@@lawofthewestgaming Also, very well done on all of your videos! I'm looking in to getting started in SC, but currently don't have the funds to start off with the freelancer. Soon, though. ^tm Oh, and if you ever want to get a Discord server set up, just shoot me a...message...? Idk if RUclips has that feature anymore or not.
toilets are overrated... get to the nearest planet with breathable atmosphere, get into hover, open the side door and take a dump :P edit: if you're feeling rebellious, get over to arccorp and take a dump on the system :P (makes you wonder if public defecation will be considered a misdemeanor :p )
Prior to the advent of the Krakepillar concept, I never understood what was supposed to uniquely suit a Caterpillar for piracy support, unless other modules materialize to make it more versatile (other than the lore datum about looser background checks). It is a high capacity cargo ship, rather weakly armed and protected for its size. In the event that the pirate victim choses to fight, few targets would yield enough undamaged cargo after the battle to fill the Cat's modules. As a snub fighter carrier, it seems to work well, but that is "emergent tactics", probably not part of the design and might prove costly at that against a medium freighter's guns. I hate to give pirates ideas, but even a Privateer would be better suited as a small pirate fleet's loot hauler, unless they're hitting high letter "Hull" classes. If the Cat gets different modules, and especially if you can fly it with fewer than 4 for a maneuverability/accel boost, it will have become a real cool cat.
Honestly I think the freelancer needs a rework to grow to match it's handling. I think the cutlass got a lot more love, and the cutlass seems bigger than the freelancer. The first wave ships need some love.
Law, thanks again for the "apples to apples' comparison of two of the most iconic "space pick-ups" in the game. Yes, we can compare them like Ford vs. Chevy in that each has their fans as well as detractors. Let's discuss what wasn't in your review. There are five base model ships in what I call the "40 meter class": the Drake Cutlass Black, the MISC Freelancer, the Aegis Vanguard, the Aegis Vulcan, the RSI Apollo and the Crusader Mercury. Add to that their variants and you see that it is a robust grouping of medium sized ships. All are multi-crew ships that can be solo operated. All are a mix of versatility and capability. I think that players will find that even in the late game keeping one of the 40 meter ships around as a solo/small crew runabout will be advantageous. Of those base ships, only the Drake Cutlass and MISC Freelancer are priced under $200, the former is at $100 and the latter at $110. (Note: their variants are all under $200 also but they weren't the subject of this video.) This reflects CIG's desire that they be both common and affordable ships. That being said there are some out there who say you shouldn't spend real money on any ship that costs under $200, arguing that they are better purchased in game with UEC after grinding. I disagree, having the disposable income I bought several of the 40 meter ships and though some have parted my fleet I still hold on to my Cutlass Black, Blue, Freelancer DUR and Mercury Starrunner for now. The versatility of the Cutlass Black makes it my go-to ship in SC right now. Once Star Citizen's trading game is polished then I may rethink which of the 40 meter ships I want to fly but for now the Cutty is it. Despite that I would hate to really fly any distance in a Cutlass. The lack of a toilet (lost in the rework) and no way to even warm up even a cup of noodles suck. My Herald has at those features so it isn't just because it is a Drake ship. I think there is room in the Cutty's cabin for a small head like the Herald has. Fix that feature and I'll be a Cutty fan boi for life. (At my age life is a relative term, I expect the SC universe to outlive me.)
Oh my. You really live this sc life huh. Is it a game yet? Im personally not seeing the draw. Its like they keep focusing on ships and graphics but they dont have the foundation even working yet. The project is 9 yrs in and is in a state that leaves most of us speechless. This is a first in gaming production and although i hope this finally becomes something grand i cant help but be reserved on the intent.
@@prototype8137 you should just try it just a warning though don't use a crappy pc(like mine) and try to play the game it doesn't work at all other wise its fun but you can tell its not done im looking at you New Babbage lobby/train
I love cramming mine full of cargo when the aUEC is available. A sight to behold! And when I got mine I immediately shoved two Cyclones into it. My favorite thing I've done with it was to take a Cyclone on a mission and use the Cyclone to rush one of the protected bunkers with a buddy in the passenger seat. Sadly, I made it but ....he wasn't as lucky.
I have to admit that I've been enjoying my Freelancer more the more time I spend with it. The cockpit view is limited but I've also spent a good deal of time sim'ing X-pane aircraft with far more restricted views. ( Boeings, Concords, SR71. ) I think the view thing will be less of an issue if and when RSI add some kind of landing radar view like Elite Dangerous. ( When the gear are down the radar switches to a 3rd person view of the ship and the ground around you and it zooms in the closer you get to the ground. )
Loved my Cutlass Black for years, but the Freelancer is just a better ship all around, in my opinion. As soon as I can, I'm upgrading to a MIS. The Freelancer has better shields, better armor/hull/health/etc., more multi-crew options and gameplay (more beds, kitchen/bathroom, 4-seat bridge + turret), better weapons (4xS3 gimbals + 2xS2 turret vs 4xS2 gimbals + 2xS3 turret), better range, and can still take a bike along (more in the non-MIS variants). A lot of the similarities won't mean much when the Cutlass blows up in a third of the time that the Freelancer does. I think the one thing the Cutlass has going for it that the Freelancer doesn't is going to be the tractor beam, but who knows what work-arounds we might have with handtools or even auxiliary vehicles.
the cutlass is MUCH more agile than the freelancer though. freelancer is geared more towards defense, cutlass is better in attack roles than the freelancer. cutlass is much more fuel efficient too.
@@Claymore1977 "Much" is a stretch. It isn't a fighter, so it isn't maneuvering like one and thus has to fight a Freelancer on the lancer's terms. The Cutlass cannot withstand the 4xS3s while the Freelancer absolutely can tank the Cutlass. I 100% have money down on a Freelancer in a lancer v cutty fight.
The Cutlass is a great ship, but I'm a Freelancer fan boy, so that line of ships is what I have. Great comparison video, LotW! I'd love to see you do more comparison videos of this quality.
LAW, you do these comparisons in an incredibly thorough manner, so much appreciated. With regards to safety in the Freelancer, the escape pods might be worth mentioning. Excellent, want more of these comparison videos!
Freelancer DUR is my current favorite in-game ship though I'm sure I'll like it even more once the refinery and scanning station actually does something
I own the Cutlass Black and everyone has a Freelancer temporarily atm. So after flying them both out of those two I prefer the cutlass. However I want to try to freelancer max, it lookers nicer.
This was a GREAT review! I think I'll go for the Cutlas as my next ship and once I get a decent crew of 3 guys to play with consistantly, I"ll get a Freelancer for 4-man jobs :) Right now I upgraded my Beginner ship for the Avenger Titan and I am going to fly it for the first time today after work :)
On paper, everything says I should prefer the Freelancer, but I 've had both ships and the Cutlass Black is the one I kept. I just do not like the cockpit layout of the Freelancer.
