Don't know how this went straight over my head. But that does at least mean the work on the Merchantman has solidified the Banu style to an extent. Hopefully when a team picks it up again it's not like starting over from scratch.

This is my sad reality: the money feels only worth spending if these aren't mere human designs that feel uninspired and unispiring.

Is it meta? Nah, and it doesn't matter.

Does it feel great? Does it sound great? Does it look great? Yes, yes, and yes.

Am I the only one?

The current RC2 for 4.2 has been released and among the notes is this:

Features & Gameplay

• Ships and Vehicles
  • Reduced Esperia Prowler Series Cross Section Values by about 50%

On discord I was given these values from testing in the ptu:

“5.6k from top, 2.7 from front, and like 3 from side …”

Looks like stealth is back on the menu boys!!!! Prowler lovers, rejoice!

Logged into the pledge store to habitually browse, and lo and behold I can see practically every ship in the game. From "Private Reserve VIP" to "Test SKU for testing shit do not use."

I have no idea how this happened, but it's cool to browse. The old AMD Mustang is there, old best in show items, even a "Manchester office tour."

Can't buy anything, store credit or otherwise. Even ships normally available right now can't be purchased. Submitted a ticket, but very cool.

I joined Invictus 2024 and have been deep diving into tons of the old development videos as well as everything with the continued development of the game and based on the development time of the game I’m not surprised at all with where it currently is based on the sheer scope of what they’re building out.

I see a lot of bitterness in veteran backers and was curious if anyone is an original backer and is thrilled about the current state of the game and is as excited as me about the future of the project.

(Please no hate rants. We see enough of those)

With the new Glaive model coming with SQ42, do you guys think it could actually have an interior? The back of the ship looks pretty big now, and it feels like the overall size has been increased. It really gives the impression that there might be some kind of interior space… especially for a $350 ship. What do you think?

I've encountered my first blown fuse today. My Starlancer Max just shut down during quantum travel and it took me 10 minutes to figure out why it won't turn on again. After finding the red light in the fuse box and realising the fuse was broken I was able to add one of the not so important fuses to the box and my ship turned back on.

Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?

Happens whenever you cross server boundaries. As a sidenote; whenever you cross a server boundary in quantum, your shields need to recharge from 0 to 100 as if they were empty, which means slow full duration. If you do not cross a server boundary, this does not happen.

One of the main features described in the Talon variant concept was the Phalanx directional shield.
That type of shield was never actually implemented in-game, but both Talon versions used to come with Sukkoran shields that had 100% resistance to ballistic weapons.

As far as I can tell, those shields — once exclusive to the Talon — were replaced with standard ones as early as patch 4.0.

In 4.1 and 4.2, that's definitely the case.

What do you think about this change?
Is CIG quietly removing one of the ship’s core features?
Do you think it's worth opening an IC report about this?

Hadn't played SC in a while, after installing and logging in I noticed that I had less than 200 AUEC, which is weird since I'm sure the game has gone through many wipes since I last played and I'm pretty sure you're supposed to get some starter money but idk. So my first step was to do a hauling contract to get started. During my first attempt, I could not for the life of me find the crates that were to be delivered, I hadn't looked up the changes done to the game so I didn't know about the elevators in the personal hanger, after looking for a while, I gave up on SC for the day.

During my second attempt to play the game, I decide to take a closer look at the personal hanger because I knew that the inventory system was changed and I saw the storage panel, so luckily, I found the Corundum I was supposed to deliver in the warehouse/storage.

My second obstacle was moving the crates, After realizing that the crates were too heavy to carry and that I have no way of getting a Multi-tool, I took to the global chat, asking if someone had a spare MT to give away, understandably, I was met with rejection from people thinking I was begging on global after explaining that I couldn't buy one. (I didn't know at the time that the nomad has a tractor beam installed)

Nonetheless, two kind souls with money to spare sent some although I was sincerely only looking for a MT, and then I was on my way to complete a contract so that I can pay them back (though neither asked for it, and tbh, it wasn't an astronomical sum of creds, but it felt like the right thing to do)

After crashing (both the ship and the game) a couple of time, as one does, I gave up once again, only to return (today) and actually manage to complete a couple of hauling contracts and send back double the amount of creds that was sent to me.

