The video provides a detailed analysis of the RSI Aurora’s updated durability, damage mechanics, and repair processes in Star Citizen’s 4.6 PTU, highlighting its increased hull health, component vulnerabilities, and comprehensive repair capabilities that maintain ship functionality even after heavy damage. It also explores gameplay elements like the new Joker weapon and flare mechanics, emphasizing tactical considerations related to wing damage and the ship’s overall resilience.
The video provides an in-depth overview of the RSI Aurora series, which has become the gold standard starter ship in the latest 4.6 PTU update of Star Citizen. A significant change highlighted is the increase in the ship’s total hull health from 5,740 HP in version 4.5 to 6,352 HP in 4.6, with the vital part now being solely the nose with 3,100 HP. This buff makes the Aurora more viable for combat compared to ships like the Anvil Arrow, which has higher total hull health but lower vital part HP. The video also mentions the five variants of the Aurora—CL, ES, LN, LX, and MR—all receiving the same health buffs, while armor health remains unchanged at 1,164 HP with specific damage reduction stats.
The presenter conducts an engineering test by shooting the Aurora to observe damage effects on various components. The ship is shown to be quite fragile, with critical components like the power plant and quantum drive located on top of the ship, making them easy targets and vulnerable to quick damage. Despite taking substantial hits, the ship does not explode easily, and the wings can be destroyed without causing an immediate core reactor failure or fire. This highlights the ship’s durability in terms of structural integrity but also points to its vulnerability in combat due to component placement.
Repairing the Aurora is explored extensively, both from inside and outside the ship. The video demonstrates that doors, vital hull parts (like the nose), thrusters, coolers, shield generators, and other components can be repaired using the repair tool, although hull repairs are slow and non-vital hull parts cannot be repaired. Some thrusters consume RMC (repair material components) when repaired, while others do not. The cargo rack and other external components such as radar and fuse can also be repaired. Importantly, the ship remains flyable and functional even after sustaining significant damage, showcasing its resilience and repairability.
The video also investigates the maneuvering thrusters scattered around the ship, confirming that all can be repaired individually. After repairs, the ship is capable of making quantum jumps, even when previously heavily damaged. A bug is noted where visual damage effects remain on the ship even after repairs, which can only be cleared by storing and redeploying the ship from a hangar. The presenter also finds new physicalized in-game items such as flares and a new FPS weapon called the Joker, which can be attached to the ship’s cargo grid, adding an interesting gameplay element.
Finally, the video tests the repairability of the wings and VTOL thrusters. It is shown that the wings themselves cannot be repaired, only the weapons and gimbal mounts attached to them. The flare launcher mounted on one wing is lost if that wing is destroyed, resulting in the loss of the ability to deploy flares and noise countermeasures. This adds a tactical consideration for players in combat regarding wing damage. The video concludes with a dramatic scene of parts flying off the ship, emphasizing the detailed damage and repair mechanics of the Aurora in Star Citizen.