Why so many copy/pasta Freighters?

[mr.WHO]

I noticed strange thing in SY/Wharfs:
Why do we have so many nearly identical freighters ofered in shipyards?
They have nearly identical stats, nearly identical model (often only different container model) and usually one of them is clearly superior than another.

What is the point of having them at all? Why bother? Would it be better to make something distinct?

Why should I pick Heron or Pelican?
Ides and Mercury?
Incarcatura / Shuyaku / Sonra (LOL, WTF Argons? 3 identical freighters?)
Mokosi and Veles?

Haven't checked PAranid but they probably suffer the same syndrome. If they're suppose to be sub-faction specific, then why don't geve them some clear strong/weak points comparing to competitors?

Overall looking at general ship stats (not only freighters):
https://www.egosoft.com:8444/confluence ... WIKI/Ships

I have strange feeling that all the ships stats are like:
- "lets put placeholder stats for game development and testing"
- "Tomorrow is a release day? FUUUUUCCC***. OK stay calm, lets just modify one or two stats at random, they won't notice"


Considering Egosoft didn't bothered with makin something as basic as Encyclopedia descriptions I think they also didn't bothered with ship stats at all.


Other less obvious cases are:
Eclipse / Pulsar / Quasar

Eclipse has strong shields
Pulsar has 6x weapon mount
Quasar don't have anything superior over Eclipse and Pulsar and it makes this ship completely useless (at least it has cool model, unlike copy/pasta freighters).

[Spiralrazor]

Its been a good while since i played X3 AP, but im pretty sure things were fairly distinct there. Also, its pretty glaring that we are missing Boron and Split, who visually are quite distinct alongside the other races. Having those two back would add a lot more to the game other then piles of stats.

[Shy'la Nesthorn]

Its been a good while since i played X3 AP, but im pretty sure things were fairly distinct there. Also, its pretty glaring that we are missing Boron and Split, who visually are quite distinct alongside the other races. Having those two back would add a lot more to the game other then piles of stats.

All races were visually distinct back in X3. I'm sad that Teladi and Argon look the exact same now, but at least paranid retain their old look

[ScandyNav]

I have strange feeling that all the ships stats are like:
- "lets put placeholder stats for game development and testing"
- "Tomorrow is a release day? FUUUUUCCC***. OK stay calm, lets just modify one or two stats at random, they won't notice"

I tell you one more thing. There is SIX cruisers in game: vanguard/sentinel per 3 faction. And they all feels like a one ship to me.
Yes, ES didn't have time to balance stats and make distinctive ships.

[Axeface]

The difference between the Hermes and Demeter is tiny. Its really quite strange. Ide say make them really quite different, like change one section of cargo space to an S dock on one of them and give it quite a lot less cargo (I think theres space for that). Or give one much less speed but more guns, just something to really differentiate them.

[CaptainX4]

Eclipse / Pulsar / Quasar

Eclipse has strong shields
Pulsar has 6x weapon mount
Quasar don't have anything superior over Eclipse and Pulsar and it makes this ship completely useless (at least it has cool model, unlike copy/pasta freighters).

not only quasar has weaker shield than eclipes and less guns than pulsar, it also has half the hull, less crew, same speed and maneuverability so its clearly just a placeholder. btw in my opinion quasar and discoverer should be teladi ships OR the buzzard should be argon, these 3 are the same look and dont fit any of the 2 factions ships.

its also a funny fact that all these FIGHTERS are slower than the M ships even with the combat mk3 engines

[BGrey]

I was wondering if they were going to go with XRs hold type differences but then decided against it, kept the ships and set them all to container.

[Damocles_]

If the ships have a miniscule difference in stats, or worse, one is strictly better than the other at a similar price, just make them have all the same stats then.
The player can then choose the ship he likes most for the visuals, and think more about the upgrades than the ship model.

[mr.WHO]

Damocles, if might worked if not that model wise the ships are nearly identical too.