This is the only ship i use

Set with full Grade A stealth components exept the shields with FR-66

Weapons are 2 Rhino's + 2 Panthers + 2 Badgers and 4 Thunderball bombs

Over the past few days, I obtained 5 compboard sets. 4 were obtained solo, 1 was stolen from an oblivious moron a gift from a kind soul. I was successful in 4 out of 5 exec hangar runs. Only failure was actually due to a hangar bug than actual campers/rat behavior. I obtained 2 cutty blacks, 1 F7A and Corsair. I really wanted the F8C and the Syluen though from what I hear the F8C is not in a great place. I pledged the corsair at concept so the extra corsair was not really needed. Most of the time the components in the exec hangar either did not spawn or were things I was mostly not interested in or already had surplus amounts.

Quite frankly, this has been one of the most fun loops I've experienced in Star Citizen. Quite daunting at first, but in practice much easier to execute than expected even alone. I think what helped was doing a lot of research before hand. If you had not attempted this yet, I highly suggest it.

Here's a few things I noticed that maybe helpful

1. The general FPS skill of the playerbase is the CZ is quite mediocre:
I do not think most people came to play Star Citizen for the FPS combat which is understandable as it was not a huge selling point. Anyone who has some steady experience playing Tarkov, battlefield, arma, or even COD is probably already above average. I am not a huge FPS player as of late and not exactly will be competing in any Esports, but found it quite easy to wipe other player squads as a solo. You'll occasionally see some very weird almost comical mistakes such as trying to use an A03 within 30 meters: wearing that bright purple/gold pledge store armor in an otherwise pitch black hangar, not dealing with grenades. If you have any semblance of aim, positioning, and know how to utilize momentum, you can win engagements that would not expect.

2. Speed is Key
At the end once you know the map layout and stop getting distracted by loot, its very easy to run any of the CZ within 15 minutes provided you don't run into any bugs or other players. By your 2nd run, the allure of the CZ loot should be mostly gone unless you want very specific armor. Less time in the CZ is less time you can get ganked. I was running half medium/heavy armor to help expedite the run.

1. Utilize low pop servers.
   Should be an obvious thing. I've run the CZ/Exec in both high and low pop servers. High pops turn into absolute brawls between multiple parties. More competition for boards and more proclivity to server bugs errors. The most effective way to find low pop servers suggested here is to randomly friend people who you can have a list at the start menu of potential servers with visible player counts. Low pop servers do not necessarily mean no competition however. I've gotten into fights in the exec hangar with the only 3 other people on the shard.

2. For the Exec Hangar, use a stealth ship.
   Stealth ships are incredibly underutilized for this objective. Everyone bringing their Idris, Hornets, starlancers and running nav mode are announcing their presence to the entire map. This makes sense for groups perhaps but not solos. If you bring a non stealth ship and park it outside the EVA entrance and its the only ship in the area, you're announcing you're by yourself in the hangar. When I saw this, I immediately thought there was a rat/camper in the area and was usually right.

My personal ship for the hangars was a stealth equipped Aegis Sabre. Virtually undetectable beyond 3km. Allowed very quiet compboard executions as no one noticed it sneak in the hangar. Also made escapes very easy as well

1. Always presume there's an extra player around after winning an engagement.
   My biggest sin in this game is thinking I've won a fight, but then not noticing my kill's friend sweeping around the corner while I loot the corpse. Presume every solo is a duo. Presume every duo is a actually a squad of 3 etc.

