The video provides a detailed first look and test of the RSI Salvation, a compact starter salvager ship in Star Citizen, highlighting its design, limited combat capabilities, and efficient salvaging functions for smaller ships. Despite its size and cargo limitations, the Salvation offers versatility for new players interested in salvage and courier roles, with promising features and animations showcased throughout the gameplay.
The video begins with an introduction to the RSI Salvation, a new starter salvager ship revealed at the Star Citizen Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2955 during RSI day. The narrator provides a first look at the ship, comparing its small size to a character model and noting its compact dimensions of 14.5 meters long, 8.5 meters wide, and 4 meters high. The Salvation is a one-seater ship with only six standard units (SU) of cargo space. The exterior features various components like two size one shield generators, a size one quantum drive, radar, power plant, cooler, and two salvage heads, with detailed animations for deploying cargo racks and weapon mounts.
Exploring the ship’s exterior, the narrator highlights the unique design elements such as deployable weapon racks and utility slots that can hold tools like tractor beams or med guns but only one primary weapon. The ship has clever access points, including small stairs that allow climbing on top where critical components are located. The ship’s landing gear also features detailed animations, folding neatly when retracted. Despite its compact size, the ship’s cockpit offers a modern MFD display and a clear view, although it lacks an interior beyond the pilot seat.
The video then shifts to testing the Salvation’s functionality. The narrator accepts a courier mission to demonstrate the ship’s versatility as both a salvager and a starter courier. The quantum drive jump is smooth, but combat capabilities are limited due to the two size one weapons, making it difficult to defend against even small attackers like a prospector. Salvaging panels is quick and efficient, especially when using dual scraper modules, which increase cargo capacity. The cargo hold fills logically, stacking salvaged materials in two rows, and the deployable cargo rack aids in loading and unloading.
Further testing focuses on the ship’s salvaging capabilities, particularly its ability to “munch” or break down larger ships. According to official Q&A, the Salvation can salvage ships up to the size of a Freelancer, but in practice, it struggles with that size and cannot fracture it. However, it handles slightly smaller ships like the Cutlass Black very well, with impressive visual effects such as lightning and spinning salvage teeth during the fracturing process. Distance to the target affects salvage efficiency, encouraging close proximity for optimal results. The narrator demonstrates ejecting salvaged cargo with satisfying sound effects and ease of use.
In conclusion, the RSI Salvation is presented as a versatile, compact starter ship that offers more than just basic salvaging. Its six SU cargo capacity is decent for a starter, and the ability to equip different salvage modules or tools adds flexibility. The ship’s limitations in combat and salvaging larger ships are noted, but its efficiency and detailed design make it an attractive option for new players interested in salvage and light courier roles. The video ends teasing a follow-up test to determine which larger ships the Salvation can fit into, inviting viewers to stay tuned for more content.