Xi'an Scout - Khartu-al (export model)

[Morpheus]

Starting the Khartu-al discussions. Wonder if the thread on the general board can be merged with this one?

 

[backstory]

Xi’an Scout Unlocked! The Khartu is the light attack craft of the Xi’An military. Contrary to Human ship design, the Khartu doesn’t have a traditional main thruster, instead featuring an array of maneuvering thrusters on articulated rigs. This design allows for incredible agility, making them the bane of UEE pilots, who bestowed the nickname ‘Quark’ because when all of the thrusters are firing, the ship looks like a spark flying through space. The Xi’an Aopoa corporation also manufactures an export model, the Khartu-al, for sale to human civilians as a dedicated scout/explorer. The export model features the same Xi’an maneuvering rig, but control surfaces modified for human use and a more limited armament. (Designer: Aopoa)

 

Xi’an ship design will be focused on a vertical aesthetic and maneuvering jets that can combine to thrust in multiple directions. Gimbaled, larger-than-normal thrusters sit on the four points of a star in the centerline, allowing each thruster unobstructed hemispherical coverage. The Xi’an scout can rotate on all axes and direct four thrusters to the rear or front! Because of this configuration the Xi’an ship has superb linear maneuvering abilities on all axes. This extra maneuverability comes at a cost however. Xi’an ships favor maneuverability over heavy armament or defensive protection.

 

Role
Scout

Manufacturer
Aopoa

Cargo Capacity
0

Max Crew
2

Upgrade Space
4

Max Power Plant Size
4

Max Engine (Primary Thruster)
N/A

Maneuvering Thrusters
18 x TR2

Max Shield
4

HARDPOINTS
Class-1: 2x Size 4
Class-2: 4x Size 2

NOTE: Ship specifications are preliminary and subject to change as the game is further developed and balanced.

[CyberianK]

I am wondering what the second crewman will be doing. Cause we have no missiles or turrets.

 

Will we get additional utility devices that come standard with the ship?

Or is it for radar operation to improve on the Scout role?

Or it is just optional like for F7C-M?

[pyro nl]

for prisoners ;o

[supraluminal]

Yeah, I am not really clear on the ship size... maybe around an Avenger or a little bigger? Radar operator sounds the most plausible as a lightly armed scout.

[Nameless]

Starting the Khartu-al discussions. Wonder if the thread on the general board can be merged with this one?

It can

[Reavern]

I am wondering what the second crewman will be doing. Cause we have no missiles or turrets. Will we get additional utility devices that come standard with the ship? Or is it for radar operation to improve on the Scout role? Or it is just optional like for F7C-M?

Wouldn't it be a shock if two pilots were REQUIRED to pilot the Xi'an Scout? Perhaps the Xi'an have two pairs of arms, or their feet are as dexterous as their hands, and their ships require two pairs of hands to control them. j/k CIG wouldn't do that to us. And logically, the Xi'an would have to adapt their ships with human-compatible flight controls to create a viable export model. With a vertically-oriented ship, no main engine, and thrusters that supposedly allow the ship to travel in any direction, I believe that the second crew person would be a combination RIO and gunner, and a much-needed second pair of eyes. The Xi'an Scout doesn't have a turret or missiles, but it does have 4 x Class-2 swivel mounts for guns, and flying a ship like the Xi'an Scout will probably require a pilot's full attention, and the shooting will be the gunner's responsibility. The two will have to work together to be successful in combat. That's how the AH-64 Apache helicopter is operated, with the pilot in the backseat and weapons and radar operator in the front seat.

[Morpheus]

I hope they give the Khartu-al exotic weaponry as well. The Xi'an concept shows them as being reptilian. Maybe cold blooded. Bipeds. Imagine if they have developed advanced bio-weapons and projectiles like armor/hull eating microbes that do damage over time. Also, some sort of spores or airborne mutagens that confuses sensors and radar...

[Jancarius]

I'm very curious how it will handle.  Obviously, it's probably going to the best strafing ship in the game, but I'm worried it's acceleration won't match more traditionally designed ships.

[Reavern]

I'm very curious how it will handle. Obviously, it's probably going to the best strafing ship in the game, but I'm worried it's acceleration won't match more traditionally designed ships.

