The one complaint against the Behemoth that I really agree with, is that its relatively low license requirements obsolete the other large cargo ships, specifically the Tunguska & Valent Marauders. The best thing IMO that would help with this would be having Behemoth Variants.

Current Behemoth:
Level: -/-/-/8/4
Armor: 45000
Cargo: 120cu
Weapons: 2 large ports
Mass: 30000kg
Length: 38 m
Thrust: 550 N
Max Speed: 65 m/s
Spin Torque: 19.0 Nm
Turbo Thrust: 1500 N
Turbo Speed: 190 m/s
Turbo Energy: 50/sec

My suggested variants (omitted stats are the same as the current Behemoth):

Behemoth:
Armor: 37500
Cargo: 90cu
Thrust: 545 N
Turbo Thrust: 1350 N
Turbo Speed: 185 m/s

Behemoth MkII:
Level: -/-/-/9/5
Armor: 40000
Cargo: 100cu
Turbo Thrust: 1400 N

Behemoth MkIII:
Level: -/-/-/10/6

How about small ports? Maybe for the mk II and mk III or just the mkIII or maybe a completely different variation. Probaly from tung as they are the "heavy mining concern" faction.

I think there should be a Gunboat variant. Screw cargo space, this mofo is a monster! With the rediculous quantity of cargo space available, even reducing it by more than half still brings an impressive hold to the table. It'll be sluggish, thus not a dog-fighter, but a hell of a fight for a modded up Rag or Prom. Also may be available later as a special ship to bring to bear against NPC cap ships.

Level: 8/9/7/8/4
Armor: 40000
Cargo: 50cu
Weapons: 3 large ports, 3 small ports
Mass: 32000kg
Length: 38 m
Thrust: 650 N
Max Speed: 65 m/s
Spin Torque: 17.0 Nm
Turbo Thrust: 1600 N
Turbo Speed: 200 m/s
Turbo Energy: 50/sec

I don't have enough buttons to shoot 6 separate times. O.o
Maybe I can make a time delay bind, that does Group 1, fire , wait 1, group 2, fire. for my first button. for my second....
Gunboats are a good idea, but it's very unbalancing right now.

I think the main issue is that the current Behemoth variant is too good as is. Should be at least 1 better variant than current though.

I would imagine that they will introduce new variants as time goes on... probably tying them in to some kind of RP universe event like they did the first one (the news broadcast). I like blacksabre's idea, but 3L 3S ports is a little insane. What about a heavy bomber/transport version with just 3L ports?

3L PORTS!!!

Can you even begin to imagine the mining possibilities?

Granted youd still have to find the proper roids but by george once you did thered be no stopping you! People can go nuts as it is with only two!

Nah I say leave the behemoth alone. It works. And dernit, if it aint broke dont fix it!

The Behemoth does not need a combat varient. What it does need is a better mining varient, thought the devs have elluded to a mining beam with a scanner built in, I think it would be nice to see 2 more mark varients:

Behemoth MkII (Super Freighter)
lvl: -/-/-/10/6
Armor: 38000
Cargo: 150cu
Weapons: 2 large ports
Length: 38m
Thrust: 650 N
Max Speed: 65m/s
Spin Torque: 16.0 Nm
Turbo Thrust: 1300 N
Turbo Speed: 200m/s
Turbo Energy: 50/sec

Behemoth Miner (Mining Varient)
lvl: -/-/-/8/10
Armor: 30000
Cargo: 300cu
Weapons: 4 large ports, 1 small port(or better yet equipment port)
Length: 38m
Thrust: 650 N
Max Speed: 40m/s
Spin Torque: 25.0 Nm
Turbo Thrust: 1300 N
Turbo Speed: 180m/s
Turbo Energy: 60/sec

Behemoth Carrier

Docking Bay: 1
Ship Capacity: Any ship length<=10m, width <=5m
(centurion, bus, warthog??)
Repair energy: 50,000
Cargo capacity: 20cu

I am stil in favor of introducing XL ports and making a carrierpod as one of the XL-ports. Just as the special mining ray (with scanner build in).

It seems just befitting to introduce them on a clasship between heavy ships and frigates. just like the atlas is a in between ship between the light and the heavy ships and therefore having access to a small and a large port.

cheers

ohhh ananzi i really like that behemoth carrier idea!

behemoth gunship

10 small

Only if they are sticking out the sides so you can deliver broadsides :)

LOL these ideas need a bit more balance. Most of them just add and the ships dont lose anything for balance so most of these variants would be even larger than the original.

I also dont think the Behemoth is big enough for a docking port. It would need to be about 2.5x the size of the ship that can dock with it. Cool idea none the less. A size increase will be needed by a little more and then it should be able to work out but the Behemoth doesnt have the capabilities to move mush with the added mass so it would need to have a high energy cost for boosting while having a ship docked.

Well here are my ideas... Nothing to amazing. I figured that I would come up with a variant for a company that has no variants.

Behemoth (Tempest)
Standing: Aeolus 600+
Variant Tempest
Level -/-/-/11/4
Armor 44000
Cargo 115cu
Weapons 1 large port
Mass 28000kg
Length 38 m
Thrust 560 N
Max Speed 70 m/s
Spin Torque 19.0 Nm
Turbo Speed 200 m/s
Turbo Energy 55/sec

Behemoth MkII
Variant Mining
Level -/-/-/9/8
Armor 40000
Cargo 105cu
Weapons 1 small port, 2 large ports
Mass 30000kg
Length 38 m
Thrust 550 N
Max Speed 60 m/s
Spin Torque 19.0 Nm
Turbo Speed 190 m/s
Turbo Energy 50/sec