Ships Best ship for Planetary Activities

Clipper and Anaconda. I had the Conda for so long as a trader. Now i took it out to test a fast build, and i am still out and it's been a week. It has 4 srv's (lost one after 4 days), best thrusters for high G's, plenty of heat sinks, chaff for coming back, doubled the fuel capacity, cargo, some shields and a kickass scoop. With all that, it can do 30Ly, so it's a nice exploration vessel for deep space but still very expencive. On the other hand if you don't go far away, then the Clipper is amazing in everything. It can carry all you need for landing and exploring with style, and with weapons. It's jumprange is meh just ok i guess.
 
If people like the viper III, I'm surprised there isn't much talk about the DBS. It's exactly what folks thought the viper IV was going to be. Slightly slower, more module space, and more agile with the same weapon hard points.

It's a mean little bumblebee. Highly recommended.

I've been in a DBS for the past few months and exclusively since Horizons came out. This is a great ship to use for exploration and planetary landings.
 
Here's a better question: Which ship seems the most stable when flying close to the surface?

I ask as my Asp Explorer seems to wobble quite a bit when approaching a planetary base.
 
I found the FAS to bae a great ship for surface missions, and a well rounded mission runner. 3X2C bursts on the bottom and a PA or your preference on the top mount. Fast on the surface and has enough leg to get missions done with or without fuel scoop. Not the largest storage, but adequate.
 
Here's a better question: Which ship seems the most stable when flying close to the surface?

I ask as my Asp Explorer seems to wobble quite a bit when approaching a planetary base.

I found that the Clipper handles just fine close to the surface.
 
Pah, it's the courier obviously. Cinch to land, got cargo space and good shields in case you crash. No contest (although extra cargo space would be welcome).

Seconded.
If there was any doubt left that the Courier has one of the best secondary thruster performance in the game, planetary landings would have dispersed any remaining doubt in an instance. This little ship just laughs at gravity.
And contrary to the DBS you can fit everything you like for your surface trips in it.
 
Lakon Type 7, hands down best ship for planetary landings IMO. Landing on a high-g world in one of those is like flying an apartment building. Loads of fun until the crashing and the burning.
 
Clipper and Anaconda. I had the Conda for so long as a trader. Now i took it out to test a fast build, and i am still out and it's been a week. It has 4 srv's (lost one after 4 days), best thrusters for high G's, plenty of heat sinks, chaff for coming back, doubled the fuel capacity, cargo, some shields and a kickass scoop. With all that, it can do 30Ly, so it's a nice exploration vessel for deep space but still very expencive. On the other hand if you don't go far away, then the Clipper is amazing in everything. It can carry all you need for landing and exploring with style, and with weapons. It's jumprange is meh just ok i guess.

Everyone is forgetting the Keelback, it's cheaper and well armed, nice cargo space and cool swiveling thrusters. Good for planetary landings and tasks but really not a good trader or combat ship or explorer... http://coriolis.io/outfit/keelback/04A4A4A1D3A2A4C1c1c191904030004040240v6v6.Iw18UA==.Aw18UA==


Sure the conda and python are better but this is a nice low budget version.
 
My planetary activities at the moment are at Morgan Depot, HIP 10716 for some mission stacking for a quick boost of my Empire rank.

Wanted a ground attack ship so of course I went with a ... Keelback!:p

Slow at not even 100knots with no pips to engines and 4A thrusters so plenty of time to pick out your targets, 5A shields and A booster, 3 multicannons plus the obligatory missile rack (16 ammo) and it looks mean in matt black.

48 Ton capacity and an SRV shoved in there too.

Cost : maybe 9mil?

Its my Elite A10. (Admitedly the REAL Elite A10 is an Asp but I hate de-moduling boats that I have spent ages on tricking out to perfection, so that will need to wait for a new hull.) For a supposed un-loved lemon i'm having some fun.
 
ICutter - because what's the point of landing if it isn't interesting.

On a side note: I like using the python and anaconda for planetary stuff because of the general nature of the ship...... And I'm using my cutter at the moment because it does a bit of everything.
 
I like the multi role ships best for planetary activity. Cobra mk III, Asp Explorer, Python. Probably Anaconda as well (haven't got that ship yet) but the steep rebuy makes possible accidents expensive.
 
Seconded.
If there was any doubt left that the Courier has one of the best secondary thruster performance in the game, planetary landings would have dispersed any remaining doubt in an instance. This little ship just laughs at gravity.
And contrary to the DBS you can fit everything you like for your surface trips in it.

The only thing I disliked about the courier for planetary stuff is the nose sticks out into my view area which makes eyeballing POI's more difficult than in a ship with a front-located cockpit.

The Dropship would be ideal save for its sluggish thrusters imo
 
Anaconda.

Until you get a high G planet. Then, expect to lose it while it flops in the dirt. I lost a A-conda my first day with Horizons by trying to land in 3.8G. If its higher than 2, I won't even try any more; a ASP or Vulture will do.
 
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Viper Mk3 and Asp for me.... The Viper to train on because it's a fast tonka toy - strong and cheap. I practiced loads with a good spec Viper knowing if I ballsed it up, it was peanuts to re-buy.

However, a A-rated Asp is the perfect machine, plenty of grunt, space, weapons and the view! 80+ tons with all the internals you need plus lots of utility points for all the gadgets you need too. I find it very easy to control because it's so damn responsive, skittish very occasionally but if you get into trouble, you can gun it out of there easily.
 
Everyone is forgetting the Keelback, it's cheaper and well armed, nice cargo space and cool swiveling thrusters. Good for planetary landings and tasks but really not a good trader or combat ship or explorer... http://coriolis.io/outfit/keelback/04A4A4A1D3A2A4C1c1c191904030004040240v6v6.Iw18UA==.Aw18UA==


Sure the conda and python are better but this is a nice low budget version.

Same here, I love the Keelback for planetary assault and exploration. Contrary to common wisdom though it isn't bad at trading either. In a PvE environment ( ie. solo or private) that powerful power plant means you can mount an A3 prismatic shield, 2 x Class 2 pulse turrets, 2 x Class 1 multi-cannons and even a small HRP yet still have 64 tons of cargo space (plus a slot leftover for discovery scanners/fuel scoop/vehicle hangar).

I mix PP activities with planetary ones & trade and so far the Keelback doesn't disappoint. For pure trading & smuggling the T6 is still superior by a large margin due to it's speed. But you can take a Keelback into a high CZ, get kills and still come out alive.

Once the onboard fighters come in, the Keely will become even more interesting.
 
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