have no idea if it will be shitty or not........

And I'm a guy who threw $500 at a fake card game!

I'll chew on it.   My prospects for this game aren't terribly high, even with the crazy fund raising.  But the idea is intreaguing, if it actually ever happens.

[Mrbloodworth]

The package he linked would be a discount off the launch price. Anything else, you need to really want, and really not want to play the game to get it right off the bat. All ships are able to be gotten in game, so buying something now just means you can start with that ship instead of the starting ship.

[veredus]

Also there is the digital scout package.
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/68-digital-scout
Pretty much the same as the $40 package I believe but no alpha or beta access. I don't want to alpha/beta test, I'd rather just wait until it's done so that's all I bought.

[Lucas]

Also there is the digital scout package.
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/68-digital-scout
Pretty much the same as the $40 package I believe but no alpha or beta access. I don't want to alpha/beta test, I'd rather just wait until it's done so that's all I bought.

The only downside of the digital scout, AFAIK, is that it doesn't give you access to the upcoming dogfighting module either. No early pew pew for you!!

[veredus]

Ya I know. Only thing I get early is the hangar. I'm OK with that since I really just want to play it when it's complete. Don't want to burn out on it before it's done.

[calapine]

Another victim of the hype here.  

Lost a bit control and went for the $110 dollar ship. Which ends up being €85. But the way I justify it is a full price game on steam costs  ~50€..., so if it was an MMO that's the box price and 3 months of subscription. Which I am going to get out of this.

Now all I need is to find an original backer who can LTI-ify my Freelancer.  

[Falconeer]

I am an original backer. What's the LTI thing?

[calapine]

Credit goes to Xuri two pages ago:

http://themittani.com/features/star-citizens-grey-market

However, while new backers are unable to buy LTI packages, veteran backers can continue to do so until late November of this year. This enables the process commonly described as ‘pledge laundering’ where a new player gifts an item of equal value from the RSI store to a veteran backer. The veteran backer then melts the gifted item into store credit and uses the credit to purchase the item the new backer wants. Once done, the veteran backer than gifts the new item to the new backer. There’s a lesser known bonus for the backers who pledged during the original kickstarter: lower prices on practically everything. The previously mentioned $275 Rear Admiral package only costs an original backer $250, leaving a $25 excess.

[5150]

I too am able to get LTI ships

Clocks ticking though - think you only have until the 26th Nov

[Lucas]

More awesome concept art by Elijah McNeal (at the below link, 13 pictures), through the weekly "Meet the Staff" newspost:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13373-Meet-Elijah-McNeal

[Teleku]

So are the LTI packages just all the same as the ones they currently offer, but with the added insurance (and possibly cheaper I guess)?  Or are there ship packages offered that are not available to the general public anymore?

[Falconeer]

Credit goes to Xuri two pages ago:

http://themittani.com/features/star-citizens-grey-market

However, while new backers are unable to buy LTI packages, veteran backers can continue to do so until late November of this year. This enables the process commonly described as ‘pledge laundering’ where a new player gifts an item of equal value from the RSI store to a veteran backer. The veteran backer then melts the gifted item into store credit and uses the credit to purchase the item the new backer wants. Once done, the veteran backer than gifts the new item to the new backer. There’s a lesser known bonus for the backers who pledged during the original kickstarter: lower prices on practically everything. The previously mentioned $275 Rear Admiral package only costs an original backer $250, leaving a $25 excess.

Ugh. Sorry, no. This is so annoying even to read. I can't wait to play this game, but I haven't been so irritated at a project I supposedly love since forever.

[5150]

So are the LTI packages just all the same as the ones they currently offer, but with the added insurance (and possibly cheaper I guess)?  Or are there ship packages offered that are not available to the general public anymore?

Original backers have some ship packages that are not otherwise available and there are some minor price differences on the packages that are common to both original backers and everyone else.

LTI ships have lifetime insurance rather than 'x-months-then-you-start-paying'

Roberts is trying to downplay the importance of LTI and, while I agree with him that insurance costs will probably be negligible and that players will have upgraded the ships fittings minimising the return, I think most people are wary of Eves 'lose it all' gameplay and are looking for a safety net (especially with the more expensive ships)

[Tebonas]

So helop me out here, please. I've pledged at the Digtal Scout level and ignored the whole game until now. What packages would I need to play the game without an inherent disadvantage and what packages could I give away here without it hurting my own game experience.

Once that is cleared, be free to take advantage of my kickstarting this game for your needs. I just want to play the Single Player game anyway.

