View source for Merchantman

{{Vehicle
| name                            = Merchantman
| image                           = Merchantman Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
| manufacturer                    = BANU
| size                            = Large
| hangar                          = S2
| productionstate                 = In concept
| productionstatedesc             = 
| mincrew                         = 4
| maxcrew                         = 8
| pledgecost                      = 650
| originalpledgecost              = 250
| warbondcost                     = 600
| originalwarbondcost             = 300
| cargocapacity                   = 2880
| length                          = 237
| width                           = 203
| height                          = 80
| mass                            = 9635000
| pledgeavailability              = Time-limited sales
| rsistoreurl                     = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/ships/merchantman/Merchantman
| presentationurl1                = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/14332-Clipper-Ship-Banu-Merchantman
| conceptdate                     = 2013-11-11
| saledate                        = 2014-11-28
| galactapediaurl                 = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/02BQmpXMYQ-merchantman
}}

The [[Banu]] '''Merchantman''' is a trading ship capable of landing or docking and then inviting locals in to view what its cargo holds have to offer. The ship design, perfected by generations of Banu development, is intended to offer a combination of high speed and durability. While the Merchantman is less configurable than a [[Caterpillar]] or a [[Starfarer]], there's still plenty of room to take the ship in different directions.<ref name="presentation">{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/14332-Clipper-Ship-Banu-Merchantman|text=Clipper Ship: Banu Merchantman}}</ref>

== Features ==
{{List item
|Bazaar
|Featuring an on-board enclosed marketplace, traders can display their goods and services to be exchanged or sold.
}}
{{List item
|Negotiation Room
|This is where the Banu does all the negotiating with clients which looks onto the cargo bay so clients can see the cargo.
}}
{{List item
|Craftsmanship
|When you walk around a Merchantman, you will quickly notice the exquisite craftsmanship with intricate subtle detailing the Banu are well known for. Ideal if you wish to give a good impression to your clients.
}}
{{List item
|Durability
|They are reliable, sturdy and durable, which makes them valued by their Human owners. Amongst the Banu, a ship can sometimes be passed on from generation to generation.
}}
{{List item
|Defense
|If there is one thing that these ships are famous for, it is their defensive capabilities. With a hull & armor that can take a pounding, together with a set of fast engines, the Merchantman can easily escape an attack with minimal damage to the ship and internal cargo. 
}}
{{List item
|Concealed Weaponry
|All the Banu's weapons are concealed because of their need for being low key. But in times of need, the Banu's weaponry can pack a punch, making them ideal in situations like running at pirate blockades.
}}

== Specifications ==
{{Note|Disclaimer: The following information comes from the Merchantman's official RSI page, updated with new information from CitCon 2951.<ref name="citcon2951">[https://youtu.be/gC7onjXyex0?t=34m29s CitizenCon2951: Ship Talk] on YouTube</ref>}}
<tabber>
Avionics & Systems=
{{Vehicle avionics
| radarcount = 1
| computercount = 1
| radar1quantity = 1
| radar1size = 3
| radar1manufacturer = TBD
| radar1name = Large Radar
| computer1quantity = 1
| computer1size = 2
| computer1manufacturer = TBD
| computer1name = Medium Computer
}}{{Vehicle systems
| powerplantcount = 1
| coolercount = 1
| shieldgeneratorcount = 1
| powerplant1quantity = 1
| powerplant1size = 3
| powerplant1manufacturer = TBD
| powerplant1name = Large Power Plant
| cooler1quantity = 1
| cooler1size = 3
| cooler1manufacturer = TBD
| cooler1name = Large Cooler
| shieldgenerator1quantity = 2
| shieldgenerator1size = 3
| shieldgenerator1manufacturer = TBD
| shieldgenerator1name = Large Shield Generator
}}
|-|
Propulsion & Thrusters=
{{Vehicle propulsion
| fuelintakecount = 1
| fueltankcount = 1
| quantumdrivecount = 1
| jumpdrivecount = 1
| quantumfueltankcount = 1
| fuelintake1quantity = 1
| fuelintake1size = 3
| fuelintake1name = Fuel Intake
| fueltank1quantity = 1
| fueltank1size = 2
| fueltank1name = Fuel Tank
| quantumdrive1quantity = 1
| quantumdrive1size = 3
| quantumdrive1name = Large Quantum Drive
| jumpdrive1quantity = 1
| jumpdrive1size = 3
| jumpdrive1name = Jump Drive
| quantumfueltank1quantity = 1
| quantumfueltank1size = 3
| quantumfueltank1name = Quantum Fuel Tank
}}{{Vehicle thrusters
}}
|-|
Weaponry=
{{Vehicle weaponry
| weaponcount = 1
| turretcount = 3
| missilerackcount = 0
| utilityitemcount = 0
| weapon1quantity = 2
| weapon1size = 8
| weapon1name = Size 8 Weapon
| turret1quantity = 1
| turret1size = 6
| turret1name = Manned Turret (Top)
| turret1weaponcount = 1
| turret1weapon1quantity = 2
| turret1weapon1size = 5
| turret1weapon1manufacturer = TBD
| turret1weapon1name = Size 5 Weapon
| turret2quantity = 2
| turret2size = 5
| turret2name = Remote Turret (Wing)
| turret2weaponcount = 1
| turret2weapon1quantity = 4
| turret2weapon1size = 4
| turret2weapon1manufacturer = TBD
| turret2weapon1name = Size 4 Weapon
| turret3quantity = 4
| turret3size = 
| turret3name = Point Defense Turret
| turret3weaponcount = 1
| turret3weapon1quantity = 4
| turret3weapon1size = 
| turret3weapon1manufacturer = TBD
| turret3weapon1name = Weapon
}}
</tabber>

