When comparing The Near Future Pack vs Firespitter, the Slant community recommends The Near Future Pack for most people. In the question“What are the best Kerbal Space Program mods?” The Near Future Pack is ranked 3rd while Firespitter is ranked 36th. The most important reason people chose The Near Future Pack is:
It's a pack that doesn't really change the theme of ksp but it adds some new shapes and designs. NONE OF THEM ARE OVERPOWERED
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Pros
Pro A great selection of stock-like near future parts that blend well with other stock parts
It's a pack that doesn't really change the theme of ksp but it adds some new shapes and designs. NONE OF THEM ARE OVERPOWERED
Pro Includes 8 subpacks
Includes 6 subpacks: Propulsion, Electrical, Construction, Solar, Spacecraft, Aeronautics, Launch Vehicles, and Exploration
Pro Not at all buggy
The mod is extremely stable, and often is not the reason the game crashes.
Pro Probably the best-looking parts made for KSP
The author, Nertea, is one of the most talented 3D artists to mod the game.
Pro Synergistic with just about everything
Since NFT is the gold standard in the KSP modding scene, most mods you will encounter play very well with NFT.
Pro Multiple play directions
Near Future can be used with a basically stock playstyle, or you can use the parts to go in a direction tangental to the rest of the game, with capabilities that allow more stuff to do.
Pro Used as the framework for many other, superior, aircraft mods
Cons
Con Uses a non-stock system for resources and aero
It makes it difficult to use Firespitter parts as well as stock parts on the same vessel.
Con Art style is inconsistent with the original game
It can sometimes be rather ugly.