The video showcases Drake’s design philosophy of repurposing existing ship designs for new functions, exemplified by the Drake Golem Ox, a cargo-focused variant of the original mining Golem that offers versatile container configurations and enhanced features like a rear tractor beam turret. It highlights the ship’s blend of functionality, distinctive Drake aesthetics, and potential for future variants, reflecting the company’s commitment to maximizing utility and cost-effectiveness across their lineup.
The video explores Drake’s design philosophy, emphasizing their approach of repurposing existing ship designs to serve new functions rather than creating entirely new ships from scratch. This strategy maximizes value and utility across their catalog. Examples include variations of the Cutlass and Cutter ships that serve different roles. Drake’s focus is on extracting every possible use from their ships, providing versatility and cost-effectiveness to players.
The Drake Golem Ox is introduced as an evolution of the original Golem mining ship, transformed into a dedicated cargo hauler. By removing the mining-specific equipment from the Golem chassis, the designers have created a ship optimized for cargo transport. The Golem Ox can carry up to two 32 SCU containers simultaneously, making it the smallest ship capable of such capacity. It offers flexibility in cargo configurations, allowing for a range of container sizes and quantities.
In terms of design, the Golem Ox retains much of the original Golem’s structure but features a dedicated cockpit for the pilot and a widened rear section to accommodate the cargo containers. The ship has upgraded thrusters for improved performance and additional fuel tanks replacing the mining arm. A notable addition is the rear tractor beam turret with a camera, enabling players to attach and detach cargo remotely, which is especially useful for quick cargo recovery during combat scenarios.
The Golem Ox maintains the distinctive Drake aesthetic, with a rustic and aged look that complements vibrant paint options. The ship shares paint schemes with the original Golem and introduces new ones, offering extensive customization for owners. The video highlights how Drake ships generally take paint well, enhancing their visual appeal through contrasting finishes that emphasize their rugged character.
Finally, the video hints at the possibility of future Golem variants, given the ship’s versatility and popularity among players. The Golem Ox fulfills a player-requested role and exemplifies Drake’s ethos of building ships for specific purposes while adapting them for additional functionalities. This approach not only broadens the utility of their ships but also keeps the Drake lineup fresh and relevant without starting from scratch for each new variant.