==Pledge price history==
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Pledge cost (USD) 
!Insurance
!Availability
!Sale
|-
|2013-11-20
|250
|LTI
|Time-limited
|2013 anniversary sale <ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/13396-Star-Citizen-Anniversary-Livestream-Sale|text=Star Citizen Anniversary Livestream & Sale!}}</ref>
|-
|2014-11-22
|250
|2 years 
|Time-limited
|2014 anniversary sale <ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/14314-Star-Citizen-Anniversary-Sale|text=Star Citizen Anniversary Sale}}</ref>
|-
|2015-11-21
|250
|3 years 
|Time-limited
|2015 anniversary sale <ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/15067-AnniVERSEary-Sale-Kickoff|text=AnniVERSEary Sale: Kickoff}}</ref>
|-
|2016-11-25
|250
|4 years 
|Time-limited
|2016 anniversary sale <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161125033313/https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Standalone-Ships/Banu-Merchantman-Anniversary-2016 Banu Merchantman - Anniversary 2016.] Archived 2016-11-25.</ref>
|-
|2017-04-22
|350 ([[Warbond]] - 300)
|6 months
|Time-limited
|2017 Defender sale <ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/15862-Banu-Defender|text=Banu Defender}}</ref>
|-
|2019-11-28
|350
|10 years 
|Time-limited
|IAE 2949 <ref>{{Cite RSI|url=pledge/Standalone-Ships/Banu-Merchantman-IAE-2949|text=Banu Merchantman IAE 2949}}</ref>
|-
|2020-06-12
|350
|6 months
|Time-limited
|2020 Alien Week<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/17622-Alien-Week-2950|text=Alien Week 2950|accessdate=}}</ref>
|-
|2020-11-26
|450 (Warbond - 425) 
|10 years
|Time-limited
|IAE 2950<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/iae2950|text=IAE 2950|accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
|-
|2021-06-11
|550 (Warbond - 450)
|6 months
|Time-limited
|2021 Alien Week
|-
|2022-06-16
|600 (Warbond - 550)
|6 months
|Time-limited
|2022 Alien Week
|-
|2022-11-21
|650 (Warbond - 600)
|10 years
|Time-limited
|IAE 2952
|-
|2023-11-17
|650 (Warbond - 600)

