Please give traders a fighting chance: Sheild booster for Python

[Silaz]

In answer to the now non-nerfing of shield boosters, please can Python have a buff?

It's very difficult for traders when interdicted by ships that are over powered and are only rigged up for combat violence, to compete.

Give traders a fighting chance.

Why not put it here:

View attachment 117769

 

[Crank Larson]

I don't believe that the Python needs a buff in the slightest. I use it for trading, combat, and pretty much everything except long range missions - it copes with them all admirably. I can run when necessary, and fight if I'd rather do that.

Have you engineered your Python at all?

 

[Powderpanic]

To make the Python properly viable in PVP it needs 2 more utilities and a mil slot.

Then it would sit nicely below the Anaconda, weaker but faster.

 

[Conch]

To make the Python properly viable in PVP it needs 2 more utilities and a mil slot.

Then it would sit nicely below the Anaconda, weaker but faster.

but did you engineer one?

 

[GreyAreaUK]

My Python has 6A shields, plus a couple of boosters on two util mounts. I find it's enough to execute Brave Sir Robin techniques quite nicely.

 

[Silaz]

To make the Python properly viable in PVP it needs 2 more utilities and a mil slot.

I am only advocating one extra utility slot. In the place of the hatch thing in the picture above.

More than that would be too much for it, and anyway going by the mesh design, FD's graphic designer(s?) would need to do a lot more work to add two more slots.

I'm fine with my 200 cargo, SRV bay, Discovery scanner and Shield cell bank, no need for a military module. It does still sound nice, but generally I'm happy with the internals, they don't need changing.

But really could do with one more utility slot now. For the reasons stated previously. And to have a fighting chance against other players, who are in dedicated combat/pirate ships.

 

[Morbad]

Python doesn't need any augments to continue to be viable in it's niche, nor does it need more utilities to survive interdiction by hostile CMDRs.

 

[Silaz]

My Python has 6A shields, plus a couple of boosters on two util mounts. I find it's enough to execute Brave Sir Robin techniques quite nicely.

Yes, I have standard 6A G5 thermal resistance, is futile, with only 3 x G3 resistance augmented boosters, but only one slot left for either chaff or heatsinks, well I just don't want to have to choose between those two. Should have both. It's a big ship OK?

These days I am leaning toward more standing and fighting though, until my shields are down, then sir robin. But would rather not run away all the time because otherwise game is no fun.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Yes, I have standard 6A G5 thermal resistance, is futile, with only 3 x G3 resistance augmented boosters, but only one slot left for either chaff or heatsinks, well I just don't want to have to choose between those two. Should have both. It's a big ship OK?

These days I am leaning toward more standing and fighting though, until my shields are down, then sir robin. But would rather not run away all the time because otherwise game is no fun.

I generally only run if things are either (a) going pear-shaped, or (b) the outcome is obvious to begin with. I'll take on most NPCs, but a Hoooman in a Corvette decided to try to blow me up on Friday...I didn't even deploy hardpoints, just boogied on out. Twice.

 

[Phoenix_Dfire]

Don't think the Python is the right ship to ask for a boost to help with trading.

More viable candidates might be the appropriate trade ships;
T6.
T7 (although it did get a boost in 2.2)
T9 (it got a fighter).
Panther Clipper. (Sorry Just trolling)

 

[Starwolfe]

My multipurpose Python with 5A Prismatic shields and 3x Boosters already is tough enough to easily handle Elite Anacondas and Corvettes on Assassination missions or the random pirate.

I fail to see where it is "under-powered" in the slightest when I don't even bother with SCBs.

 

[Muzz UK]

I actually believe balancing this game is going to haunt Frontier for years and years, the engineers stuff made it so much worse and widened the gap. I for one believe this should be a game that's largely down to skill rather than bigger better more guns wins. In some cases skilled pilots have beaten heavily engineered big ships in traders and smaller ships but it doesn't happen enough. See Cilit Bang and Archon Fury two very good PvP pilots in small ships.

I think the bigger ships need more blind spots and hull tanking needs to be a thing to counter shield stacking. The whole mechanic of how damage works needs to be sorted. Still who knows where all of this is going!

PvE seems alright but PvP an engineered Conda for example will make easy work of a non engineered one.... yeah you've put hours in to materials etc but come on we don't need Warcrft purple gear wins mentality.

 

[Silaz]

Don't think the Python is the right ship to ask for a boost to help with trading.

More viable candidates might be the appropriate trade ships;
T6.
T7 (although it did get a boost in 2.2)
T9 (it got a fighter).
Panther Clipper. (Sorry Just trolling)

T6 - we got the keelback
T7 - got buff
T9 - sold my T9, redundant vehicle now.

These are dedicated traders, not combat traders.

