[Systematic]

I don't plan on doing this in any of the missions I make but is it possible to make the player say....an Orion. You see, I set the default ship to Orion. When I play the mission, would it allow me? Probably not (after all, how would I use all the turrets?). I'm just curious

Volition rules!

[Qent]

It's definitely possible. Have you read this?

[Systematic]

It's definitely possible. Have you read this?

I meant in FRED1; and I mean without using the ship editor. I mean right-clicking on your icon and choosing the cap-ship one.

[el_magnifico]

I don't plan on doing this in any of the missions I make but is it possible to make the player say....an Orion. You see, I set the default ship to Orion. When I play the mission, would it allow me? Probably not (after all, how would I use all the turrets?). I'm just curious

Volition rules!

Why don't you go ahead and try it? FRED will give you some warnings, but it's possible and I guess everyone has done it before (or at least I know I did).

If your ship doesn't fires its beams, remember to beam-free it. Or alternatively, go to Editors -> Mission Specs and tick "All Ships Beam-Freed By Default" under the "Flags" section.

Have fun.

[Systematic]

It's definitely possible. Have you read this?

About that, my AI allies never care if my AI turrets hit them, they only care if MY turrets hit them (too many times of course). LOL

[Solatar]

The only real "fun" I've had playing a capship is flying a Fenris/Leviathan against an Aten or a Cain in a FS1 environment.  Witt just blob turrets you have to be careful about which direction you're pointing.  Expose most of your turrets, do more damage; but if you have a few turrets at 10% you have to "hide" them so they can repair without being destroyed.

Closest to "tactical" I've come. 

[Mongoose]

There's a fun little single-mission mod called "War" floating around where you pilot a beam-freed Deimos.  It sort of plays itself for the most part, but there is something enjoyable about bring an entire broadside of AAA and flak against a single fighter.