22) Star Citizen- Aurora ES review

Aurora ES:

Often Compared to the Mustang starter is it's rival, the Aurora ES. These 2 beginner ships differ completely in play style so it's difficult to say which is best, it depends on personal preference. While the Mustang Alpha is more compact, elegant and arguably has a better design, the Aurora is usually considered to be more sturdy and better protected to the environment. While the Mustang can travel at breakneck speeds compared to the ES, the Aurora trades speed and manouverability with utility. (rhyme unintended ;) ) what puts the Aurora above in some aspects is the spacey cargo and the armour which means it can last more than 20 seconds in a fight, unlike some ships.. *cough* Mustangs *cough*...
When it comes down to fighting it has 2* S2 fixed mounts and 1* S2 pylon so not bad really for a starter. Whether you go for either is down to playstyle. Fast and agile: Mustang, more durable and spacious: Aurora.

21) Star Citizen- Hull E review

Hull E:

Finally we come to the last entry into the Hull series. This has got to be one of the most impressive ships that Star Citizen has to offer because of it's sheer size. Weighing in at 3,241,052 kg this is the biggest freighter available on the market up to date. Its lucky there's no atmosphere in space because the 10 tr13 thrusters would single handedly cause global warming, not quite sure what kind of power plant can handle that but we will find out soon enough. Of course these engines are needed to budge 98304 of cargo capacity across the universe potentially earning an oustanding amount of UEC. However, though it can transport a large amount of cargo the person capacity dissapointingly does not exceed 5 like the Hull D.
The E variant is equipped with a few decently sized gimbals however the linear movement qualities mean escorts are needed as pirates will see this as a gold mine. I can't imagine many of these being used for personal cargo transport due to the sheer size of organisation and support needed behind it. It will most likely be used by large trade corps to provide a sustainable income and play a vital role in the systems economy.

20) Star Citizen- Hull D review

Hull D:

The next step up in the Hull series is the D variant. This variant pushes the scales from a fast, manouverable transporter to a huge, slow freighter.  This hauler can carry a whopping 20736 units of cargo at maximum. With a larger size also comes a larger capacity for people, enabling a crew of 5 onboard. Due to the large crew and cargo capacity the vesatility is vast seeing extensive usage from the UEE Navy and serving as flagships for large organisations. It's lack of speed and fighting capabilities means this ship is commonly followed by escorts and fighters, you wouldn't want to lose all that cargo after all. What I find most impressive is the 8 tr10 engines that shift the 1,000,000 kg of mass. That's a lot of power which just goes to show the strength needed to move it. Overall, a great flagship for an organisation or a large merchant crew looking to invest in a wealthy future.

19) Star Citizen- Hull C review

Hull C:

Yet another step up from the Hull B, however there's a reason why this is apparently the most common ship in the universe. The C variant is a perfect balance inbetween the colossusly sized D and E but also keeps some of the speed and manouverability of the smaller Hulls. This monster has 6 tr8 engines to shift the 100 metres of mass but also to account for the 4800 units of cargo capacity available. Now, it would be dissapointing if this was another single passenger Hull ship but it can hold a small crew of 3 people. Pretty decent to drag a few mates onboard. There has been some talk about the uses for the Hull C, meaning it could be pimped out for research or even possibly mining.
Overall I would say this is one of my favourite ships with its balance of speed and cargo but also the many potential uses it has. I know this kind of ship isn't suited for some people who prefer lives in danger and conflict however this is great for merchant crews looking to rack up cash in the universe.

18) Star Citizen- Hull B review

Hull B:

The second variant of the Hull series is the Hull B. The B variant is essentially a scaled up version of the Hull A: bigger cargo capacity, bigger engines and a steeper price at $90. This is usually considered to be the perfect hauler, slightly lacking in the exploration qualities of the freelancers. This is ideal for solo traders looking to make a living selling goods in the verse with the massive 600 cargo capacity.  Another great quality of the Hull B is the 2 tr8 engines to shove its weight. These make the ship perfectly capable of escaping in dangerous areas to avoid those pesky pirates clinging onto your cargo.

