Star Citizen 3.18 - RAFT Ship Review - A Practical Usability View | Should You Buy
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- I do a ship review of the Star Citizen RAFT from a practical usability view, and less about stats; though stats are included. Is the Star Citizen RAFT a good value? I focus this Star Citizen ship review around cargo hauling both now an in light of the ongoing Star Citizen cargo refactor. I examine it't utility as a 2 person ship, and see if it can also serve as a multi-purpose ship. This Star Citizen Pisces RAFT has a more narrow focus on cargo hauling than other ship, but does it in a unique way not seen on other Star Citizen ships! Should you buy the RAFT? You make you own decision after watching this Star Citizen Ship Review of the RAFT...fresh from the Star Citizen 3.18 PTU version!
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Hardware:
Case: Corsair 4000D
CPU: Intel i7 12700K @ 3.61 GHz, 12 Cores
RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance @ 4800 Mhz
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3070Ti, 8GB RAM
Mic: Shure SM58
Pre-Amp/Mixer: M-Audio, M-Track
Of all the ships in Star Citizen I felt like the tour I did on the RAFT left me the most impressed. The way everything is set up to construct this compact, two-person 'ship life is home life' was absolutely bang on. It honestly feels like a road trip/RV ship that also hauls, lol.
if you like the RV experience for 2 people, take a look at the 400i. (it can actually accomodate 3 people), and has 2 garages. Enormous Quantum fuel tank. I changed the quantum drive for the fastest in the game. It consumes the most fuel but since the tank is big it does not matter. I can go to Microtec in like 10 mins. My favorite ship so far.
Good review of the raft. I can see this ship being liked by a lot of players who are only interested in space trucking.
Love the Tonka Truck colors!
Who doesn't love the Argo orange! :D ...though the carbon is nice on the MOLE, so... XD!
Something many people dont realize is this ships landing gear. it sits high enough while landed to straddle cargo, ground vehicles, rocky terrain, wreckage debris, or even stairs. This allows it to land in locatons most other ships couldnt. In addition, this ship can function as a mobile operating base for a 2 man crew. while landed your ship has now become a fortified ground base, its high armor and hp making it better suited to taking hits. Ships in atmo are much ezier to hit with this ships 2xs3 guns. when armor is added later i feel this take will be even more viable.
Used it for some drug dealing and works very well. The sturdiness of the ship compared to its size really makes you feel difficult to kill
The three containers look much too small in relation to the size of the ship. The Raft should be able to load at least twice as many containers.
No, because has a giant Quantum fuel tank.
@@jaroslavsladek8604 what does that have to do with the cargo array and its containers?
I think that the RAFT could be good with some Modules built for it. Think of the possibilities you can have with different modules that you can just pick up, and drop off. Maybe put in a safety feature where it will drop and pickup once landed. Having a medical or vehicle module would be so nice to have.
I hope you're right. More than any other ship, I feel that special modules will be essential to the Raft's utility. Habitat modules, garage modules, mobile medical units, portable fuel tanks, etc...
If the system in used ONLY for the specific 32SCU cargo containers, then there's really no point of the ship design at all.
While the raft is capable of long runs, it's likely the large fuel reserves are more intended to keeping it going through multiple shorter hops through a workday given its' ability to quickly swap out shipping containers where more runs equal more profit.
True, though right now it does chow through a fair bit of hydrogen fuel...but that might could also be adjusted. Great point though and makes perfect sense.
@@Oearth It makes no sense. This is a thing the community talked itself into - that a ship that dedicates more volume to interior living space than cargo and has one of the largest quantum fuel tanks in the game and is totally unaerodynamic is somehow intended to be a short range local transport for running goods from another ship or station down to the planet. It's absurd but it's what people have come up with to explain why it's such an atrocious cargo ship. (Mainly due to lack of cargo capacity.)
Nice to see you back "in the verse" with another great video and solid ship review! As always, the points are all valid and excellent and the speculation is reasoned and appropriate. I also think you nailed it with your thoughts on the RAFT's "pace of play", not being a ship that serves to those who are in a hurry, but rather to those who like a more "measured" pace. That is one of the reasons I like my Hull-A. Yes, it's slow and could (honestly) use a buff to its maneuvering thrusters and brakes, but it's a good fit for me because I am in no hurry when I play (unless the situation calls for urgency!).
Looking forward to some new vids revolving around 3.18's additions!
Cheers!
Canuck_2099 :)
Indeed my friend! A little excited about this 3.18 release as well. Lots of game movement, and I get to take the cover off my Vulture in the garage and give it a good drive!! :D
Whoa your first SC vid in 5 months! Welcome back!
Excellent video. This thing is underappreciated from a functionality standpoint for sure! I've always imagined the quick pickups and drop-offs of the containers will be useful in industrial operations...like feeding a Pioneer material for printing outposts, or supplying a refinery with raw ores to refine...things like that. But obviously when loading and unload timers are in, this will be great for simple high-value, low-volume freight/hauling/trading.
