Alternate way to get Imperial Clipper (Allied at faction)

[Quantis Trap]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the empire trying to earn a rank of Baron in order to get an Imperial Clipper and having big problems taking down a Target in a clipper in order to claim that rank.

I've tried it in several ships:
1) A maxed out ASP with different weapons configuration but I'm out classed all around.
2) A maxed Cobra with different weapons configurations
...
n) Even an Eagle to get the most maneuverability.

I'm not having much luck winning against a Clipper in order to get the rank to have a Clipper. That's cool because the Clipper is a bad ass craft, but it sucks for me.

I'm wondering if there is still a way to get a Clipper by being allied with a faction which controls a station having a Clipper for sale. The following website says this can be done:

An article here says this:

"The Imperial Clipper is one of the most powerful all-rounder ships in Elite Dangerous. To purchase it, you'll need to have achieved either the Empire rank of Baron or better with the Imperial Navy, or achieved Allied status with the faction the base owner is connected with."

Is this still true?

If it isn't still true, I'll be happy to receive pointers and techniques.

Thanks

 

[DevilDogWill]

You shouldn't have any trouble taking out a Clipper in an Asp with two small beams and four multi-cannons. If I remember correctly, you have two or three Elite Clippers to take out in the rank progression missions. Since they are clean, just let them fire first so that they become wanted. Then open up with all weapons and don't let up. The Clippers were fighting me in reverse so that they could keep all their weapons on me, and this can cause damage to your Asp pretty quickly. Equip a shield cell and activate it as soon as you loose the first ring of your shield. This should buy you some time. Deploy chaff and use your lateral thrusters to avoid some shots. If you loose shields entirely, it's still nothing to worry about. If you stay on him and keep firing, he will go down pretty quickly. I think the trick to fighting larger targets is to just keep calm and don't panic when you start taking damage. Sometimes it's unavoidable.

As for an alternative, I'm not sure that there are any. When I was ranking up I made the mistake of taking multiple progression/assassination missions at the same time. When I turned them in, several times at least one of them didn't count. Then the missions would dry up for a day or two, then one would come up. I would say, take them any time one comes up, but only one at a time... and work them out of an outpost if you can (for the smuggling ones). Good luck.

 

[thannos]

there are alternatives: i got to Barron after failing the assassination missions a few times, then when the progress mission came up again it was something super easy, like delivering data. So they will not always stay as kill missions.

 

[Halion Chone]

I completed this objective last night with an A-spec Viper. The trick actually is to have a good shield, shield cell bank and go in reverse. I found this out because try as I might, I couldn't stay behind the Clipper, it turns just too well for me. So in the end, I found that I could keep it at a distance of 1.5 - 2km using reverse thrust. I.e. we were head-to-head, guns-to-guns at each other. Pretty much kept it at that distance at will. And just fired away. It would also hit me (luckily nothing worse than pulse lasers), but could barely get past my shields. If shield dropped halfway, I just recharged it with a cell bank. With 2 lasers and 2 multicannons, I chipped it away until boom.

In fact, I did this all of 3 times, because I accepted the mission 3 times, thinking it might increase my rank further (I was mistaken). All three times killed the clipper with reverse thrust.

 

[omega_prime]

I did it the same way (reverse thrust) with a ASP. I noticed in my case that i could hit the Clipper even if it waas 2.4-3 km distance, but it could only hit me when we got nearer then 2.4 km ... Problem was i had mounted gimbaled guns and it took ages at this distance ...

 

[Valethar]

You can advance your rank without those kill missions. I ended up skipping them and grinding numerous subfactions in Imperial space to Allied by running missions out of various stations. Those will eventually cause rank missions to spawn and you should be able to get one that's not an Elite kill.

When fighting that thing, make sure to target the power plant. That will usually kill it faster than trying to go to zero hull. Once the power plant goes to 0% the ship pops, regardless of the state of the rest of the ship.

 

[Eagle Eye]

If it is a kill mission, target the power plant or FSD (I personally do FSD to prevent them running, but Power Plant is much easier to hit) and use a Viper. You should be winning in an Asp too, harder than a Viper but should still be quite easy (only problem is when he decides to run. Asp is nowhere near fast enough to catch him)

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=40M,7u57u57sh7sh01Q3wo,314s4s4s3I4s4s3c,05U7Pc7dg4wE
Something like that will atomize any NPC in short order, including Clipper, Python and Anaconda. You don't even need the armor as you should not even lose your shield. Just set the priority to shutdown scoop, cargo bay door and fsd upon weapon deployment. I am a brawler so I don't bother with reverse kiting, I get in his face and orbit him at point blank range. Pips are 4-0-2 when he can shoot you, 0-3-3/0-4-2 when he's looking the other way/running.

Allied status with base alternative requirement was a bug and it has been fixed quite a long while ago. Baron is the only way.