17) Star Citizen- Hull A review

Hull A:

The smallest and most affordable ship in the Hull series. The Hull A is a single seater dedicated to the personal transportation of cargo. The cargo capacity is 48, not considerably huge but decent for those interested in a career as a merchant and for those starting out. The manouverability and speed will most likely be quite poor but what can be expected from a hauler. The standalone price is $60 which is a fair amount and fairly affordable along with the aurora and mustang. The Hull A is usually compared with the Freelancer due to the similar size and role however,I believe the Freelancer is more suited to armoured transport whereas the Hull would need an escort in dangerous areas: the 2 S1 gimbals won't put up much of a fight...

16) Star Citizen- Mustang Omega review

Mustang Omega:

Another racer from Consolidated Outland, the Mustang Omega. This variant is pretty similar to the Gamma however features better fuel intake and a special paint job designed by Sektor8 (Banksy of the future). This variant will also have it's own power plant specifically for the boosters for that added power over the Gamma. To be honest though they are pretty similar and i personally don't really see the point. (I don't really care for racers anyway). However, if you do then note the speed limit is 270 which is lower than the m50 and 350r and the same as the gamma. It could most likely beat the gamma in a race with it's superior acceleration but there would not be much difference. Nice design though...

15) Star Citizen- Mustang Gamma review

Mustang Gamma:

From Consolidated Outland comes another mustang variant, this time a racer. It has the general structure of the others but is fitted with 3 Magma jet engines for that additional power. It has an s2 powerplant which can be upgraded to s3 to handle the engines. It's not the fastest racer being 10 m/s slower than the m50 but it seems to me that the boost can survive longer distances.
The Gamma is in fact the fastest Mustang variant, however it lacks cargo and firepower. It's not bad in races to be honest but racers are mostly down to personal choice.

14) Star Citizen- Mustang Delta review

Mustang Delta:

The Delta is the Mustang fighting variant. This variant features an upgraded hull reinforced with Consolidated Outland's Cavalry Class Mass Reduction Armour and slightly better guns. The sides are equipped with 2* size 2 badger fixed mounts and there are 2* pylons in the rocket pod. The size 2 shield makes ample difference to the durabilty of this ship (close to nothing) and might as well not be used because the mustangs don't take much to damage. The best strategy to come out on top in a gunfight is to use the manouverability to evade shots and torpedos but the high succeptability to g-force will result in you being unconcious for most of the fight. Have fun with that... To be honest I would go with the avenger for dogfighting because not only is it cheaper, the hardpoints are also an improvement.

13) Star Citizen- Mustang Beta review

Mustang Beta:

The Beta is a Mustang variant designed for exploration. It's a light structure with an S2 powerplant to maximise distance travelled. The Beta will soon be fitted with a Tarsus Leaper Jump Engine to boost space coverage and to breach the boundaries of exploration. It comes with a measly S1 unmanned turret but can also be fitted with 2*fixed mount guns to slightly compensate. The shields drain fast leaving it quite exposed to attack however the speed and manouverability of this ship can probably shake off most tailers. To conclude: the cheap price and jump drive make it quite attractive but be careful around danger zones. Great for one man exploration with nice living quarters.

The Delta variant next: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2016/01/14-star-citizen-mustang-delta-review.html

12) Star Citizen- Mustang Alpha review

Mustang Alpha:

A true starter ship in my eyes. I much prefer this to the aurora starter as i prefer the sleek design and fast manouverability. The Alpha comes with 2* S1 fixed mounts and an S1 unmanned turret, decent for getting a feel for the dogfighting environment. I find the Alpha very fast and easy to control with a better weapons system than the Aurora Mr however the armour is awful, hence the name 'paper ship'.  The Mustang just falls apart so easily but I guess armour is sacrificed for the crazy speed and agility this bullet has to offer. It's great to start off in and get a feel for the controls but when you have the opportunity I would probably upgrade.