I never even knew the tractor beam was in the cutty's back lol...thought those odd winglet things housed them. Great run down of both, I own a max and cutty but have a loaner freelancer and just got rid of a MIS with no regrets. They all have a place in my heart and excel at what they do. I'm glad I got the cutty after the rework though ,think I would've been disappointed with the old one. Although I would have loved the old freelancer and hanger max...that landing gear stairwell looked awesome.
If anyone reading this is where I was a year ago, Deciding between these two ships. The Cutlass is a marvelous all-around ship. And I think the best bang for the buck of any ship in the Game. And you can always CCU to a Freelancer, but not from freelancer to Cutlass. Eventually I bought a Mercury, and the loaner was a Mercury, so then I had both. The Freelancer with 45% more cargo can make significantly more money as a cargo trader and it is a LOT more durable. But it flys like a bathtub in an ice rink. The Cutlass holds less cargo, but it fights a lot better and flys a lot better. Especially if you upgrade to 4 size 3 guns on the front. If you are looking for 1 ship to own, I say go with Cutlass. If you want to trade cargo enough to go with the Freelancer, then go with the Freelancer Max. Make it worth it.
One concept I don’t get about a lot of sci-fi game is the idea that storing liquid hydrogen in tanks is a good idea. Its specific gravity is .0708, thus water is 14.3 time more dense. Water also has a week bond to the oxygen atom, so the two are easily separated. If a ship used the radiant byproducts of fusion, an efficient method of separating the hydrogen and oxygen can be implemented. This would allow 14.3 times the fuel to be carried aboard ship, eliminating issues with hydrogen embrittlement, and resulting a longer service life and duration of the vessel.
I absolutely love these comparison videos, I have many of these ships but some details I was totally unaware of, like the Freelancer being the biggest ship that can fit through the smallest jump point. Keep up the great work!
I have a Cutlass Black and a Freelancer Maxx. The Cutlass handles way better and has better visibility out of the cockpit. The Maxx hauls more, handles like a truck, and has lousy visibility. But I like them both. The Cutlass is more for getting into very risky places where you need weapons and handling. I use it for the smaller cargo runs. The Maxx is more for getting into places where you need greater cargo hauling and don't need as aggressive handling and firepower. BTW, each of the bunks in the Maxx function as an escape pod, according to the labeling on them. (I do hope those turret rails go away so I can fit more stuff). I'd like to see a toilet added to the Cutlass, just because it makes sense. I'd also love to see 'pallet' style load outs developed for all cargo ships that allow then to add a pallet that has things like living accommodations so you can either haul people, or set them up on planets / moons and build settlements.
Your best review yet, brilliantly done. Looking forward to returning to the verse for a quick tour of the once my Carrack is complete, but I'll proudly flt my FL Max as well.
When you called the cuttless a "cutty" I like that I really like that "Oy we got a unmarked cutty in this system and there not responding on coms! .. Briggs hop in the turrent think we're gonna see some action!"
Fantastic video! I'm a huge Freelancer fan, but I am an undercover Cutlass fan also. You really can't go wrong with either. Thanks again for the video.
I chose the Cutlass Black because it could carry a Cyclone. I love driving on the surfaces of planets and exploring. Also forgot to say great job on the video you and Morphologist are my favorite SC content creators. Keep up the great work! Also neat seeing the former look of the Cutlass before it was redone.
Freelancer Max is gonna be my starter ship, until the end of Beta. Then I'ma get couple of NPCs and start my own little fleet with the official release.
A Just in time comparison (for me, even if several months old video) I found when I was wondering how should I upgrade my fleet to the middle range. Basically both are in my queue as have certain roles both, but must start with one. Quality videos these are. Subbed.
I like both ships but I chose the Cutlass Black for it's better maneuverability and bigger storage space. For those who plan to get the Cutlass Black: Keep in mind that it has a weak shield generator (with 14,584 hp) + the powerplant is also rather weak in my opinion so you'll have to replace those two when installing a much more powerful shield generator (I went with the FR-76 which gave me additional 10,000hp) and the Bolide powerplant. For Quantum Drive I'd pick the Crossfield.
The freelancer mis always makes me think of starbug. XD I guess it's the green and yellow paint scheme... Actually the cockpit layout is also extremely reminiscent of starbug. Wouldn't surprise me if there were some hardcore Red Dwarf fans among the people that designed the Freelancer... This actually makes me wonder about design inspirations. While the ingame justification doesn't always align, and the styles certainly are nowhere near a perfect match... The freelancer makes me think of Red Dwarf... While something like the 600i makes me think of Star Trek... And as some have noted, the reclaimer is reminiscent of Aliens...
The cutlass IS the better ship in general, but it just doesn't have soul for me, it feels like you're flying a space chinook, doesn't feel exciting... The freelancer though, it feels like an actual starship, it feels hands on to fly and demands your attention, it can also take a substantial hit, sometimes its withstood high speed crashes for me. plus its so cozey inside. I fell in love with it
after using both ships for a long time i keep going to the freelancer. dual shield generators and four size 3 guns on turrets that behave like gimballed guns, clear winner for single player non pvp (and even pvp! ive won a few). mount 4 quarrelers and they hit from 3800 meters out, you'll be sniping those claim jumpers ezpz. XL1 for qt drive, snowpack or coolcores for coolers, fr76/rampart for shields, genoa power plant.
My first pledge that I made just before 2.0 dropped back in the day was the original Cutlass black. I loved it looks, it idea of it and the feeling of the whole ship. I also love the the rework but the original looks will always be my favourite. I then added a Dragonfly Yellowjacket when that went into concept and last year I ordered Greycat and a Corsair.
Awesome comparison. There is one more thing with the Freelancer that has a quite big impact on the negative side, the small view out from the cockpit (wind shield). To set her down safely on the ground without any assistance from the outside, like 3rd person view, is a real pain especially now with the new VTOL mode. Right now, with the new economy system, its hard to get by as a trucker. The risk vs time vs profit is not as it used to be. Now its a much higher risk cause you need to land more often trying to sell your cargo which makes a big fat truck like this a sitting duck on the ground and with all that space, 120 units, well to fill her up which is the only way to earn some serious cash makes it a high risk to loose the whole cargo and lots of cash. Running delivery missions and pick up 4 or more packages, go long distance (as the Freelancer is made for) and deliver, pick up 4 or more back, its no risk of loosing cash and has quite a big profit. I did not buy the Freelancer Max to put some small packages in it, and to do combat missions, she is not agile enough. They need to tweak this economy systems cause of now, I cant see any use for doing cargo with her but it feels like we have become merged together, I know her, she knows me even if we fight once in a while but thats how a relation ship is ;) ♥
I prefer the Freelancer, the design reminds me of Firefly, but they are both really nice. I´m wondering about the Mercury as it will be a medium ship as well...
