v1.1 Changelog
Balance Changes
- Removed Scrap Recovery Arm
- Removed Drone Recovery Arm
- Added Titanium System Casing
- Reduced starting drone power to 2
Graphical Changes
- Added properly-aligned gibs
Summary
The Predator is a heavily-armed cruiser that relies on its ability to swiftly damage and destroy systems to make up for its lack of defenses. Its only defensive measures from the start are a rank 2 cloaking device and a few drones. Shields, door control, and teleporters must be purchased. However, with any cunning, you should be able to kill them before they kill you.
WHERE DO I GET IT?!
Right here.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70186175/Relea ... edator.ftl
HOW DO I INSTALL IT?!
You'll need Grognak's Mod Manager. Drop the .ftl file into your mods folder in the FTL game root folder, run GMM, select it, and patch. You should be good to go. This ship replaces the Type B Engi Cruiser, the Vortex.
If you don't have GMM, you can find it here!
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2464
What does the ship come with?
Full-sized image below, because the forum page clips it.
http://i.imgur.com/pQZ34KH.png
The name of the game is strong weapons and drones, and weak everything else. Your cloaking device offers you a good bit of evasion, but your weak engines may still guarantee that you take a few hits. You've got an anti-ship drone and a defense drone, and two Mark II Burst Lasers. Your reactor's a bit stretched at the beginning, but hopefully your quick wits and hardened systems will allow you to endure until you have the scrap to fill in the gaps in your defense.
What's left to be done?
There's probably some more visual polish due in the future, like cleaning up weapon mounts such that they're exactly symmetrical. Right now, the ship is based off the Auto-Assault hull (which is how I imagined his ship to appear to begin with). Last, but not least, there's balancing to be done. Is the ship too strong or too weak? Do weapons or drones or systems need to be tweaked? All of this, however, can only be revealed through playtesting!
Last but definitely not least, some have suggested that the Predator feature a weapon unique to it. I'll be very heavily considering this, and hopefully the next version of the ship will have something to this effect!
Narrative Fluff
Iako Nak'Randis, a member of a species of aquatic invertebrates who use exoskeletons to move about on land, had just escaped from years of tortuous enslavement at the hands of the Mantis. Forced during his servitude to work as their ship engineer, Iako developed a savant-like aptitude for tinkering and invention, and soon set off to construct his own vessel. Having long been relegated to the niche of a prey species, both on his homeworld and in space, Iako elected to develop a hull that victims would have only a fleeting glimpse of before it was upon them. Unfortunately, with his scarce supplies, he was unable to produce his prototype exactly to specifications. In the midst of his tinkering, he caught wind of the desperate cries of the Federation, asking any available vessel to act as courier for the vital tactical data regarding the Rebel Flagship. Excited by the idea that his findings along the way would be payment, Iako accepted.
All feedback is appreciated and welcome. I aim to make a ship that's both fun and challenging to play.