Mustang Beta variant next: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/13-star-citizen-mustang-beta-review.html

11) Star Citizen- Drake Herald review

Drake Herald:

The Herald is one of the only ships designed for the transportation of information. It is quite small and compact however can still contain 2 people. It features heavy armour and shields for protection but also a reasonable speed for escaping data thieves. The Herald also has a powerful data encrypter which can be wiped in threat of capture. The ship's guns are pretty average (3 S1 gimbals) but what can you expect; it's not a fighter. Future developments might include an advanced jump drive so there's still more to look forward too. I'm definately excited to see how data transportation works and hope to see a few of these around and with the cheap price i suppose i will.

Mustang Alpha next: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/star-citizen-mustang-alpha-review.html

10) Star Citizen- P-52 Merlin review

P-52 Merlin:

The merlin is one of the smallest, lightest ships in the game. And the smaller the size generaly speaking, the better the agility. This is very much the case for the merlin. Its designed to be a short range snub fighter which is ideal for fast paced combat and can easily be consealed in a large carrier ship. It can be equipped with 2 S1 and 1 S2 fixed guns and what it lacks in armour it redeems in speed. With this ship you can run rings around the enemy and easily outmanouvre their guns before releasing the lasers. Safety is in numbers when it comes to the merlin, its probably not too safe alone however the price is rock bottom so consider maybe for a starting ship, they were originally meant to pair with the constellations. Also, the merlin makes a fairly decent racer in my opinion. What I love most about this ship is the design; there's not that many ships which are as aerodynamic and as sleek as this. So much style;)

Drake Herald review next: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/11-star-citizen-drake-herald-review.html

9) Star Citizen- Gladius ship review

Gladius:

The Aegis Gladius is the UEEs' current light fighter on the front lines. It's an old design which has constantly been improved and updated over time and has seen extensive use against the Vanduul forces. It's now available for civilians...

The gladius is a perfect short range dogfighter built for interdiction and speed. This ship is only a one seater but sacrifices space for nimble agility and a decent weapons loadout. The gladius can be fitted with 2* CF-007 size 2 fixed mounted guns underwing, a size 1 nose gimbal and 2* size 2 pylons. It makes the perfect escort ship and dogfighter and is not too expensive. This ship can cause a lot of damage when put into the hands of a good pilot but its also decent for beginners.

The P-52 Merlin review next: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/star-citizen-p-52-merlin-review.html

8) Star Citizen- Avenger Stalker review

The Avenger stalker:

This ship was first designed by Aegis for military transport but was later used as a standard patrol ship for the UEE Advocacy. It's primary focus is interdiction and comes with 4 prisoner pods. This is the perfect ship for bounty hunters as it features an advanced scanning system and powerful engines which can reach a considerable speed. The Aegis Avenger has 2× size 2 and 3× size 3 guns and a size 3 shield for a stable defense system. Also the price is considerably cheap so consider if you want to lead an exciting lifestyle without breaking the bank.

Gladius ship review: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/9-star-citizen-gladius-ship-review.html

7) Star Citizen- Constellations (Andromeda, Phoenix, Aquilla and Taurus)

Star Citizen Constellations

My first ship review however I am going to look at 4 ships instead of 1..
The Constellation ships are the most popular ships on the RSI website. They are multipurpose vessels for 4-5 people whether you are a merchant or an explorer, the constellation will fill your every need.
The constellations come in 4 base types however customisable options are available. They are the Andromeda, the Phoenix, Aquilla and Taurus.

The Andromeda:

The Andromeda is a perfect all rounder for those who aren't quite sure what they want to do or those who don't want to specialise. It doesn't quite have the same amount of firepower as the Phoenix or the same amount of storage as the Taurus, however, there's a reason its the most popular ship: Out of all the constellations this is probably the best value for money, it comes with an RSI jump drive and even a p52-merlin short ranged fighter which can be deployed at any time. The Andromeda can easily hold it's own in a fight so you will be able to travel in perfect safety and comfort.

