Anaconda Troubles

[Mechanist]

See this is what I'm wondering. I sold my Vulture to get an A-rated FDL but still miss the manouvreability of the Vulture and am considering buying one again in addition to the FDL. Should I buy an FAS though instead? It's an upgrade to a Vulture, but I'm also trying to develop better combat skills and eventually want to do some PvP. Not that I'm particularly interested in competing against other people but I recognise that it will be a much better learning experience. The Vulture would have a much cheaper rebuy cost. On the other hand, I want to avoid needing to rebuy my ship again.

I earned my Elite Status mostly in a FAS. You can outift her for PVE and PVP at the same time.
The only down part is that you need a rank (a low one though, so a little bit of grinding involved).
The pitch rate of the FAS is incredible, even with full armor.

 

[d8veh]

IMHO, for PvE the FAS is better for lazy fliers or pilots without good flying skills. The FDL is better when you've figured out how to fly it, which doesn't take long, though it's a different technique to the Vulture and FAS. I used to love the FAS, but after many hundreds of hours with a FDL, when I go back to the FAS, it seems a bit lame. I guess any ship is good if you practice enough with it.

 

[Han Brannigan]

See this is what I'm wondering. I sold my Vulture to get an A-rated FDL but still miss the manouvreability of the Vulture and am considering buying one again in addition to the FDL. Should I buy an FAS though instead? It's an upgrade to a Vulture, but I'm also trying to develop better combat skills and eventually want to do some PvP.

Get a Viper or an Imperial Eagle if its about challenge and learning. You CAN solo high ranking ( Dangerous upwards ) NPC 'Condas in them ( although I'd have to admit its 50/50 in my experience ) it takes a while and tends to be challenging ( to me at least ) though.

 

[shreddog]

I did the Robigp runs in a Python until I had over 1.1 billion in the bank.

Totally off topic here but how do you avoid getting scanned, and fail the mission, in such a relatively slow ship. I can only get away in a Cobra when the 'scan detected' warning comes.

 

[Bomba Luigi]

Totally off topic here but how do you avoid getting scanned, and fail the mission, in such a relatively slow ship. I can only get away in a Cobra when the 'scan detected' warning comes.

I guess he is using his weapons, a very effective way of stopping scans and the Python has lots of it.

 

[Bieltan]

Oh OP, its not the price of the ship, nor the size of it. As many have said, the Vulture is notorious as an absolute monster for 1v1 combat, especially against big lumbering beasts like the Anaconda. It has the agility to sit in the blind spot of all but the most skilled 'Conda pilots. Sure Turrets might help but only a couple will ever be on target and if the Vulture has Chaff... GG!

I suggest you buy a Vulture, A-spec it, go to a Haz Rez and see what it can do to Anacondas for yourself. It'll be the best 20-odd million you've ever spent

Kudos for not being madbro, and consider this a sobering lesson - never ever ever underestimate the cheaper ships. Many people make that mistake with the iCourier. The things actually a ferocious little fighter!!

 

[Angus]

OP - You never fight an enemy ship; you always fight an enemy pilot.

You are Baron von Richthofen, and I claim my five pounds!

 

[Karla]

Because of this thread I bought a Vulture last night to replace the one I recently sold after buying the FDL. I've decided to buy all the ships that I previously flew and really loved but sold when upgrading. I had to try and remember how I kitted out the Vulture. But in the process I learnt about 50% of the maximum mass for thrusters and so went with A5 thrusters and A4 shields rather than A4 thrusters and A5 shields.

Just before upgrading to an FDL I had been away from the bubble for three months and had also massively changed my set-up to use two joysticks. That meant moving a lot of the buttons to the second joystick instead, including controlling the thrust and even going into reverse. I was also using FA off for the first time too. So when I started flying the Vulture again it all felt strange.

But now I've got used to using two joysticks, I wanted to compare the FDL to the Vulture. I was unsure about buying it until I kitted it out and started flying it. It felt like an old friend. I really loved it. So much better than how I remembered it. I even bought a paint job for it. Whereas with the FDL I'm nervous about going 1v1 against an FAS, Imperial Courier or Anaconda, I was far more confident with using the Vulture because I found it easier to get behind the target and stay there. I'm still finding it difficult getting the right speed with the FDL because it can go so much faster and I tend to overshoot the target placing myself in front of them. That's probably more a sign of my poor combat skills though.

I'll be buying the DBS and Viper next. I can't remember anything about the Viper but I did use the DBS for an extremely long time and had a lot of fun flying it.

 

[Hatchepsut]

WoW so many people scared of using the FDL instead of the FAS or Vulture....
Keeping in mind that the FDL is not a Ship for the Bi-Weave Shields and cannot be used well if not A graded with thrusters and powerplant....
Could I perhaps suggest a better weapon loadout ? Do not necessarily go for the 4 Pulse 1 Huge Plasma setup .....
Try a LARGE Pulse or Burst Turret downstairs ..... 2 Pulses and 2 Plasma at top ....
You'd be surprised when you KEEP firing the 3 Pulses continuously and then blast the target with the occasional Double Plasma volley.
It eats small targets in seconds ... and large targets in just under a minute.
And I can safely say that it turns like a Cobra .... just not like an FAS of course. (unless you install too much armor, personally I prefer to shield tank at 900mj and never let them hit my hull)

 

[Karla]

On my FDL I use a huge cannon, two beam lasers and two multi-cannons. I personally find that I get many more hits in with the cannon than the plasma accelerator which never seems to fire when I need it. Although I could try again with pulse lasers and a PA I suppose. The cannon doesn't seem to do as much damage as I would expect though. I use normal shields, A-rate as much as possible including thrusters and have reactive armour, so maybe it's the armour that's making me less agile?

