I'm not sure if this is feasable in the time left before release, but what if each nation had their own specific "government issued ship" design, each using a separate model? The venerable EC-88 is a good ship, but one criticism I've heard many times is that it looks like a flying brick and it's the only option you have as a noob. Perhaps if each nation had their own special noob ship design each with its own strengths and weaknesses, the Serco, Itani and UIT would have more character. If the free ship is "government issued" after all, wouldn't each government provide a ship that reflects their character?

The Serco could have a blocky ship with slightly more armor that would be a little less maneuverable and would come with a slow but heavy hitting gov't issue plasma cannon.

The Itani could have a sleek ship that was slightly more maneuverable and came with an effecient, fast but low firepower gov't issue phased blaster.

The UIT could have a ship that looked like it was pieced together out of random odds and ends that had a little extra cargo space and came with a rapid firing gov't issue ion cannon.

The busses would still be available to buy of course (I know the vets couldn't live without 'em), but if each nation started with a different free ship and a different free weapon that reflected their character, it may help the three nations to feel a little more diverse.

RelayeR covers her Bus' sensors so it can't read what Phaserlight just wrote.

Why not give the early ships an actual gun instead? Y'know, flinging little pieces of metal here and there. 500 shots for 100c. A single piece of scrap metal would pay for the ammo refill and the rest would go to profit. It would make collecting cargo vital to continuing play.

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