Vanguards: And Then There Were Three

[VoA]

Vanguards: And Then There Were Three

 

Vanguards: And Then There Were Three

New Variants from Aegis Dynamics

 

 

 

JOIN THE VANGUARD WOLF PACK

Greetings Citizens,

Earlier this year, Aegis Dynamics revealed the A3G Vanguard Warden to the civilian market. Today, two additional variants previously provided to the United Empire of Earth military are now available. The Vanguard is the Empire’s premiere deep space fighter, designed for maximum crew survivability on long-duration missions. The military treats the Vanguard as a robust platform capable of being modified for any number of missions. Today we are pleased to reveal the Vanguard Sentinel and the Vanguard Harbinger, two of the most popular Vanguard configurations ever to dogfight in deep space.

The Vanguard Sentinel and Harbinger are now available as concept pledges and the Vanguard Warden is available again for a limited time. The art and design teams at Cloud Imperium Game have spent time fleshing out not only specific roles for the variants but also the functional interiors for all three ships. You can see the results of this work below, with imagery of everything from the internal escape pod on the base Warden to the new electronic warfare equipment on the Sentinel. We’re extremely proud of the work that has gone into these ships, and we’re hoping you enjoy this further look under their hoods!

 

 

 

 

 

OUTLIVE: THE VANGUARD WARDEN

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“THE VANGUARD WARDEN IS THE STANDARD MODEL, ADAPTED FROM THE ROUGH-AND-READY VERSION USED BY THE MILITARY.”

The original contract called for a ship capable of surviving a complete hull breach and up to a 33% structural loss… and time and time again, Aegis’ Vanguard has gone well beyond the letter of the law in bringing crews home! 


With heavy hitting forward weapons, an enhanced weapons suite and the most advanced two-person escape pod currently available, the Vanguard Warden is a ship that’s designed to take a beating and come out on top.


VISIT THE WARDEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warden Internal Development

 

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OUTSMART: THE VANGUARD SENTINEL

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“WHY TAKE DAMAGE WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO? THE VANGUARD SENTINEL IS A SHIP THAT’S DESIGNED TO FIGHT SMART INSTEAD OF TAKING ENEMIES HEAD ON.”

The conversion features an AR cockpit, an external e-War pod, decoy missiles and a set ofEMP charges. In their military capacity, Vanguard Sentinels often provide necessary combat support for combined operations, helping to establish space superiority through so-called ‘trickster’ missions built around sowing misdirection and confusion. A lone Sentinel assigned wild weasel tasks is frequently paired with Harbinger bombers and Warden escorts for large attack missions. Working together, a mixed unit of Vanguards has been credited with confusing and rapidly eliminating ships as large as an enemy battlecruiser!VISIT THE SENTINEL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sentinel Internal Development

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OUTGUN: THE VANGUARD HARBINGER

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“HIT HARD AND GET HOME ALIVE! THE VANGUARD HARBINGER IS EARTH’S STANDARD FIGHTER-BOMBER, CONVERTING THE STANDARD WARDEN MODEL’S ESCAPE POD INTO A POTENT BOMB BAY.”

The extended range of the Vanguard and the relatively small profile mean that it can go where carrier-based planes or larger strategic bombers don’t… and then strike hard and make it back to frontier bases. With standardized parts and easy-to-change hull sections, the Vanguard Harbinger is a powerful bomber that can operate out of the roughest forward operating bases.VISIT THE HARBINGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harbinger Internal Development

 

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SHIP SALE

 

 

We are offering these pledge ships to help fund Star Citizen’s development. All of these ships will be available for in-game credits in the final universe, and they are not required to start the game. Additionally, all decorative ‘flare’ items will also be available to acquire in the finished game world. The goal is to make additional ships available that give players a different experience rather than a particular advantage when the persistent universe launches.

The standard model Vanguard Warden is available again for a limited time. The standard model includes two year insurance. The Vanguard Sentinel & Harbinger are being offered for the first time as a limited concept sale. This means that the ship design meets our specifications, but it is not yet ready to display in your Hangar or to fight in Arena Commander. The sale includes Lifetime Insurance on the ship hull and a pair of decorative items for your Hangar. A future patch will add a Vanguard poster and then once the in-game model is finished you will also be given an in-game Vanguard mini ship model! In the future, the ship price will increase and the offer will not include Life Time Insurance or these extras.

