Why not the "little" ships

[Lobstris]

If smuggling missions get a future overhaul - then the small ships could shine. Likewise, if the bigger ships were hit with a manoeuvrability nerf bat, and forced into using turrets against small ships, leaving larger fixed/spinal weapons for large ship-to-ship combat, again, smaller ships could shine. If small ship weapons didn't have penalties/low-end-of-the-exponential-damage-curves, again they could shine. If running costs went back up to the levels just post release, again, they could shine.

Trouble is, someone would moan about a Diamondback making more money than a Cutter in certain circumstances, when "the 800m cr ships should always be better than the 10m cr one, at everything". Darn MMO power progression ruining the 'balance' of Elite.

 

[Pyrobee]

Agreed.

I'd go further - there should be well-paid missions specifically targetted at small ships - e.g. small-pad-only missions - even where the stations have medium/large pads.

Currently I struggle to justify flying anything other than a Python - and I often find myself 'encouraged' back into it.

There are already well paid missions for small ships, the combat orientated ones are just easier in a big ship. You're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. CMDRs who want to use small ships will and those that want to use big ships will. What tends to happen is ppl race up the ship ladder, then realise the small ships are more fun. A cutter does have it's charm to fly but nothing beats thrashing an eagle about with G5DD and it can have a punch with 3 engineered enforcer cannons

 

[BrunCorax]

For the people who are disagree...Why you fly a Cobra if you can afford a Python? Or vanilla or full ing both.

Please answer the question seriusly, maybe any one could change my opinion.

 

[Sysmon]

For the people who are disagree...Why you fly a Cobra if you can afford a Python? Or vanilla or full ing both.

Please answer the question seriusly, maybe any one could change my opinion.

I fly the Cobra Mk III for certain missions, planet-side, bounty hunting, and courier missions. It is also great fun at RES sites. I like the nimbleness and versatility of it, boosting over 500 m/s after a bit of engineering is great - but it is pretty fast straight from the shelf too. I mine in my T-9 and go look for big game trouble in my FDL. I fly passengers in my Orca and explore in my Asp Explorer. Next up I might outfit a DBX after meeting some rather annoying ones flown by NPCs. Or maybe muck about in an Asp Scout? Or even the good old Adder? As people have already said aplenty: Each ship has uses.

S

 

[Bomba Luigi]

Dunno, I for example to this day do best in a CZ with a Vulture. And I never had a better time exploring then I have now in a Courier.

 

[Arthur Shappey]

There is something inherently fun about going into a HazRes in a small ship and relying totally on your manoeuvrability, dexterity, aim and patience to out-wit the over-armed, too heavily armoured whales. Find that blind spot and exploit, exploit, exploit!

Even more fun if you do it in a T9. But that always seems to end in carnage for me. Fun, but fatal...

 

[Kilostream]

For the people who are disagree...Why you fly a Cobra if you can afford a Python? Or vanilla or full ing both.

Please answer the question seriusly, maybe any one could change my opinion.

Well, I've got loads of ships, and yes I have some of the bigger ships that are hands-down the most efficient at certain things, but I also have a load of smaller ships that are the most fun to fly - I have a frag cannon fer-de-lance with a healy beam laser for wing combat, I got a modded vulture that is just pinpoint-accurate which I love flying, I have a lightweight hauler with DD5 enhanced performance thrusters - mainly use that for wake scanning these days but it's a hoot to fly - boosting sideways at 500 m/s, anyone?!

So yeah, for me, you can't beat the big ships when you want to get some goal achieved as efficiently as possible, but if you're not in such a hurry and want to have more fun doing the thing, small ships are still where it's at.

 

[BrunCorax]

I´ve all the ships in game, the question is if you need to choose only one....an eagle...a cobra....why? I fly one of this "poor" ships when I feel boored.

For all the missions except long range my Python should be the logical vessel, but of course I could fly in my Cutter or if I´m thinking in problems my Corvette, but......a Cobra...a Hauler.........even a Courier....

You only need to see the most popular vessels......ASP Explorer...it´s the repoker until you can afford the Python and next looking for the bigs. A few of you could enjoy flying in a Cobra or in an Imperial Eagle, I accept your choose but the most fly an ASP...a Phyton or a Conda and next the hard grind to the Top...Cutter, Vette or best both.