Overall, swapping between different ships has been a useful exercise to me and it shows me how I currently fly and where I am going wrong.

 

[fossil]

Totally off topic here but how do you avoid getting scanned, and fail the mission, in such a relatively slow ship. I can only get away in a Cobra when the 'scan detected' warning comes.

If I'm interdicted I submit immediately - 4 pips to engines - then immediately boost away from the interdictor - then as soon as possible jump to supercruise - then ASAP jump to hyperspace.

At stations I line up with the slot whilst at over 10Km range and then move towards the slot - and at just under 7.5Km range ask for docking permissions - then boost towards the slot - in my Python thats 2 boosts - into the slot - landing gear down - docking comp takes over - immediately go into hanger to avoid scans from ships that can see you through the slot.

Yes the Python is slow - I fly an all a-rated Python, very heavily armed, largest field generator, 4x shield boosters, standard hull. Its not quick but using these VERY simple techniques I earned about a billion and I can only remember 2 scans I couldn't avoid - 1 interdiction and once at a station. Don't get me wrong - I was scanned many more times than that but in all the other cases it was always my fault - I was not not concentrating and did not get the timing right - to avoid some scans you have to perform the above maneuvers as soon as possible and without hesitation - otherwise the scan succeeds and all is lost....

It puzzles me why people have problems with smuggling and mess around with silent running and heat sinks. Just fly the ship - as quickly as possible and in the right direction - it works in a slow-ish Python - to my mind it should work in most ships.

I now have an a-rated Conda - now that IS slow - but I seem to be able to do short-range smuggling missions OK. I'll not be trying long-range smuggling in the Conda though - the requirement for a large landing pad is too limiting.

 

[micky1984]

So that is where i was going wrong, I have been aiming at the ship when I should have been aiming at the pilot.

no you went wrong thinking big vs small expensive versus cheap = win when its pilot vs pilot it experience that counts and skill

 

[Han Brannigan]

The cannon doesn't seem to do as much damage as I would expect though.

The Huge Cannon is great when targeting modules. Does lots of damage to PP ( upwards of 25% on a Condas for example )

 

[Garik]

I just made the mistake of upgrading my Vulture to a FDL thinking that it would get me credits in a Haz Rez faster. doh.

My approach to this game was "get a bigger ship, get a bigger ship and the BH credits will roll in faster"......not so. That realisation was a bit of a downer because I'm not sure what my Elite aspirations are now.......more credits? What for?

I'm going to stick with the 70+Million FDL for a while to see if I get better with it but I will probably go back to the cheap, efficient, big and small ship killing machine that is the Vulture.

 

[mistohise]

My approach to this game was "get a bigger ship, get a bigger ship and the BH credits will roll in faster

This is generally true in trading, so long as you can avoid the whole being destroyed thing.

In combat.. Not so much.

 

[Han Brannigan]

I just made the mistake of upgrading my Vulture to a FDL thinking that it would get me credits in a Haz Rez faster. doh.

My approach to this game was "get a bigger ship, get a bigger ship and the BH credits will roll in faster"......not so. That realisation was a bit of a downer because I'm not sure what my Elite aspirations are now.......more credits? What for?

I'm going to stick with the 70+Million FDL for a while to see if I get better with it but I will probably go back to the cheap, efficient, big and small ship killing machine that is the Vulture.

The FDL beats the Vulture in every respect. It needs a bit of training - but when you are good with it it kills enemies much much faster.

 

[Karla]

The Huge Cannon is great when targeting modules. Does lots of damage to PP ( upwards of 25% on a Condas for example )

I was thinking it might be that. I was firing the cannon at the entire hull rather than specific modules. Thanks. I used to sub target the power plant but then read that it doesn't take damage off the hull and as the hull always seems to go down faster (probably because I keep missing the module) I stopped subtargetting. I think I will start subtargetting again.

 

[Hatchepsut]

On my FDL I use a huge cannon, two beam lasers and two multi-cannons. I personally find that I get many more hits in with the cannon than the plasma accelerator which never seems to fire when I need it. Although I could try again with pulse lasers and a PA I suppose. The cannon doesn't seem to do as much damage as I would expect though. I use normal shields, A-rate as much as possible including thrusters and have reactive armour, so maybe it's the armour that's making me less agile?

Overall, swapping between different ships has been a useful exercise to me and it shows me how I currently fly and where I am going wrong.

I used to have the same problem in the past Karla....
Cannon fires more readily because it needs less energy in the capacitors.....Huge Plasma needs a Half Full Capacitor .....
With Dual Medium Plasma and ALL pulses I always have enough energy in capacitor for firing .... and even when capacitor is low then only 1 of the plasma fire which is still good.
NOW to answer the OP .... My Anaconda is completely turreted ... All Burst Lasers......and A7 Shields ... I can park it in any CZ and it will fire on the highest threat and destroy it within a minute or two even if I go get a coffee Keep in mind that it is A rated power and capacitors as well....this way you can 4 pips in sys and 2 in weapons.

 

[Han Brannigan]

Do so. In my experience everything ASP and up pops faster when I target the pp. A couple of days ago I brought a Conda's PP from 100 to 0% in less then 10 seconds ( two hits with my Cannon ( to a total damage of 60%+ ) the rest with my lasers ).

 

[Karla]

NOW to answer the OP .... My Anaconda is completely turreted ... All Burst Lasers......and A7 Shields ... I can park it in any CZ and it will fire on the highest threat and destroy it within a minute or two even if I go get a coffee Keep in mind that it is A rated power and capacitors as well....this way you can 4 pips in sys and 2 in weapons.

In other words, the OP needs to do more Robigo runs