So about going to the Formidine Rift?..

I am currently in the bubble, doing bubble-stuff, but we all know this won't last long. I'm thinking of making the Formidine Rift my next target for exploratory stuff. I passed by the edge of the rift on my Near Rim exploration trip long ago.. and I noticed star density there seemed to make anything with less than 30LY jump range pretty useless. So my question is, would there be any point of setting out for the Formidine Rift in anything with less than 30LY jump range?... trouble is I really did not like the Asp, I can't afford an Anaconda, and the DBE, while a joy to fly, is lacking compartment space in these Horizons days..
 
Give the Asp a chance, it grows on you. It may not win any beauty contests but it flies well, has a great range and is an overall insanely useful ship. Only ship that outperforms it when it comes to internals and range is the Anaconda which you can't yet afford, but if you can get the Asp, again, give it a chance. Even if you stop exploring in it one day (I did after getting the 'conda) it's still a great money maker - if you intend to smuggle it's hard to beat it's combination of range, cargo capacity, maneuverability, defensive capability and all that with outpost docking capability; considering everything it can do for it's price it has a place in everyone's hangar.
 
I'm not a fan of either the Asp or the 'Conda, but the DBE has too small a fuel scoop to be enjoyable. You could try a Type 6?

When I was out there before, on the near fringes of the Rift, I was only flying a 25ly ranged Cobra, but I suspect that we'll need considerably more than 30ly range; I'm going to take a 35ly Asp when I head out, and I'm worried that's still low. :(
 
The Asp is probably the best all-round ship in the game, it's a shame it flies like a doughnut. There some other options - I'm going to put my Conda in storage when I get back from DWE, and haven't 100% decided what to go for.

The Python is looking attractive if you want some combat capability or to carry limpets for fuel ratting. The view is obstructed on the top left, though, which is really annoying.

I may go for a DBX and either learn to land without shields, or just go old-school and go without an AFMU.

The Asp Scout is notable for its agility - it handles way better than the asp, but again you need to choose between AFMU or shields.

Don't forget the T6, its module space is really not to be sniffed at. The clipper is not horrible either, but you'll need a reasonable amount of Jumponium.

Almost any ship can become an explorer and the Asp won't win every comparison, although it is certainly the most versatile, and probably the best over all.
 
I suppose it will have to be an Asp... the 30+ jump range + size 6 fuel scoop is hard to beat... or possibly a T6. I liked flying my mining T6, the "Mineral Swine"... :)
 
It's worth noting the difference between real-space performance and supercruise performance, which is the main reason I'm going with an Asp - I've been flying a 'Conda to explore and to trade, and the supercruise maneouverability is dreadful, while the Asp's is sprightly. Makes a difference if you refuel by skimming, which I do. I don't mind poor real-space performance so much, although I would say it's essential to have enough power to boost (life or death on high-g planets!), which is another way the Asp scores over the 'Conda - you need a massive distributor to boost a 'Conda.

So far as I can tell the supercruise performance is completely independent of ship fitting - anyone know more?
 
Last edited:
I'm really hoping that engineers opens up our choices of exploration ship. As much as the Asp has grown on me (in black Friday black at least), I think we need a bit more variety.

Also hoping the engineers gives us the chance to alter the engine sounds (in addition to laser colors). I am not a fan of the current 2 stroke engine sound of the Asp. Makes it sound like it's being powered by a large lawn mower or a gassy hippo.

The straining engine sounds on the Asp are good indicator of inefficient flying though, which is quite useful. And by learning how to corner efficiently in combat, I've pretty much removed those sounds from the game. As an added bonus, I can even out turn an Eagle!

@Jackie. I can confirm, the engine class has no perceptible change to SC maneuverability. Pretty sure this was tested and documented about a year ago. Speed/acceleration in SC is the same for all ships, and agility is by ship type regardless of module quality.
 
Last edited:
@Jackie. I can confirm, the engine class has no perceptible change to SC maneuverability. Pretty sure this was tested and documented about a year ago. Speed/acceleration in SC is the same for all ships, and agility is by ship type regardless of module quality.