 

[VR Jay Le Chardon]

In game I'm worth ~4Bn credits, at the moment my go to ships are the iEagle (only ship you can see the nacelles from the cockpit) or the iCourier (almost as agile / fast but more versatile). My mate is successfully "griefing" fed fortifiers in his engineered to heck sidey.

 

[Rankaze]

This has been mentioned before but you're quiet right.
There is little need to fly anything that isn't a 'conder outside of wanting a cheaper rebuy cost.

I wouldn't say that. I think smaller ships are more enjoyable to fly, and have no real plans to buy anything bigger than my FdL.

 

[Vasious]

For the people who are disagree...Why you fly a Cobra if you can afford a Python? Or vanilla or full ing both.

Please answer the question seriusly, maybe any one could change my opinion.

I stick with the Sidewinder
Love the flight characteristics, and how she handles in a fight.

Suited for the Salvage and scan and hostage rescue missions (and probably the illegal equivalents), can land the SRV so many places due to small foot print.

I also have long range A rated sensors on her so when I wing up with Faction-mates for Bounty hunting she is a zippy ship for scouting out good targets

I am happy taking her into HAZ RES and CZs, each fight might be a long drawn out affair but you earn your kills.

 

[yolomcbobbinz]

I love the smaller ships for multiple reasons; more maneuverable, cheap, low rebuy. My favorite small ships are the taipan, hauler and eagle and with my dangerous flying they're perfect

 

[BrunCorax]

I really apreciate all your comments Comanders.

I know and I agree that fly the little ships is more fun than the bigs....and I do it, but I keep thinking about Frontier needs to have a little more "love" with its.

PD I reach Colonia in Hugin a DBX and it did the job perfectly.

Thanks to all

 

[Cmdr Thrudd]

I wish they'd add more medium ships. Weve got lots of smalls but theres a big gap in mediums if you dont want to fly Fed ships and want an alternative to the python

 

[Vasious]

I wish they'd add more medium ships. Weve got lots of smalls but theres a big gap in mediums if you dont want to fly Fed ships and want an alternative to the python

#ZorgPetersenGroupMediumPadBoa

 

[WR3ND]

My main reason for using primarily small ships is based on enjoyment and tolerance. I'm more of a fighter jet kind of guy and less of an ocean liner, as it were.

They can be effective at some things, such as basic exploration, for example. But yes, in general they aren't the most viable ships in the game if combat effectiveness or credits per hour is a higher goal of yours.

I do have a Python for such use in CGs or exploration passenger missions, but all of my other ships are small.

 

[sb413197]

As my game time encroaches upon 1000 hours I find myself enjoying smaller ships. I'm seriously considering the purchase and engineering of a DBS, cobra, dolphin and viper mk3. They can do some pretty cool stuff.

 

[Madrax573]

Just to clarify (since I think I might have made one of the posts you're thinking of) I don't think they're useless at all, I just can't see any need for any more of them.

I would say the same for the big ships? I have way too many hours in game and TBH I can't find a reason TO fly a big ship. I can trade in small/medium ship very easily. I can kill anything in my Viper/Cobra. I can explore like a boss in the DBE. So why bother getting a big ship?

 

[CMDR-AD]

These days I tend to fly the ships which fly the most "fun" for me. The Cobra Mk3 is a nimble and zippy small ship, and I use it as my daily driver. I have come to prefer the Keelback as my explorer, so I can have a nimble ship that offes SRV and SLF along for exploring planet surfaces. For trade I fly the Type-9, because it feels like a big heavy freighter should.

With passenger ships, I'm undecided on which I prefer. I own and fly all 3 SK ships and each has it's own charm.

So far as engineering... I did a bit with Farseer and FSD range, but lately this is not so important to me. Most of my ships jump 25LY to 30LY, which is fine for my play. I also did some shield enhancements, and I think a few drive enhancements. But no engineering for weapons. The reason is I wanted to keep a PvE challenge when I do combat. I tend to think that since NPC don't have much engineering, I'll face a more enjoyable challenge by staying on their level.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Strange, i fly small ships for various reasons. Sometimes just because i'm in the mood to and want the small ship experience. The Anaconda mentioned by OP is not really a fun ship to fly for me. Makes things too easy and not very fast or agile.

I like to use a CM3 for various activities including small scale smuggling, salvage work, and planetary ops. I use a CM4 as a black ops base bomber.

I say down with big ships, they are boring! Except the Beluga, that's fun.