A camera ship is a no go since I WANT people to see me and interact with me. I've solved the problem of taking photos by going to cockpit view (CTRL+V) and setting the cockpit graphics off. It gives a big enough view and can be used in limited ways to even take vids. The only downside of this is the turret mode can't be used to take vids. I'll probably make a separate camera-ship char if I need the turret view that badly.
I don't actually mind being hostile to people at first. I find it enjoyable to "get a word (permission) in for me" from a faction to able to go to their turf like I RPed with GC guy. Now I have an invitation and do whatever it takes (bribes) to go neutral to with GC to able to continue the story.
The reporters should not have a free go everywhere. But the game mechanics dictate that I have to have a endurable ship to go through minefields and take the heat from NPCs (so that I can ignore them).
And I don't mind a pirate pirating me. On the contrary. It gives me a good story opportunity.
So the constraints for a ship are. NO CAMERA SHIP
A) What I have in mind is that Mr. Hamm works solo, so a cruiser with crew is out of the picture (or any other crew needing ship).
B) It is "Civilian" and plausible for him to own.
C) Can take a heat somewhat from fighter NPCs. Good armor and shields and agility is a plus. But not too light either that it gets in a way of typing. It's not nice to fly circles while typing. Sort of kills the atmosphere.
D) Non threatening in sense that people become curious and not attack straight away. It's PvP capabilities don't have to that great.
I had a Kusari Explorer but it's not very plausible to fly around in GB and Bretonia frowns upon it.
Spatial would give the right impression because it's an Exploration ship. How bad is the IMG stain on it? Bacon said that it has a history...
The other one is Armored Transport (I like it's handling and survivability, but it sort of gives a wrong signal) or another SHF.
And thanks for the escort offer. But I think it complicates things and might scare the potential interviewees away. Not to mention complications if my escort starts shooting the NPCs out of the sky in front of the interviewee.
By the way. That RP cargo someone suggested is a very nice touch. It never occurred to me.
I've been approached via PM by at least one player wanting to join the reporting thing. It's fine by me. Solo reporters can post their own investigative stories to Sirius Monthly. Just don't to the same stories that are already being done.
I hope this clear thing up a bit. I'll copy the reqs list to first post too for people not bothering to read through the whole thread.
I've decided to go for Freelancer ID eventually. How does one get it most easily?
You can buy an FL ID on Houston. That way you can just get the LPI to like you enough early on and get it there. It's on BHG stations as well, but that would be a tad harder.
I'm still all for the Griffin, it's light, civilian, unimposing, but still can fight if it needs to.
but.. pls help me understand something -- r u saying that the camara ship's hull is invisible to all other players..?? is this some knd of bug because i posted about it eslewhere (cloak device) and it wasn't really clear. but great reporter idea -- i really miss global chat so this really could help a bit.
the ship after the camara -- i think maybe an Armoured Transport really. thats for VIPs after all. thats a pretty tough vessel?
Freelancer iD is available in several locations -- 2 of which: Planet Houston and Planet Berlin in New Berlin i think.. To get the ID you have to be friendly with the faction in control of the base. Houston is the LPI i think and Berlin is the Rheinland police --- you have to verify this by talkng in the bar to find out whic ocntrols the base. The easiest way to get friendly with them is to bribe via bar -- otherwise the other easy way is to just do missions. Finally, most new players end up getting most friendly with Police forces anyway becaus ethey just end up killing so many Mollys, Hessians and basic pirate forces. So you may already be "greenlighted" to get the ID.
(scrath this one -- saw it would have problems with Bretonia)
the other one i might recommend is the kusari cruise liner. you would then have to be a large media corporation to rp it maybe. that means less zipping around -- more station yourself in system and invite interviews.
It's an IMG ship. Because of this, people like the Outcasts and Bretonians might find you biased and take offense at the ship. I, personally, would think the Armored Transport better.
EDIT: Even better, the Camara freighter. Small, kinda agile, good armour. I like it.
[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.
if you want to be working at all near hostile npcs, especially in the borderworlds, use an Armored Transport.
The AT flies like a fighter, has a decent bit of firepower, about half as much armor as a gunboat, and can use a 100k advanced transport shield. The thing is a beast for survivability, and easily available to civilians.
someone tell me? is there a difference between the CamAra ship and the CamEra ship? i think they are the same ship..?
Cos i still don't understand why people favour this ship for taking screenshots -- is it the case that the ship is invisible to other players or something?
I tried playign the camara and it seemed totally normal..?
(or is there a specific camera ship for taking photos...)
' Wrote:someone tell me? is there a difference between the CamAra ship and the CamEra ship? i think they are the same ship..?
Cos i still don't understand why people favour this ship for taking screenshots -- is it the case that the ship is invisible to other players or something?
I tried playign the camara and it seemed totally normal..?
(or is there a specific camera ship for taking photos...)
The Camera Ship (found aboard a battleship - I know it's name but too many players are joking with flying it) is a Starflier-design vessel, while the Camara is a freighter as you probably seen it.
by Serpentis (1) and Blackstarr (3)
and... ElDragonNegrodelaDonna, Dexter.Hovis, Syd.Montague... ah, and of course Dietrich.von.Claussen