Funny. Because the freelancer mostly reminds me of Starbug from red dwarf. XD I think it's a mixture of the shape of the front of the ship, the paint scheme of the MIS (Green and yellow? Really?), and the layout of the cockpit. (4 seats, two by two... Is pretty much exactly the starbug cockpit.) Of course, starbug is completely unarmed, and given it's interior layout probably closer to something like a 600i in size and features... But it's still in the kind of territory that makes you wonder if it was some kind of inspiration for parts of the design...
I would like a more Firefly esque ship. Freelancer is similar, but is too small to really compare, I guess the Carrack is more comparable in terms of size as a Firefly has a cockpit / bridge, sleeping quarters, a mess facility with kitchen, a medical bay with lounge, two docked shuttles, an engine room and a large cargo bay which can store at least one vehicle (as seen in Serenity). I'm sure there are more rooms that I'm forgetting about.
I'm just content enjjoying my Glass of White Zinfandel while Gazing at the Stars and being Moved by an Opera Singer as my 890Jump Endlessly and Gracefully Somersaults Freely in orbit around a Colorful Planet!
Incredibly well considered depth of content. All you need to know about either of these ships prior to buying. A more technical version of ‘The Pilot’ from Elite Dangerous. Top Job.
I love my black, bought it so got the skin from the last event, it looks great in white and gold. Nice fighting ability and plenty of cargo space, 20 less than the Freelancer but i feel the Freelancer is bit less nimble if attacked.
Good comparison. Looking at them side by side, I reckon the Freelancer needs to be increased in size slightly. The living area would be really cramped for 4 crew, and a full cargo area blocks access to the components. It looks tiny next to the new Cutlass too.
I'd definitely lean towards some variant of the freelancer out of the two. I love the cutlass' bigass turret tho...maybe for solo play with occasional guest gunner.
Great vid! Two of the most common ships about and a lot of backers are going to be wondering about them. I find it hard to go past the MAX, but it does always irk me with the narrow front window
I actually miss the side door by the pilot seats. If they kept that, you're be able to get to the top of the ship from there, would could be pretty cool It's also worth noting that the Freelancer currently has just under 44k shield health, whereas the Cutlass only has 14k shield health.
You can easily fit a P52 Merlin in a Freelancer Max. It has to have the gear down, which folds the wings, and beware that re-logging on the bed loads the Merlin with gear up, and so far it always breaks one, the other or both wings. So it's only really useful within a single play session.
Now I kinda wish the Freelancer had the VTOL engine bits that it had in the commercial video they released a while back. Could be useful, and if you could ever flip the engines or whatever, just imagine the maneuvers you could make!
Very quality video, thanks for taking the time to make/edit this! I've been away from SC for quite a while, since 3.2. Just started up again a few days ago (3.6) and its so much smoother. Currently I have the Avenger Titan (did the upgrade from the Aurora a while back, which i miss). But I was watching this and i thought the 'Prospector' was a variant of the FreeLancer? It looks like it anyways..but maybe not because you would have likely mentioned it considering its a very specifically tasked ship. But thats what I wanted to add to my fleet eventually since I really enjoy the desolate location cargo grabs and mostly legal money making methods..I dont have a problem making it other ways though sometimes...its possibly my Titan is stocked full of WiDow right now trying to find places to unload all of it... ^_^
Thanks for this video mate! I'm still building my PC for this game but you've provided me with all the information that I need to decide on my first ship...I choose the Freelancer.
That video at roughly 26:00 shows the Freelancer with Vtol ability, and earlier with the ability to fire both weapons opposite of each other... when would this be possible? Also I do think the Freelancer should be about a meter wider and the turret points retracted, would make things so much easier.
Is it a big disadvantage of the cuttlas that you can only get in from behind? In theory, a player can wait at the hatch until I open it ?! Kill me and take over the ship Thx for Help
Well, there are alot of ships that have ramps like that, just lock your ship via the controls by the doors or cockpit. When you are going to the back of your ship check the area before you walk in really well so nobody is there to sneak on board and when you go inside or leave the ship you always always watch the ramp shut just incase somebody tries to get in. Clear your ship too because someone could get in the turret or a bed and if your not paying attention they will shoot you out of your seat when they can.
I absolutely understand why you compared the base to the cutty, but I do think it bears saying (and repeating, repeatedly) that any of the Freelancer variants are 100% better than the cutty at a specific role. That is, the MIS is an outright better combat vessel, the Max is an unquestionably better cargo vessel, and the DUR is going to out-range literally any ship in the game less than 60m long. This is not to say the Cutlass is bad. For $100 I'd argue it's the single best value in the game AT THAT PRICE. But...it's still crap compared to any Freelancer variant at whatever that variant is specialized in. I'd especially call out the MIS because the Cutty is supposed to be a better fighter than the Freelancer in a 1v1, but the MIS will eat its lunch 9 times out of 10. Still, great video. I'd love to see a comparison between the Cutlass Blue and the Freelancer MIS because I think that'd be a more direct comparison and really highlight the differences. Also, I'd say anyone just starting the game would be wise to get a cutty first, then decide what you like best and CCU to whichever Freelancer variant that fits whichever role you prefer. It's a great way to get your footing in a medium ship and the upgrade cost from a cutty to any of the variants is reasonable. (The Loot & Scoot bundle is great for this because you can easily stick one Dragonfly in any of them.) EDIT: This said, it is worth pointing out that you COULD open those side doors in space and have your 6 passengers in the cutty all whip out a rail cannon or (in 3.9) a FPS missile launcher for a quick burst of damage. It's a nasty tactic for a quick alpha strike that would fit perfectly in the bag of tricks of any space pirate.
I have been considering upgrading one of my base ships to a cutlass but I haven't done it so far. I have a Freelancer base and a max I also have a Reliant Kore. My aim in Star Citizen was to start a space trucking company. Eventually I plan to buy some of the giant haulers from the hull series but for now I just wanted to play with vehicles I could actually use in game. I have several other ships but they were just things I got to play with so I may upgrade some of them in the future.
To put this in Star Wars terms, the Freelancer (especially the Max) seems like a YT-1300, while the Cutlass Black is a Firespray. I started playing last night, and I picked up the Cutlass Black game package. I also have a Freelancer (not Max) in my fleet as a loaner, though I don’t know if that is by design. I’ll be ignoring that a Freelancer for the most part until I can afford to buy a Max. I’ll keep both Cutlass and Freelancer Max ships, using each for different purposes later on.
You're definitely right about the larger ships being impaired by lack of crew. Though there are exceptions - the 600i for instance seems fine without a crew. Yes it has two turrets, but the ships functions well enough without them. Granted you'll have a hard time hitting small targets with the guns accessible to the pilot, but on the other hand the shields are now so powerful that it barely matters unless you've got about 5 such ships attacking you. Even then they have to be well coordinated to pose a threat. When turret automation becomes possible, that would make it even more viable for the solo pilot, strange as that might seem. Compare this to the other ships in that size category though, and you can definitely see it's the odd one out. The constellation isn't even that big by comparison, and without turret gunners it loses a lot. Something like the Retaliator is almost useless without crew. the Hammerhead, while terrifying in theory, is extremely useless without a crew. The reclaimer... I have no idea, but I don't think it holds up well for the solo pilot... By comparison, the 600i is quite capable with just a pilot... As to the ships in the comparison, I'd take the Freelancer over the cutlass. Though the reasons aren't all that well considered. I might even do that when buying a ship ingame - I have several ships, but none of them are good cargo haulers - most are small ships, and the one exception, while huge, has the cargo capacity of a small ship. (and while it's variant has more cargo space, it's still not impressive - plus until such time as module swapouts become a thing, and modules can be bought ingame, that's a moot point for me anyway.)
