In this video, Ricardo provides an early overview of the Elite Dangerous Type-11 Prospector, highlighting its compact mining-focused design, functional interior, and new mining features like the mining volley repeater. He shares his first impressions of the ship’s handling, outfitting options, and cosmetic variations, noting its appeal mainly to dedicated miners while encouraging viewers to consider it based on their gameplay style.
In this video, Ricardo provides an early look at the Elite Dangerous Type-11 Prospector, a new mining ship available through the partner program. He begins by showcasing the ship’s exterior design, noting its compact medium size and unique off-center cockpit. The ship draws some visual comparisons to the Defiant from Deep Space 9, though the Type-11 is clearly designed for mining rather than combat. He highlights several animated features like moving Nels and the rear ramp entrance, emphasizing the ship’s industrial and functional aesthetic with visible pistons and multiple engines.
Moving inside the cockpit, Ricardo describes the layout as typical of Lakeon industrial design, with good visibility despite a metal frame running through the windscreen. The cockpit accommodates three crew seats, with the pilot seated centrally in a left-oriented cockpit. While mining isn’t his preferred gameplay style, he appreciates the utilitarian space inside, even spotting a small coffee machine at the back, a humorous nod to the long hours miners might endure. The interior is sparse but functional, reinforcing the ship’s role as a mining platform.
Ricardo then explores the ship’s outfitting options on the test server, finding mostly low-tier components and standard equipment. The Type-11 features eight hardpoints, including two dedicated mining points, and can even carry a fighter bay. He discusses the new mining tool called the mining volley repeater, which is a laser mining weapon designed to maximize fragment yield from asteroids. The Galactic version of the ship comes fully equipped with higher-grade components, multiple mining tools, and a fighter bay with a Taipan fighter, making it a more formidable and versatile mining vessel.
Taking the Type-11 out for a test flight, Ricardo notes the ship’s handling characteristics, describing it as somewhat bulky but manageable. The holographic paint job on the Galactic version adds a visually striking, busy effect, though it may impact frame rates on lower-end systems. He demonstrates the ship’s animations, such as retracting landing gear and deploying mining equipment, and briefly tests its mining capabilities. Despite the new features, Ricardo remains unsure if the Type-11 will entice players away from larger ships, suggesting it may appeal more to dedicated miners or those seeking a specialized mining experience.
In closing, Ricardo reflects on the ship’s overall appeal, acknowledging that mining is not his favorite activity but appreciating the Type-11’s design and potential. He reviews the different available liveries and ship kits, including the standard, Stellar, and Galactic editions, each offering unique cosmetic options. He encourages viewers to consider the ship based on their gameplay preferences and hints at future videos exploring the Type-11 Prospector in more depth. The video ends with a friendly invitation to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more Elite Dangerous content.