In the video “Idris Nerfed – Will Multicrew Ever Be Viable?”, the host discusses the ongoing struggles of multi-crew ships in Star Citizen, over 13 years into its development. Despite their potential, these ships consistently get nerfed whenever they begin to show viability, particularly in PvP scenarios. The recent example highlighted is the drastic reduction in turret HP for the Idris, where turret health was slashed from an absurd 500,000 to much lower values between 7,000 and 15,000 HP. This nerf raises questions about fairness and balance compared to other large multi-crew ships.
The video provides a detailed comparison of turret HP across various large ships and fighters. Large ships like the Polaris, Reclaimer, 890 Jump, and Hammerhead have turrets with HP ranging mostly between 7,000 and 15,000, with 15,000 being the maximum turret HP seen. Fighters such as the Gladius, Hornet, and Aries have hull HP ranging from 7,300 to 38,000, which puts the new Idris turret HP in perspective. The host agrees the original 500,000 HP was excessive but argues that the new values are too low, especially for turrets that require player operation during combat.
A significant point raised is the challenge of balancing multi-crew gameplay when players must actively man turrets. Unlike NPC crew, which can operate turrets without impacting player experience, requiring players to sit in turrets sacrifices their firepower, maneuverability, and freedom. The host suggests that turret HP should be higher (around 20,000) to make the experience more rewarding and fun for players. Additionally, the video criticizes the inconsistent turret HP values across ships and calls for clearer, more consistent design standards.
The video also reflects on the absence of NPC crew in the game, which has been promised but not yet implemented. The host has shifted their stance over time and now strongly supports NPC crew replacing player crew in most situations. This would allow multi-crew ships to function better without forcing players into less enjoyable roles. The current design seems more suited for PvE encounters rather than PvP, where multi-crew ships struggle to be effective and balanced.
In conclusion, the video paints a picture of multi-crew ships as underpowered and frustrating in PvP, with turret HP nerfs like those on the Idris exemplifying the broader problem. The host argues that proper NPC crew implementation is key to solving these issues, allowing players to focus on meaningful and enjoyable gameplay. Until then, they advocate for buffs and design changes that respect the coordination and effort required to crew these ships. Multi-crew could be a defining feature of Star Citizen but only if the developers commit to treating it as a core gameplay element rather than background spectacle.