[Bungee]

There are inherent disadvantages by not pledging now? I thought it's all just some cosmetic stuff, new features for everybody and a "thanks for supporting" bonus ship(s). This can't be right, no?

(I'm really only skimming here every now and then because I like me some space pew pew.)

[Lucas]

Guys, IMO you should stop attaching a non-existant "gameplay value" to the current purchase of ships: at the moment, this is simply about pledging, funding the game. If you're interested in helping the game as it develops (or just want to have various previews in the form of modules and traditional testing phases), pay now for pixels, otherwise just wait for release: it's safe to assume that replacing a whole ship (meaning, the hull) won't be that impossible once the game is out. Like it happens in other multiplayer games, people will manage to find some holes in the economy; also, if you have a guild helping you covering certain costs, it will be even easier.

Again, everything you see right now (especially the real money value of the ships) is there for the sole reason of propelling the funding through hype formulas (which are working REALLY WELL, yes), it's totally unrelated to the actual costs ships will have in-game (and infact, for those attaching a gameplay value to the $225 they spent for a Constellation, it will be a rude wakeup when they'll see someone getting the same ship in, let's say....3 weeks of normal gameplay or even less?)

[Miasma]

So helop me out here, please. I've pledged at the Digtal Scout level and ignored the whole game until now. What packages would I need to play the game without an inherent disadvantage and what packages could I give away here without it hurting my own game experience.

Once that is cleared, be free to take advantage of my kickstarting this game for your needs. I just want to play the Single Player game anyway.

I'm not quite sure what you mean.  If you have the digital scout package then you have a solid starter ship and depending on when you bought it lifetime insurance.  You don't have anything to give away.  If you are only interested in the single player game then you wouldn't really bother buying individual ships, that's mostly for the online game and even then all it saves you is the amount of time it takes to grind out the money in game.  I don't actually know if you can/would use the purchased ships in the single player game.

The digital scout does not include alpha/beta access, so if you want to fly around in a bug riddled unfinished version of the single player game you would need to upgrade to the next package level.  If you want to do so you can turn your current pledge into credits, buy the difference in credits for the digital bounty hunter package and then buy that package.

tl;dr If you don't want access to the alpha/beta you don't need to spend anymore money, otherwise upgrade to the next package level.

[Mrbloodworth]

There are inherent disadvantages by not pledging now? I thought it's all just some cosmetic stuff, new features for everybody and a "thanks for supporting" bonus ship(s). This can't be right, no?

(I'm really only skimming here every now and then because I like me some space pew pew.)

There are no real advantages/disadvantages between the ships. LTI, will likely save about 1-300* credits every once in a while.

*Adjust for whatever prices the economy ends up being. 500 or 5000.

AFAIK, you play through the single player like wing commander, military provides ships for missions. Then, you retire ( Or skip single player altogether ) out to the persistent world with what ever ships you have. If none, the aura is the starter ship ( with one other being developed ). So, in my case ill start with an aura and a freelancer.

[Pezzle]

My concern is LTI making insurance mandatory for you online players.  Ganksquads of LTI ships running around blowing up or taking whatever they can on disposable characters.  It may all be handled in a way that eliminates the issue, but I have seen no evidence that suggests it yet. 

[Mrbloodworth]

Insurance is said to be just like in Eve. Everyone can buy it in game, everyone should. AFAIK, you can insure: The hull ( LTI only insures the hull ), the cargo, the mods on the ship. Each can be insured independently. Some ships, can not be insured, including those that were hijacked ( Like a UEE Carrier ). And "outlaws" and "pirates" have no option to insure.

[Stormwaltz]

Guys, IMO you should stop attaching a non-existant "gameplay value" to the current purchase of ships: at the moment, this is simply about pledging, funding the game.

I keep telling myself that, but every time a new sales pitch comes out, it's impossible to see it as anything other than a sales pitch, and so I view the offering accordingly.

[Lucas]

An important piece of information has just been posted on the official site: it's about the Anniversary sale period (the last LTI one for original and veteran backers) that will occur between 18th November and the 26th:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13377-Anniversary-Sale-Details

It's very exhaustive, and should also answers some of your questions about future LTI  (relative) importance and the "grey market" of pledging; on the 26th, there will be a 4-hour livestream during which the Team will update us on the game development status and, last but not least, unveil the next batch of ships (in the last few months, they announced destroyers, frigates and escort carriers, so I think we might see a bit of that).

[calapine]

Soo, which one of those to get? *ponder*

[Lucas]

so, as standalone ships, the RSI Aurora LX will be the cheapest one, probably around $40 with LTI for new backers. For those of you already owning a different Aurora model, you'll likely be able to upgrade for a small fee.