If you’d like to add one to your fleet, they’re available in the pledge store until Monday September 7th. You can also view a detail of the ship in the Tech Overview of the ship page!

 

Edited August 28, 2015 by VoA

[Lumos]

Being a swede, I'm slightly envious of the prices quoted in your locality, but I am the proud owner of a Sentinel and three upgrade kits!

Now it's a just a game of patience until we know if the Retaliator or Harbinger upgrade kit will have to face the melt...

[Riley Egret]

Allright the weapon stats are.... weird somehow, not to mention the shields. I suppose I'll go for the Harbinger kit.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Riley Egret

[VoA]

Q&A: Vanguard Variants

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Developer

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIG Disco LandoDiscoLando-CIG

 

 

 

Posted: 1:16PM

 

 

 

Because every sale needs a Q&A. This ship will get two. Post your questions below and we'll provide the answers we can in two batches, one on Wednesday and another on Friday of next week.

[Osclin]

Standing pat with my warden, though I'll definitely pick up the harbinger battlefield kit in the PU.

I noticed they reduced the announced prices of the variants by $10 apiece, though the battlefield kits reflect the previous prices.

Allright the weapon stats are.... weird somehow, not to mention the shields. I suppose I'll go for the Harbinger kit.

Yeah, I'm not even looking at them again, quick glance to see that they were kind of fucked up, then I moved on.

[FoxChard]

Probably dropped to quell the inevitable hue and cry that will be raised at RSI by the haters.  Im considering melting the Tali for some of these parts-mostly because the Tali is just too big for me.

[Reavern]

Decided to keep my Vanguard Warden, because I need a deep space fighter for Vanduul Hunting...

And I bought a Harbinger and Sentinel.

Three of a kind, I win!

I was tempted to just buy the Sentinel and Harbinger Battlefield Upgrade Kits for my original Vanguard, but I'm goin' for broke.  It's good that CIG is making that option available, especially with the Vanguard, because there are three distinct models each with a unique role. It's not like the Aurora MR or F7C, wherein the upgrade model Legionnaire or Super Hornet essentially does the same thing as the base model, only better. That's why I chose to get them all, because I want to be able to perform all three roles in combat. I really hope that EWAR is effective in SC, because it could be a lot of fun to wreak havoc with the enemy's sensors, missiles, and possibly ships themselves. Imagine being able to hack an enemy capital ship and make it turns its big guns on its own ships; or ram it into another enemy cap ship, taking them out The Winter Soldier-style.

I can't wait until the Vanguards are flyable in AC!

[Riley Egret]

Decided to keep my Vanguard Warden, because I need a deep space fighter for Vanduul Hunting...

And I bought a Harbinger and Sentinel.

Three of a kind, I win!

I was tempted to just buy the Sentinel Battlefield Upgrade Kit for my original Vanguard, but I'm goin' for broke.  It's good that CIG is making that option available, especially with the Vanguard, because there are three distinct models each with a unique role. It's not like the Aurora MR or F7C, wherein the upgrade model Legionnaire or Super Hornet essentially does the same thing as the base model, only better. That's why I chose to get them all, because I want to be able to perform all three roles in combat. I really hope that EWAR is effective in SC, because it could be a lot of fun to wreak havoc with the enemy's sensors, missiles, and possibly ships themselves. Imagine being able to hack an enemy capital ship and make it turns its big guns on its own ships; or ram it into another enemy cap ship, taking them out The Winter Soldier-style.

I can't wait until the Vanguards are flyable in AC!

And yet I remember you saying the V was too costly

[Siberz4]

which variant's most suitable for escorting convoy? (we do not know for sure yet but thoughts?)

 

and on battlefield upgrade kit? seem to me best to buy/upgrade to Harbinger and then buy other kits 

 

warden 200 / with sentinel kit 220 / with harbinger kit 236 = total 256

sentinel 212 / with harbinger kit 248 / with warden kit 220 = total 256

harbinger 224 / with sentinel kit 244 / with warden kit 232 = total 252

*in euro

 

pricing looks weird. perhaps im wrong. can anyone pls confirm?