Thanks - did anyone ever make a comparative chart for different ships? Might be an interesting project for the idle billionaire if not... :)
 
Thanks - did anyone ever make a comparative chart for different ships? Might be an interesting project for the idle billionaire if not... :)


Not SC, but here is the relative agility for each ship in normal space. All ships have A-rated thrusters at 50% optimal engine mass to normalize the differences in agility. So it should be somewhat representative of their relative agility in SC. Although some ships like the Clipper break the rules and are more agile in SC than Eagles in normal space... (#imperialbias :D)

quoted from a thread by CMDR Cliffson: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=182465



Top SpeedBoostPitch 0 (S)Pitch 50 (S)Pitch 100 (S)Roll 0 (S)Roll 50 (S)Roll 100 (S)Fwd 0-100 (S)Accel Fwd (MS-2)Lat 0-100 (S)Accel Lat (MS-2)Back 0-100 (S)Accel Back (MS-2)0PiP speed RatioYaw 50
iCutter20032025.120.1230.410.18.0694.8930.5616.946.0510.4110.10.800
F.Corvette20026016.112.818.676.094.935.456.0720.2810.5810.110.610.120.500
CONDA18024018.0314.4918.757.596.046.8510.619.8310.69.910.5510.540.445
PYTHON23030031.112.439.45.174.086.714.0628.726.6815.7617.920.610
FDL26035023.79.721.45.814.637.543.5530.055.2720.924.224.420.84529.7
ORCA30038028.8714.535.28.356.68.213.829.15.1219.554.4625.030.665
CLIPPER30038022.549.519.625.684.497.454.8125.1310.339.95.620.170.600
FGS1702801814.423.555.654.525.115.32510.7110.456.5318.450.590
FAS21035011.859.5214.7884.994.044.484.6440.057.5415.636.120.410.710
FDS180300151216.35.74.394.94530.2810.59106.09200.555
ASP25034023.739.7323.974.413.45.834.7822.987.1215.067.0315.430.480
Vulture210338*17.288.6616.454.253.364.23.442.035.5420.84.0830.810.905
Asp Scout22030015.029.2214.84.33.385.53.7334.485.4822.35.4920.720.500
Keelback200297*33.3213.443.274.63.544.085.63207.0215.927.115.250.450
Courier28038023.79.622.75.14.116.763.0159.194.6624.954.131.410.785
DBE260335*25.9110.4632.454.086.713.5633.125.420.84.5725.510.615
Cobra M420030030.0612.1238.035.064.036.684.3426.887.0315.485.5720.50.536
DBS280376*21.58.7320.674.683.666.053.3839.124.5926.74.0333.270.605
Viper Mk42703403012.129.35.234.126.753.0853.44.623.13.9531.30.650
Cobra28040022.579.1727.044.593.716.053.5933.865.4520.964.5626.260.500
VIPER32040025.7710.4224.85.144.316.743.0653.064.5725.534.132.070.625
iEagle300398*209.14254.593.684.263.5937.384.4328.834.2928.630.700
EAGLE240348*16.077.4219.723.93.213.6023.2343.893.933.033.9530.330.750
T913020022.571827.720.1918.2422.656.1418.5610.610.110.5510.520.31
T718030032.716.526.857.595.986.95.6921.56.8216.47.2615.290.33
T6220348*30.2612.2139.24.763.754.085.52206.9915.6257.0515.50.41
 
Last edited:
An interesting discussion.

Having just spent two weeks on the far side of the Formidine Rift, I wouldn't come out here in anything other than an Anaconda. A stripped for range Anaconda at that. 38.80ly currently.

I'm heading back to the bubble.

I will be prospecting for Jumponium and will be stripping my Anaconda even further for the next attempt. I'd sandpaper off the paint if I could. :)
 
If you are taking part in the Rifters project, then SC maneuverability will be more important than extreme range. You only need a Conda in its Knickers is you are trying to go through the Rift, or going to the edge. No need to do either.
Most of your time will be scanning systems, and I know how long it takes for my DWE Conda to do a 180, so I will be taking an Asp when I eventually return (still 51744ly from home)
 
If you are taking part in the Rifters project, then SC maneuverability will be more important than extreme range. You only need a Conda in its Knickers is you are trying to go through the Rift, or going to the edge. No need to do either.Most of your time will be scanning systems, and I know how long it takes for my DWE Conda to do a 180, so I will be taking an Asp when I eventually return (still 51744ly from home)
^^THIS. I am doing the same. On my way back from DWE in my Conda at the minute and will be taking my Asp out to the Rift explorer fitted on my return. I genuinely miss my Asp.
 
Last edited:

Ozric

Volunteer Moderator
I love my Asp :) I've had it since January 3301 and when I'm not exploring I still use it for the Buckyball Racing Club, in exploring spec :D You learn how to wrestle it into docking with only D4 thrusters :p
 
Back
Top Bottom