Get in now before you're locked out......

[TeaLeaf]

Here ya go!

Banu traders are renowed for their merchant prowess, traveling the spacelanes and trading with everyone from humans to the Vanduul! Their sturdy, dedicated trading ships are prized beyond all other transports, sometimes passing from generation to generation of Banu. Banu technology offers players a completely different way of experiencing their universe.

NOTE: The Merchantman has been described as being adaptable into a fast, armored smuggling ship capable of running blockades and escaping authorities.

The Merchantman is a promised feature of the $27 million crowdfunding goal.

Manufacturer: BIRC
Focus   : Merchant Clipper
Maximum Crew: 4
Cargo Capacity: 60 t
Max Power Plant:   4
Max Shield:   6
Upgrade Capacity: 6
Main Thrusters: 2x TR6
Maneuvering Thrusters:   8x TR2

Hardpoints - Weapons Systems
2×   Class 1 (Size 4)
5×   Class 2 (Size 2)
2×   Class 5 (Available)

[OldBloke]

Here ya go! ...

Cheers. I have seen that in-flight image before but I didn't equate it to the earlier image as the 'wing' structure appears to be very different.

[Gorion]

Yep, doesn't even look similar.  Really looks like they chopped off most of the wingspan, and made into a cylindrical shaped ship.

Lost most of its aesthetic appeal imo.

[TeaLeaf]

Yep, doesn't even look similar.  Really looks like they chopped off most of the wingspan, and made into a cylindrical shaped ship.

Lost most of its aesthetic appeal imo.

Keep in mind that the above picture (post #31) is early artwork, but from what I can see the WIP pictures I posted (post #27/28) seem only to have made 2 broad changes:

-the wings seem to slope downwards more than early artwork
-the pointed shape at the top has been curtailed to make a better hard point for the gun

The side-on view does give a distorted picture of the shape, but if you look at the plan & section views then you can see that a lot of the original shape has been maintained.   The ship is still wide and with the bottom 'fin' extended in flight mode it will still have a gorgeous look imo.

I hope it continues to look good, I loved the shape in the early artwork (it's why I bought it), so I'll be disappointed if it does turn out to be a cylinder!

[Gorion]

They removed all the extra "45 degree" fins from the top, and the wings are quite different.  Apart from being sloped, they also look shorter and lost the whole pointed, straight razor sharp feel to them.

That's what I mean by cylindrical > Imagine a massive roll of toilet paper core or some other cylindrical object like a plastic bottle with the ends cut off, chop off the ships top fin, bend the bottom one (nothing wrong with this part), then chop most of the side wings and bend them, and in the end it fits into the cylindrical object.

I'm not trying to be an ass, but those wings they removed and changed were a thing of beauty imo.  Would have solved the weapon location issue differently by making them roll out from the side hulls, but that wouldn't be able to support 360 turrets.

[OldBloke]

I've been trying to get a Banu MM on Reddit with no luck. The new images got me (and a shed load of others it seems) very interested.

[Gorion]

I've been trying to get a Banu MM on Reddit with no luck. The new images got me (and a shed load of others it seems) very interested.

Careful of the grey market, there were quite a bit of buyers claiming scams.  You can still get the Banu in-game afaik, without LTI.  LTI shouldn't cost a lot, according to Roberts around a couple of missions worth.

[TeaLeaf]

There's a very good trusted trader system on Reddit which works very well.   Stick to that and you should have zero problems.   But, as Gorion said, all these ships (with the exception of the Idris-M) will be available in-game and LTI is not going to be a deal-breaker in terms of running costs for your ship.

[TeaLeaf]

9,931 slots left for Alpha access and we're already 13% of the way to the $39m stretch goal.  :clap:

[TeaLeaf]

8,938 slots left for Alpha and we're 55%  towards the $39m stretch goal! :clap:

[TeaLeaf]

There goes the 7,000 slots left barrier.   Just 6,958 Alpha slots remain and that combines with a total of $39,573,411 which is well on the way to busting through the next $40m stretch goal for the crowd-funding.

[OldBloke]

$40 million hit with only 6,125 Alpha slots left.

[TeaLeaf]

Just passed through the 5,000 alpha slots remaining and we're half way to the $41m stretch goal.     Just 4,994 slots left folks, might be worth getting the game now if you want to be part of the development and explore the 'verse in Alpha with us!

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/single-ship-packages

[TeaLeaf]

$41m funding goal now reached and just 3,838 places left for Alpha access.  :thumbsup:

[Gorion]

And the next milestone rewards will be given only to backers before the 42mil goal is reached.