This isn't a Suggestion(tm), but a question. I read the entire backstory, and Itan's "Energy Focus Shields" play a big role. Do these exist in the game? Are they an abandoned game mechanic? Or are they yet another thing that's coming Soon(tm)?

I figure this might be a touchy subject, which is why I'm not asking in-game. (My head fills with visions of pirates screaming about balance, implementation and what a whiny bunch of shield-wanting crybabies Itani are.) Frankly, I'm just curious.

And if there are not and never will be shields, I do humbly Suggest(tm) that we make the backstory canon by assuming focus shields are factored into Itan ships' armor rating. Then we do what The Simpsons do in countless episodes -- accept the explanation even though it doesn't make any sense.

I think I remember Inc mentioning that he'd like to give Itani shields and Serco cloaking eventually. I'm just hoping that he adds the space whales first.

/me grabs his harpoon, arrrr

There was a plan to allow certain Itani to train, gaining such control. Plus allowing the Serco to modify themselves, gaining other abilities. And, something vague in-between for the UIT. These sorts of advancement would be character-specific and very high-end (difficult to acquire).

That plan has been on hold for awhile. But it isn't so faded that I think retconning is really necessary. After all, I haven't given up on the big-ass Goliath Cannon either. Or having Aeron's Icefield actually resemble more of a planar field. Or the entire Akanese thing.

Strictly speaking, the energy focus could only be used effectively by highly-trained Itani monks. So, one could say that no current pilot possesses that level of ability as of yet.

Also: Yay space whales.

So, one could say that no current pilot possesses that level of ability as of yet.

Wow, I like the sounds of that. Although that does of course present the issue that, as things stand right now, you're speaking of an absolutely massive gap in attribute acquisition. Given that many current vets have not only reached their respective end-games on a number of accounts, but have progressed past those points by countless hours of gametime, then what would fill this gap?

Perhaps this could be implemented in conjunction with the new faction system? It would go well with a revamped POS whereas said POS was brutally difficult to obtain, and required something more than epic trader status.

Incarnate, that's an awesome angle. Even if never gets implented in-game, it makes sense story-wise. And if it does get implemented, it's another way to separate the game from the sudden influx of twitch space fighters that seem to be trying to copy everything that makes Vendetta great.

Of course, space whales would also offer an original angle. Prospective mission title: "The Space Mariner's Revenge."

Space whales??? What about the Space Cows??

on this topic it sounds like this would bring more of a traditional mmo feeling to the game by allowing personal upgrades. I assume the serco upgrades would be something like "advanced optical targeting implants" that allows a serco pilot to directly plug their brain into ones targeting system giving ten percent greater auto aim and the itani equaivalent would be something like "combat clarity focus"

Things along this nature would probably greatly divide the community but it would bring vo a long way to looking like a finished game and add much needed variety and more things to gather/barter for

There are a lot of character-driven improvements we could make (sensor benefits, stealth, specialized addons), without resorting to "improved aim" or whatever. I'm not a big proponent of character-driven universal buffs of that sort. Of course, if the Serco had a special weapon with 10% better auto-aim, the result wouldn't be a lot different, except that someone else killing said Serco would potentially be able to pick up the left-over weapon and use it.. keeping things a bit more "flat".

Anyway, we'll see when we get there. There's a lot of stuff we need to do first.

Like the explore addon? :P

Of course, if the Serco had a special weapon with 10% better auto-aim

I have three wonderful words for you, Inc.

Original. Hive. Posi. :D