Newcomer / Intro Ship for PvE

Vihear · Sep 17, 2016

Hi,
although I'm a player since the game launched I feel like a newcomer with all the changes - I simply haven't played much for a long time. I was wondering what ship currently deserves the title for best medium-sized fighter for PvE. It used to be the Viper or Cobra maybe, then the Vulture came, and all of a sudden a FAS with hull-tanking was the way to go... what about now? And what if I don't wan't to grind for Engineers?
Thanks + fly safe!

Chris Simon · Sep 17, 2016

Vihear said:
Hi,
although I'm a player since the game launched I feel like a newcomer with all the changes - I simply haven't played much for a long time. I was wondering what ship currently deserves the title for best medium-sized fighter for PvE. It used to be the Viper or Cobra maybe, then the Vulture came, and all of a sudden a FAS with hull-tanking was the way to go... what about now? And what if I don't wan't to grind for Engineers?
Thanks + fly safe!

If we talk true medium ships, FAS and FdL are still the way to go. Next month, after the ship-launched fighters drop, the Federal Gunship will also be a very interesting possibility.

D.G.Cerberus · Sep 17, 2016

Cobra, Vulture, FAS, FDL was the route I took. I know they nerfed it a bit but I still think of the FAS as a bigger Vulture.

For PVE, I wouldn't worry if you don't wish to Engineer it - I haven't had a FAS since 2.1 but I am still running around in an un-modded (but A Rated) FDL without issues. (Actually I did attempt a Gd 5 FSD increase on it and reached a staggering 14Ly max. On my list to go back and redo at some point!

)

Don't forget Chris - I know you have seen the Video....The FGS has a fat <behind> .....and doesn't turn!

Chris Simon · Sep 17, 2016

D.G.Cerberus said:
Don't forget Chris - I know you have since the Video....The FGS has a fat .....and doesn't turn!

Hehe. Not only does she not turn. She also doesn't move and she doesn't jump. She's the worst ship ever manufactured in the fed shipyards.

What she can do, though, is melt the things in front of her. For everything else there'll be the fighter.

aRJay · Sep 17, 2016

Chris Simon said:
Hehe. Not only does she not turn. She also doesn't move and she doesn't jump. She's the worst ship ever manufactured in the fed shipyards.
What she can do, though, is melt the things in front of her. For everything else there'll be the fighter.

Launch the fighter with orders to herd everything in front of me. It's time to make fondue!

GJ51 · Sep 17, 2016

An engineered Python is a good choice, but only A rated with heavy modding.

goemon · Sep 17, 2016

i have a second non-horizon account - if you don't want to engineer your ship, i can recommend DBS or a HRP cobra mkiii.

generally i recommend a fairly fast ship - things can go south quickly in 2.2.

if you have imperial rank, a courier with new "enhanced performance thruster" - a new modul you can buy at 3 enhineer bases - is also great.

GJ51 · Sep 17, 2016

goemon said:
i have a second non-horizon account - if you don't want to engineer your ship, i can recommend DBS or a HRP cobra mkiii.

generally i recommend a fairly fast ship - things can go south quickly in 2.2.

if you have imperial rank, a courier with new "enhanced performance thruster" - a new modul you can buy at 3 enhineer bases - is also great.

Size matters

OP is looking for Medium

CMDR Mr. Boombastic · Sep 17, 2016

I'm on non-Horizons (so no Engineers) Macbook and have no problems with PvE.

My own route was through multi-role/trading ships like Cobra Mk III and Type 6 before settling on the AspX for basically everything (trading/rares/smuggling/long-haul/exploration) except combat.
Then decided to get into combat and buy a second ship for that specific purpose and chose the Viper MK III --> Vulture --> FAS --> FdL route.

The FAS was especially profitable for me during bounty hunting community goals (CG) in High-RES (pre 1.6/2.1 also HazRES but now HazRES is a bit of a challenge even in the FdL).
Reaching Top 10% was the norm for me in the FAS (and now FdL) after 3 or 4 sorties (~5 to 10 mil credits in bounty kills) in a High-RES where CG bonuses are in the 10s of millions and usually 20+ mil credits.

goemon · Sep 17, 2016

GJ51 said:
Size matters

OP is looking for Medium

context helps.

op describes viper, cobra and vulture as the ex-best-medium fighters; they are all technically "small" ;-)

Vihear · Sep 17, 2016

Yes, I guess size perceptions have been changing from 1.0 to 2.2. Nowadays a Python is probably mid-size, also given the fact it can land on outposts.
Great advice so far! Seems like I can stick with my FAS for now and maybe get a FdL - would like to try that at one time. And I thought the Vulture would be back in the race... but maybe that's too small a ship nowadays.

Chris Simon · Sep 17, 2016

Vihear said:
Yes, I guess size perceptions have been changing from 1.0 to 2.2. Nowadays a Python is probably mid-size, also given the fact it can land on outposts.
Great advice so far! Seems like I can stick with my FAS for now and maybe get a FdL - would like to try that at one time. And I thought the Vulture would be back in the race... but maybe that's too small a ship nowadays.

Vulture is still a really good ship. But on higher ranks and against bigger ships some engineering is highly advisable.
Whereas FAS just do her thing and kill stuff.