CIG has said that Xi'an ships aren't as fast as human-designed ships, but their maneuverability is far superior. But in a dogfight in space, maneuverability is probably more important than speed. A ship can't rely solely on speed to elude an enemy pursuer, dodge missiles, and evade incoming fire. Missiles are almost always faster than the ships they target, so not even a M50 could outrun a missile. But a stationary Xi'an Scout could probably dodge an incoming missile with a quick pulse of its thrusters, sliding it out of the missile's path and causing it to miss. Same with gun-fire; a ship can't really outrun it, and the targeting computer helps the shooter lead their shots to where the ship will be when the shots arrive. But a Xi'an Scout can make small staccato maneuvers, zigzagging every which way, making it impossible for the shooting ship to predict where it will be. The only effective tactic would be to spray-and-pray, which is a possible explanation for why the Hornet has so many cannons compared to other ships its size. I bought a Xi'an Scout just before the deadline, because I couldn't resist trying it out in the Dogfighting Alpha. I think it will be a great EQUALIZER, because I'm certain there are more skilled and experienced space combat sim players out there, who are more familiar with the space flight mechanics that Star Citizen will use. But I expect that the Xi'an Scout will handle completely differently, and be extremely difficult and frustrating for space sim vets to engage, because they will probably be resistant to changing their approach, because it's worked for them for so long. That should level the playing field. At the very least it'll make the game more interesting.

[Ragnor]

By the way: Chris Roberts said in the recent Livestream that they haven't made a decision yet about what the final design for the Xi'an scout is going to be. All the earlier pictures just give an idea of where they are heading with it...

[zerkerz]

I really like the vertically ships that one with 2 main thrusters. Awesome looking ship. But I hope the xian scout would look even better! And not so very vertically long! But CIG does great job on every ship. Not 1 ship look bad imo!

[zerkerz]

Rihlah IV

Concept art: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13264-Rihlah-IV-Concept-Art

Looks like possible Xian scout.(lower, middle)










Disclaimer: This is a picture is not from subscribers section. Just check the link.

[Morpheus]

Wondering when the Khartu-al is gonna get some love from CIG. From resource priority perspective, probably a long while to go...if the owner base is smaller compared to the other more popular and mainstream ships.  

 

Seeing the Scythe in PBR just makes the wait feels longer....I hope they at least give it some alien texturing/skin.

[Reavern]

I also own a Xi'an Scout ship, but I expect it'll be a long while before we see it in the Hangar or DFM. I'm sure we'll see some concept art soon, but that's a long way from being able to fly it. As you said, the owner base of the Xi'an Scout is probably fairly small compared to most of the other ships, so it's a much lower priority.

I expect that CIG's objective is to get the original 15 ships ready for the PUB launch, and all of the new stretch goal ships will be added later, just in time for the final game launch.

[deardevil]

I believe so to

[LastSmile]

This Xi'An scout design was not accepted.....pity

 

[Aleaf]

Xi'an Scout ship.... i would take a faction rep loss to aquire one. 

[PaulC2K]

Going back on sale tomorrow too, despite popular opinion being that after the Mustang vote for 'available in hangar' we wouldnt see sales for ships which werent available yet.
Should be $150 i guess.

 

edit - and i forgot to add theres concept pictures in Around the Verse ep2 (24m40).

http://youtu.be/ieHBBOoZy-w?t=24m40s

 

[Arcanus]

Here's a screen grab of the concept art... 

 

 

Damn am I glad I grabbed one!

 

 

[VoA]

Haven't seen the Verse video yet (on vacation) Will it stay on sale or is it just tomorrow or limited time?

[bod699]

oh crap im glad i got one to.. off to watch this now to kill time before the match tonight

[PaulC2K]

Haven't seen the Verse video yet (on vacation) Will it stay on sale or is it just tomorrow or limited time?

 

Seems likely that its a limited sale, but i dont believe they said how long, and theres nothing on the homepage to say otherwise (might be confirmed on forums but... you know, you go in all happy and come out suicidal after reading a post or 2!)

[Asirum]

I'm loving the concept art for the Xi'an Scout. I've got to say that CIG are doing an amazing job on the alien ships so far.

[KI_Ghost]

really really great design! And these colors ... wow!

[RedMenace]

Wow, that's a tempting looking design.

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