|10 years
|Time-limited
|IAE 2953
|}

==Gallery==
{{for|a full gallery|:Category:Merchantman images}}

<tabber>
 Official=
{{gallery
|Merchantman Cut-Out - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Market Place Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Cargo Hold Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Conference Room Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Hallway Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Engineering Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Docking Halway Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Guest Room Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Walkway Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Concept - Citizen Con 2021.png
|Merchantman Cockpit Concept - CitizenCon 2021.png
}}
|-|
 In-game=
{{gallery
|IAE2954-day4-holo-merchantman.jpg
|IAE2951-day4-alien-holosuite-merchantman-top.jpg
|IAE2951-day4-alien-holosuite-merchantman-side.jpg
}}
|-|
 Whitebox=
{{gallery
|Merchantman New Vs Old Scale Whitebox Front - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman New Vs Old Scale Whitebox Top - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman Bridge Layout Whitebox - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman Cargo Elevator Whitebox - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman Ramp Whitebox - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman Wing Weapon Whitebox - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman Top Weapons Whitebox - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman Hangar Door Mechanism Whitebox - Citizen Con 2021.webm
|Merchantman Front Gun Mechanism Whitebox - Citizen Con 2021.webm
|Merchantman Top Turret Mechanism Whitebox - Citizen Con 2021.webm
|Merchantman Flipper Mechanism Whitebox - Citizen Con 2021.webm
|Merchantman Wings Mechanism Whitebox - Citizen Con 2021.webm
}}
|-|
 Original concepts=
{{gallery
|Merchantman Cockpit Concept Old - CitizenCon 2021.png
|Merchantman - Landed on Mya - Close Up.png
|Merchantman - Internal Bazaar.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-negotationroom.jpg
|Banu Merchantman Corridor Habitation-2.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-combat.jpg
|Merchantman_-_forward_weapons.jpg
|Merchantman - model front and back views.jpg
|Merchantman - Cockpit - Close Up.png
|Merchantman - With Defenders - Close Up.png
|Merchantman - Attacked by Blades - Close Up.png
|Ship-merchantman-frontlanding2.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-frontlanding.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-sideconcept.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-cockpit.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-cockpit2.jpg
|Ship-merchantman-map.jpg
|Merchantman at Mya.jpg
|Banu_Merchant_Fleet_Concept.jpg
|BanuMM1.jpg
}}
</tabber>

==Development==
The Merchantman was part of the 27 million [[stretch goal]] in 2013, aiming to expand the game’s alien cultures. As with the [[Khartu-al]], the Merchantman helped introduce and define the Banu race early on before copious amounts of additional lore were developed for the species.<ref name="cl13368">{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13368-Letter-From-The-Chairman-27-Million|text=Letter from the Chairman: $27 Million!|accessdate=2023-06-15}}</ref>

<tabber>
 Timeline=
{{Timeline styles}}
{| class="timeline"
|-
|2013-11-11
|Announced as a part of the $27 million [[stretch goal]].<ref name="cl13368"/>
|-
|2013-11-26
|First concept sale <ref name="2013 Anniversary Sale">{{Cite RSI|text=2013 Anniversary Sale|url=comm-link/transmission/13396-Star-Citizen-Anniversary-Livestream-Sale}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|Original concept was reworked to reflect the new styles from the Defender.<ref name="citcon2951"/><ref name="jpvdas">{{Cite Jump Point|title=Visual Dictionary: Alien Ships|volume=8|month=11|startpage=24|endpage=25|accessdate=2020-11-28}}</ref>
|-
|2021-05-05
|Revealed to be in production and to be implemented in game with an allocated work schedule of 50 weeks.<ref name="RR2105">{{Cite RSI|text=Roadmap Roundup - May 5th, 2021|url=spectrum/community/SC/forum/3/thread/roadmap-roundup-may-5th-2021/262093}}</ref>
|-
|2021-10-09
|Additional information about the state of reworked Merchantman is provided on [[CitizenCon 2951]].<ref name="citcon2951"/>
|-
|2023-06-26
|Revealed to be demoted into the development backlog to prioritize capital ships such as [[Polaris]] from [[Roberts Space Industries]]. It was due to RSI capital ships costing less resources and more impactful to develop, as it has existing design kits and the created assets can be applied to several other RSI ships. While the Merchantman needs a lot of unique assets and there are less or no Banu vehicles in the pipeline. Due to its long development time, some key people that have worked with that are no longer with the company, with Merchantman having no existing guidelines, it will take significant time to restart the development process.<ref>[https://youtube.com/watch?t=3771&v=LSM8kao5Q6k Star Citizen Live: Invictus All-Vehicles Roundtable]</ref>
|}
|-|
 Credits=
{| class="wikitable"
!Role
!Contributors
|-
|Original concept
|[[Emmanuel Shiu]] (2013),<ref name="jpvdas"/><ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/rVyO Banu Merchantman on ArtStation]</ref> [[Michael Oberschneider]]<ref name="citcon2951"/>
|-
|Art
|[[Paul Jones]]<ref name="citcon2951"/>
|-
|System design
|[[Mark Gibson]]<ref name="citcon2951"/>
|}
</tabber>

== Trivia ==
* In an ''[[Inside Star Citizen]]'' episode on 2024-05-16, Vehicle Director [[John Crewe]] stated that "When and where are the Banu Merchantman?" is the top 1 question being asked.<ref>[https://youtu.be/YtbvV8FrtvY?t=405 Inside Star Citizen: Firebird is The Word] on YouTube</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{Navplate manufacturers|BANU}}{{Navplate vehicles}}
Description	What you type	What you get
Italic	''Italic text''	Italic text
Bold	'''Bold text'''	Bold text
Bold & italic	'''''Bold & italic text'''''	*Bold & italic text*