[Riley Egret]

I would say the Warden, the EWAR is possibly the worst dogfigther of the set and the Harbinger turret is useless if you try to cover you six from a Cutlass.

 

 

[Fizzlefuse]

At this point I'm unsure if i should put more money into star citizen, and € 242,- for a warden is a bit too much for my liking.
I will probably pick one up in the PU/

[Aethio]

The Harbinger... hohhhh.. Long-range missile tornado, from a ship far smaller and much more maneuverable than a tali, with modern sensors and a missile turret that looks like it could outgun a hornet... +1

[Reavern]

And yet I remember you saying the V was too costly

I stand by my earlier statements about the Vanguard being overpriced.

However, it's like complaining that chocolate bars are now $1.65: Yes, it's overpriced... but I still want one! Or three!

[Xuu]

i love how they bring out all those variants now, it is great seeing everything come together

[Danakar Endeel]

Wierd thing on the stats (again).

Warden: Gimbal max S5 (S4 Death Ballistic Gatling)

Sentinel: Fixed max S4 (Coming Soon)\

Harbinger: Fixed max S4 (Coming Soon)

 

So the Warden is currently presented as having a larger hardpoint mount on the nose compared to the others. If this is going to remain as such a Harbinger with a Warden FUK can never get a gimballed Death Ballistic Gatling; only fixed.

 

Oversight or intentional?

 

EDIT: Matt Sherman has now stated that all Vanguards have the same S5 fixed hardpoint. Stats page has also been updated.

 

Edited August 29, 2015 by Danakar Endeel

[GeraldEvans]

Read the Sentinel section again

[VoA]

Wierd thing on the stats (again).

Warden: Gimbal max S5 (S4 Death Ballistic Gatling)

Sentinel: Fixed max S4 (Coming Soon)\

Harbinger: Fixed max S4 (Coming Soon)

 

So the Warden is currently presented as having a larger hardpoint mount on the nose compared to the others. If this is going to remain as such a Harbinger with a Warden FUK can never get a gimballed Death Ballistic Gatling; only fixed.

 

Oversight or intentional?

 

Intential for play balance since the Warden needs something the other two variants don't have.  The Turrets on the Sentinel and Harbinger (including the rest of the EWAR and Torpedoes) make the Warden signifcantly less useful if the Warden didn't have a bigger nose gun.

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Great deal of new info on the Vanguard in... INN NOTES - --->>> Notes from Reverse the 'Verse - Episode 60

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From ATV

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Ben Responds to usage question about Battlefield Upgrade Kits. Permanent items, as though purchased from VD.

 

CIG Ben Lesnickwcloaf

 

 

 

Posted: 3:57PM

 

 

 

These are permanent equipment sets - like buying an assortment of specific upgrades from Voyager Direct. You can swap back and forth at will.

which variant's most suitable for escorting convoy? (we do not know for sure yet but thoughts?)

 

and on battlefield upgrade kit? seem to me best to buy/upgrade to Harbinger and then buy other kits 

 

warden 200 / with sentinel kit 220 / with harbinger kit 236 = total 256

sentinel 212 / with harbinger kit 248 / with warden kit 220 = total 256

harbinger 224 / with sentinel kit 244 / with warden kit 232 = total 252

*in euro

 

pricing looks weird. perhaps im wrong. can anyone pls confirm?

Yes you are correct if you want all three (and Ben Clarified they are like the Permanent Tali Modules - swappable) then You want to Buy the Harbinger and buy the Warden and Sentinel Battle Field Upgrade kits.  For US $$$ it is $5 cheaper than if you were to buy the Sentinel or Warden first.

Worked good for me because I melted my Warden and purchased the Harbinger.  I didn't plan on needing or wanting the other two but since it is swappable then why not - its cheap.

Edited August 28, 2015 by VoA

[Siberz4]

Thinking about melting my Herald and get both variant upgrades. Seem like a good deal to me one fewer ship to fly and more roles to play (and more credits? Whats Herald melt value?).

 

Probably wait to check on QA release then decide.

