[mjn.mixael]

I'm going to work on cb_sm1-05_e (pictured below) while I wait on this stuff to be completed here. (Go and do one, I'd very much appreciate it!).

The suggestion has been brought up that I change one of the science cruisers to an Imhotep (pictured below). I think it's a good idea as it gives the scene a little more interest as right now it has 5 science cruiser, a Deimos, Sobek and the Aquitaine. The Imhotep also has a nice scanner thing right on the front for this very purpose.

The problem is the Imhotep is non-canon. So... all's been explained. Place your votes!

[attachment deleted by admin]

[General Battuta]

we are the canon now

[Galemp]

The Imhotep is, of course, featured in ST:R as a Vasudan counterpart to the Faustus.

[T-LoW]

But you never see one in the FS2-Campaign.
Also those strange green scanner-rays look really odd. They remind me of the Borg holding beam (and you also don't see them in any campaign ever). I would rather make them violet or something like that.

Was the vasudan battle-group even there when they first discovered Knossos? I remember the Psamtik and its BG follow a few days/weeks after the Aquitaine arrives in Gamma Draconis...

(so I voted for 'No')

[General Battuta]

The Imhotep is, of course, featured in ST:R as a Vasudan counterpart to the Faustus.

That's not an argument for it. It could be featured in Jesus Christ's campaign collaboration with Jason Scott and it wouldn't make a difference. The important thing is that it's an interesting replacement for the

actually you know what, I'm against this now, not because of any grudge against ST:R but because I don't think we can avoid this looking like some kind of ST:R-is-new-canon gig. MUST CHANGE VOTE

[Droid803]

I don't mind.
CBanis and cutscenes always had little quirks anyway which lead to inconsistencies, even amongst 's stuff, rule of cool wins.

[Black Wolf]

I like the concept of the Imhoteph, but it's quite low poly, and the texturing needs work to bring it up to modern standards. I'd say either leave them as Fausteses or pop in a Setekh (equally low poly, but slightly better textured, and at least it's Canon).

[Galemp]

Battuta: Just trying to familiarize people with the Imhotep who might not recognize it. 

And BW: You haven't seen the most recent FSPort MediaVPs, have you?

[Aurora Paradox]

I have no problem with replacing one of the Terran science cruisers with an Imhotep.  My logic is as follows.  The Knossos is a great scientific discovery.  It would make sense that the Vasudans would want to study the portal themselves.  In addition, I'm guessing excluding the Vasudans from studying the portal wouldn't go over very well.

EDIT: It is possible that a Vasudan science cruiser was present studying the portal and was not shown in the briefing ANI.

[Droid803]

Yeah, Vasudans like their historical artifacts

[rscaper1070]

It would make sense. The science community is probably the most integrated segment GTVA society.

[Rodo]

If I voted to leave the Ravana as it was, I'm voting to leave this one as it is as well.


Not that I like it, we'll just have fewer problems that way IMO.

[General Battuta]

Yeah I'm pretty much with Rodo.

[mjn.mixael]

Hmm, this is interesting. I expected a resounding "no". It seems one sided, but I think this needs far more votes. My intentions are to go with the results of the poll.

[MatthTheGeek]

Basically my thoughts on this are :
- Zods are teh awesum.
- Imhotep is teh awesum.
- Retail ANIs have always seemed too Terran-centric for me, or at least too strongly sided : Terrans on one side, Zods on the other. The only time where Zods and Terrans are seen cooperating on an ANI are the Carthage and Dashor when they go happily pwn some Rakshasa.
- It makes sense from a fluff point of view, for all the reasons listed above.
- Changing a couple of Faustus in Imhotep in an ANI won't alter gameplay at all, hence the principles of the FSU remains safe.
- If people dislike Imhotep in this ANI, they can still modify their MVPs to use the retail ANI.
- Rule Of Cool.

[Rga_Noris]

Use the Imhotep. It would not really change canon at all, as we know that both Vasudans and Terrans studied the portal. You are just adjusting the scene to show that.

Some may argue that since Fausti were the only ones in the vid, that the canon would be that only they scanned it, and that Terrans and Vasudan used the same ship. Those people suck. Beat that.

[General Battuta]

fiiiiine maybe you're right

[headdie]

I hit no because the Imhotep is a non canon ship and canon is supposed to be all that is holy around here

[General Battuta]

I hit no because the Imhotep is a non canon ship and canon is supposed to be all that is holy around here

hm maybe YOU'RE right 

[bigchunk1]

Is this going into the retail campaign? I'm all for bigger and better, but does this just improve what's there or change it entirely?
 
We are talking about taking a ship that was not in retail and using it to replace one that was. This might be seen as an upgrade, but I see it as a change in artistic direction of the game. One might even be able to derive from that .ani that there were more Vasudan scientists/assets working on the project than there actually were. I say this not to go on some Anti-Vasudan rant but to be clear about the implications of this otherwise slight change. 
 
If the point of FSU is to upgrade Freespace as it is, then no.
 
If the point of FSU is to change the design of the game to make it better, this works, but that's a slippery slope.
 
I'm going to vote no, because I feel that volition made something artistically distinct and that should be celebrated. Retail is retail. FSU thus far has done an excellent job walking this fine line. I'm all for awesomeness, but if you want to see the Imhotep, just make a new mod. TVWP is a great place for that ship.
 
I'm not going to puke my heart out if this goes through, but I think it's important to be aware of the change that's being made to the original design of Fs2; Perhaps in a small, but a very distinguishable way.
 
If however, the creative direction of FSU is in fact to radically change the game. I would be in favor of something more like ST:R for the retail campaign which distinctly separated itself from its 'flawed' cannon ancestor. 
 
Sorry if this post sounds angry. I'm not angry MjnMixael on IRC encouraged me to voice my opinion. He seems very open to discussion.