FDL or Python...

[Morbad]

Morbad's FdL setup looks pretty good to me. I think I got the silly notion in my head that I needed a Class 4 weapon in that huge mount, which just adds such a huge amount to the cost.

If you really want a huge weapon, four gimbaled medium pulse lasers and a fixed huge canon work pretty well. You won't use the cannon much on anything smaller than an Asp, and it's useless against CMDRs, but it does a real number on the hull and subsystems of larger ships without being very expensive or power hungry.

Here is another option if you want to do some big game AI hunting on those random encounters between stations: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,7RK4yG4yG5Rr5Rr0_g0_g0_g3wU01Q0Wg,2-7_7_6Q6u9Y6u5A,08c0727RA4xo02M

Make two fire groups, gimbaled pulse the same trigger on all of them, then fixed beams on the other trigger in the first group, with the cannon left out. That first group is for stripping shields or killing small ships. Group two has the cannon on the other trigger, and the beams left off. The first two medium hardpoints are on top of the nose and can rarely be used while employing a projectile weapon in the huge hardpoint, but the last two are on the sides, and can depress quite a bit with gimbals, so with this grouping you can land hits with the pulse lasers and cannon simultaneously.

If you have trouble aiming fixed beams, they can be made gimbaled as well, and in this case, all four medium weapons can be left on one trigger, as the beams won't fire regardless if you are pitching up to use the cannon.

 

[PotatoOverdose]

I own both FdL and Python. For Res sites and assassination missions, both work fine, but the python's better simply because it can kill an elite anaconda in 20 seconds.

For missions in general, the python is probably better due to jump range + cargo capacity.

For PvP, the FdL can catch and hold every single ship down except for the clipper and the anaconda. That's nice. The only ship that can really hold an FdL is another FdL. The python is too slow to catch anything except type 7's and type 9's, really.

 

[CYB34]

Practice with it, i'm fairly convinced no ship RES's faster than the python and you'd have to be asleep to lose to a vulture just bluezone reverse.

Yep, I'll take back what I said. I jumped to conclusions without properly upgrading the ship.
I just replaced more modules with C7 / B7 and this thing is unstoppable and tough as hell.

 

[Vandaahl]

I'd say Python as well. It gives you other things to do when you've done enough missions.

 

[Globusdiablo]

I just love the Python.

It's the ultimate ship if you ask me. But the feeling is more important to me than the stats, so go figure. At the end of the day you should be flying the ship that gives you the biggest smirk on your face.

And for me, that's the Python. I just feel right when I'm in my Python.

Fly safe.

 

[Lord Lucan Onion Head]

I just love the Python.

It's the ultimate ship if you ask me. But the feeling is more important to me than the stats, so go figure. At the end of the day you should be flying the ship that gives you the biggest smirk on your face.

And for me, that's the Python. I just feel right when I'm in my Python.

Fly safe.

Exactly.

Each ship has it's own feel and smirk-o-factor

Have a lozenge of rep.

 

[Poseidal]

I only warmed to the FdL after fitting and using the class 4 PA. It may not be the most practical option, but it does have an impact, so to speak.

 

[Lord Lucan Onion Head]

I only warmed to the FdL after fitting and using the class 4 PA. It may not be the most practical option, but it does have an impact, so to speak.

I need to try this. What's your loadout?

 

[Moriarte]

I need to try this. What's your loadout?

Four pulses or two beams is what I tried, when fitting the PA beast into the FDL. Also, a compromise on boosters/SCB is needed, as the PA is hungry. Aside from that, I had the most fun in ED with this weapon when killing NPC's. Never got to test PA against other commanders, got myself a Python instead.

Ain't coming back to FDL... probably. Three large pulses, two railguns is the decisive factor the Python has over FDL, in my mind.

Spoiler

[video=youtube;Px5CFXD0JXA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px5CFXD0JXA&list=PLfKwXAFHm6fLMOlAoES5CZAc0bpE_visM[/video]

 

[Poseidal]

I need to try this. What's your loadout?

At work at the moment, but I think I have something like this from memory:

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,A725Rg5Rg5Rr5Rr3we0Wg01Q0_g0_q0__,2-7_7_6Q6u9Y6u5A,7TC4-47go03w02M

It's a power hog (2.63 drain) so the shields are nowhere near as strong as you can get on a FdL (and I should really swap out the heat sink launcher for something like an E-rated booster since I haven't had to use it once)

 

[DidierDrbois]

I have both so I must have half-sense.

... but one MASSIVE wallet!

- - - Updated - - -

I just love the Python.

It's the ultimate ship if you ask me. But the feeling is more important to me than the stats, so go figure. At the end of the day you should be flying the ship that gives you the biggest smirk on your face.

And for me, that's the Python. I just feel right when I'm in my Python.

Fly safe.

Word Commander, word indeed!