Back in July, I paid €65 for my LTI Origin M50 (but again, as an original backer, so it might cost you more if you're new); the 350R will definitely cost more, but the package might include both.

The other listed LTI ships will be quite more expensive, starting from $150 for new backers.

I think I might give in and purchase another package, probably the (already available) SWACS one (Hornet Tracker), but I'll try to resist :P

[Velorath]

Anniversary sale

 

Someone please ask Haemish to come up with a word to describe people who have a sale to celebrate the anniversary of the end of their kickstarter. "To celebrate one solid year of selling you guys extra stuff for a game we haven't released yet, we're going to give you another opportunity to buy some more stuff".

[rattran]

I think the word you're looking for comes from PT Barnum, not Haemish.

[jakonovski]

I always mix PT Barnum with EB Farnum.

[Paelos]

Hahahahaha, oh man I love Kickstarters. It's the Lucy and the football of insane fanboism that just keeps on giving.

[Mrbloodworth]

Soo, which one of those to get? *ponder*

The Starfarer, is a sexy beast. But I will earn that one in game, after all, I need something to upgrade to in game :) It also, is quite different then what my freelancer is for, as its all about large amounts of liquid. I See the freelancer more as general cargo.

http://starcitizen.wikia.com/wiki/Starfarer

[Stormwaltz]

My favorite aesthetically is probably the Caterpillar. It's (planned to be) just a larger, more ungainly, and less solo-able version of the only ship I have, though (Freelancer).

[Margalis]

An important piece of information has just been posted on the official site: it's about the Anniversary sale period (the last LTI one for original and veteran backers) that will occur between 18th November and the 26th:

Remember how I said most of the information about the game was about how you could spend money rather than about the gameplay and Bloodworth was all "nuh uh!"

Yeah. That happened.

[Miasma]

I would like a starfarer but I also think I'll just buy one with credits earned in game.  I like the idea of being a behind the scenes utility guy that enables the rest of my alliance to succeed.

Caterpillar does look nice, it is billed as the "evil" freelancer, it has a lot of pirate abilities.  If it weren't for the variants coming out for the freelancer I might switch my purchase to one.

The only chance they have of getting more of my money (other than the freelancer variant) is on the 26th where it sounds like they might be selling the alien ships.  I'm a sucker for vertical ships...

[Miasma]

An important piece of information has just been posted on the official site: it's about the Anniversary sale period (the last LTI one for original and veteran backers) that will occur between 18th November and the 26th:

Remember how I said most of the information about the game was about how you could spend money rather than about the gameplay and Bloodworth was all "nuh uh!"

Yeah. That happened.

To be fair I don't think it's like Chris Roberts has some sort of slush fund where he's siphoning off 50% of everything donated.  The money people are spending on ships will absolutely be spent on the game.  The game itself might wind up being a money pit that never sees the light of day but all that money will be burned on expenses, not hookers and blow.

[Lucas]

Sale has begun, with the Origin M50 now available in the Pledge store for 24 hours (midnight PST to midnight PST, 9am to 9am CET): € 64 for original and (I think) veteran backers, € 72 for new backers ($80 and $90).

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/interceptor

If you want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible and with as much style as possible then ORIGIN’s M50 is for you. Featuring supercharged engines that counter a tiny weapons loadout, the M50 is a ship for going FAST. The core spaceframe is used by both racing teams and for military courier missions, but the civilian M50 is a luxury spacecraft like no other. Perfect for the mercenary who prefers speed over armor in a dogfight… or the weekend warrior looking to impress the ladies.

You can find much more detailed stats on the "Ship specs" page:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/ship-specs

So, what's the M50 good for? (hypothetically, of course)


For "leisure" activities, is one of the best (if not, the best) ships for racing (from what we know, it's going to be a purely twitch based activity with a periodic, tournament structure); in dogfighting, a very skilled player should be able to give hell to slow ships and manage to evade a lot of firepower (otherwise, the M50 will get toasted pretty quickly). An organized squadron of M50s should manage to provide enough distraction while bigger ships will take care of bigger targets: in a PvP multiplayer environment, the most probable scenario is  zerging the enemy with lots of M50  

Concept art (big pictures, they might be obsolete by now):

[calapine]

As much as I just love to buy stuff, the limited sale ships seem awfully...specialized. A racing shuttle, a support freighter, a long range bomber. I guess the Aurora XL is an exception to this, but it's so ugly...