Asp commanders - a couple of questions

Jon Jaymes · Apr 12, 2015

For those in Asps and who have flied them, but moved onto other ships......

1. How decent is it in a fight?
2. What is the maximum cargo capacity you have had?

The Asp is the next logical progression from my Cobra (fighting) and Type 6 (trading) vessels. Ideally, it can do both

Thanks,
Jon Jaymes

CMDR Hagglebeard · Apr 12, 2015

The ASP with shields gets 96t of cargo, without shields it can get 128t cargo. It's not very good in a fight, it's the second most drifty ship in the game, but it can ram smaller ships pretty well. It gets 4 small hardpoints and 2 medium hardpoints, so it's only a bit better than the Cobra in terms of firepower.

_Flin_ · Apr 12, 2015

It's o.k. in fighting. While better than a Cobra (2 medium hardpoints, 4 small ones) it is expensive to equip into a fighting vessel. Class 5A modules cost over 5 million.

It can load up to 120t (I think).

It is way better than the Type 6, and better than the Cobra.

As a fighter, it is worse than the specialized Vulture.

Edit: for trading you can run with class 3 shields.
You want the class A FSD that can get you over 30 ly unladen jump range with D class modules.

UniMag · Apr 12, 2015

Jon Jaymes said:
For those in Asps and who have flied them, but moved onto other ships......

1. How decent is it in a fight?
2. What is the maximum cargo capacity you have had?

The Asp is the next logical progression from my Cobra (fighting) and Type 6 (trading) vessels. Ideally, it can do both

Thanks,
Jon Jaymes

Rep for asking this

I'm in the same boat as in ready to move on from the cobra. I've only got 6 million credits so gonna wait until I'm up to around 10 which will mean selling modules and trading it in.

Kaeldian · Apr 12, 2015

I don't like it in a fight. Doesn't turn fast enough to turn fight and doesn't have the speed to boom and zoom. But having all the hardpoints certainly is nice when you have to fight.

Crank Larson · Apr 12, 2015

I think the Asp's a good all rounder, and had no problems fighting when it was kitted out for that. It's currently in explorer configuration though. You can kit it out for rare trading ok, but I use the Type 7 if I'm going to do any serious trading.

Jackie Silver · Apr 12, 2015

Jon Jaymes said:
1. How decent is it in a fight?

It's okay, but it's not better than the Cobra - it's got slightly heavier armament but it's slower and a much bigger target (as you'll know from shooting at them!)

Speed is especially important if you're going to be engaging in PVP (if your priority is survival.)

Space Dandy · Apr 12, 2015

CMDR Hagglebeard said:
The ASP with shields gets 96t of cargo, without shields it can get 128t cargo. It's not very good in a fight, it's the second most drifty ship in the game, but it can ram smaller ships pretty well. It gets 4 small hardpoints and 2 medium hardpoints, so it's only a bit better than the Cobra in terms of firepower.

Flying an Asp right now and you can get a small 3a shield and still have 116T cargo

DidierDrbois · Apr 12, 2015

1) It's ridiculously expensive to kit out for combat. 6A shields are 16M. Mine was in excess of 35M. You CAN do an Elite Conda with it but it's not amazing. It's a BIG target you know!

2) I've had some 112 or there about with the lowest shield you can slap on and with that jump range, it's an unbeatable rares trader.

I love the Asp and will never sell mine. It can do a lot of things very well but in one, it stands tall and proud next to the Conda: exploration. Actually, that view beats the Conda, left handedly.

Good luck commander!

Nounverber · Apr 12, 2015

It depends on what you're using it for. While I wouldn't recommend the Asp for PvP, if you're doing trading and PvE then you can get into an effective D and C module equipped Asp for less than 10 million credits. Don't listen to the "it's too expensive" crowd, because they'll say that about EVERY ship. Just leave yourself enough cash for trading and insurance (and insurance, and insurance, and insurance) and you're good to go.

