The Star Citizen team recently revealed information about the Banu Defender, one of the ships coming to the game in the future. The team has collected a number of questions from the community and sent them on to the developers to answer. Topics included cockpit visibility, range and mobility of the fighter, whether or not it comes with a jump drive, what type of weapons it uses and so on.
Further topics include:
- does it have easier maintenance
- comparisons to Buccaneer or Khartu-al
- cargo space
- solo combat abilities
- weapon types compared to other ships
- jump drive
One of the more interesting questions is one regarding the Banu Defender and comparing it to other ships of its class:
In terms of combat capability, how does it compare to ships like the Anvil Super Hornet or Aegis Sabre?
The Defender has an edge in maneuverability over human mainstays like the Super Hornet and Sabre, which themselves have edges in durability and armament, respectively. Defenders excel in distracting and confounding would-be attackers, giving their charges (like the Merchantman) the chance to slip away to safety. Their speed and mobility make them good for holding the point position, intercepting threats, and reacting quickly to flanking maneuvers. These traits make the Defender an excellent… well, defender. They present attackers with a dilemma; expend precious time and fuel trying to pin down an agile escort, or try to weather their fire while focusing on the Merchantmen? Since raiders often favor fast, heavily armed, but lightly armored ships, the choice can be a difficult one.
The Defender’s robust shielding combined with its agility make it an enduring adversary when piloted well, but in a straight up brawl, the Sabre and Super Hornet might have the edge. Both of these fighters are designed with a heavy focus on attack, and particularly when the attackers are less concerned with another objective, they’ll present a hearty challenge to Defenders and their crews. Between the three, we’d bet on the skilled pilot that knows how to utilize their ship best more than just the ship.
You can learn much more by visiting the Star Citizen site.