Why do we need bed for each crew member? I'm pretty sure that the player will disappear from bed at log out. And I think we can log out 1 by 1. Or is there some hard limit on logging out? Like "all beds are full, you cant use it". Or logging in maybe? "you cant spawn at the ship, ship's crew is full".
I look forward to adding the Retaliator (with cargo modules) and Hull B to this comparo, which will probably both be comparable in cargo capacity, once they're realized, with overlapping but not quite apples to apples mission intent.
My thoughts on Cutlass series: The recent update on server blades really changes the math on the Cutlass Black and Blue. Do not overlook the fact that the Cutlass has 2xS3 turret rather than the usual 2xS2. That turret is almost half of the ship's gun DPS so blades will almost double the DPS of a black or blue. I find that a Cutlass Black looks way better when you consider it as a very large small ship rather than a very small medium ship. It's shields look way better on paper this way. Unfortunately, its size, its single s2 shield hardpoint, a pilot controlled weapon loadout on par with an average small fighter (see above tho), and limited mobility compared to the other small fighters (particularly 325a and Avenger Titan as comparison points) means that it is NOT a good PvP choice against most ships in the game. Caveat this with the Cutlass's excellent missile loadout, which can make ganks where the cutlass is the aggressor over before they even start. Having said that, I expect a complete overhaul pass on s2 shields on ships. The Connie having the same shields as a freelancer is super strange. The Sabre having potentially more shield HP than the cutlass is weird too. Honestly I expect a lot to change when it comes to shields so try not to hold too much against the black, and I hope it gets a moderate buff to shield options. Unfortunately, Cutlass Black is pretty much worthless for PvP (aside from missile spam) but is absolutely stellar as a PvE ship. Whereas the Avenger Titan is stellar in absolutely every multirole category while also being among the fastest ships in the game, the Cutlass Black seems like it actually made compromises in order to be multirole. I really see no problem giving the Cutlass a second s2 shield hard point, and I think the game might actually be better for it.
The Freelancer was the first ship I upgraded to. I still love the aesthetic of that boat, but it handles like a brick on ice skates and the cockpit view could be rated "piss-poor" at best. The Cutty was a lateral move from there and became one of my favorite ships. I was able to upgrade out of it, but man, I still miss it. The Cutlass Black is easily one of the most "bang-for-your-buck" ships available...unless, of course, you're doing long distance cargo hauling and don't mind flying a canoe through gravy. In that case, get a 'Lancer.
I just can't seem to decide. The extra room and fuel economy sounds like it would allow for much better money making for the Freelancer, but the other feel better to fly and is probably more flexible so you can choose more quest type. Also, both can act as log in abd out point for 2 players, and that's all I need. Time will tell. For now I have a freelancer in my hangar. Maybe closer to release I have better insight and can choose without regrets.
NOTE: Drake Interplanetary, it's Drake interplanetary not international (hangs head in shame) Don't know what I was thinking with that one.....
What setup do you use, PC wise?
I mean, technically that's still international.
@@lazylime8046 very true ; )
@@lawofthewestgaming Yep.
@@lawofthewestgaming Also, very well done on all of your videos! I'm looking in to getting started in SC, but currently don't have the funds to start off with the freelancer. Soon, though. ^tm
Oh, and if you ever want to get a Discord server set up, just shoot me a...message...? Idk if RUclips has that feature anymore or not.
A Ship without a Toilet just turns folks into Angry Pirates. Thanks for this.
toilets are overrated... get to the nearest planet with breathable atmosphere, get into hover, open the side door and take a dump :P
edit: if you're feeling rebellious, get over to arccorp and take a dump on the system :P (makes you wonder if public defecation will be considered a misdemeanor :p )
you can always shit near the ramp and depressurize the deck :)
Cutlass will get a Shoilet soon, devs confirmed it.
Space is your toilet!
No need to push, just depressurize the suit and the shit will fly right out.
@@MDoomhammer Nah, Lorville, the place is a dump anyway.
Cuttie vs. Freelancer, no matter which one I have, I always want to be in the other one... and I don't know why!
Early in development, the Caterpillar was dubbed 'The Freelancer's evil twin.' I think that appellation fits the Cutlass much better now.
'The Freelancer's evil twin... more like 'Evil little brother',
And if you include the Max or Mis ... It is the "Bratty baby sister'.
Actually they redesigned the Cutlass to specifically fit that 'evil twin' role since the Cat became so much bigger.
Prior to the advent of the Krakepillar concept, I never understood what was supposed to uniquely suit a Caterpillar for piracy support, unless other modules materialize to make it more versatile (other than the lore datum about looser background checks). It is a high capacity cargo ship, rather weakly armed and protected for its size. In the event that the pirate victim choses to fight, few targets would yield enough undamaged cargo after the battle to fill the Cat's modules. As a snub fighter carrier, it seems to work well, but that is "emergent tactics", probably not part of the design and might prove costly at that against a medium freighter's guns. I hate to give pirates ideas, but even a Privateer would be better suited as a small pirate fleet's loot hauler, unless they're hitting high letter "Hull" classes.
If the Cat gets different modules, and especially if you can fly it with fewer than 4 for a maneuverability/accel boost, it will have become a real cool cat.
Honestly I think the freelancer needs a rework to grow to match it's handling. I think the cutlass got a lot more love, and the cutlass seems bigger than the freelancer. The first wave ships need some love.
@@kevinishki yep, initially the lancers looked good but now i feel I'm wasting 2 LTI tokens. I want to CCU to MSR and Andromeda.
This is the highest quality Star Citizen video I've watched to date in terms of both content and production quality. Well done!!
Law, thanks again for the "apples to apples' comparison of two of the most iconic "space pick-ups" in the game. Yes, we can compare them like Ford vs. Chevy in that each has their fans as well as detractors. Let's discuss what wasn't in your review. There are five base model ships in what I call the "40 meter class": the Drake Cutlass Black, the MISC Freelancer, the Aegis Vanguard, the Aegis Vulcan, the RSI Apollo and the Crusader Mercury. Add to that their variants and you see that it is a robust grouping of medium sized ships. All are multi-crew ships that can be solo operated. All are a mix of versatility and capability. I think that players will find that even in the late game keeping one of the 40 meter ships around as a solo/small crew runabout will be advantageous.
