Python or Fer de Lance

Derthek,

I don't doubt that it would be a close fight. I only called you up for the OP's benefit so that they know the limitations of the FDL restrict it from taking full advantage of its stats.

The Python can take full advantage of it's stats, but in some regards they are lower than the FDL's potential.

What that tells me is depending on your flying style and how you set up the FDL it can be dangerous, and in the right hands, lethal. The Python however can be set up to be dangerous in pretty much anyone's hands.
 
The Python has a funny bar in the top right that is far more annoying than the FdL struts. The FdL also has better left/right/up visibility if you use it.
 
Thing with the python is that we can debate a 5% loss to a fdl in combat but the utility you gain in jump range is huge.

I have both. Fdl is far more fun in combat. Thing is I can hardly be bothered to transport it to different regions.

Take the python and slug it out.
 
Not really. In order to have dual boosters in FDL you have to downsize the shield buffer considerably. Probably somewhere around 550-700mj, depending on the weapon setup. If you go nuts with shield boosters, you end up with less effective shield strength since shield cell banks provide a lot of that when fired at stack of 2 or even 3 (which Python can do quite easily). If you want to play with stuff like Class 4 plasma, prepare to grind your teeth as you try to sort out just how in the heck am I going to have everything in this bucket that I need and still fight. :)

As for the weapon damage, here is a thread where weapons were tested against shield (armor figures not available at this date). https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=140240
Difference between C3 and C4 plasma accelerator in damage output per second is about 82 / 100 in ratio. Around 20% roughly. Alpha damage is at ratio 75 / 100, advantage to class 4. Same ratios should logically also apply to hull damage, since as far as we know there are no ships that penalize class 3 weapon damage in game as of yet. It´s nothing even close to 2.5 x damage.

Nah, you just get creative with module management with turning things on and off. I can run 6 C shield boosters for a total of 806 mj shields, and have 2 4A and one 2A shieldbank.



Not a problem :) happy to help
ahh! i wish i was closer to human space so I could duel a CMDR python to show you what i mean. Not saying that I would win, but im fairly confident in a fair fight I could give any python CMDR a run for their money. Having flown both I can say that with full pips to engines the FDL can boost once per second, and come to a full stop much faster than a python. Trust me... im not saying the python is a push over, far from it.

But with out giving away too much of my FDL attack run, I can stay behind the thrusters of a python and maintain 2.5 km distance at all times behind them. it's not really a question of "do the python's weapons do more damage than a FDL" rather its a quesition of "can you out boost and out maneuver a ship designed to chase and kill pirates, that also has more shields than you"

Edit: Just to add, as I'm assuming you've all flown a vulture, the tactic with a vulture is stay close and out maneuver. The tactic with a FDL is to stay far away, just within fixed weapon distance and FAoff strafe to maintain position behind a target until the shields are out. Then get in close and hit the power plant. Again this is just my own experience with PVP. Hell, i dont even fly with chaff any more because gimbal never hit me at that distance any way ^_^




Haha, my usual strategy (in PvE) is different. I boom and zoom them with PA until their shields are down, then rip apart the powerplant with either multis or cannons. Works best in wings, since the little buggers are a pain to tag with the PA

I do use your strategy when I need to fly solo, with some kind of laser. For PvP, I'd actually consider running one beam and 4 railguns.
 
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Nah, FDL shields are the strongest behind an Anaconda, if you don't count shield banks.

Assuming coriolis.io is accurate..

Python with 6A Shields and four A shield boosters runs you at about 726 MJ shielding
Power Conscious FDL can run anywhere from 796 - 912 mJ shielding.


Main advantage of the Python is effectiveness of 3 Large/2 Medium over 1 Huge(Basically Large in PvP)/4 medium. Also, it can hold more shield banks. Your other points on versatility are true. I need to swap out my fuel scoop to be fully combat fit with enough shield banks.
 
As for firepower, a huge hardpoint is equal to 2.5 large hard points so both crafts come up pretty equal there.

Against other CMDRs the huge hardpoint is a large hardpoint because if you put any of the huge weapons in the game there you may as well just leave it disabled so you can power your mediums with less pips in WEP.

I've fought players with all the huge weapons, the PA being most effective of the bunch, and I'd still consider my preferred large fixed beam to be easily worth two huge PAs in an actual fight where people move in vectors that aren't straight lines.

If you put all the shield boosters you need to get the FDL shields up as high as you quote, will you have power left to take advantage of the hardpoints?

My combat FDL has about the same shielding as my combat Python, just fewer SCBs.

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the FDL's internal compartments are not enough to be able to refill 1045.22MJ with shield cell banks.

My combat FDL has ~1400 MJ of SCB charges, all powered with hardpoints deployed.

the FDL can not live upto it's potential due to power issues

Utter nonsense.

hidden stats :(

Base shield stats were never hidden.

What that tells me is depending on your flying style and how you set up the FDL it can be dangerous, and in the right hands, lethal. The Python however can be set up to be dangerous in pretty much anyone's hands.

