I went from my trusty nimble Eagle to a Viper a couple of months ago, and haven't changed it since. I'm beginning to tire of it though and fancy an upgrade. What would be an advisable progression from the Viper for someone looking to increase their combat acumen (bounty hunting, RES, that kind of thing)? Please note that i've only got just under 1,000,000cr in the bank so i'm not in any position to be shelling out for likes of the FDL or Vulture just yet.
Yep, vulture. Granted, you've not got enough creds yet, but what I did was park my viper and buy a T6 - kitted it out to 100 or so cargo and did some trade runs interspersed with some smuggling (much better return, even if you get rumbled on the way into dock). Before long I had 4m or so credits, sold the viper upgrades individually then the viper itself which gave me the cash to fly around in a stock vulture for a bit (and have enough to insure it!) until I earnt enough from bounty hunting nav beacons to get some upgrades. One word of advice - first upgrades need to be power plant and distributor - I got cocky and pulled a python/conda can't remember which out of SC, and as soon as I deployed hardpoints I had a power overload and everything shut down leaving me adrift with no shields or anything- suffice to say I died - all I could do was laugh at my own ineptitude. Hurrah for insurance!
A bit out of my price range just yet.
I was thinking of trying the Cobra but unsure whether it's be worth the hassle of outfitting it etc. The Courier sounds interesting - i'd be happy to start with the basic model and slowly purchase modules as I go (which is what I did with the Viper as I don't have the time to be grinding day in day out, hence my crappy bank balance). How do the Diamondbacks fare against the courier?
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Thanks a lot for the advice. I may have to bite the bullet and go back to trading, even if it does make me want to gouge out my eyes with a pencil from the tedium of it. But no pain no gain right?
I'd say it's worth trying the Cobra, it's not as nimble as the Viper, few ships are, but it's a different kind of ship and I found it useful experience for when I started flying larger ships. Plus if you have enough to keep your viper in storage you can always go back to it if you miss the extra maneauverability and doing it that way will also mean that you get to save money by upgrading it and hopefully getting enough to buy a vulture which sounds like it may be your next natural target.
Or if you take Gavlar50's advice you can then do what I did and try ramming an NPC eagle to death with your T6. I was there for well over 20 minutes trying that. I couldn't catch him frequently enough to do it (nimble little swine) but it taught me even more about how to maneauvre in a sluggish pig of a ship.
Or if you take Gavlar50's advice you can then do what I did and try ramming an NPC eagle to death with your T6. I was there for well over 20 minutes trying that. I couldn't catch him frequently enough to do it (nimble little swine) but it taught me even more about how to maneauvre in a sluggish pig of a ship.
Cobra is a multipurpose ship with a good jump range and more internals for cargo transporting. It will allow you to be more versatile (smuggling, trading, exploring, fighting, etc).I was thinking of trying the Cobra but unsure whether it's be worth the hassle of outfitting it etc. The Courier sounds interesting - i'd be happy to start with the basic model and slowly purchase modules as I go (which is what I did with the Viper as I don't have the time to be grinding day in day out, hence my crappy bank balance). How do the Diamondbacks fare against the courier?
Diamondbacks are no match for courier in combat. I can assure you of that.
Actually diamondback scout is nice little ship, maneuverable, with good hardpoint placement.
But it has few disadvantages. Class 4 internals - relatively expensive to outfit. Relatively weak shields. And small/few internal compartments.
IMO it will not be direct upgrade/improvement from viper, but possibly an option.
But it has few disadvantages. Class 4 internals - relatively expensive to outfit. Relatively weak shields. And small/few internal compartments.
IMO it will not be direct upgrade/improvement from viper, but possibly an option.
In short, if you want a ship that's stronger, save for a Courier or a Vulture (depending on how long you're willing to stay in the Viper). If you just want something other to fly in buy a Cobra or a DBS.
Play around with some builds at coriolis.io and then decide which ship suits you best.
Play around with some builds at coriolis.io and then decide which ship suits you best.