Of those base ships, only the Drake Cutlass and MISC Freelancer are priced under $200, the former is at $100 and the latter at $110. (Note: their variants are all under $200 also but they weren't the subject of this video.) This reflects CIG's desire that they be both common and affordable ships. That being said there are some out there who say you shouldn't spend real money on any ship that costs under $200, arguing that they are better purchased in game with UEC after grinding. I disagree, having the disposable income I bought several of the 40 meter ships and though some have parted my fleet I still hold on to my Cutlass Black, Blue, Freelancer DUR and Mercury Starrunner for now.
The versatility of the Cutlass Black makes it my go-to ship in SC right now. Once Star Citizen's trading game is polished then I may rethink which of the 40 meter ships I want to fly but for now the Cutty is it. Despite that I would hate to really fly any distance in a Cutlass. The lack of a toilet (lost in the rework) and no way to even warm up even a cup of noodles suck. My Herald has at those features so it isn't just because it is a Drake ship. I think there is room in the Cutty's cabin for a small head like the Herald has. Fix that feature and I'll be a Cutty fan boi for life. (At my age life is a relative term, I expect the SC universe to outlive me.)
Its more like toyota (cutlass) vs chevy (freelancer) in this case. Because the cutlass is used by bad guys. Not saying it sucks.
@@ephraimawesome4447 The Cutlass Black is definitely a Toyota Hilux IN SPAAAACE
Oh my. You really live this sc life huh. Is it a game yet? Im personally not seeing the draw. Its like they keep focusing on ships and graphics but they dont have the foundation even working yet. The project is 9 yrs in and is in a state that leaves most of us speechless. This is a first in gaming production and although i hope this finally becomes something grand i cant help but be reserved on the intent.
@@prototype8137 you should just try it just a warning though don't use a crappy pc(like mine) and try to play the game it doesn't work at all other wise its fun but you can tell its not done im looking at you New Babbage lobby/train
Are you thinking of adopting? I don't happen to have a rich uncle :p
I have a freelancer Max and love flying it around.
I love cramming mine full of cargo when the aUEC is available. A sight to behold! And when I got mine I immediately shoved two Cyclones into it. My favorite thing I've done with it was to take a Cyclone on a mission and use the Cyclone to rush one of the protected bunkers with a buddy in the passenger seat. Sadly, I made it but ....he wasn't as lucky.
I have one as loaner, and i literary hate its guts. cant see squat in it.
Volle Gaming I love low viability ships not gonna lie. I wish the mercury star runner didn’t have that fancy all glass cockpit.
There will be smaller sized jump points(short cuts) that it will be able to get through giving it better profit for high value runs.
I have to admit that I've been enjoying my Freelancer more the more time I spend with it. The cockpit view is limited but I've also spent a good deal of time sim'ing X-pane aircraft with far more restricted views. ( Boeings, Concords, SR71. )
I think the view thing will be less of an issue if and when RSI add some kind of landing radar view like Elite Dangerous. ( When the gear are down the radar switches to a 3rd person view of the ship and the ground around you and it zooms in the closer you get to the ground. )
Loved my Cutlass Black for years, but the Freelancer is just a better ship all around, in my opinion. As soon as I can, I'm upgrading to a MIS. The Freelancer has better shields, better armor/hull/health/etc., more multi-crew options and gameplay (more beds, kitchen/bathroom, 4-seat bridge + turret), better weapons (4xS3 gimbals + 2xS2 turret vs 4xS2 gimbals + 2xS3 turret), better range, and can still take a bike along (more in the non-MIS variants). A lot of the similarities won't mean much when the Cutlass blows up in a third of the time that the Freelancer does.
I think the one thing the Cutlass has going for it that the Freelancer doesn't is going to be the tractor beam, but who knows what work-arounds we might have with handtools or even auxiliary vehicles.
the cutlass is MUCH more agile than the freelancer though. freelancer is geared more towards defense, cutlass is better in attack roles than the freelancer. cutlass is much more fuel efficient too.
@@Claymore1977 "Much" is a stretch. It isn't a fighter, so it isn't maneuvering like one and thus has to fight a Freelancer on the lancer's terms. The Cutlass cannot withstand the 4xS3s while the Freelancer absolutely can tank the Cutlass. I 100% have money down on a Freelancer in a lancer v cutty fight.
@@Dewderonomy smoking crack
@@ripkiy4283 lol tell me about it. The Cutlass will destroy a freelancer no problem. Especially with significant upgrades
@@Dewderonomy hey at least you can fit a ROC or 2 in the cutty.
The Cutlass is a great ship, but I'm a Freelancer fan boy, so that line of ships is what I have.
Great comparison video, LotW! I'd love to see you do more comparison videos of this quality.
11:30... Forgot to mention the beds are escape pods.. Further adding more survivability to the crew.
Seeing as how they dont work right now i think it was fine he didnt
@@Uneedskill they are so many things wrong with the Freelancer compared to the more refined Cutlass
hessseeeennnb
LAW, you do these comparisons in an incredibly thorough manner, so much appreciated. With regards to safety in the Freelancer, the escape pods might be worth mentioning. Excellent, want more of these comparison videos!
I love both these ships, similar and also different in a lot of ways. Great video again, love your work.
Freelancer DUR is my current favorite in-game ship though I'm sure I'll like it even more once the refinery and scanning station actually does something
Love your detailed reviews. I've had a Cutlass Black for years. I decided come the anniversary sale I'm going to upgrade it to a mercury star runner
Tbh I miss the cockpit side door was very handy. Imo they NEED to add ladders to the damn side doors
Or steps like on the Valkarie
Really enjoyed the slower pacing of this video. Very informative and beautifully edited. Great work !
I own the Cutlass Black and everyone has a Freelancer temporarily atm. So after flying them both out of those two I prefer the cutlass. However I want to try to freelancer max, it lookers nicer.
more like this please was great thank you LAWoftheWEST
This was a GREAT review! I think I'll go for the Cutlas as my next ship and once I get a decent crew of 3 guys to play with consistantly, I"ll get a Freelancer for 4-man jobs :) Right now I upgraded my Beginner ship for the Avenger Titan and I am going to fly it for the first time today after work :)
I love the info you give on the manufacturers. Makes it better and more interesting than other reviews. Great job!
On paper, everything says I should prefer the Freelancer, but I 've had both ships and the Cutlass Black is the one I kept. I just do not like the cockpit layout of the Freelancer.
I never even knew the tractor beam was in the cutty's back lol...thought those odd winglet things housed them. Great run down of both, I own a max and cutty but have a loaner freelancer and just got rid of a MIS with no regrets. They all have a place in my heart and excel at what they do. I'm glad I got the cutty after the rework though ,think I would've been disappointed with the old one. Although I would have loved the old freelancer and hanger max...that landing gear stairwell looked awesome.
The Freelancer was my first multicrew ship. I love it so much.
If anyone reading this is where I was a year ago, Deciding between these two ships. The Cutlass is a marvelous all-around ship. And I think the best bang for the buck of any ship in the Game. And you can always CCU to a Freelancer, but not from freelancer to Cutlass.
