So, about that new Idris...

[Justin Tolerable]

Howdy, people!

Firstly, thanks for being so welcoming.  You seem like a really great group and I appreciate that expanding it to include more strangers is a risk for the dynamic.  I wouldn't have joined up unless I thought I'd fit in, but I guess time will tell!

Anyway, the long and short of it is that I have an Idris-P and I'm keen to share it.  This thread is here to clarify how I feel it can fit in with you guys, plus what I'm willing to use it for etc.  The main vibe should be this though - I'm incredibly excited that I might have found a group who fits my own approach and I might actually get to fly this beast with your help!

My Idris is called the "Indiana", after my daughter.

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND

Obviously this is privately owned, so it's very different to having an Idris owned by the org.  It follows me, so it might not always be available.  It also has a partial crew already - my own friends have signed on to play it with me regardless of what org I'm with.  They're spread out all over the world though, so they won't be enough to crew it on their own or even at all, most days.  They're all good people though.  I'm also coming from another org, Tabula Stellarum.  Leaving them was tough as they're also nice, but ultimately they're too inactive and spread out across far too many timezones.  Even so, I imagine I will remain friends with them and they'll be popping in from time to time to help me on my Idris.  They are a completely neutral exploration org, so shouldn't conflict.

It also has a First Officer, who will be flying it occasionally in non-UK timezones.

WHERE IT FITS IN WITH DMW

All that being said, I'll ultimately be doing whatever means it's flying.  I want it to be available for DMW as much as possible.  What will probably happen is this:

- To a large extent, it will be treated as an Org resource.  I'll keep it semi-democratic; we'll decide between us where it will do the most good, but I can veto it if I'd much rather be doing something else.  Ideally, It'll be flying into the unknown as part of an exploration fleet  We can decide this ahead of time if it will help.

- When I'm not online, I'd like to be able to allow others to command it and do pretty much whatever the org wants.  This depends on the tools we're given by CIG, though.  If there's a way to make it work, I'll make it work.  It has LTI, so if it gets destroyed by the org that's fine so long as the cost of upgrades is covered.  If you hit a goldmine without me, please consider me part of the officer crew and cut me in fairly!  Pretend I was in the bathroom the whole time or something.

- If and when I'm able to organise its non-DMW crew into a single play session, we'll fly it independently, paying tax to DMW as normal.  You will all be welcome to join in if there's space (there will be some).  We may or may not be flying on DMW tasks in those sessions (which will probably be rare).


That about covers it.  Ask me questions here and I'll add useful answers to this post.  I'm really excited about this!

[TeaLeaf]

I think for private ships I'd see an Idris fitting in pretty much as you described in the OP.  Many members are planning to do the same assuming RSI enables the mechanics to allow the sharing etc.

Part of organising events would be to spec the preferred fleet for the planned operation, if an Idris fits (and it fits with your diary, or with the diary of the member to whom it has been lent) the mission profile then we'd be looking to provide crew and the supporting flotilla.

If we end up with org-owned ships it would be even better as we could assign ship requisition permissions to Division leaders and their 2IC, to allow provision of appropriate ships for missions.

TLDR: We need loads more info from RSI and desperately hope that org-owned mechanics are fully enabled!

[Justin Tolerable]

Yeah, I figured that it would be similar to most others.  I just wanted to give people the full information, mostly about crewing it.  Also though, that you'll hopefully get to use it a lot as an org.

Plus, we can use one of our Pheonix ships as a staging area for guests  You know, "Welcome!  Please wait here and enjoy your drink before boarding the Indiana.  Oh, let me take you coat and weapons..."

My own fleet is geared towards exploration and recovering what I find.  All combat ships are really there for defence

[TeaLeaf]

Plus, we can use one of our Pheonix ships as a staging area for guests  You know, "Welcome!  Please wait here and enjoy your drink before boarding the Indiana.  Oh, let me take you coat and weapons..."

/pictures a mission delay for the guests waiting aboard the Phoenix......

Sorry folks, the Idris has been delayed another 30 minutes, but just refill the drinks and we'll let you know when you can disembark to the Indiana for the mission!

.....you see, we *knew* the hot tub would be useful for something!

[Galatoni]

Anyone want to trade for a Phoenix? I suddenly don't want it any more!

[Justin Tolerable]

Don't worry - if this happens we can just vent them into space as a giant fleshy ice cube.

I love that ship, but I hate the hot tub.

Back on topic, now

[Gorion]

Well, I'm up for explorations into the deep unknown reaches of the void.

I wonder if frigates can fit connies in their hold...

[Justin Tolerable]

Ha ha - no, sadly not. We'll have to 'flat pack' them into our Reclaimers.

Although I genuinely think a couple of constellations will make a great escort.

[Gorion]

Well, I'm into the whole exploration thing, and I have a connie.

Just remembering exploring/searching for jumpholes in Freelancer waaay back brings nostalgia.

[Justin Tolerable]

Well, I'm into the whole exploration thing, and I have a connie.

One of the things I'm looking forward to most is flying alongside the Indiana in something else.  It'll be massive.

[TeaLeaf]

One of the things I'm looking forward to most is flying alongside the Indiana in something else.  It'll be massive.

A Bengal Carrier?  :getmecoat:

I actually think the really big ships are going to be quite difficult to utilise properly when you consider that they require a big crew and lots of support ships to operate at near optimal levels.  Basically you need a really big group for it to work.   It will be interesting to see, during the early stages of the PU release, just how many big ships get destroyed or stolen because they are not fully manned (perhaps NPC-manned) or are not yet fully geared up and accompanied by suitable support ships.

[Justin Tolerable]

A Bengal Carrier?  :getmecoat:

I actually think the really big ships are going to be quite difficult to utilise properly when you consider that they require a big crew and lots of support ships to operate at near optimal levels.  Basically you need a really big group for it to work.   It will be interesting to see, during the early stages of the PU release, just how many big ships get destroyed or stolen because they are not fully manned (perhaps NPC-manned) or are not yet fully geared up and accompanied by suitable support ships.

I can't ever imagine getting a Bengal carrier to work.  It's massive.  Even if you could crew it properly, the chances of everyone doing what they're supposed to at exactly the right time are tiny.

The Idris is just about as big as I would go.  Even then it's going to be a hilarious farce from time to time.

[Gorion]

I can't ever imagine getting a Bengal carrier to work.  It's massive.  Even if you could crew it properly, the chances of everyone doing what they're supposed to at exactly the right time are tiny.

The Idris is just about as big as I would go.  Even then it's going to be a hilarious farce from time to time.

Do not underestimate the teamwork level in this community.

Back when we raided WoW vanilla, we were practically developing telepathic links.  Totally serious, although mistakes do happen.

[Justin Tolerable]

Do not underestimate the teamwork level in this community.

Back when we raided WoW vanilla, we were practically developing telepathic links.  Totally serious, although mistakes do happen.

Well okay then!  It was more that at the moment at least, I'm not sure we have enough people in the org to run a Bengal.  I'll take your word for it that we can be organised enough!  It's very exciting.  As for the Idris, I have no idea how I'd be in command... but I'm going to enjoy learning.

[TeaLeaf]

The Bengal was a joke.   You were referring to seeing the Idris as massive, I was joking that if you were flying alongside an Idris in a Bengal Carrier, that the Idris would look puny & tiny!