Is the keelback viable now?

[Kaybe]

It's actually one of my favorite ships. But I won't be flying her out until I can put some dirty drives in her. Too much of an easy target right now.

 

[DragoonKnight]

Is the keelback viable now that the npc's are better at combat? Are is it still a useless dust collector?

It is actually more useless now. With the way that the AI fights you need a ship that can either fight well or run away fast. I would say the following ships are viable now for cargo hauling duty.
Cobra 3
T6
ASP Explorer
FGS
Clipper
Python
Orca
Conda
Corvette
Cutter

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But could you mod it into something viable? Better thrusters, shields, whatever it takes to optimize it.

If you put lipstick on a pig then you will still have a pig at the end of the day.

 

[thorn-]

But could you mod it into something viable? Better thrusters, shields, whatever it takes to optimize it.

Why would you? You'd still have a ship that's basically worse than anything comparable in most ways.

 

[Chris Simon]

It will always the that ugly T6 that has a fighter bay.

I luv her, anyway. :x

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

I took me to Beagle Point and back, so for me it is a viable ship.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

I got one...

Hmm... I use it for... hmm... Planetary Landings and scooping up Materials now & then.
But as a Trader, it's near-completely useless. Same for Combat (especially considering the new NPCs).

Maybe one day it'll shine. I just keep mine for kicks & giggles.

PS.
It does make for a decent 32ton class small Miner.

 

[Sentenza]

Is the keelback viable now that the npc's are better at combat? Are is it still a useless dust collector?

It's good for planetary scouting. And, well, that's all.

 

[Pib_Juju]

I like it for mining when you have a station near to your mining site. Its two medium hardpoints make it a little better than the T6. It's just as vulnerable, and twice the price... but yeah.

Oh and you can't even get any paintjobs for it, lol.

 

[Frenotx]

In a word? No.

It's crippling horrible maneuverability cancels out any possible advantages it could have.

 

[Jumpin' Jack Flash]

Stop Press!
.
Lakon industries are considering the withdrawal of all Keelback Mk1's due to several major design faults.
Chris Crankshaft, one of the top designers at Lakon gave a short interview with one of our reporters today.
.
"Due to withering reviews in a recent survey conducted by Commander 'Luciferion Lucario' we are seriously considering stopping production of the Keelback model MK 1"
.
"We designed the Keelback to be a better version of the T6, unfortunately with the increasing number of attacks on peaceful traders by well equipped and deadly pirate vessels, the Lakon Keelback falls very short of it's designed parameters in the 'modern' Galaxy of today."
.
We asked Chris if there were any plans to replace the Keelback with a more up to date version, possibly a Mk 2?...Chris said he wasn't at liberty to discuss that at the moment, but he did hint that the design team at Lakon were looking at possibly a re-design of the popular 'Tiger Trader' that had been discontinued in 3199.
"We are also considering various other pre-3200 class ships, as a way forward in the never ending battle to keep trading vessels one step ahead of these ruthless pirates, we would re-design these older models to be more in line with the current need and trend for a stronger defensive capability, and perhaps a generous basic jump range. Of course we would also strive to keep the basic price of any replacement on a par with the Keelback, by using these older hull designs we can also keep the cost down as we already have the basic design blueprints ."
.
Jack

 

[Luciferion Lucario]

Stop Press!
.
Lakon industries are considering the withdrawal of all Keelback Mk1's due to several major design faults.
Chris Crankshaft, one of the top designers at Lakon gave a short interview with one of our reporters today.
.
"Due to withering reviews in a recent survey conducted by Commander 'Luciferion Lucario' we are seriously considering stopping production of the Keelback model MK 1"
.
"We designed the Keelback to be a better version of the T6, unfortunately with the increasing number of attacks on peaceful traders by well equipped and deadly pirate vessels, the Lakon Keelback falls very short of it's designed parameters in the 'modern' Galaxy of today."
.
We asked Chris if there were any plans to replace the Keelback with a more up to date version, possibly a Mk 2?...Chris said he wasn't at liberty to discuss that at the moment, but he did hint that the design team at Lakon were looking at possibly a re-design of the popular 'Tiger Trader' that had been discontinued in 3199.
"We are also considering various other pre-3200 class ships, as a way forward in the never ending battle to keep trading vessels one step ahead of these ruthless pirates, we would re-design these older models to be more in line with the current need and trend for a stronger defensive capability, and perhaps a generous basic jump range. Of course we would also strive to keep the basic price of any replacement on a par with the Keelback, by using these older hull designs we can also keep the cost down as we already have the basic design blueprints ."
.
Jack

Please post this In the galinet submissions please.