Eventually I bought a Mercury, and the loaner was a Mercury, so then I had both. The Freelancer with 45% more cargo can make significantly more money as a cargo trader and it is a LOT more durable. But it flys like a bathtub in an ice rink.
The Cutlass holds less cargo, but it fights a lot better and flys a lot better. Especially if you upgrade to 4 size 3 guns on the front. If you are looking for 1 ship to own, I say go with Cutlass. If you want to trade cargo enough to go with the Freelancer, then go with the Freelancer Max. Make it worth it.
One concept I don’t get about a lot of sci-fi game is the idea that storing liquid hydrogen in tanks is a good idea.
Its specific gravity is .0708, thus water is 14.3 time more dense. Water also has a week bond to the oxygen atom, so the two are easily separated.
If a ship used the radiant byproducts of fusion, an efficient method of separating the hydrogen and oxygen can be implemented. This would allow 14.3 times the fuel to be carried aboard ship, eliminating issues with hydrogen embrittlement, and resulting a longer service life and duration of the vessel.
I absolutely love these comparison videos, I have many of these ships but some details I was totally unaware of, like the Freelancer being the biggest ship that can fit through the smallest jump point. Keep up the great work!
I am so happy with my Cutlass Black. It's such a good deal right now.
Same here
I have a Cutlass Black and a Freelancer Maxx. The Cutlass handles way better and has better visibility out of the cockpit. The Maxx hauls more, handles like a truck, and has lousy visibility.
But I like them both. The Cutlass is more for getting into very risky places where you need weapons and handling. I use it for the smaller cargo runs. The Maxx is more for getting into places where you need greater cargo hauling and don't need as aggressive handling and firepower. BTW, each of the bunks in the Maxx function as an escape pod, according to the labeling on them. (I do hope those turret rails go away so I can fit more stuff).
I'd like to see a toilet added to the Cutlass, just because it makes sense. I'd also love to see 'pallet' style load outs developed for all cargo ships that allow then to add a pallet that has things like living accommodations so you can either haul people, or set them up on planets / moons and build settlements.
Your best review yet, brilliantly done. Looking forward to returning to the verse for a quick tour of the once my Carrack is complete, but I'll proudly flt my FL Max as well.
Beautiful and informative video! Looking forward for Constellation review.
When you called the cuttless a "cutty" I like that I really like that
"Oy we got a unmarked cutty in this system and there not responding on coms! .. Briggs hop in the turrent think we're gonna see some action!"
I don’t play star citizen but this video made me more interested in it then ever. Thank you for this! You just earned a new sub❤️
Me too. These vids are excellent and fun.
Fantastic video! I'm a huge Freelancer fan, but I am an undercover Cutlass fan also. You really can't go wrong with either. Thanks again for the video.
Thanks, It's great to hear from you. I've been a follower of your channel for some time now and love the content.
Watching this in prep for tomorrow! Time to nab a Cutlass finally
I chose the Cutlass Black because it could carry a Cyclone. I love driving on the surfaces of planets and exploring. Also forgot to say great job on the video you and Morphologist are my favorite SC content creators. Keep up the great work! Also neat seeing the former look of the Cutlass before it was redone.
The Freelancer was originally a VTOL style craft, too. In the early days.
You can see it in the advert for it. The wings move and it's beautiful. Alas, no more.
Its useless. The maneuver thrusters are way better
Worth mentioning, the Freelancer's bunks are also escape pods.
I always loved the Lancer right from the start... And it didn´t change :)
Freelancer is cool because it remains me of the game Freelancer made by CR
Freelancer Max is gonna be my starter ship, until the end of Beta. Then I'ma get couple of NPCs and start my own little fleet with the official release.
How did that go?
Pirate ship? I'm sold :)
A Just in time comparison (for me, even if several months old video) I found when I was wondering how should I upgrade my fleet to the middle range. Basically both are in my queue as have certain roles both, but must start with one. Quality videos these are. Subbed.
I like both ships but I chose the Cutlass Black for it's better maneuverability and bigger storage space.
For those who plan to get the Cutlass Black: Keep in mind that it has a weak shield generator (with 14,584 hp) + the powerplant is also rather weak in my opinion so you'll have to replace those two when installing a much more powerful shield generator (I went with the FR-76 which gave me additional 10,000hp) and the Bolide powerplant.
For Quantum Drive I'd pick the Crossfield.
You sir just earned a subrciber.
I'm new to star citizen and i've been looking for videos just like this one.
Great work man!
The freelancer mis always makes me think of starbug. XD
I guess it's the green and yellow paint scheme...
Actually the cockpit layout is also extremely reminiscent of starbug.
Wouldn't surprise me if there were some hardcore Red Dwarf fans among the people that designed the Freelancer...
This actually makes me wonder about design inspirations.
While the ingame justification doesn't always align, and the styles certainly are nowhere near a perfect match...
The freelancer makes me think of Red Dwarf...
While something like the 600i makes me think of Star Trek...
And as some have noted, the reclaimer is reminiscent of Aliens...
I love love love the look of the freelancer. Once it gets its gold pass it’s going to be a beast.
The cutlass IS the better ship in general, but it just doesn't have soul for me, it feels like you're flying a space chinook, doesn't feel exciting... The freelancer though, it feels like an actual starship, it feels hands on to fly and demands your attention, it can also take a substantial hit, sometimes its withstood high speed crashes for me. plus its so cozey inside. I fell in love with it
after using both ships for a long time i keep going to the freelancer.
dual shield generators and four size 3 guns on turrets that behave like gimballed guns, clear winner for single player non pvp (and even pvp! ive won a few).
mount 4 quarrelers and they hit from 3800 meters out, you'll be sniping those claim jumpers ezpz. XL1 for qt drive, snowpack or coolcores for coolers, fr76/rampart for shields, genoa power plant.
In the top down view the freelancer reminds me so much of the Normandy from Mass Effect. For that reason alone it has a special place in my heart 💙
My first pledge that I made just before 2.0 dropped back in the day was the original Cutlass black. I loved it looks, it idea of it and the feeling of the whole ship. I also love the the rework but the original looks will always be my favourite.
I then added a Dragonfly Yellowjacket when that went into concept and last year I ordered Greycat and a Corsair.
Awesome comparison. There is one more thing with the Freelancer that has a quite big impact on the negative side, the small view out from the cockpit (wind shield). To set her down safely on the ground without any assistance from the outside, like 3rd person view, is a real pain especially now with the new VTOL mode. Right now, with the new economy system, its hard to get by as a trucker. The risk vs time vs profit is not as it used to be. Now its a much higher risk cause you need to land more often trying to sell your cargo which makes a big fat truck like this a sitting duck on the ground and with all that space, 120 units, well to fill her up which is the only way to earn some serious cash makes it a high risk to loose the whole cargo and lots of cash. Running delivery missions and pick up 4 or more packages, go long distance (as the Freelancer is made for) and deliver, pick up 4 or more back, its no risk of loosing cash and has quite a big profit. I did not buy the Freelancer Max to put some small packages in it, and to do combat missions, she is not agile enough. They need to tweak this economy systems cause of now, I cant see any use for doing cargo with her but it feels like we have become merged together, I know her, she knows me even if we fight once in a while but thats how a relation ship is ;) ♥
I prefer the Freelancer, the design reminds me of Firefly, but they are both really nice. I´m wondering about the Mercury as it will be a medium ship as well...
