Like any MMO the content of EVE Online gets revised and updated as time goes on. Occasionally they will go so far as to replace a whole ship model with a new one. Take for example, the Amarr Crucifier. Its model was recently replaced with a radically different one, yet the original model is still of good enough quality to be used in the project. Rather then dispensing of the old models entirely I implement them as Tech 2 ships.
Tech 2 ships are upgraded variants of default ship hulls. For the most part they are ignored by this project as there's no point padding the content with several versions of the same ship.
The original Crucifier keeps its original model and stats. Looking at the Tech 2 Crucifier (the "Sentinel") I see it's an Electronic Warfare frigate, something that will have little use in a game that doesn't have E-War implemented. When the new model was first introduced many users pointed out that it looked far more similar to an Executioner or Slicer than a Crucifier, and it does. So the surplus Crucifier model becomes a Tech 2 Executioner, the "Crusader".
As well as having improved stats I also allow a bit of flexibility with the weapon loadouts of the surplus ships. Only two or three Amarr ships have missile launchers, yet its frigates have access to only five different turrets instead of the usual six the other races have. This has made some of the frigates feel a bit homogenous and so I've customised the Tech 2 ship loadout with some rockets.
One of the more recent additions has been a new Caldari Condor model. It's much sleeker than its boxy predecessor. The Condor has two Tech 2 variants, the Crow and the Raptor. However only the Crow is used in EVE Online with the other ship's stats earning it the nickname, the "Craptor".
Finally we have the new Gallente Tristan model. In this case I've opted to discard the previous Tristan model entirely. Aside from being very similar to the new model pictured above, it had some very odd turret placements and needed a lot of animation. Also its Tech 2 variant was the Nemesis stealth bomber. Stealth bombers are labelled as variants but really they are unique ships in themselves, using their own model.
For the next update I hope to have something a little more special. Any questions or ship requests, post in the comments!
