The video discusses Cloud Imperium’s removal of onboard processing from the Star Citizen Reclaimer’s sale page, reflecting a design shift toward dedicated refinery ships and focusing the Reclaimer on heavy salvage roles. While the presenter critiques the current simplified salvage system and its departure from earlier concepts, they remain hopeful about future improvements and upcoming salvage content enhancing gameplay depth.
The video discusses the recent change made by Cloud Imperium (CI) to the Star Citizen Reclaimer ship’s sale page, specifically the removal of the mention of onboard processing capabilities. Previously, the Reclaimer was described as having significant cargo space and an onboard processor capable of refining salvage materials. However, this description has been updated to remove any reference to onboard refining, reflecting a shift in design philosophy where refining is now intended to be done by dedicated refinery ships or player bases. This change is seen as a natural evolution since the Reclaimer was one of the oldest ship concepts, and its original description was based on outdated ideas.
The presenter expresses mixed feelings about the change. While some players were hoping for the Constellation ship to have onboard refining, the removal of this feature from the Reclaimer is not necessarily negative. The onboard processor was a key part of the Reclaimer’s original design, including the physical claw used for salvage, but this was largely a conceptual or “headcanon” aspect rather than a gameplay reality. The new focus is on the Reclaimer’s role as a heavy salvage vehicle specializing in large derelict reclamation through hole stripping and structural salvage, recovering a material called RMC (a low-density construction material) that yields the highest amount but takes the longest to refine.
The video critiques the current salvage system in Star Citizen, particularly the introduction of different material types and the structural salvage mechanic. The presenter compares it unfavorably to the salvage system in the game EVE Online, where salvage was more varied and interesting, involving different ship parts that could be reused in crafting. In contrast, Star Citizen’s system feels simplified and less engaging, with materials reduced to different colored boxes rather than distinct physical components. This simplification detracts from the tactile, immersive experience that the game aims for, making salvage feel less rewarding and more monotonous.
The discussion also touches on the balance between different salvage ships like the Reclaimer and the Vulture. The Vulture has a higher yield in scraping salvage but takes much longer to process, while the Reclaimer offers quicker bulk salvage with a lower yield. This balance is intended to justify the Reclaimer’s higher cost and role in the game economy. Despite these gameplay mechanics, the presenter acknowledges that the changes to the Reclaimer and salvage system may disappoint players who had different expectations based on the ship’s original concept and animations, such as the iconic claw processing salvage physically.
Finally, the video looks forward to upcoming content related to salvage in Star Citizen, including a major salvage guide and new salvage ships like the “baby salvager.” The presenter remains hopeful about the future of salvage gameplay, emphasizing that while structural salvage currently feels lackluster, the broader salvage system involving RMC and repair materials is enjoyable and valuable. The upcoming updates and community discussions are anticipated to shed more light on how salvage will evolve, potentially improving the depth and engagement of this gameplay aspect in the game.