In your position a while back, I bought a Cobra and did some rares trading, which improved the bank balance no end. I then decided on a Courier as my next step; to get there I, like Gavlar50, bit the bullet and ran a T6 for a while. What a slug after a Viper! Really enjoying the Courier, which I use for bounty hunting exclusively. I 've got 2T of cargo hold with some Gold in it, to attract pirates, but that's it. Like you though I want to try a Vulture, so I'm saving up for one of those. I don't think I will ever give up my sports car Courier though
I would think that you can make reasonable amount of money with combining bounty hunting in res and missions even in a Viper, enough to get into a Courier - or preferably a Vulture.
As others said, you can try the Cobra as well. It's the fastest ship in the game, and perfect for the high-paying smuggling missions, with some bounty hunting on the side. Or rares trading.
With these options we are really talking only 5-6 hours to get into a Vulture. That shouldn't be too bad. And you might end up enjoying the Cobra a lot
As others said, you can try the Cobra as well. It's the fastest ship in the game, and perfect for the high-paying smuggling missions, with some bounty hunting on the side. Or rares trading.
With these options we are really talking only 5-6 hours to get into a Vulture. That shouldn't be too bad. And you might end up enjoying the Cobra a lot
A 1M Viper is not fully upgraded (costed my 3M to do so).
I would continue to upgrade it and target Imperial Courrier which is mostly a "Super Viper".
Fully upgraded for combat will cost you around 9M.
If you need money, you could configure it for smuggling missions as well (5M).
Cobra would be better and more multi-role, but Cobra is not a real combat ship.
I would continue to upgrade it and target Imperial Courrier which is mostly a "Super Viper".
Fully upgraded for combat will cost you around 9M.
If you need money, you could configure it for smuggling missions as well (5M).
Cobra would be better and more multi-role, but Cobra is not a real combat ship.
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I consider the courier being the most direct upgrade from the viper. The vulture is more an upgrade from the eagle, if you preferred that. The cobra is approximately equal - a bit slower in the blue zone, smaller shields, more hull, and a bit more power and compartment space.
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I highly recommend the courier. Shields as big as a vulture - great speed and maneuverability, lots and lots of power.
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I highly recommend the courier. Shields as big as a vulture - great speed and maneuverability, lots and lots of power.
Been rediscovering the Viper lately and having a huge amount of fun at Conflict Zones, the most important thing is keeping the weight low as even with A class thrusters the optimal mass (120 T) is just greater than the equipped mass (106 T).
Compare this to a Vulture with just D class thrusters optimal mass (630 T) equipped mass (340 T) and it's close to the 2:1 ratio (A class is well over 2:1) explains the ships agility and how little power management effects the flight characteristics, for most ships the best way to gain agility is drop weight.
Try some pulse turrets in the Viper's small hard points, they'll keep firing on the target even under heavy maneuvering and some gimbaled pulse on the medium hard points (power issues aren't that bad as all weapons are only firing together occasionally)
Currently playing around with this set up, jump range is poor so I might even fit a 2D FSD to drop some mass and limit it to a single system.
http://coriolis.io/outfit/viper/03A3A3D2D3A3D2C1b1b19190404-40-24.AwRjNcqo.Aw1+kA==?bn=Viper SR
Compare this to a Vulture with just D class thrusters optimal mass (630 T) equipped mass (340 T) and it's close to the 2:1 ratio (A class is well over 2:1) explains the ships agility and how little power management effects the flight characteristics, for most ships the best way to gain agility is drop weight.
Try some pulse turrets in the Viper's small hard points, they'll keep firing on the target even under heavy maneuvering and some gimbaled pulse on the medium hard points (power issues aren't that bad as all weapons are only firing together occasionally)
Currently playing around with this set up, jump range is poor so I might even fit a 2D FSD to drop some mass and limit it to a single system.
http://coriolis.io/outfit/viper/03A3A3D2D3A3D2C1b1b19190404-40-24.AwRjNcqo.Aw1+kA==?bn=Viper SR
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Flown all combat below Python. My butt rests in the Courier now. Fun ship!