The Phoenix:

From Richard Branson comes the new era of Virgin Galactic for the billionaires out there. This luxurious cruiser comes with a hot tub a cocktail bar and a lounge to suit all your needs. Or should I say wants... On the more practical side of things the Phoenix comes with an archimedes fighter and a lynx rover for planetary exploration. Expensive dampening technology is used to block sensors from your cargo. This make a perfect flagship for organisations or simply an opportunity to act smug and stick your fingers up out the window, your choice. However the Phoenix does come with a hefty price tag so think about whether it suits you before you buy it.

Aquilla:

The constellation Aqiuilla is designed for exploration. This long distance beast is fitted with a RSI jump drive, p52-merlin fighter, a Ursa rover, long distance scanners, a huge fuel tank complete with an advanced cooling system.  The Aquilla is fitted with a science research room on top which you can swap for a turret (screw science :P) it also has a turret underneath.  This costellation has HUGE cockpit windows almost allowing for a 360 view! Well, you've got to be able to see if your exploring..  People went mad for this ship ever since the advert came out making it the second most popular constellation.

 Taurus:

The Constellation Taurus is the budget constellation dedicated to hauling with a massive hold for cargo. The Taurus is the least popular because everyone seems to spend their money on the more expensive constellations. However the Taurus has over 3 times the cargo space that the phoenix has and with it's scan proof cargo hold it makes the perfect smuggler ship for evading customs. I admit it's not an amazing looking ship but what it lacks in style it makes up for in practicality.

 Thanks for reading, if you are interested i have other posts about Star Citizen which you can view with the archives. It would be great if you could G+1 this, thanks;) comment if you have any questions and i will answer.

Next post:http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/8-star-citizen-avenger-stalker-review.html

6) Star Citizen Multi-Crews

6) Multi-Crews

One of the most exciting aspects of this game, the one which sets it apart from the crowd is the multi-crew system. This means that multiple players will be able to crew a large ship like a constellation or a capital ship. Some ships can support more than 10 people! Its going to make it really fun with friends: exploring the universe together or holding off pirates with your friends in turrets or the co pilots seat. This is certainly going to add an edge of excitement to the game.

There are many stations which the developers are hoping to add into multi-crew vessels: mainly turrets and various different stations for players to interact with. At these stations players will be able to do multiple actions: direct power or shields to different sub stations, control radars to locate and target ships, ewarfare where players can potentially hack enemy systems causing their ship to malfunction or even completely disable.

On board the multi-crew ships there are usually living quarters and various things that players can interact with such as beds, tables, chairs, toilets, showers and storage cupboards. Its this kind of detail that makes up the experience and realisticness of the ships. Ships such as the phoenix constellation have luxury living quarters which even include hot tubs for parties and the likes!

These functions make me really excited for the multiplayer on Star Citizen, can't wait to grab a bunch of friends and jump in.
Comment if you have any questions or impressions;)

Next post: http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/star-citizen-constellations-andromeda.html

5) Star Citizen Combat

Star Citizen fps and Ship combat

When the Arena Commander version was released it introduced us to pvp or pvc ship combat. It came with many gamemodes like capure the core and Vanduul swarm (that means aliens to me and you.) what's really special about the ship combat is the level of detail and immersion it has to offer: for example, you could be in a fight and get wings, tailpieces or literally anything blown off. You could get one of the engines damaged which means your ship starts flying at an angle. The damage modules are so realistic and it requires skill to know what to do in these situations. For example you could relocate power to the other side of the ship to compensate for a damaged engine.
 The weapon customisability of the ships is also impressive. Loadouts can be swapped or added in return for cargo space or modules which generally makes the ships much more tweakable and interesting to piss about with.
Realism in these dogfights are great, apart from there being sound in space obviously. Gforce is a great example: turning to fast in a ship can cause the screen to go blury and eventually black as your character passes out.
There are so many videos on Youtube that show just how exciting ship combat can be.

