Remember to VOTE PIRATE in the ship polls people!!

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13394-Letter-From-The-Chairman-31-Million

Since the Caterpillar is today's special ship sale, I had some lingering questions to CIG that I hope they could answer or mention in the Comm Link.  Even if they aren't fully done, I'm really wondering where they are going with these concepts.


The Caterpillar has been advertised as one of the primary pirate ships in the pledge lineup, which is pretty cool on its own.  That said, I've seen a lot of people passing on the Cat because they aren't interested in boarding.  I think that is a shame since Ben mentions the Cat will also be the best ship (of the current batch) for salvage and repair: 
https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/comment/578005/#Comment_578005

So, here are some of my lingering questions about the ship that I really wish CIG would answer soon:

1) Ben mentions concept art for a Cat configured for salvage.  Could you describe what a salvage-configured Cat would look like?  Would there be special salvage modules or would this just be cargo modules and a tractor beam?

2) Some concept art shows modules that hold 6 crew.  Does this mean the max crew of the Cat could be upgraded to be MUCH higher than the spec says?  Similarly, does the cargo capacity assume a certain number of cargo modules?  If not, what's the real max / min?

3)  How do  the Cat modules work?  How many are there (I count ~4 n the concept art)?  Do they take up upgrade slots?  Do any modules come with the base ship?

4) Lastly, how does boarding work?  I assume from the pictures that the Cat beaches with the front of the craft, but that doesn't look compatible with the docking ports.  Also, the modules are between the crew areas and the port, so could boarding be precluded by certain modules?

So, depending on where CIG goes with these 'modules', the Cat could end up being the best all around board, salvaging, ship repairing, and mining vessel of the current pledge list.

If you have some thoughts on this, feel free to leave a comment here or in the thread I made over on RSI:

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/77763/caterpillar-quandaries

It's been a while since I updated this blog, so here's a couple things I've done in the past few weeks.  There hasn't been much pirate news to discuss, so I'm a bit short on articles, but I promise to do some more in the not too distant future.

Also, for those not following RSI posts / Comm links, the last chance at LTI for VB and OBs will the November 26th.  It looks like CIG plans on a massive blowout sale (including the possibility new Banu and Xi'an ships) to commemorate the event.

For those that haven't seen it elsewhere I whipped up a little K&L Lego video a couple weeks back

I also got into the Halloween spirit with some pumpkins (even got a mention on  a Comm Link).  You can go to the forum thread to get the stencils I used.