Actually I think the Python is exactly the ship to get this buff. It is the epitome of Elite, to be in a trader ship, that can fight as well.
The python is that ship. But it's just missing one little thing.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Python... traders? Erm... Python is a great ship, and a great ship for PvP.

How much of a buff do you need? If it got a buff it would be the number 1 PvP ship. I know a few PvPers who swear by it.

Of course, if you run with weak shields and no hull upgrades then you are going to have a riskier time in case of attack, but that's your choice, its not the fault of the ship.

Don't skimp of defenses just to squeeze an extra few tons in there. Fly smart, fly safe.

 

[Powderpanic]

but did you engineer one?

Yes its very engineered, still wouldn't use it over an FDL in Wing PVP.

Do you know why in Wing PVP everyone focuses the fool who brings a Python?
Because no matter how much you engineer it, its squishy compared to other either stronger or harder to hit options.

I miss seeing Pythons in PVP.

 

[StiTch]

It's a supposedly multipurpose ship with a history of being one of the top dogs of combat, brought down only when its speed was reduced, which is its real fundamental issue for PvP - big/easy to hit, not fast enough to evade.

To this day though it has the kind of firepower that makes even the big 3 wince and is perfectly sustainable if you don't pack every slot with cargo and forget about MGC bulkheads.

No defensive buff needed. Now, the issue around the ferdie having 6 slots and nothing else matching it can be visited elsewhere, but if your python is paper thin when trading that sounds very much like pilot choice.

 

[Kaa Mchorror]

Yes its very engineered, still wouldn't use it over an FDL in Wing PVP.

Do you know why in Wing PVP everyone focuses the fool who brings a Python?
Because no matter how much you engineer it, its squishy compared to other either stronger or harder to hit options.

I miss seeing Pythons in PVP.

I would like to ask why you are comparing a combat ship (FDL) to a multirole (Python)? Python is the top mission runner in the game hands down. I don't expect that same performance out of the FDL.

 

[Elyssaen]

I'm not much of a bulk trader, but would've thought that this OP really doesn't mesh well with the Type-7, Type-9 and the Clipper.

I fly a Clipper, and sometimes have trouble justifying it over my mothballed Python. One of the main advantages it has, and very relevant in trading, is that it's essentially unkillable. The Clipper's safety is what it has over the Python.

The Python, on the other hand, is enormously better protected than the Type-7 and Type-9, still has a pretty reasonable cargo capacity, and is the only one of the four that can land at outposts.

Since I don't do bulk trading much, someone could convince me that it's too dangerous. But if so, make the Type-7 and Type-9 safer, and/or haul more cargo to balance the risk/reward. But looking at light/safe trading and multi-purpose roles, the Python is already as good or better than anything else, and trying to make it safer is muscling in a little too much on the key advantage the Clipper has over it.

 

[Silaz]

It's a supposedly multipurpose ship with a history of being one of the top dogs of combat, brought down only when its speed was reduced, which is its real fundamental issue for PvP - big/easy to hit, not fast enough to evade.

To this day though it has the kind of firepower that makes even the big 3 wince and is perfectly sustainable if you don't pack every slot with cargo and forget about MGC bulkheads.

No defensive buff needed. Now, the issue around the ferdie having 6 slots and nothing else matching it can be visited elsewhere, but if your python is paper thin when trading that sounds very much like pilot choice.

Ok, but you try competing in a trade CG with less than 200 cargo space in a slow ship. Hull reinforcement packages and module reinforcements are for dedicated combat ships, and are less important than shields. I got good armour now, reactive with G5 thermal resistance. I just want shields that can keep up with the the likes of that FDL, just enough to keep me in the fight for longer. With engineered thrusters she maneuvers quite well now, but still needs to be able to tank more hits before shields are brought down.

 

[StiTch]

Ok, but you try competing in a trade CG with less than 200 cargo space in a slow ship. Hull reinforcement packages and module reinforcements are for dedicated combat ships, and are less important than shields. I got good armour now, reactive with G5 thermal resistance. I just want shields that can keep up with the the likes of that FDL, just enough to keep me in the fight for longer. With engineered thrusters she maneuvers quite well now, but still needs to be able to tank more hits before shields are brought down.

I'm afraid that if you're relying on boosting in a straight line and defenses to keep you alive, you're not playing in a way that should be taken to a CG in Open.

And sorry but who was it that decided HRPs are a combat ship only thing? 'cos that's certainly the first I've heard of it. And if I go to Coriolis, I can definitely equip MRPs onto my Python. What's up with that?

I can vouch for Rinzler's Git Gut guide to trading in Open, where he escapes in a dedicated trade ship with little defense bolstering because basic evasion tactics were put into play.

Alternatively I can confirm that with minimal sacrifice and engineering, the Python can easily withstand a gank even utilising more basic escape techniques. No trader should be running pure cargo. Pure profit machines were made to farm salt from.