Raptor First Responder
Armor: 9800
Cargo:5
Weapons: 1S 1L
Mass: 4000 100 Higher than a traditional Raptor.
Length: 13m (42' 7") Bigger than a vulture but smaller than a traditional Raptor.
Thrust: 250 N/ 325 N turbo Similar but less than a Greyhound.
Spin Torque: 6.5 Nm Less than a traditional Raptor.
Max Speed: 65 m/s 5 Higher than a traditional Raptor.
Turbo Speed: 225 m/s 5 Higher than a traditional Raptor.
Turbo Energy: 53/s 1 Less than a traditional Raptor.
Availability: Latos, Xang Xi only, 900 faction [EDIT]

Raptor/Raptor mkII
Armor: 8300
Cargo: 8
Weapons: 2s
Mass: 3900kg
Length: 17m (55' 9")
Thrust: 260
Spin Torque: 8.5
Max Speed: 55m/s (60m/s mkII)
Turbo Speed: 220 m/s (60 mkII))
Turbo Energy: 54/s (57/s mkII)

[EDIT] Xang Xi has released the Raptor First Responder to fill a number of roles the UIT fleet is lacking in. As the name implies it is suited for fast operations... it was designed as an interceptor as well as an emergency repair ship. The First Responder is slightly shorter but heavier than the original Raptor and less maneuverable with but makes up for it with added armor and higher speed. It was developed primarily for convoy guardian duty, being able to chase off most attackers and then swing back to repair any damaged convoy ships. It is only available in Latos due to the high incidence of piracy, hive, ion storms and random psychotic homicidal maniacs. It replaces one of the small weapon ports with a large port to give the pilot more options as to which weapons/repair systems are used.

I would like this idea only if the large port was limited to only have repair gun modules.

I thought about that, but I wasn't sure how difficult it would be for the Devs, and I wasn't sure how that would go over with the other players. However, its an Interceptor/repair ship... so tough.

+1

I don't think it would be so terrible to have a medic ship all to ourselves - I mean, uh, for the VO universe. >.>

But yeah, I like the idea, it's exactly what we need how we need it. Storm radar, max speeds, Large port, low-end mass to get places fast, decent armor, admittedly not infiniturbo, but it's still a good ship. Perfect product placement (Latos N-15 works perfectly for this thing). And then what medic is really going to need spin torque anyways (though I'll probably regret saying that later)?

And, uh, yeah, +[EMS].

And before you even dream of saying it, I am TOTALLY unbiased. Yesirree. No doubt about that. >.>

+2

Well, is +7 too much? ;)

Looks good on paper, let's see if she'll fly!!!

Ryan Reign, idea of raptor + repair module is pretty nice, i'd love to have such ship in party, but i can't agree with stats, because of:
1. Weight. you propose only 100 kg increase for exchange of repair module to storm radar extender?
Ok, here are stats of each other:
Xang Xi Storm Radar Extender Small - 1000m 200kg
repair module MkI 30 400pt-3400pt 200m/s 60pt/s 2400kg 2/-/2/-/-
Aeolus Light 20 300pt-2200pt 200m/s 60pt/s 1200kg

Where are TWO tonns of weight? Where do you hide them?
If you suggest "not already installed" repair module (Quot.: It replaces one of the small weapon ports with a large port to give the pilot more options as to which weapons/repair systems are used.), then is it REPAIR ship with nice chasing options or simple assault warhog mk4? The point of Raptor is in already installed radar extender, devs didn't give him simply third weap port and adviced you to use it as radar.
2. "Max Speed: 65 m/s 5 Higher than a traditional Raptor."
"Turbo Speed: 225 m/s 5 Higher than a traditional Raptor."
(traditional raptor has 55 m/s, and mk2 60 m/s, btw.)
Why do u suggest better speed? Because it's lighter??? Because it has more powerful engine(s)?
3. "Turbo Energy: 53/s 1 Less than a traditional Raptor."
Again why? If RFR has more powerful engines shouldn't it consume more energy?
4. "Raptor First Responder
Armor: 9800"
Again. "Traditional" raptor has 8300.. it's 16.5% less then you suggest...
When you add such bonuses to ship stats, it must have some disadvantages (you added more then 4 advantages to RFR), not only spin turque .. but which one - you decide and create, you are the constructor of new Raptor ;)

"Where are TWO tonns of weight?"...

I did not suggest an "exchange" of radar for repair... they are in what ever systems you choose to add that equal two tons. Given that you quoted me on that, I'm not sure where your confusion is coming from.

"Why do u suggest better speed? Because it's lighter??? Because it has more powerful engine(s)?"...

I refer you to the tile of the thread, I thought it was pretty self explanatory.

"Again why? If RFR has more powerful engines shouldn't it consume more energy?"

More efficient engines, new engines who knows? create your own little scifi type reason.

