In his first impressions, Subliminal praises the Anvil Paladin as a well-designed, powerful multi-crew combat gunship with impressive weaponry and balanced performance tailored for its role, despite being slower and less maneuverable than some other ships. He highlights its superior armor and combat capabilities compared to similar ships, recommends earning it in-game, and appreciates its teamwork-focused design while noting minor interior layout critiques.
In this first impressions video, Subliminal takes an in-depth look at the Anvil Paladin, describing it as a Valkyrie-like gunship designed primarily for combat rather than cargo or exploration. He highlights the ship’s impressive weaponry, including massive size five guns and a strong missile payload with size four missiles, which he compares to torpedoes. A key point he appreciates is that the top turret is not slave to the pilot, allowing for true multi-crew functionality—something he values as a primarily solo player who recognizes the importance of teamwork in this ship’s design.
Subliminal gives a detailed walkthrough of the Paladin’s exterior and interior, noting its larger size compared to the Valkyrie and praising the ship’s aesthetic and detailed components. He points out the weapon rack as possibly the coolest in the game and explores the engineering areas, crew quarters, and bridge. While he likes the overall layout and design, he critiques the crew quarters for their symmetry, suggesting it might be more practical to have beds grouped together and a separate recreation area. He also comments on the distribution of components throughout the ship, which may require crew members to move around frequently during repairs.
When testing the ship’s performance, Subliminal finds the Paladin to be slower and less maneuverable than some other ships like the Shiv or Asgard, with a top speed around 950 m/s and modest boost capabilities. However, he emphasizes that its speed and handling are appropriate for its role as a combat gunship rather than a dogfighter. He appreciates that the ship is balanced well out of the box and feels that its slower speed does not detract from its effectiveness in fulfilling its intended purpose.
Subliminal compares the Paladin to other ships like the Corsair and Redeemer, noting that while the Paladin sacrifices cargo space and speed, it offers superior armor, redundant components, and better combat capabilities. He stresses that the Paladin is more suited for multi-crew combat scenarios and would be a “Redeemer killer,” while the Corsair might be better for solo players who want cargo and exploration options. This nuanced comparison highlights the Paladin’s specialized role and balance within the game’s ship ecosystem.
In conclusion, Subliminal expresses strong approval of the Anvil Paladin, praising its design, weaponry, and multi-crew functionality. He does not see a need for nerfs based on his initial experience and believes it has a solid place in the game as a dedicated combat ship. Despite some minor criticisms about interior layout and component placement, he finds the ship fun and effective, recommending players earn it in-game rather than purchasing it outright. Overall, the Paladin impresses as a well-balanced, powerful gunship with a clear role in Star Citizen’s universe.