the Cutlass Steel is a new variant of the Cutlass line of ships, one of Star Citizen’s oldest.
Cutlass are ships built by Drake Interplanetary, an ambivalent builder who produces ships as useful to pirates and outlaws as they are to honest citizens of the EAEU. Drake’s ships are rustic, don’t burden themselves with finishes or comforts, and often feature powerful weaponry.
The Cutlass range already offers several variants:
- Black: hunter / transport
- Blue: quantum ban
- Red: ambulance
The new Steel variant brings an option for troop transport and airborne operations.
The particular points of Cutlass Steel are:
- 18 seats for the fighters to disembark.
- 5 turrets on carriages (Gatling size 1) placed in port: two for each side door and one for the rear door.
- 1 remotely operated turret (two size 2 guns) at the rear of the ship.
Purchase options
The Cutlass Steel goes on sale for 257 euros, or 229 in warbond.
A promotional pack containing the four Cutlass variants is also available at € 666 (€ 600 in warbond).
Questions answers
Comparison to Cutlass Black
Cutlass Steel has many points in common with Cutlass Black. Thus, the front area with the cockpit, beds, racks and turret is identical to the basic variant. The same goes for the components of the ship (shields, generators, coolers).
It is however heavier than the Cutlass Black because of the rear configuration.
The developers are aware that the visibility for the pilot is not ideal, and an improvement will be made to the whole range in the future.
Rear section
The Cutlass Steel section is fully occupied by the 18 seats. So there is no secure grid for cargo, and not enough free space for a vehicle.
Each seat has a holder for a weapon.
Additional weapons
The remotely operated turret at the rear is implemented by the co-pilot. The developers specify that its computer automation (AI-Blades) will not be very useful because this allows a weapon to be enslaved by the pilot’s aim, but we are in a rear firing sector.
Port weapons are currently limited to ballistic Gatling guns. They can be changed in the future.
Comparison to others dropships
Compared to other troop transport ships (Prowler, Hoplite, Valkyrie), the Cutlass Steel features plenty of weapons to cover disembarking fighters.
Medical
The Cutlass Steel does not have no medical equipment.