Big shields,good speed, decent power,and with a spare tank it can travel 100ly (14 at a time).
My only complaint it the limited visibility under the nose cone.... But you get past that very quickly.
Vulture is a great ship, big guns, great shields and turns on a dime... But it's too slow for me.
Considering your limited funds I'd suggest getting a Cobra and running rares. You'll need about 9mil to outfit Courier/DBS. You can achieve this in a few nights play running rares. (PM me if you want a simple route).
Big shields,good speed, decent power,and with a spare tank it can travel 100ly (14 at a time).
My only complaint it the limited visibility under the nose cone.... But you get past that very quickly.
Vulture is a great ship, big guns, great shields and turns on a dime... But it's too slow for me.
Considering your limited funds I'd suggest getting a Cobra and running rares. You'll need about 9mil to outfit Courier/DBS. You can achieve this in a few nights play running rares. (PM me if you want a simple route).
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I agree with prior posters that either the Vulture or a Courier,
my personal preference after weeks with both ships is the Courier, why?
Well mostly because it is fun to fly. fast and "can" outmaneuver a Vulture and outrun almost anything but a lightweight fit Cobra
My build for my ship is as follows: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=707,4yH4yHmpT0__0__,2-6Q4s4s2C4s3m3c,4zM05U7O27dg7dg9pC
This ship is rather special in that it "really" benefits from a "lightweight" build my 4PIPS speed is 306kph and 416 boost and kicks it's maneuvering and lateral thrusting past an "A" spec Vulture (if i shaved off 5 more tons it would be 310/420) *for reference my 210 ton "lightweight" no weapons trading cobra maxed out at 320/450 empty
But does not suffer much as it is fully res/bounty/conflict usable, the dual beams pack a nasty punch and with (sys/wep) 3/3 can fire dual beams for 6 sec and single for 20 or (2/4) can fire for 10/40 respectively.
All that mind you with enhanced maneuvering *even at 0 pips it maxes at 240kph in combat and battle speeds are around 170* (only a a spec eagle/viper can go nose on to me close range in a vert-thrust pitch) and you still have 380+mj shields, a small target & 2A class scb's that can fully refill it from 1 ring.
Obviously i'm bias as i am in love with the ship, but it is worth noting that it can perform really well in the right configuration, and i hope this post helps in your future decisions.
my personal preference after weeks with both ships is the Courier, why?
Well mostly because it is fun to fly. fast and "can" outmaneuver a Vulture and outrun almost anything but a lightweight fit Cobra
My build for my ship is as follows: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=707,4yH4yHmpT0__0__,2-6Q4s4s2C4s3m3c,4zM05U7O27dg7dg9pC
This ship is rather special in that it "really" benefits from a "lightweight" build my 4PIPS speed is 306kph and 416 boost and kicks it's maneuvering and lateral thrusting past an "A" spec Vulture (if i shaved off 5 more tons it would be 310/420) *for reference my 210 ton "lightweight" no weapons trading cobra maxed out at 320/450 empty
But does not suffer much as it is fully res/bounty/conflict usable, the dual beams pack a nasty punch and with (sys/wep) 3/3 can fire dual beams for 6 sec and single for 20 or (2/4) can fire for 10/40 respectively.
All that mind you with enhanced maneuvering *even at 0 pips it maxes at 240kph in combat and battle speeds are around 170* (only a a spec eagle/viper can go nose on to me close range in a vert-thrust pitch) and you still have 380+mj shields, a small target & 2A class scb's that can fully refill it from 1 ring.
Obviously i'm bias as i am in love with the ship, but it is worth noting that it can perform really well in the right configuration, and i hope this post helps in your future decisions.
I would save up and get an Asp. Unless you have no upgrades on your viper, there is value there for an upgrade. A decent RES can yield 500k/hr. Once your total assets equal around 9mil, should be set. And Asp can do everything from trade, explore, and fight. That's what I fly and I'm not getting another ship until Python.
