***NOTE ON POLL***
There are 9 basic cruisers, but polls only allow up to 8 options.
Kestrel was cut since it's the default ship, though by all means let us know what you think.
************************
So, after ~50 hours of time (on and off) in FTL, I've finally unlocked all 18 ship variants.
(9 Cruisers * 2 Types each)
FTL is brutally difficult, but I love how your cruiser choice drastically alters how you approach the game. Each cruiser is fairly well defined, with redundancies being more intricate and lets the player better define their style of play.
So, what are your favorite, best, worst, and least favored cruisers?
Terminology/Shorthand:
When I refer to a ship, I refer to it by its generic model followed by its variant or "Type".
For clarity, each ship has a default name matched to its type.
"Nesasio" = Stealth A
"DA-SR12" = Stealth B
"The Gila Monster" = Mantis A
"Basilisk" = Mantis B
Etc.
This works for every cruiser except the Kestrel and Osprey.
Though the Osprey is generically called the "Federation Cruiser" in the list before you unlock it, both ships are actually "Federation Cruisers"
(Kestrel doesn't have a "generic list name" since you start the game with it)
So, I call the Kestrel by its full name: Kestrel(A) & Red-Tail(B).
There are 9 basic cruisers, but polls only allow up to 8 options.
Kestrel was cut since it's the default ship, though by all means let us know what you think.
************************
So, after ~50 hours of time (on and off) in FTL, I've finally unlocked all 18 ship variants.
(9 Cruisers * 2 Types each)
FTL is brutally difficult, but I love how your cruiser choice drastically alters how you approach the game. Each cruiser is fairly well defined, with redundancies being more intricate and lets the player better define their style of play.
So, what are your favorite, best, worst, and least favored cruisers?
Terminology/Shorthand:
When I refer to a ship, I refer to it by its generic model followed by its variant or "Type".
For clarity, each ship has a default name matched to its type.
"Nesasio" = Stealth A
"DA-SR12" = Stealth B
"The Gila Monster" = Mantis A
"Basilisk" = Mantis B
Etc.
This works for every cruiser except the Kestrel and Osprey.
Though the Osprey is generically called the "Federation Cruiser" in the list before you unlock it, both ships are actually "Federation Cruisers"
(Kestrel doesn't have a "generic list name" since you start the game with it)
So, I call the Kestrel by its full name: Kestrel(A) & Red-Tail(B).
*Rock B, aka "Shivan"
Looks badass, has a strong starting crew and two good weapons.
(Fire Bombs are underrated, and Heavy Pierce Laser is a very good weapon unique to this ship)
The lack of airlocks and door controls sucks, but the starting crew is very good at fending off intruders, and are fireproof to boot.
Crystal A would be my second favorite. Good crew, great weapons, awesome looking ship...but such a weird layout.
Looks badass, has a strong starting crew and two good weapons.
(Fire Bombs are underrated, and Heavy Pierce Laser is a very good weapon unique to this ship)
The lack of airlocks and door controls sucks, but the starting crew is very good at fending off intruders, and are fireproof to boot.
Crystal A would be my second favorite. Good crew, great weapons, awesome looking ship...but such a weird layout.
*Slug B, aka "Stormwalker"
No med-bay = painful. It's the only ship without a med-bay for that matter...
Healing Burst is the substitute, but it's very annoying to use properly.
Artemis Missiles are good as early shield-busters and late-game point-fire guns.
Never as main weapons.
Even though I get how the ship is supposed to work (missile their weapons, board), I just don't like it.
No med-bay = painful. It's the only ship without a med-bay for that matter...
Healing Burst is the substitute, but it's very annoying to use properly.
Artemis Missiles are good as early shield-busters and late-game point-fire guns.
Never as main weapons.
Even though I get how the ship is supposed to work (missile their weapons, board), I just don't like it.
*Red-Tail, aka "Kestrel B" or "Default B"
Very strong, diverse, starting crew.
One basic laser sucks. Four is remarkably good.
It's all about fire-control, and the starting weapons allow for very controlled tactical volleys. Better still, it's all firepower that isn't ammo-dependent.
Having a diverse crew means access to more Blue options in dilemmas; plus starting with a Mantis makes fending off boarding parties much easier than in the Kestrel (which is a great ship in its own right).
Very strong, diverse, starting crew.
One basic laser sucks. Four is remarkably good.
It's all about fire-control, and the starting weapons allow for very controlled tactical volleys. Better still, it's all firepower that isn't ammo-dependent.
Having a diverse crew means access to more Blue options in dilemmas; plus starting with a Mantis makes fending off boarding parties much easier than in the Kestrel (which is a great ship in its own right).
*Mantis A "The Gila Monster" & Stealth A "Nesasio"
My worst record is skewed against Mantis A and Stealth A, since those ships are both inherently tougher to play, and their achievements are kind of nasty (Mantis A is a luck-driven mess)
However, it's skewed because I had to play them so much to get their variants.
I imagine I might have similar troubles as Mantis B (which starts with extra shielding and a 4-man teleporter...but no weapons!) or Stealth B.
Either way, these ships have some nasty consistency and luck issues. Automated Scouts and Auto-Assault Drones are extremely dangerous to both of these ships, since they are effectively immune to boarding parties (very bad news for Mantis A), and regularly pack both beam weaponry and good shields (vs Stealth).
My worst record is skewed against Mantis A and Stealth A, since those ships are both inherently tougher to play, and their achievements are kind of nasty (Mantis A is a luck-driven mess)
However, it's skewed because I had to play them so much to get their variants.
I imagine I might have similar troubles as Mantis B (which starts with extra shielding and a 4-man teleporter...but no weapons!) or Stealth B.
Either way, these ships have some nasty consistency and luck issues. Automated Scouts and Auto-Assault Drones are extremely dangerous to both of these ships, since they are effectively immune to boarding parties (very bad news for Mantis A), and regularly pack both beam weaponry and good shields (vs Stealth).