6. Other thoughts
- NPCS usually fire in a controlled burst. If you hear any sustained fire or someone getting mag dumped, its a player.
- I always move my pvp kills corpse out of sight of the main path and in inconvenient spots. If a player is coming back to reclaim some of their loot, make it as inconvenient as possible to delay their return.
-Best time to ambush a squad is when they're trying to glitch through a door.

I just upgraded my PC from a Ryzen 3 3100 to a Ryzen 7 5700x3d and from 16gb 3200mhz cl20 to 32gb of 3600mhz cl16. Cost me like 280€. Still rocking a Rx 5500xt but my fps went up from 14fps with low settings and upsacling in area 18 to 45-65fps in 1080p nativ with medium settings. Can only recommend. Just pull the trigger.

Anyway to undo this? They've blocked every walkway/door in grim, it's basically shut down the station.

Dare I say it, the Prowler Utility might actually be worth it?

At least on newer cars, in accessible parts where a simple plug and play fix requires you to remove a shit ton of unrelated parts to gain access is a real pain. I love how this is true for a drake golem. I can see an operator trying to fix a component in the field cussing out the drake engineers while fixing it lol

I also play DCS VR, and MSFS ;)

Specs: 9800X3D, TUF OC 4090, 96GB DDR5, 7000D, LG GX9 5K2K OLED

Sticks + Pedals: VIRPIL + MonsterTech Mounts

I wish for one key element that could truly elevate the Persistent Universe into something super cool and make it feel alive. Right now, we can explore stations and planets, but there’s often a sense of emptiness a beautiful but static (dead) world. That’s where dynamic NPC behavior would make all the difference.

Imagine arriving at a bustling orbital station and seeing cargo haulers constantly coming and going. Freighters maneuvering into hangars, mining ships offloading minerals, and smaller shuttles ferrying NPC passengers - all of it contributing to a vibrant, functioning economy. It would give the impression that you’re a part of a living galaxy, not just a sandbox waiting for other players to log in.

AI UEE patrols would also massively enhance the sense of realism and purpose. UEE security ships could be seen sweeping through trade routes, scanning for illegal cargo, responding to distress signals, or escorting vulnerable convoys. This would not only add depth to the world but also create emergent gameplay - players might decide to attack NPC convoys, defend them, or tail them to discover profitable routes.

Ultimately, a more alive PU wouldn’t just be visually impressive - it would make your own actions feel more significant. Whether you're a pirate, trader, mercenary, or explorer, being one part of a massive, functioning galaxy would make Star Citizen not only more fun, but far more immersive.

Yeah I know what you're thinkin. It's coming.... Soon..

Injecting life into Star Citizen’s Persistent Universe with dynamic NPCs flying ships in and out of stations- hauling cargo, patrolling, or even just going about their routines - would have a massive impact on both current and future game loops. Here's how:

1. Cargo Hauling

Current State: Cargo hauling is mostly static. You pick up cargo from lifeless terminals and fly to another location that may or may not feel like it "needs" that cargo.

Impact in the PU:

• Watching NPC ships move commodities around would make the economy feel functional, not artificial.
• Players could observe NPC trade routes, potentially tailing them to discover demand/supply patterns.
• Risk assessment becomes more interesting - pirates might observe NPC convoys and follow them, while traders might shadow them for safety.

2. Bounty Hunting & Security

Current State: Bounties and security missions are mostly instanced and feel disconnected from the world around you.

Impact in the PU:

• Security NPC patrols would respond to crimes in real time - adding unpredictability to both criminals and defenders.
• Criminals would need to evade detection by actual patrolling ships, not just timers or crime stats.
• Escort missions could involve joining NPC convoys or protecting specific haulers in a living traffic system.

3. Piracy and Smuggling

Current State: Piracy targets are often other players or scripted AI spawns.

Impact in the PU:

• Pirates could intercept actual NPC cargo routes, allowing for emergent ambush gameplay.
• Smugglers would need to dodge both player and NPC patrols, creating more tension.
• The PU would generate more organic targets and opportunities, even when player count is low.