BTW it goes for $125 so it's a very clear and easy upgrade from the Freelancer IMO.
Yes! It's been a while!! :D The 3.18 version has some interesting content, and I'll be able to finally take my long ago purchased Vulture out of garage for a test drive, so I plan to do a little more SC content.
@@Oearth awesome to hear! Always loved your SC content.
Just brought one, not into cargo, yet its as far as i want to go with this profession, i don't need to do grind as i own all my ships, my gameplay is on pure indulgence and fun. The Raft with the new paints is an overall cute bundle, nice design, well laid out interior, nice window/diner view, and has the potential to be a great little starter once its full feature set is implemented. Nice one
I like the Argo design language. I think it should have double the cargo capacity, double stacking the containers. That forward facing docking ring really makes it feel that this ship might have a dedicated parent ship where it is supposed to dock and integrate like the Constellation series.
Interesting idea that a new/dedicated ship would be an intended match for it's docking capability!
I have actually seen official game art with double stacked boxes. I can’t remember where exactly, but if I am right you may be able to do this in the future
Yep more cargo and S3 shields. Thing is huge. Right now the Taurus is my cargo ship.
I'm torn between this and the max. Right now the max seems better in every way, but later iterations of the cargo refactor almost guarantee that will change. The max's 120 scu isn't enough fit 4x32 containers so it remains to be seen if it'll have the same or better capacity. Either way the max will surely take longer to load and thus lose its 'profit per hour' edge. Lastly, for the inferior, the raft is SO much more ship than the max. Gun racks, suit storage, places to sit, mustard AND ketchup provided in the mess. No contest.
... except for the next year most likely the max will have better profit per hour, and will always retain better handling, speed, armament, and versatility. But what self respecting space trucker cares about any of that?
I do love the Max! It's still on my list of in-game ships to buy (and I hope that doesn't change after it gets reworked a little for components), but like you, the RAFT has different vibe to it and a completely different SCU box size and loading system, so it's a different kind of hauler for sure. I'm really anxious to see how they implement the loaded for internal and external ships as the progress more with the cargo refactor.
I went to buy the Max but this just came out and was way cheaper, carried almost as much and has a comfy hab. Elev issue aside I havent regretted my decision. Its like a Winebago built by Catepillar. Prob 2nd best cockpit view in SC too.
True on the view - much better than the Freelancer series in that regard.
Best view being? ... IMO best view is the MISC mining ship.
I'm a career, long-haul, truck driver...
That's PRECISELY what the Raft is:
A Long-Haul Truck
The HULL series, and Caterpillar, are basically Cargo Freighters. The Freelancers are Box Trucks / Moving Trucks.
In Trucking and Shipping, we have what is known as INTERMODAL freight. This utilizes those big shipping containers that you see on trains, cargo ships, and trucks. That's essentially what the Raft uses. Until those cargo boxes become a heavily utilized, in-game item, then the Raft's capabilities are essentially worthless. The entire point of these containers in the real world is that they can be pre-loaded, shipped, and then unloaded, quickly, without unnecessarily tying up the power units (ships/trucks/trains) used to actually transport them. This is where the Raft is SUPPOSED TO shine. Quick cargo swaps.
Sadly, until FREIGHT TERMINALS become a thing, the Raft will never outshine ANY of the other cargo haulers.
Always a gift to get an Oearth video about SC. Thank you sir.
Happy Holidays and all the best in the new year!
Anyone else wondering about the "bumpers" above the cockpit area?
I'm wondering if there's any way in the future that these could be used almost like a magnetic grappling system? If this ends up being a thing, the utility of the Raft goes WAY up. Just adding this turns the Raft into a "tug" or "tow truck". Considering the developers are also claiming the Raft will have a tractor beam capable of moving and placing the massive 32scu cargo containers, then the same tractor beam would be more than capable of towing small and medium ships as well. 🤷♂️
@Tim Decker - In a developer Q&A, they answered that very question! They said the bumpers were purely decorative, and had no functional role. They also addressed the tractor beam it has for helping load cargo and if it could be used to tow a ship. The answer to that was "The tractor beam is designed to only move cargo containers. So, unless a vehicle has the same volume or mass as a cargo container, it won’t be able to be towed." Which sounds like it's possible, but pretty limited. hope that helps with more of the nuances of the ship!
Thanks for the review! Glad to see you making SC content! Happy Holidays
I think they should design a version of the RAFT for delivering Buildings to sites.. so the standard modular buildings on planets. Then a dedicated bigger ship for larger stuff. But a RAFT able to drop and deploy a base - with airlock, accommodation and a med station in one go - would be awesome for every faction.
I can envision that - perhaps “cargo container home” like for do these days in RL. 👍🏼
Should be able to haul at least 4 times the cargo it currently does, it's got room for it! 3 boxes pfffffffft sadge.
I've seen reports that the RAFT's elevator is working n the 3.18 PTU patch.
Awesome! …and needed.