"it must have some disadvantages"

Reduced cargo.
Reduced agility.
More mass.
Higher price... (goes with out saying).
Severely restricted availability.
Its the only ship in VO apart from the XC that a Greyhound pilot stands a better than average chance against.
And last but not least its a Raptor, which is a big flying target.
I count seven disadvantages there.

The RFR is designed to chase and damage, not necessarily kill. Its second function is to zip back to the convoy and repair ships in distress. Its only other conceivable use is by EMS or as a support ship which needs its own escort. In these respects, its stats are perfectly suited to its purpose.

Why make this a TPG ship? It seems to me that it's high time the Xang Xi corporate espionage team shows some results. This ship would be well suited for them. Xang Xi needs some love.

Actually, I agree with ladron there. Xang Xi wouldn't be a bad idea.

But keep it in Sedina/Latos, no doubt... it would be silly to do otherwise. Only one station should have this thing, and I think it's fairly balanced as is. I can't imagine it being used for much other than repairing and running/chasing.

I think a ship specially designated as a repair ship is not at ALL a bad idea... there are ships that are 'classically' used as miners or fighters or bombers. Why not repairing for a change? Sure, the Warthog 2 is good, but a specialized ship would be wonderful.

Ladron... you are 100% correct Xang Xi does deserve to have something special, actually the only reason I chose TPG was it was the only station in Latos I could think of at the time.

Death Jr. is right too, there are specialty mining, combat, cargo ships. Even Specialty pirate ships, adding a ship which is used almost strictly for repair is something that should be done.
There is an added benefit too... bunch o' newbs flyin round see the RFR... (still one of the coolest looking ships in VO)... and it gives them a bit o' eye candy.

I already like the Raptor for EMS because I can add a storm radar extender and get a summation result which is like the heavy radar extender and lighter. That leaves a small port for a rep, tho' that can run out of ammo fairly quickly. A large port and a small port would be better with the built in extender. Then you could still mount another extender and a large rep gun. Maybe base this ship on the Greyhound with a build in storm radar extender.

I like lots of storm visibility as that helps a whole bunch in getting to people who are in trouble in a storm and also in getting thru' them without dying in an unarmed ship while responding to someone who needs help.

Ryan: Try Latos C-2, heh.

I would like a greyhound with a built-in storm extender. That might actually be worth flying for piracy, too, as long as it's not nerfed in other areas (and seriously, it's weak and overpriced enough already, adding a free storm extender won't unbalance it). However, I'd rather see the RFR (with flexible ports; baked in repair beams are a silly idea).

" baked in repair beams are a silly idea."

I agree completely, locking a rep beam into a port would be extremely limiting. Ideally, people would take this out wit a weapon for chasing and defense and a rep beam for zipping back to the convoy or their group and repairing any damaged ships.
I suppose there are people who would equip a large and small weapon, but I doubt anyone would do it twice... given that most light or medium ships would rip it to shreds in combat.

I like the idea.

I don't like the idea of a ship named the "Raptor" becoming a repair ship. These are my three ideas for possible alternative Raptor buffs:

1) Make it a dual large port fighter.

2) Up the mass by a lot (nearing 20,000 kg) and then up the thrust and spin torque just enough to balance out the maneuverability to exactly how it is now. And of course where there's extra mass there logically should be a little extra armor (10,000 armor maybe?) because the raptor is pretty easy to hit. It would be interesting to have a large-mass fighter as it would take less of a hit to its maneuverability when equipped with heavier weapons and it would also be invulnerable to almost any concussive effects. Such a role would fit the Raptor well because of how large it is (and its thrusters are) for a fighter ship and because an "all-weather fighter" might be equipped to resist debris turbulence.

3) Further its radar technology advantage. It's a radar ship, not a scanner ship. Increase its radar range to 10,000m when outside of storms and make it radar invisible for other non-grouped ships down to 1000m. Other approaches can be taken to this idea as well, such as a built-in group shared radar. The point is that the Raptor is built to take shit by surprise, it seems logical to make it the first radar stealth ship.

I understand your objection but...

"Raptors defend their nest or nestlings by swooping very close to, and sometimes attacking a person or pet."

In this case nestling=convoy, person or pet=attacker and defend=attack/repair.

+3

Like Lecter said in another thread (I'm paraphrasing him): What's in a name? The Behemoth could, by association, be a giant, mobile gun, a miniature Goliath cannon, if you want. The Trident class frigate would be much more befitting an offensive role.

Don't get hung up on names.

My reference to the Raptor's name was half-joking, I would like to see the Raptor to keep its role as an ambush/group combat ship as it was originally designed to be. The stats on this "repair" version of the raptor looks more like a Warthog in a Raptor costume. I am also opposed other ideas of making "scanner-only" variants of the Raptor.

I do, of course, recognize that the Raptor really badly needs a buff. There are a lot more unused approaches to this ambush/combat sector that are thoroughly unused and ripe for the Raptor if you would note the actual content of my previous post.