First Person Shooter

Being an fps fan I am really looking forward to the Star Marine module which looks at the first person shooter side of the game. The great thing about this is there is only one map which you can fight in and that's the universe. Yes, you will acctually be able to jump out of your ship and have a fight in 0 gravity, take over capital ships or space stations, defend your ship from pirates, anything anywhere. There are also going to be designated game modes for set up fights such as capture the core (flag). Another great aspect of the fps is the hit markers: shooting different parts of the body cause them to get damaged. This makes it possible to cripple opponents and bring side effects; shooting their legs might make them slower and make it easy to take of will their ship while they chase you. The development team are constantly improving this and adding additional features so im sure that when the game comes out its gonna be great!;)

If you have any questions you can comment down below~

4) Star Citizen Careers

The number of careers and jobs you will be able to take in Star Citizen is absolutely crazy. I will not go into each one in depth as there are just too many. Most are pretty self explanatory. I took this list from a Reddit post:

Mining (Mineral and Fuel)

Salvaging

Research

Pioneer (exploration)

Fighter/Bomber pilot on a carrier

Capital ship roles (pilot, captain, engineer, gunner, crewman, science officer, etc)

Civilian pilot (multicrew ships)

Smuggler

Pirate

"Hacker" - you can use a Drake Herald to intercept communications and steal information.

Businessman (run your own empire by purchasing manufacturing nodes and arranging shipments)

Hauler/trader/merchant

Mechanic/repair specialist

System modification specialist (find the right ways to tweak ship systems to extract the best performance; sell tweaked weapons that work better than stock)

Bounty hunter

Mercenary

Police (can work missions for police forces)

Marine/Soldier/Boarding specialist (specializes in FPS gameplay)

Medic/paramedic

Passenger Transport (some options here include VIP transport in an Origin 890 Jump or mass transport in a Genesis Starliner)

Racer

eSports participant in some of the in-game simulations (SATABall, Star Marine, Arena Commander)

Spy (espionage between organizations)

Organization careers such as leader, recruiter, organizer, general, etc.

I hope this really gives you a sense of scale of the game. You will be able to switch fairly easily between careers but you may need to redeem yourself from illegal activities! I quite like the sound of bounty hunting or exploration myself;)If you dont know what Star Citizen is you may want to have a look at my older posts. You can use the archive on the right side of the website.

Next post: Combat;http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/5-star-citizen-combat.html

3) Star Citizen Story and Multiplayer

Star Citizen will consist of two main components: The story mode and the multiplayer.

The Story mode:

The Story mode revolves around an elite navy force, or Squadron 42 in The United Empire of Earth Navy. The player will be able to contribute in large scale missions but will also have a chance to free roam after serving their time.
The story is not yet clear however this game mode will include a drop in feature where friends can enter your game and assist you in missions. The lore and history in Star Citizen is huge and ties into the storyline but I will not go through it here because this is meant to be a brief explanation.. The cast features stars such as :Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, Golem and more to come..

Multiplayer

The multiplayer persistent universe will consist of every player, ON 1 SERVER. Each player can choose their own path in life, whatever career they want. Ultimately everyone contributes to the large scale economy whatever their role. What i like most about the multiplayer is that there's no levels. Yes, every player is on an equal level which means wether you come out on top of a fight or not depends on your skill. No grind AT ALL. Each player can choose wether they are fighters in the navy, miners, bounty hunters, emergency services, explorers, pirates, researchers, or literally anything. At CitizenCon Chris Roberts announced that the space map will measure 1 million km by 1 million km by 200,000 km and the flat area will be 1 trillion square km. The total volume will be 200 quadrillion cubic km, or in an easier perspective; BIG.

My next post will be a brief look at the careers and jobs in Star Citizen:
http://citizensteve15.blogspot.com/2015/12/star-citizen-careers.html