 

[Troa Barton]

If you want I'll help you out gives me something to do and helps a fellow Imperial pilot.
add me in game and I'll help you out.

 

[IceFire122]

Great,
some people are complaining about ranking up too easy in general and other people ask about ways to circumvent the only challenge in these type of missions.

Back to topic:
-Other players reported being able to buy a clipper at knight rank. Hence, being allied might indeed help to make the purchase earlier. Edit: Dimmed out, as this was apparently a bug fixed by now.

-OP brought small crafts to the fight with max. medium guns. As gun effectiveness decreases with the difference between gun/target size, it might be worth bringing some above-size-punchers: Cannons, Rail guns. These can hit larger ships with less/no size penalty (Small cannons count as medium hitters).

-The clipper is a quick turner, so flying backwards in a sturdy ship is a valid strategy.

A possibility: Asp w. good shields/Armor+Shield cells, 2-4 small lasers for taking out the shields and the rest cannons for punching out the power plant. Or: use rails instead of the cannons, as endurance (=ammo reserves) is not that critical, but power might be too limited for cells/rails. Personal preference would be Cannons. Oh, and don't forget Chaff, in case the Clipper has gimbaled large guns.

 

[Eagle Eye]

Other players reported being able to buy a clipper at knight rank. Hence, being allied might indeed help to make the purchase earlier.

Please don't confuse OP further. That bug HAS BEEN FIXED. I know, I was one of those who bought it as Squire on an allied station. It has been fixed for more than 1 month.

 

[sahib]

Oh, and don't forget Chaff, in case the Clipper has gimbaled large guns.

This! Equip two chaffs on your Asp and chaff away!

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

I managed this mission with an a rated adder. A smaller target than the asp and a little more nimble(tho I agree the viper would be easier if you have one. I didn't however)

It took 2 attempts. I had to do a runner and nearly died the 1st time.

Probably the most fun fight I have had in the game so far. As tempting as it may be to power level through it, IMO try and enjoy the journey instead. I have been hoping for more fights like this, maybe 1.2 will bring it.

 

[IceFire122]

Please don't confuse OP further. That bug HAS BEEN FIXED. I know, I was one of those who bought it as Squire on an allied station. It has been fixed for more than 1 month.

Sorry, missed your post before, edited mine for clarification. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[Quantis Trap]

Thanks for the tips guys! I just needed to get better. Like a couple of you, I found that the Viper was best for me when fighting once I got it configured correctly. Once you have a right amount of power (A class power plant) the beam lasers make much quicker work of the shields. When they're hitting you with bigger weapons, time is maneuverability important!

I know it says the the specs that the cobra and viper have the same maneuverability, but due to the added weight of the Cobra, I don't think so at all. I much prefer the Viper for fighting than a multi-role ship! I had plans to sell whatever fighter I used to get the clipper, but now, even when I get my clipper, I think I'll keep this Viper. Fighting in a clipper against Vipers is like an armed 747 against F-18s.

Thanks again!



After all that thanking, I'd like to add a friendly note that I wasn't being a whiner. The person calling me one should have realized that I was wanting to succeed at the missions, but feeling like I was failing over and over at time. The title said one thing, but the message was more broad.

Also a note in defense of this game. There are a lot of challenges in this game and it takes a while to master. It seams people like AceFire122 have short memories. Once they get past a challenge they can't remember that it was hard at the time.

 

[jp josh]

i fly a viper and i did it.....

the trick i used is once you knock out his shields use a shield cell one thats done charging set to ramming speed. he lost 30% hull per ram i forced on him for 1 shield ring.....

i also had 1 plasma ac
2 rai lguns
1 beam lazer

the rails were small

you will need to set a rail gun to 5 priority and shield cell to 2 to use it

good luck!!!!

 

[Troa Barton]

Thanks for the tips guys! I just needed to get better. Like a couple of you, I found that the Viper was best for me when fighting once I got it configured correctly. Once you have a right amount of power (A class power plant) the beam lasers make much quicker work of the shields. When they're hitting you with bigger weapons, time is maneuverability important!

I know it says the the specs that the cobra and viper have the same maneuverability, but due to the added weight of the Cobra, I don't think so at all. I much prefer the Viper for fighting than a multi-role ship! I had plans to sell whatever fighter I used to get the clipper, but now, even when I get my clipper, I think I'll keep this Viper. Fighting in a clipper against Vipers is like an armed 747 against F-18s.

Thanks again!



After all that thanking, I'd like to add a friendly note that I wasn't being a whiner. The person calling me one should have realized that I was wanting to succeed at the missions, but feeling like I was failing over and over at time. The title said one thing, but the message was more broad.

Also a note in defense of this game. There are a lot of challenges in this game and it takes a while to master. It seams people like AceFire122 have short memories. Once they get past a challenge they can't remember that it was hard at the time.

Did you take him down or would you still like some help?