Are the ENG Mods really that All Important?

[Marc_Hicks]

SInce 2.1 dropped I've put about 40 million CR in the bank. I've taken out the Python, FDL, Viper MK IV, and a Sidewinder. Taken things off the Mission Board to smuggle, assassinate, haul cargo, source cargo, find Black Boxes, and find Trade Data. Put a serious dent in the planetary Skimmer Population (I've got one base that gives nothing but Kill Skimmers lol). I've gone Bounty Hunting in Navs, Low RES, RES and High RES and in Supercruise (In the FDL, Viper and Sidey btw). I've Undermined for Power Play and went about 200 LYs out to check some planets just past the edge of the bubble (not that far I know but I was curious). I've done a little bit of everything and have yet to even look in the direction of the ENGS nor have I been killed by an NPC yet. I mean I plan to go check them out but I don't see the all pressing need to upgrade everything. My MAts and Data are getting full without even really trying, I'm going to have to start dumping stuff. Am I just that lucky, because I know I'm not that skilled.

So are the ENG MODS really that necessary or are people just falling for the hype?

Somewhat "necessary", but not vital like some people are making out.....and not something where you really *need* a class 5 upgrade less than 2 weeks into the new update. Sadly some people like "shiny things", & in pursuing them they miss all the other great things there are to do in the galaxy.

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What were the trade-offs though? All (or most) Engineer mods have a downside... heavier, consume more power, generate more heat, etc...

I think Kvas' attitude is great....similar to my own. Focusing on the UPSIDE of the upgrades, rather than obsessing on the trade offs. A lot of the "RNG haters" are real "glass half empty" types.

 

[deathcoy]

I find the Engineer mods extremely useful and also very powerful. +40% FSD range is a Trader or Explorer's wet dream. I can't play anymore without Grade 5 FSD range mods. If i'm not mistaken there are also cargo rack mods that increase cargo space, have yet to find it but its definitely gonna be a mandatory mod for Traders.

On combat side, the mods also make a ton of difference. I've tried out a few Grade 3 Laser and Kinetic weapon mods, their benefits and secondary effects are really powerful. I've specced mods for my FDL more towards burst dmg(after quite a number of failed RNG rolls) and it literally smashed my friend's Fed Corvette, granted he is unmodded.

So in conclusion, i won't say Engineer mods are important or not important thats for you to decide but the fact is, if you do have it, its a humongous advantage overall, no matter trading, exploring, PvE or PvP. Though i would say, this only applies to higher grade mods. Grade 1 or 2 mods are usually very crappy. Grade 3 is when you can feel the difference, while Grade 5 is where mods shine as bright as the sun. Seriously, you don't know what you're missing until you have tried a couple of Grade 5 mods.

 

[Kzak]

What were the trade-offs though? All (or most) Engineer mods have a downside... heavier, consume more power, generate more heat, etc...

The drawbacks of the FSD upgrade can be found here: http://inara.cz/galaxy-blueprint/2 - pretty minimal compared to the advantages in my opinion. For the pulse lasers, I got circa 10% less DPS for each laser in trade for the special effects (disrupt systems, penetrate shields). Still worth it.

 

[jasonbarron]

So when I am ready to head for the ENGys what's the perfect Mat Wagon, you know a ship dedicated to just gathering Mats. I'm thinking Cobra. Cheap. Fair Jump Range. Decent Cargo. Fit it with Wake Scanner, Collector Limpets, and Planetary Hangar. It can drive around, scan wakes and hang innocuously in RES sites and gather Mats left and right (and maybe a little bounty to boot).

My mat wagon has been an Asp Explorer, but I suspect the Python might be the best ship in the game for that purpose. If you focus on engineers you'll be multi tasking like a mad man, and the Python looks like it'll cover all your bases.

Word of advice: most upgrades require a physical commodity of some kind along with a few 'non physical' materials, and if you're trying to upgrade a fighter that has little to no cargo space and you're flying a hauler of some kind whilst gathering, you always want to keep in mind how much storage your parked fighter has relative to what you're carrying in the bay of your hauler--you get the commodities into the fighter by parking and swapping ships, and this is only possible if the fighter has enough room.

It's pretty disappointing to spend a lot of time gathering rare commodities only to find they won't all fit on your FdL.

 

[cmdr_Havalok]

Word of advice: most upgrades require a physical commodity of some kind along with a few 'non physical' materials, and if you're trying to upgrade a fighter that has little to no cargo space and you're flying a hauler of some kind whilst gathering, you always want to keep in mind how much storage your parked fighter has relative to what you're carrying in the bay of your hauler--you get the commodities into the fighter by parking and swapping ships, and this is only possible if the fighter has enough room.

It's pretty disappointing to spend a lot of time gathering rare commodities only to find they won't all fit on your FdL.

That's very good to know.

 

[Eloy]

For me. no I think they're absolutely optional. I was thinking about a better thruster for even better escaping (explorer, trader) but ... I will not grind for it - somehow it's anyway. I 'll write down the necessary materials but I won't go out and hunt them.
For PVPlers ... yeah maybe. For rim explorers ... jup, but still not a must.

 

[deathcoy]

Word of advice: most upgrades require a physical commodity of some kind along with a few 'non physical' materials, and if you're trying to upgrade a fighter that has little to no cargo space and you're flying a hauler of some kind whilst gathering, you always want to keep in mind how much storage your parked fighter has relative to what you're carrying in the bay of your hauler--you get the commodities into the fighter by parking and swapping ships, and this is only possible if the fighter has enough room.

It's pretty disappointing to spend a lot of time gathering rare commodities only to find they won't all fit on your FdL.

I feel you man. I've discarded tons of commodity materials due to lack of cargo space, my missions gave me 20-30 commodity mats but i can only take 16 =(
Having to constantly fetch and re-equip your target ship is a big hassle too.

 

[Battleship Kickass]

I don't see anything stopping that diversification. I only see a different method of acquisition.

And it doesn't? Sorry, but I fail to see how "there should be no other currency other than credits" is a valid argument either. I can only see 2 possible motives behind it. One would be laziness and the other would be a huge credit balance.

I didn't say anything remotely close to "there should be no other currency other than credits". I've stated my reasoning twice now - which has nothing to do with your close-minded "2 possible motives". You still fail to grasp what I simply stated, so go ahead and move on to a discussion with someone else.

 

[Crazy Jedi]

I feel you man. I've discarded tons of commodity materials due to lack of cargo space, my missions gave me 20-30 commodity mats but i can only take 16 =(
Having to constantly fetch and re-equip your target ship is a big hassle too.

That means I can't do anything for my FAS then.... It doesn't have any cargo space at all

 

[deathcoy]

That means I can't do anything for my FAS then.... It doesn't have any cargo space at all

I'm not sure if all the mods require commodity materials but i can safely say most of them do require it. So you need some cargo space on the target ship to hold the commodity materials. You'll have to keep re-equipping your target ship every time you mod if it does not have cargo racks in your build. Its also one of the few reasons why people are vocal about having a storage/vault facility implemented asap.

Or you can do the roundabout method of 'transferring' your module onto a cargo ship and equip it, mod it then transfer it back to your target ship via the buyback feature, not sure if it still works, haven't tried it.