SaltEMike reacts to the reveal of Star Citizen’s new Argo Moth salvage ship, highlighting its role as a medium-sized, multiplayer-focused vessel that builds on the Mole’s design with improved salvage arms and cargo systems. While he appreciates the ship’s potential, he critiques the unclear differentiation between salvage ship classes and the current clunky salvage gameplay, expressing hope for future improvements to make salvage more engaging and polished.
In this video, SaltEMike reacts to the reveal of the new Star Citizen ship, the Argo Moth, a medium-sized salvage ship designed to fill the gap between smaller salvage ships like the Drake Vulture and larger ones such as the Aegis Reclaimer. The Moth is based on the successful Mole mining ship chassis but adapted for salvage operations, featuring new industrial “grabby hands” or salvage arms that are a standout visual and functional upgrade. The ship supports a crew of up to four, with three manned salvage turrets and pilot-controlled structural salvage arms, offering a more multiplayer-focused salvage experience compared to smaller solo ships.
The video discusses the gameplay mechanics and design philosophy behind the Moth, emphasizing that it is not a radical redesign but rather an iteration that builds on existing technology and lessons learned from the Mole. The Moth’s cargo system is improved with vertical cargo grids and a large cargo lift, allowing it to carry salvage materials efficiently and even function as a cargo hauler. Defensive capabilities are minimal, reflecting its industrial focus, and the ship is expected to be operated mostly solo despite its multi-crew design, with some trade-offs in efficiency.
SaltEMike critiques the game design explanations provided by the developers, particularly the vague differentiation between the three salvage ship sizes and their roles. The medium salvage ship is described as a mid-ground option for larger missions and multiplayer gameplay, but the explanation lacks clarity on how the ships truly differ in use or value. There is also discussion about the refining process of salvage materials, with different ship sizes producing varying qualities and quantities of raw materials, though the practical impact of these differences remains uncertain.
The video touches on the current state of salvage and mining gameplay in Star Citizen, noting that the missions and mechanics feel unfinished and clunky. For example, the process of handling salvage materials during missions involves awkward manual interactions like placing items on freight elevators, highlighting that the gameplay systems need more polish and focus before new ships like the Moth can fully shine. SaltEMike expresses hope that future updates will improve these core gameplay loops and make salvage a more rewarding and streamlined experience.
Finally, SaltEMike previews the sale details for the Argo Moth, including its price, available paint schemes, and the fact that it is being released to support new industrial missions. He plans to purchase and test the ship in-game soon and suggests that while the Moth is an exciting addition for salvage enthusiasts, it represents an early step in the evolution of medium salvage ships. The video ends with a call for better game design and feature development to complement the new ship and make salvage a more engaging career path in Star Citizen.