Strychnine · Apr 12, 2015

I did rather well in the battle for Lugh in my Asp! I put turreted beams on her but I later switched them out for gimbaled. I love my jump range and cargo space. I really got it for exploring though and I'm almost kitted out for that. I'm really interested in the upcoming Imperial courier. I hope that it's a convincing upgrade.

DidierDrbois · Apr 12, 2015

Nounverber said:
It depends on what you're using it for. While I wouldn't recommend the Asp for PvP, if you're doing trading and PvE then you can get into an effective D and C module equipped Asp for less than 10 million credits. Don't listen to the "it's too expensive" crowd, because they'll say that about EVERY ship. Just leave yourself enough cash for trading and insurance (and insurance, and insurance, and insurance) and you're good to go.

I'm just gonna go ahead and say that the Vulture is cheap. Dirt cheap.

Faded Glory · Apr 12, 2015

I have an Asp that I essentially use for trading and exploration (and I'm not much of a trader or explorer

). While it's not a dedicated combat craft, it's hard points are very well positioned, and since there are a total of six of them, it can defend itself very nicely. If I actually want to combat, then it's the Vulture all the way.

Rubbernuke · Apr 12, 2015

Speaking as a Solo player, its a potent long range fighter if you accept its vulnerable powerplant. With A grade components (and a B rated powerplant for robustness) it can hold its own if you pick your targets well as it has the best hardpoint placement of any ship in the game (six right at the front). With turrets you will get about 80% coverage with only dead astern being the blind spot. I ran twin C beams and it would melt most small ships and be very good with large ships with some effort. An Asps worst enemy is the Viper (and Cobras too) as they can zoom away and back to attack you, and resist your fire (unlike an Eagle which is shifty but fragile) before exploding.

In Lugh I managed to rack up about 15 million in bonds and be in the top 5% with my Asp.

It lacks dash speed compared to a Cobra, but you are right its like a Cobra + T6.

reverendK · Apr 12, 2015

i've gotten the asp up to 104t WITH shields - just drop the shield size down a notch.
i've also had a lot of success with it in combat roles. i wouldn't take it into PVP necessarily - but it's maneuverability isn't as terrible as some would have you believe...and with the right loadout it can pack a decent puch with those 6 guns.
i'm a fan of the asp. at the very least i will forever have my explorer loadout Pigsnake docked somewhere for when the void calls me.

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it's also worth mentioning: if you fork out the money the Asp can be a TANKY MONSTER in a fight. she's a great all-rounder that can pretty much excell in any role with the proper loadout.
other ships can fight or trade better - but nobody matches her versatility at that price-point...and nobody explores better.

Distance · Apr 12, 2015

A trade Asp will do 120t with shields :

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60g,,2-3I8S7_6u6u8S8I,0AA08c7Q405U05U03w03w

markzed · Apr 12, 2015

I found the Asp to be a reliable combat platform but it does lumber a little. It has poor yaw but loops ok.
It takes an age to back off the throttle so you can heave it around into a loop.

I felt a good mix was two big beams on top and 4 multi's on the bottom.
Not as quick as dispatching baddies as my lovely clipper but good enough to make an impact.

I always leaned toward combat/safety configs so I only ran about 80T.

DidierDrbois · Apr 12, 2015

One more thing commander. The CURSE of the Asp. Have insurance as write-off money ready.

reverendK · Apr 12, 2015

i had a lot of fun in lugh with 2 railguns on the larger hardpoints and a mix of multicannons and beam lasers on the smaller.
wish railguns were stronger, though...but it was definitely fun.

Roybe · Apr 12, 2015

I enjoyed the Asp, but felt the costs made the T6 a better trader. The firepower is more substantial to a Cobra, but again costs for repair and insurance were way higher, with a reduced upside. My upgrade path from the T6 was to a T7 and am currently running in a trading Python (basically, 100 ton increases in trade capacity each upgrade 6=100 tons, 7=200 tons, Python=300 tons (a little bit of rounding in there, but what it really amounts to). I have enough to buy a T9, but not enough to upgrade, buy frieght, and insure.