Same. I upgraded from a Freelancer to a Cutty, and then from a Cutty to a Mercury. I'm hoping that I made the right choice...
Funny. Because the freelancer mostly reminds me of Starbug from red dwarf. XD
I think it's a mixture of the shape of the front of the ship, the paint scheme of the MIS (Green and yellow? Really?), and the layout of the cockpit.
(4 seats, two by two... Is pretty much exactly the starbug cockpit.)
Of course, starbug is completely unarmed, and given it's interior layout probably closer to something like a 600i in size and features...
But it's still in the kind of territory that makes you wonder if it was some kind of inspiration for parts of the design...
I would like a more Firefly esque ship.
Freelancer is similar, but is too small to really compare, I guess the Carrack is more comparable in terms of size as a Firefly has a cockpit / bridge, sleeping quarters, a mess facility with kitchen, a medical bay with lounge, two docked shuttles, an engine room and a large cargo bay which can store at least one vehicle (as seen in Serenity).
I'm sure there are more rooms that I'm forgetting about.
I'm just content enjjoying my Glass of White Zinfandel while Gazing at the Stars and being Moved by an Opera Singer as my 890Jump Endlessly and Gracefully Somersaults Freely in orbit around a Colorful Planet!
Incredibly well considered depth of content. All you need to know about either of these ships prior to buying. A more technical version of ‘The Pilot’ from Elite Dangerous. Top Job.
I love my black, bought it so got the skin from the last event, it looks great in white and gold. Nice fighting ability and plenty of cargo space, 20 less than the Freelancer but i feel the Freelancer is bit less nimble if attacked.
Good comparison. Looking at them side by side, I reckon the Freelancer needs to be increased in size slightly. The living area would be really cramped for 4 crew, and a full cargo area blocks access to the components. It looks tiny next to the new Cutlass too.
I'd definitely lean towards some variant of the freelancer out of the two. I love the cutlass' bigass turret tho...maybe for solo play with occasional guest gunner.
I'd love to see you do a similar video on the Freelancer line. Cutlass too once the Red and Blue are released.
Great vid! Two of the most common ships about and a lot of backers are going to be wondering about them. I find it hard to go past the MAX, but it does always irk me with the narrow front window
I actually miss the side door by the pilot seats. If they kept that, you're be able to get to the top of the ship from there, would could be pretty cool
It's also worth noting that the Freelancer currently has just under 44k shield health, whereas the Cutlass only has 14k shield health.
You can easily fit a P52 Merlin in a Freelancer Max. It has to have the gear down, which folds the wings, and beware that re-logging on the bed loads the Merlin with gear up, and so far it always breaks one, the other or both wings. So it's only really useful within a single play session.
Both are amazing ships. I prefer the Cutlass myself but either will serve you well.
Thanks man: The Cutlass Black seems to be in my future. Mainly because the Freelancer handles like a flying bathtub.
No. Thank. You.
;)
Bath :)
I didn't know the Cutty could have a tractor beam. Awesome!
What a great video, thanks for answering one of the biggest questions I had about this game. Keep up the good work.
I really like these in-depth series; please do more of these videos.
Now I kinda wish the Freelancer had the VTOL engine bits that it had in the commercial video they released a while back. Could be useful, and if you could ever flip the engines or whatever, just imagine the maneuvers you could make!
Very quality video, thanks for taking the time to make/edit this!
I've been away from SC for quite a while, since 3.2. Just started up again a few days ago (3.6) and its so much smoother. Currently I have the Avenger Titan (did the upgrade from the Aurora a while back, which i miss). But I was watching this and i thought the 'Prospector' was a variant of the FreeLancer? It looks like it anyways..but maybe not because you would have likely mentioned it considering its a very specifically tasked ship. But thats what I wanted to add to my fleet eventually since I really enjoy the desolate location cargo grabs and mostly legal money making methods..I dont have a problem making it other ways though sometimes...its possibly my Titan is stocked full of WiDow right now trying to find places to unload all of it... ^_^
Thanks for this video mate! I'm still building my PC for this game but you've provided me with all the information that I need to decide on my first ship...I choose the Freelancer.
what a wonderful in-depth comparison of these ships! i loved the visuals as well, these are the best views of these i’ve ever seen.
That video at roughly 26:00 shows the Freelancer with Vtol ability, and earlier with the ability to fire both weapons opposite of each other... when would this be possible?
Also I do think the Freelancer should be about a meter wider and the turret points retracted, would make things so much easier.
Smashing job! Top notch. Extremely well thought out.
Thanks, this is a very good overview of these 2 very cool ships!
Is it a big disadvantage of the cuttlas that you can only get in from behind?
In theory, a player can wait at the hatch until I open it ?!
Kill me and take over the ship
Thx for Help
Well, there are alot of ships that have ramps like that, just lock your ship via the controls by the doors or cockpit. When you are going to the back of your ship check the area before you walk in really well so nobody is there to sneak on board and when you go inside or leave the ship you always always watch the ramp shut just incase somebody tries to get in. Clear your ship too because someone could get in the turret or a bed and if your not paying attention they will shoot you out of your seat when they can.
I absolutely understand why you compared the base to the cutty, but I do think it bears saying (and repeating, repeatedly) that any of the Freelancer variants are 100% better than the cutty at a specific role. That is, the MIS is an outright better combat vessel, the Max is an unquestionably better cargo vessel, and the DUR is going to out-range literally any ship in the game less than 60m long.
This is not to say the Cutlass is bad. For $100 I'd argue it's the single best value in the game AT THAT PRICE. But...it's still crap compared to any Freelancer variant at whatever that variant is specialized in. I'd especially call out the MIS because the Cutty is supposed to be a better fighter than the Freelancer in a 1v1, but the MIS will eat its lunch 9 times out of 10.
Still, great video. I'd love to see a comparison between the Cutlass Blue and the Freelancer MIS because I think that'd be a more direct comparison and really highlight the differences.
Also, I'd say anyone just starting the game would be wise to get a cutty first, then decide what you like best and CCU to whichever Freelancer variant that fits whichever role you prefer. It's a great way to get your footing in a medium ship and the upgrade cost from a cutty to any of the variants is reasonable. (The Loot & Scoot bundle is great for this because you can easily stick one Dragonfly in any of them.)
EDIT: This said, it is worth pointing out that you COULD open those side doors in space and have your 6 passengers in the cutty all whip out a rail cannon or (in 3.9) a FPS missile launcher for a quick burst of damage. It's a nasty tactic for a quick alpha strike that would fit perfectly in the bag of tricks of any space pirate.