Give two novice pilots the best combat Pythons that can be built for 250 million each, and I'll send them both home in escape pods with a 75 mil FDL.

Shields on the FdL are fairly weak, so the Ship can't take alot of prolonged heat, no matter what you do.

Why do you keep saying this?
 
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I have a Python, never had an FDL.

Looking at the two in EDShipyard the Python has better fire power, more power and better power distributor. (The power distributor is very important in my experience, makes PIP management much more affective. For example if one ship has better shields but the other has better distributor, it can be stronger. But you have to use them right) It also has more slots and space for things like SCB’s.

The FDL has better speed and maneuverability. This is important for getting on point or getting away if losing. It is also smaller target. The big advantage is the FDL has two more utility mounts.

I don’t understand why a ship the size of the Python only has 4 utility mounts. If it had 6 it would be maybe too good. This is what gives the FDL a better potential shield value, and also more flexibility in terms of scanners etc. However the power plant and internal slots of the Python mean it can load up on SCB’s and have a lot more shield reserve, this is usually the difference in a fight form my experience.

From a combat perspective, I think with good power management the FDL might just be slightly better, especially in one v one. The Python turns like the Titanic. But I think the Python would be better against multiple targets. Both ships should be flown with very different tactics in combat. The big difference of course is the cost of a combat spec Python, but that only matters if you don’t have the money, and the Python can make you money faster.

The reason I went with the Python is the flexibility of turning it into a 276T trader when needed as well. As well as other configs when needed. If the 10% module selling penalty had not been cancelled, it might have been a harder decision.

Aesthetics is the last piece, I really like the look of the Python. The FDL looks like an overgrown Adder to me. But others might prefer the look of the FDL.

Has anyone flown and fought in both? What’s their opinions?
 
I hate fighting in the Python. Okay, it's really easy to melt NPC ships with gimballed, but closing to a range where gimballed is effective is a pain in the ass, and if a fight goes south, the only thing I can do is chug shield cell banks and hope it kicks in before my shields break. I once jumped into a SSS and got mobbed by three Anacondas and a Vulture, and my shields were pretty much gone before I could react and punch in a shield bank

FDL lets me dictate the fight with speed. Python lets me tank almost anything. It really came down to personal preference in the end, and I don't mind a high workload when I'm flying combat.

I'd say the FDL is better for 1v1s, and I'd be happy to take on any ship in that case. Python's best against multiple NPC ships, but the FDL can do nearly as well in PvE, just requires more work and piloting finesse, especially if they are taking advantage of the FDL's strengths (hardpoint placement for fixed, PA)
 
Against other CMDRs the huge hardpoint is a large hardpoint because if you put any of the huge weapons in the game there you may as well just leave it disabled so you can power your mediums with less pips in WEP.

I've fought players with all the huge weapons, the PA being most effective of the bunch, and I'd still consider my preferred large fixed beam to be easily worth two huge PAs in an actual fight where people move in vectors that aren't straight lines.



My combat FDL has about the same shielding as my combat Python, just fewer SCBs.



My combat FDL has ~1400 MJ of SCB charges, all powered with hardpoints deployed.



Utter nonsense.



Base shield stats were never hidden.



Give two novice pilots the best combat Pythons that can be built for 250 million each, and I'll send them both home in escape pods with a 75 mil FDL.



Why do you keep saying this?

AhAHAH! I love Morbad, he's so rude :D
But he is right indeed. Apart from the PA that I use with gorgeous success even against not straight lined pilots. But that's about tastes so it's ok!

I own both FdL and Python, loving both of them and my game is PvP so I think I can talk about them.
But the FdL wins.

The center Bar? When you fight it disappears completely. It's transparent. Really.
Weak SHIELDS?! Buahuhauhauahuahauahahauha! FdL shields are the 2° strongest shields in the game. With 4 pips you're invincible.
I use a huge PA and then I'm all kinetict, so I've cosntantly at least 2 pips to shields: the PA alone could get the job done If you can aim. with a bit of luck the Python don't have the time to fire a shield cell before its shields are gone. Just flight under it and he will miss you most all the time.
Power issues? Yes, but if you are creative... as someone else said...

Said it before and saying it again: the FdL needs REAL skills. Managing pips constantly, turning on and off systems, FA-OFF and ON, firing chaffs, and shields cell while still flying and fighting...
 
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I can run a FDL with max shield banks, Huge PA and 4 railguns. The only thing I complained about was that I couldn't run 6 C shield boosters :p. Oh and I needed to turn off life support.
 
[...]
What I loved about the FdL is its Hull Resistance. Even without any additional bulkheads, it can take quite a beating. Really appreciated that, since that occured much more frequently with its Shield (Internals/Power) deficiencies.
It's IMHO the only point where you really see it was built for combat. [...]

Did you realize, that the pythons armor was increased to more than 450 with 1.3? :cool:
 
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