I've been part of player-created fun where we put a Merlin in each of a Caterpillar's bays and use the Cat as an ersatz carrier. that scenario also works (kind of) using those Merlins as broadside guns for the Cat.
Aww yeah, that's the kind of aesthetics discussion I was hoping for. The rear cockpit makes the nose work like a giant crosshair, like you're constantly aiming down sights
Talking about "what fits in my ship?", I can confirm that a Nomas fits exactly inside the upper hangar of an 890J becoming a "snub fighter in it's own way" =)
I love the design with the huge bonnet. It’s so E type. I think it would be great and a missed opportunity if they don’t make another ship with the ability to let a merlin or archimedes dock. I’m thinking the Kraken could have a couple of docks. The Carrack possibly could have one when they get around to doing something with the modular pods on it.
Considering the fact that it's so dependent on other ships, I think the fairest portrayal of the Merlin is as an accessory to those other ships, rather than a viable and useful ship on its own. And, in that respect, the Merlin's "snub fighter" role, I think, does it a slight disservice. I wouldn't particularly use the Merlin as a fighter, unless I had to - but, it's smaller and cheaper to put at risk than its host ship, so I'd suggest kitting it out with stealth components and using it for scouting and peeking into places to make sure the host ship will fit, or would be safe moving in.
Hey, I know this thread is a bit dated now, but I use mine in every single XT mission and it seems to hold up very well as a fighter, though anything bigger than a vanguard gives me a lot of trouble, even with the 2 neutron cannons I have at the wings.I do agree with the stealth components choice. Mine is full stealth and i regard that as the only reason I've never died in one. Well except one time when I got creamed by a starfarer, but that was a traffic accident. Lol One thing I hate about it is the stock galling. Its ammunition is expended in about 15 seconds and is largely useless for any engagement lasting longer than a minute.
Hi again Farrister. I have a P-52 and I've flown it and its sister ship the P-72. Both ships are highly maneuverable and nice ships to fly. As you mentioned, the lack of a Quantum drive makes them kind of pointless to own. I have a Constellation Aquilla, and it has one underneath. I haven't attempted the docking/undocking in this patch yet, and I probably won't before the next patch is released. In all honesty, for a second support ship, I prefer the Pisces as it is small, comparably armed and has a Quantum drive. It will also carry cargo and two passengers when needed. Thanks for the great review as usual. Fly safe and I'll see you in the verse.
Love mine. Just wish the paint scheme was updated along with the Conny paint option. And sometimes that long nose is a pain and even more so when it catches sunlight 😳. It would be nice as well if you could rearm when you dock with the Conny.
Kind of wished I kept my Connie now but traded her for the MSR when it came out. Had no idea they would actually get everything working this soon after the MSR was released. Good review on interesting ship combo. o7
If you're determined and careful, you can fit a Merlin in an MSR! Supposedly the P72's wings are too big but the 52 should fit fine as long as you take it slow
I love my merlin. I managed to kill a black it it a few years ago when the docking thing worked on the connie. Fast, maneuverable and that gattling is great. Just don't let anyone get you in their sights, lol. Um, asteroids are bad too.
@@-NateTheGreat The greatest threat from earth to the deepest and most fortified spaces in Vanduul Space, the most deadly thing will remain frame-drops.
I also just thought that we might be able to rip out everything inside a torpedo. Just imagine being shot at with a torpedo, and then the Torpedo breaks and a Merlin emerges. I know, this is totally stupid, but to me it sounded stupid enough to be a YT comment.
While I definitely think the rework to boost in 3.14 was an improvement over the old system, I must admit I found the Merlin's overheat warning pretty funny. "Engines - major system issues."
One thing I've been curious about but have been too much a weenie to try because I'm a penny pincher and dont wanna waste money; Do loadout changes to the Merlin persist when you retrieve the Connie? I noticed a Merlin in my ship storage after upgrading another ship to the Andromeda so I assume that is there for the purpose of upgrading the ship/taking it out solo?
It's a really interesting ship but haven't had the chance to try it out in 3.13 yet. The nose seems to get very close to the reticle and the muzzle fire doesn't help with that.
I have a very important question... so I was flying in my Andromeda doing bounties and I might've lost half a ship when smashing into an asteroid when circling with enemy... so instead of going back for repair I've decided to try out P-52 and oh boy it's great, little agile devil... the question I have is - how the hell do you track back to your ship? I've lost my Andromeda in space and couldn't find my way back to it, had to Backspace my way out of this one :(
Oooof, tough one! Sometimes you can track through your UI, but not reliably, or go back to a spawn terminal and use that to track it, but again, not reliably. Try to keep a friend aboard to remember where you parked? xD
@@Farrister Wait, what? There's actually no way to path back to your ship? WHAT? xD Also, I accidentally ejected in space from Merlin, thankfully I was standing still so ship didn't just fly away BUT... it just disappeared a second after I went out for a space walk :X
Alright. Alright. Fine. I've done my ABSOLUTE BEST to ignore SC due to it's LUDICRUS drama and timetable, but flying /that/, deployed FROM another ship? And it being the Andromeda? YOU FUCKING WIN, SC.
@@blackworldtraveler3711 Eh, but the cat *is* good, at what it does. The Merlin really isn't, right? It isn't "useless" just not good. I don't much care for the cat, or several other ships, but that doesn't make them "not good."
Dude, maybe you need to look up the term, "Tour." We get nothing from your 200% speed, janky run around. Your words mean nothing...visuals are worth THOUSANDS of your words. Show the ships, please.
