What is happening with the nose guns for the Vanguard in 3.7?
TL;DRThe 3.6 Vanguard rework was visual only, while 3.7 adds Vanguard-specific nose guns, including individually swappable mounts and different weapons for each variant, which fit only on the Vanguard.
That hard mounted nose gun has been a feature of the Vanguard since it was first introduced in 2015. Now, this rework that we're completing with 3.6 was a visual rework. It wasn't a rebalancing of the ship. It didn't change the loadouts, it didn't change the armaments, it didn't change the nose gun at all. But in 3.7, we're adding custom nose guns.
Yes. So the Harbinger and Sentinel were always pitched with different nose weapon options, so we're in the process of making those options. So the Harbinger and Sentinel will not come with the NVSA laser cannons. They're going to come with their own Vanguard-specific versions of existing weapons in the game. We'll probably change the Hoplite's nose weapons as well. And then there's a few more that are just going to be available to get from the shops in game. So the Vanguard owners at last have options to pick from, and you can also individually change the four nose mounts. So if you want to have two laser cannons and two ballistic repeaters on the nose, you can do that.
So it'll be a specialized mount for Vanguards.
Yes, those Vanguard nose weapons only fit on the Vanguard. When we looked at doing the rework, we toyed with the idea of almost taking them away and just giving it four generic size two hardpoints. But it was there from day one and it's part of it, and just replacing them just seemed a bit of an easy get out.
It's kind of like taking that gun off the A-10 Warthog. It's part of the Vanguard's personality.
And it would have changed the front of the ship quite a lot in terms of looks.