What an amazing video! Content like this gets me so hype for this game!
I have been considering upgrading one of my base ships to a cutlass but I haven't done it so far. I have a Freelancer base and a max I also have a Reliant Kore. My aim in Star Citizen was to start a space trucking company. Eventually I plan to buy some of the giant haulers from the hull series but for now I just wanted to play with vehicles I could actually use in game. I have several other ships but they were just things I got to play with so I may upgrade some of them in the future.
To put this in Star Wars terms, the Freelancer (especially the Max) seems like a YT-1300, while the Cutlass Black is a Firespray. I started playing last night, and I picked up the Cutlass Black game package. I also have a Freelancer (not Max) in my fleet as a loaner, though I don’t know if that is by design. I’ll be ignoring that a Freelancer for the most part until I can afford to buy a Max. I’ll keep both Cutlass and Freelancer Max ships, using each for different purposes later on.
I have a Cutlass Black and a FL MAX. Love them both.
Now we just need a comparison with the mercury once it becomes available
1st! The cutlass is an overrated death trap! Great video.
Timothy J. Moulton overrated is an understatement
Nah, it's never the ship and ALWAYS the pilot
You're definitely right about the larger ships being impaired by lack of crew.
Though there are exceptions - the 600i for instance seems fine without a crew.
Yes it has two turrets, but the ships functions well enough without them.
Granted you'll have a hard time hitting small targets with the guns accessible to the pilot, but on the other hand the shields are now so powerful that it barely matters unless you've got about 5 such ships attacking you. Even then they have to be well coordinated to pose a threat.
When turret automation becomes possible, that would make it even more viable for the solo pilot, strange as that might seem.
Compare this to the other ships in that size category though, and you can definitely see it's the odd one out.
The constellation isn't even that big by comparison, and without turret gunners it loses a lot.
Something like the Retaliator is almost useless without crew.
the Hammerhead, while terrifying in theory, is extremely useless without a crew.
The reclaimer... I have no idea, but I don't think it holds up well for the solo pilot...
By comparison, the 600i is quite capable with just a pilot...
As to the ships in the comparison, I'd take the Freelancer over the cutlass. Though the reasons aren't all that well considered.
I might even do that when buying a ship ingame - I have several ships, but none of them are good cargo haulers - most are small ships, and the one exception, while huge, has the cargo capacity of a small ship. (and while it's variant has more cargo space, it's still not impressive - plus until such time as module swapouts become a thing, and modules can be bought ingame, that's a moot point for me anyway.)
I’m new to the game and trying to choose my 2nd ship to buy during invictus. Thanks for your point and the backstory and lore you added was cool
Why do we need bed for each crew member? I'm pretty sure that the player will disappear from bed at log out. And I think we can log out 1 by 1.
Or is there some hard limit on logging out? Like "all beds are full, you cant use it". Or logging in maybe? "you cant spawn at the ship, ship's crew is full".
I look forward to adding the Retaliator (with cargo modules) and Hull B to this comparo, which will probably both be comparable in cargo capacity, once they're realized, with overlapping but not quite apples to apples mission intent.
My thoughts on Cutlass series:
The recent update on server blades really changes the math on the Cutlass Black and Blue. Do not overlook the fact that the Cutlass has 2xS3 turret rather than the usual 2xS2. That turret is almost half of the ship's gun DPS so blades will almost double the DPS of a black or blue.
I find that a Cutlass Black looks way better when you consider it as a very large small ship rather than a very small medium ship. It's shields look way better on paper this way.
Unfortunately, its size, its single s2 shield hardpoint, a pilot controlled weapon loadout on par with an average small fighter (see above tho), and limited mobility compared to the other small fighters (particularly 325a and Avenger Titan as comparison points) means that it is NOT a good PvP choice against most ships in the game.
Caveat this with the Cutlass's excellent missile loadout, which can make ganks where the cutlass is the aggressor over before they even start.
Having said that, I expect a complete overhaul pass on s2 shields on ships. The Connie having the same shields as a freelancer is super strange. The Sabre having potentially more shield HP than the cutlass is weird too. Honestly I expect a lot to change when it comes to shields so try not to hold too much against the black, and I hope it gets a moderate buff to shield options.
Unfortunately, Cutlass Black is pretty much worthless for PvP (aside from missile spam) but is absolutely stellar as a PvE ship. Whereas the Avenger Titan is stellar in absolutely every multirole category while also being among the fastest ships in the game, the Cutlass Black seems like it actually made compromises in order to be multirole. I really see no problem giving the Cutlass a second s2 shield hard point, and I think the game might actually be better for it.
Love the side doors on the cutlass
The only thing I found missing was a bit if pricing detail! But, thanks for the info!
Just picked up a Cutlass and thanks for the review.
The Freelancer has Escape Pods as well. More survivability, yay!
The beds in the Cutlass are meant to eventually be escape pods
I wish the Cutlass had a food prep station and a shit/shower block. At the minute I just have to do it in my hand and fling it out the side doors.
I always thought the freelancer was much bigger than the Cutlass... But it's not.
"Why not both?" Asks the mustached man with the top hat and monocle.
I'm going to have both soon funny enough. I have a freelancer that I somehow got for free, and I'm going to trade in my Aurora for the cutlass.
@@idiocyincorporated7635 wat.. how did you get a freelancer for free?
@@Nebelrose i didn't apparently. It's a loaner everyone is getting till some bug is fixed
@@idiocyincorporated7635 What bug? The inarguably better financial venture it provides?
Not to mention the gold-plated rifle, pistol, and space jammies?
"pear shaped body, tiny wings and oversized behind"
My ideal woman
Had both but it goes to the Cutlass for me, just looks cooler but at the end of the day I love the freelancer, been there for me a lot
Like the style of this Video. Pretty calm, almost "lounge" like. Good voice.
Keep it coming 👍👍!
12:52 it's great to hear that the silly, arbitrary design of turret rails was an oopsie (at least in hindsight).
The Freelancer was the first ship I upgraded to. I still love the aesthetic of that boat, but it handles like a brick on ice skates and the cockpit view could be rated "piss-poor" at best. The Cutty was a lateral move from there and became one of my favorite ships. I was able to upgrade out of it, but man, I still miss it. The Cutlass Black is easily one of the most "bang-for-your-buck" ships available...unless, of course, you're doing long distance cargo hauling and don't mind flying a canoe through gravy. In that case, get a 'Lancer.
I just can't seem to decide. The extra room and fuel economy sounds like it would allow for much better money making for the Freelancer, but the other feel better to fly and is probably more flexible so you can choose more quest type.
Also, both can act as log in abd out point for 2 players, and that's all I need.
Time will tell. For now I have a freelancer in my hangar. Maybe closer to release I have better insight and can choose without regrets.
Roughly: Cutty = combat, Lancer = cargo. Love my Lancers, though!