Alex and Casual Al review the Aegis Vanguard series in Star Citizen, praising its modular heavy fighter design and unique Sentinel variant while highlighting outdated features and the Hoplite’s disconnect from the rest of the lineup. They call for a comprehensive rework to modernize the ships, improve weapon distribution, and better integrate the Hoplite, ensuring the Vanguard remains versatile and competitive in the game.
In this video, Alex and Casual Al revisit the Aegis Vanguard series of ships in Star Citizen, providing an in-depth scrutiny and re-review of their design, functionality, and current state in the game. They discuss the modular nature of the Vanguard ships, focusing on the interchangeable pods, which allow different variants to serve distinct roles. However, the Hoplite variant stands out as an exception due to its wider design and lack of pod-swapping capability, making it feel somewhat disconnected from the rest of the series. The hosts suggest that a rework or “gold pass” could integrate the Hoplite better with the other models by standardizing the ship’s width and modular components.
The discussion highlights the Vanguard’s strengths, such as its heavy fighter role, redundancy in components, and tanky performance, making it a versatile ship. However, they also point out the ship’s aging design, including outdated features like the lack of buttons and some underutilized interior spaces. The Hoplite variant, originally designed as a drop ship, is criticized for being subpar compared to newer ships like the Redeemer, and its role feels somewhat redundant and underwhelming. The speakers express hope that the Hoplite could be better integrated into the Vanguard lineup to enhance its value and usability.
A significant portion of the conversation centers on the unique Vanguard Sentinel, which is designed for electronic warfare (EWAR) and battlefield control. It features specialized weapons such as EMP torpedoes and distortion repeaters, intended to disrupt enemy communications and systems. This variant is praised for its unique gameplay potential, likened to a “wizard” or “crowd control” role in MMO terms. Despite its promise, the Sentinel and its associated gameplay mechanics have yet to be fully realized in the game, leaving it in a sort of limbo.
Alex and Casual Al also critique the Vanguard’s weapon layout, particularly the clustering of nose guns, which they feel could be better distributed across the ship for improved combat effectiveness and redundancy. They debate the size and placement of weapons, suggesting that some firepower could be shifted to turrets or wings to balance the ship’s offensive capabilities, especially when operated solo without a turret gunner. The hosts note that the Vanguard’s design reflects an older era of ship development and that modernizing its systems and weapon configurations could greatly enhance its appeal.
In conclusion, the hosts agree that while the Vanguard series has stood the test of time as a heavy fighter, it is due for a significant update to bring it in line with current standards and player expectations. They advocate for maintaining the modular design philosophy, allowing players to swap pods and roles seamlessly, thereby increasing the ship’s versatility and value. They invite viewers to share their thoughts on whether the Vanguard series should be unified into a single modular system or remain as separate variants, emphasizing the need for a rework to keep the Vanguard relevant and competitive in Star Citizen’s evolving universe.