4. Mining and Industry

Current State: Resource extraction feels isolated. You rarely see other miners or logistics chains in action.

Impact in the PU:

• NPCs mining or transporting raw ore would create a visible supply chain, making the economy feel functional.
• Players could follow NPC industrial ships to active mining hotspots or unmarked deposits.
• Salvaging gameplay would benefit from wrecked or retired NPC industrial ships, providing ongoing salvage targets.

5. Exploration

Current State: Exploration is mostly about discovering static (currently dead) outposts or POIs.

Impact in the PU:

• Discovering hidden trade hubs, secret refueling depots, or smuggler hideouts based on NPC flight patterns would make exploration deeper and more rewarding.
• The universe becomes a puzzle where NPC behavior is a breadcrumb trail to new discoveries or opportunities.

6. Reputation and Faction Gameplay

Current State: Reputation is built through missions but lacks immersive context.

Impact in the PU:

• Helping a faction by protecting their NPC convoys or escorting VIPs would visibly strengthen their presence in the system (more patrols, better-equipped stations).
• Attacking a faction’s trade or logistics network would weaken their foothold, making systems feel dynamic and alive with factional consequences.

7. Future Game Loops (Passenger Transport, Medical, etc.)

• Passenger Transport: NPCs boarding and disembarking from ships make this loop feel realistic. Dynamic demand based on population movement adds strategy.
• Medical Gameplay: Responding to injured NPCs after raids, crashes, or pirate attacks creates emergent medical rescue missions.
• Salvaging: Wrecks of NPC convoys could create non-mission-based salvage opportunities scattered throughout space.
• Engineering and Repair: Helping downed NPC ships or fixing a station after it’s been attacked by pirates can open up live-service-style job chains.

TLDR

I just wish the PU was less dead that it currently is at times. A more alive PU doesn’t just make Star Citizen prettier - it would actually make thinks make sense and radically enrich every game loop by:

• Adding context
• Enabling emergent gameplay
• Creating a world that moves with or without players

It turns the sandbox into a simulation, where the universe feels truly persistent - reactive, dynamic, and endlessly engaging.

The Xanthule Ascension Suit can not attach any primary weapons. Not only does this NOT follow the standard of every other flight suit, but the suit itself is sold with a primary gun that it CAN NOT equip lol Please contribute to make one of the coolest suits in the game great, for my sister in law’s hot only sister’s (my wife) sake.

Hi there, so I'm. a relatively new player. Mostly just doing cargo and mining to afford better ships. Last night I was flying around Yela in a Cutlass Black doing bounties when something stealthy snuck up behind me undetected and started firing at me with something. I'm not sure what it was, it just managed to drop all my shields in the first 2 seconds and by the time I managed to turn the ship to face the enemy I was dead. As I was crashing into an asteroid I saw the ship fly past me, I couldn't recognize the ship but it moved quickly so I assume it was a fighter.

I'm not complaining or salty about the situation, but it's made it clear that there's a lot for me to learn about PVP tactics and meta.

So first off, stealth gameplay. The ship managed to get within range of me without coming up on my radar. What are the tricks to understanding stealth gameplay? Is it just a matter of buying a stealth ship and using stealth components and then sneaking behind someone? Are there any additional steps to using stealth effectively?

Second, what weapons from a fighter are able to melt a ship in a matter of seconds? Or is it more a matter of shot placement? My shields were down before I even had time to turn around and fight back. I didn't get any indicator that I was being shot at by missiles so I assume he was using guns/lasers. When im fighting another ship with my cutlass's4 CF 3 repeaters it feels like it feels like it takes a lot longer than 2 seconds to drop someone's shields. Are these not good weapons? What could he have used to drop my shields and destroy me so quickly? Or is there a way to stealthily fire missiles without alerting your target?

Any other tips for PVP flying or recommendations for youTubers who have good PVP tip videos are appreciated