Great video. Really love the vibe of this ship but not buying it for real or in game until the elevator is fixed 100%.
This is by far my favorite ship. I love the exterior and interior space as well. If only my elavator didnt have bugs :)
You should try Drake Vulture. Going with 64 meters per second no after burners while going up to the space and 240 max with after burners. That ship should be called Drake Crab instead of Vulture due to both the looks and speed. xd
Hey Oerth, I think you can always check/confirm prices through the upgrade menu. Choose select "all ships" on the left side and you'll get the current 125$ price. Which feels like too much to me, comparing it to the freelancer as you did.
The RAFT matches it's name. It's a big ol' barge and I personally like it. I use it to transport the mined materials I would collect. I'll be using it a lot more once those crates on the back can be opened up.
A thing I am disappointed about, is that regardless of size, you can carry only 3 containers, if you take smaller ones you can not pick up 6 or 9 containers. It will always only be 3.
sounds to me a bit as if the raft is not necessariely intended as a cargo transport in its own right, but to accompany a convoy, to help loading and unloading and carry some extra crates while doing so
Interesting point!
The RAFT is 125$ at the moment on the store but it's not often available. you can buy it during events usually
Thanks for sharing, and where’s Mobie?
Mobie is on a Destination Vacation at the North Pole. ;-)
The RAFT is, i think, one of those Cargo ships that is build to get the Job done no matter the circumstances. I would even dare to Drop Frontline supplys with, behind some marine or so. The sturdyness is unparalleld. i once stuck in the Walls of NB for over half an Hours until the Ship exploded finally. never had even close as long with ANY other ship before. i bought it day one and regret it. And very likely will never regretting it. This will be later on my Main daily Cargo driver anything Cargo, like hauling my Ores or salvages around.
A thing to note, that if one of the VTOL thruster engines is... missing. The flyability is difficult especially in planet orbit, its doable but when you lose 2 engines it gets VERY difficult to control your ship. Plus side if you crash with moderate speed (50+) you can survive a crash landing without (heavy)damage
Its an amazing looking ship, the biggest problem is landing/taking off in wind :D literally sideways, but after upgrading QT drive, its a rlly good cargo hauler, with ton of QT Fuel.
EDIT: With the bugged elevator, Airlock is the only way, how to leave raft atm :D
Funny you mention the wind! I also had the thing blowing around a bit. Other ships do too, but it would be nice if what seems like a heavier blocky ship might be a little more stable, but I suppose it’s just part of the challenge! :)
I always look for alternative gameplay in the use of my ships. I think the RAFT is going to be good at Salvage. Yes...Salvage. If you examine those 32 SCU boxes, on one end they have a door that can be opened. I think the RAFT will be excellent at salvaging large weapons and components from derelict ships, storing them in those 32 SCU boxes.
If they do allow access (not just through an inventory screen, but physically), it definitely opens some additionally possibilities. :)
It could be efficient for serving groups of Vultures doing salvage, both on planets or in zero-G. Just drop off multiple empty 32 SCU containers, which the Vultures can fill with 1 SCU crate output. The RAFT then picks up full containers and takes the material to sell.
@@mattp1337 ...When CIG finally decide to get off their hinnies and attribute these ships with all of their designed features, the sandbox gameplay will be endless.
I would prefer the Freelancer Max over the Raft any day, even though she flies like a schoolbus she holds more cargo, can be loaded with a vehicle and is more versatile, i am sorry but to me the Raft seems like a bad alternative :--) nice vid though
Last sale RAFT sale $125 so its more than Freelancer. Love the interior living space and believe its ability to move containers from Hull-C,D,E drops to planet/moon outposts, spaceports will be fun industrial game play. CIG the busted elevator panel is F'n Redunkulous! How long will U ignore this seriously broken ship people paid real $$$ to enjoy. Ring the Shame Bell CIG, Shame, Shame, Shame.
"ingame money...shakedown...while now...'
is this game live?
So what makes the RAFT special still doesnt work at 3.18? Kind of disappointing but it was my fault for expecting
yeah, both of its glowing boons (armor and fast cargo) are still filed under "coming eventually"
but the freelancer have pilot weapons, why raft doesnt?
Have they fixed the elevator?
I think by making the engineering deck so big, CIG is letting us know that the success of a Raft duo will depend on the copilot managing the ships resources. I think it will be the second most efficient ship after the Hull series while being more secure and having better amenities & tuning capabilities.
Pretty much unusable? What are you talking about? Jump out from the docking collar and re enter with elevator. Don't see the problem.
But, can you cargo on it? i mean, i have a mole, could i cargo the raft in the station to sell?
Yes. At least at this point in the game the ability magic-transfer materials directly into the fixed containers works like any other ship.
+10
Appreciated Jamie!
You can tell judging by the design of this ship you just know it's going to land on distant moon, and be immediately infected by aliens and it's crew chest burst. Just immediately.
Don't give a rats about new ships, some kind of finished design for the game would be good.