[VoA]

Thinking about melting my Herald and get both variant upgrades. Seem like a good deal to me one fewer ship to fly and more roles to play (and more credits? Whats Herald melt value?).

 

Probably wait to check on QA release then decide.

Herald is $85.... but it will be flyable soon and good for a CCU carrying over LTI to another ship that you may want.  I am going to convert a number of mine (purchaced many Heralds for this purpose) .

[Danakar Endeel]

Intential for play balance since the Warden needs something the other two variants don't have.  The Turrets on the Sentinel and Harbinger (including the rest of the EWAR and Torpedoes) make the Warden signifcantly less useful if the Warden didn't have a bigger nose gun.

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Actually, I found out from someone over on RSI that Matt Sherman stated in chat that all versions have a S5 hardpoint and can all equip a S4 gimbal.

 

I'm still wondering about those extra S3 missile hardpoints the Harbinger apparently has. I'm guessing that they are in the area under the nacelles, but none of the other variants seem to have empty hardpoints listed there.

[Reavern]

Actually, I found out from someone over on RSI that Matt Sherman stated in chat that all versions have a S5 hardpoint and can all equip a S4 gimbal.

Another example of why people should never put any stock in the ship stats.

I know that it's usually all we have to go on, but in an instance like this, wherein the new Vanguard models appear to have a smaller hardpoint than the base model Vanguard, it's most likely an error, because it doesn't make sense that a hardpoint would shrink on a variant model -- especially when the variant appears* to have a fixed mount (* another probable mistake), when the Warden has a gimbal mount; so if anything, the variant should be able to mount a larger weapon.

Remember, the RSI website is maintained by Turbulent, so there's a disconnect between CIG's "brain" in Santa Monica and its "mouth" in Montreal, which is why RSI contains so much unreliable information. It's unclear if CIG provides them with incorrect or outdated information, or if Turbulent screws it up, or if CIG provides insufficient information, so Turbulent has to fill in the blanks -- often with bad assumptions.

Regardless, it's a waste of time and brain power to theorize why the stats don't make sense, because chances are the simplest explanation is the correct one: that they don't make sense, because they're incorrect.

[Taldren]

Given the update the only thing unique to each variant hull is:
Sentinel: +1 missile size (Total 8x S3) and the fancy cockpit.
Harbinger: 2 additional pylons (Total 8x S2 and 4x S3)

Everything else can be granted by the kits since they change all the internals, but not the externals (or colors). They basically just change the Lifepod, shields, powerplant, ect (too bad most of these are the same between variants anyway). 

So the variants are just inherently better than the base Warden model. Either one of them with the Warden BUK will be a better Warden than the stand alone Warden.

[Riley Egret]

Given the update the only thing unique to each variant hull is:
Sentinel: +1 missile size (Total 8x S3) and the fancy cockpit.
Harbinger: 2 additional pylons (Total 8x S2 and 4x S3)

Everything else can be granted by the kits since they change all the internals, but not the externals (or colors). They basically just change the Lifepod, shields, powerplant, ect (too bad most of these are the same between variants anyway). 

So the variants are just inherently better than the base Warden model. Either one of them with the Warden BUK will be a better Warden than the stand alone Warden.

You forgot to mention: Warden : gimbal on the S4 gun.

[evilbyte]

coudnt resist, bought the harbinger and 2 upgrade kits

[VoA]

 

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Vanguard Warden - Sentinel - Harbinger

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ACK Wrong Vanguards! - from Ben...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developer

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIG Ben Lesnickwcloaf

 

 

 

Posted: 2:14AM

 

 

 

Hey guys! We noticed an issue with the Vanguard post when we went to publish the e-war doc... it had old images! A number of the internal renders were OLD versions and not the shiny, finished versions intended for release. We've updated the original post with them now... there's some changes to all three versions, but the biggest, most noticeable are on the Vanguard Sentinel. There's also two new images showing how the escape pod slots in and out of the ship. I'm sorry for not catching this earlier in the day... but you can now go check out the Vanguard post for the CORRECT internals (and more!) 

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/14915-Vanguards-And-Then-There-Were-Three

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THE PLEDGE!

 

 

Edited August 29, 2015 by VoA