 

[Crazy Jedi]

Stop Press!
.
Lakon industries are considering the withdrawal of all Keelback Mk1's due to several major design faults.
Chris Crankshaft, one of the top designers at Lakon gave a short interview with one of our reporters today.
.
"Due to withering reviews in a recent survey conducted by Commander 'Luciferion Lucario' we are seriously considering stopping production of the Keelback model MK 1"
.
"We designed the Keelback to be a better version of the T6, unfortunately with the increasing number of attacks on peaceful traders by well equipped and deadly pirate vessels, the Lakon Keelback falls very short of it's designed parameters in the 'modern' Galaxy of today."
.
We asked Chris if there were any plans to replace the Keelback with a more up to date version, possibly a Mk 2?...Chris said he wasn't at liberty to discuss that at the moment, but he did hint that the design team at Lakon were looking at possibly a re-design of the popular 'Tiger Trader' that had been discontinued in 3199.
"We are also considering various other pre-3200 class ships, as a way forward in the never ending battle to keep trading vessels one step ahead of these ruthless pirates, we would re-design these older models to be more in line with the current need and trend for a stronger defensive capability, and perhaps a generous basic jump range. Of course we would also strive to keep the basic price of any replacement on a par with the Keelback, by using these older hull designs we can also keep the cost down as we already have the basic design blueprints ."
.
Jack

If only this were fact! ...

 

[Phileosophos]

None of the trading ships are viable choices, not with the non-stop interdictions by deadly NPCs. Only heavily armed vessels make any sense to fly right now, and, sadly, only combat really pays the bills as well. The game had such potential to make trading and exploration viable options, but it's traded that for Call of Duty in space.

 

[Kaybe]

Honestly, when it comes to both the Keelback and Federal Gunship, it's best to reserve judgement until 2.2. She is balanced with a feature not yet implemented, so she's going to overall suck for her price, no doubt about it. I just love this ship as she feels just amazing to fly ... love it's sounds and how it rumbles when throttling up or down. She's definitely one of my pet projects for engineer modding. With dirty drives being the number one thing to add to her.

But seriously, with both the Keelback and FGS being among my favorite ships to fly, 2.2 can't come soon enough

 

[mossfoot]

Honestly, when it comes to both the Keelback and Federal Gunship, it's best to reserve judgement until 2.2. She is balanced with a feature not yet implemented, so she's going to overall suck for her price, no doubt about it.

And once 2.2 hits, expect waves of "OMG Keelback is overpowered for the price!"

 

[kofeyh]

Bingo. It's not like you're going to be launching an FDL out of a Keelback.

"Oh no! I thought I'd get an easy kill on that Keelback, but the CMDR launched a Battle Sidewinder!" said no CMDR ever.

Given AI sidewinders and eagles are apparently still instantly besting pilots in anacondas and corvettes, maybe a battle sidewinder driven by AI isn't all bad after all.

I have visions of a Keelback disgorging two FDL now like some kind of giant space furball. I think that's what nightmares are made of.

 

[Kaybe]

Hehe, I don't think it'll be that bad. I anticipate a single fighter with two light hardpoints joining the fray. The devs will need to find a solution to make that fighter really hard to hit, otherwise it wouldn't be worth it. But from how they built the Keelback and Federal Gunship, both ships look to act best in a support role: Have another ship, like the fighter, act as distraction, and then move in to seal the deal. The Federal Gunship is especially good at this as it's burst damage potential is through the fraking roof.

 

[Casey Casem]

Oh the Keelback. The K car of elite. The Gremlin of frontier. Until ship borne fighters arrive it will always be an glorified T-6. I pity it so much I bought one so at least one would feel wanted!

 

[Dragun2]

They need to bring its internal space back up to the T6 standards. The Cobra MkIV puts the Keelback to shame in allmost every regard sadly, better cargo firepower, maneverablity and price buy a mile. Its a tad faster and the jumprange is quite nice atleast. Im a sucker for Lakon ships and the Keelback is no exeption, I use mine to visit the starting sytems to bring friends over to my corner of the bubble. It makes a great planetary lander and I've used it many times as a fuel truck.

 

[Chris Simon]

K
my take on this is this:

Is Keelback viable? Yes. (bonus - she's sexy)
Is there a great number of ships that do everything better than Keelback? Also yes.