To Dropship, or not to Dropship..

[zaikoji]

That is MY question, and while it may ultimately be a very easy one to answer, I just wanted the informed input of any esteemed Commanders out there before I make my choice.
I've only ever heard bad things about it, but I still find my finger hovering over the buy button.
So is there anything you can say, to persuade me yay or nay?
Guidance humbly appreciated.

 

[Madrax573]

Definitely DROPSHIP!!!

My video does not do it justice but I love that ship!

Spoiler

[video=youtube;x4DmKCEcaYw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4DmKCEcaYw[/video]

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

That is MY question, and while it may ultimately be a very easy one to answer, I just wanted the informed input of any esteemed Commanders out there before I make my choice.
I've only ever heard bad things about it, but I still find my finger hovering over the buy button.
So is there anything you can say, to persuade me yay or nay?
Guidance humbly appreciated.

I think you will hate or love the Dropship. It's a matter or personal and highly subjective choice. It highly depends on what you expect from a spaceship and how you plan to use it and what modules you want to install and how you are going to mod it.

If you have the credits just buy one, add all the modules you want and then test it. If you don't like it just sell all modules and then sell the hull (the loss from selling the hull shouldn't be that high).

Personally I love flying my Dropships (I have two).
I like the way that thing is drifting around and the feeling of flying a heavy tank. It looks absolutely beautiful.
Other ships are in all aspects better - the Python for example. Using a FDS is something because the player wants to and not because it's the best choice.

 

[Stealthie]

I dunno.

To me, the FDS is a bit like the Asp Scout.
It's a ship which is a cheap version of the ship you should really should be buying instead.

Which, of course, is a theory full of holes given that the AspS is pretty good at a variety of things in it's own right and is far more than a budget version of the AspX.

Same thing probably applies to the FDS too.
All I know is that the FGS is a properly badass ship and I'm glad I skipped over the "lesser" fed' ships and concentrated on the FGS.

 

[kofeyh]

Yes. You buy a dropship. Biweaves. You fill it with HRM/ MRM. You buy a large multicanon, a medium multicanon, a medium multicanon, a medium multicanon, and a medium multicanon. And then you engineer it.

So go out there, get the dropship, and spread incendiary and corrosive death and destruction like a boss.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

…

Same thing probably applies to the FDS too.
All I know is that the FGS is a properly badass ship and I'm glad I skipped over the "lesser" fed' ships and concentrated on the FGS.

It depends on what you want to do with the Dropship. The FGS is a combat ship. The FDS is a multipurpose ship. Different ships for different uses.

(That said the FAS is obviously the better combat ship than the FGS )

 

[silvrav]

I dunno.

To me, the FDS is a bit like the Asp Scout.
It's a ship which is a cheap version of the ship you should really should be buying instead.

Which, of course, is a theory full of holes given that the AspS is pretty good at a variety of things in it's own right and is far more than a budget version of the AspX.

Same thing probably applies to the FDS too.
All I know is that the FGS is a properly badass ship and I'm glad I skipped over the "lesser" fed' ships and concentrated on the FGS.

I have been doing the same exact comparison the last 2 days.... FDS vs FAS vs FGS and in the end bought a python.

the heavy FGS was just not for me, as a ship that small should have a quicker turn rate (as the FAS does but bad in everything else)

 

[Stealthie]

It depends on what you want to do with the Dropship. The FGS is a combat ship. The FDS is a multipurpose ship. Different ships for different uses.

(That said the FAS is obviously the better combat ship than the FGS )

I guess it depends where you're at when you gain access to it.

I'd already got a Python when I unlocked the FDS and, when I found a station which sold the FDS, my first thought was "Ooooh, I can buy one of these now".
And then, when I looked at it's stat's, I just couldn't see any particular reason why I'd want to.

At the time I was specifically looking at building a gunship which I could use to launch an SLF and train-up an NPC pilot which meant there was a reason for wanting the FGS but not the FDS/FAS.

Horses for courses, I guess.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

I guess it depends where you're at when you gain access to it.

I'd already got a Python when I unlocked the FDS and, when I found a station which sold the FDS, my first thought was "Ooooh, I can buy one of these now".
And then, when I looked at it's stat's, I just couldn't see any particular reason why I'd want to.

At the time I was specifically looking at building a gunship which I could use to launch an SLF and train-up an NPC pilot which meant there was a reason for wanting the FGS but not the FDS/FAS.

Horses for courses, I guess.

I agree, flying the FDS is a very subjective decision that probably often hasn't that much to do with "efficient" or "best choice".

 

[Aashenfox]

A little engineering makes the FAS the ultimate dogfighter, it's perfectly balanced, everything is 'goldilocks'. Perfect number of hardpoints given the power available, perfect amount of hull considering the weak shields, perfect speed (I boost 500mps with only grade 4 DDs), decent jump range (20ly for me with a 40% grade 3), it's the perfect ship to take on any other in the game, from the smallest to the largest. If I had to pick a complaint, it's slow out of the box and runs hot, both can be remedied with RNGineering.

PS CMDR Lichtfrost, your sig is out of date! Grade 4 DDs made my DBX handle like a dragonfly.

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

I hate the federal bricks due to their bad vertical thrusters. I thpught i can make the Dropship to a "dropship" which drops SRV's to the surface for prospecting. I was kissing the surface from a 0.2g planet. They suck at landing.
Later i've tryed to make a pirate ship of it...it still sucks. The firepower makes sure that you destry rather the target than robbing, the bad vertical/lateral thrusters and the drift makes sure that you will never hit the cargohatch of the enemy, and the shields.....wait, that ship had shields? [blah]

The only thing where the Dropship made fun was mining. This is a task it can fulfill because it has good capacity for that and it doesn't need to fly well. It's a purpose for a brick like it is.
The good point is, your coffee will never get cold when fuelscooping [haha]

I've never sold it, it collects dust in the hangar. Maybe i will use it again....if it is the last ship existing in the universe

 

[StiTch]

Do you employ FA Off? You will love the dropship.

Are you against using FA Off? Side with the Imps and buy yourself an iClipper instead.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

Do you employ FA Off? You will love the dropship.

Are you against using FA Off? Side with the Imps and buy yourself an iClipper instead.

Hey the FDS is quite good at FA off while having FA on. Just ignore that "stay in the blue zone" advice

 

[StiTch]

Hey the FDS is quite good at FA off while having FA on. Just ignore that "stay in the blue zone" advice

iCutter is the only ship that truly holds that title

Srs bsns, I know what you mean, but FA Off extends a little further than strafing while firing. The Fed ships don't have the inherent speed to fly in non-forwards directions with FA On, and using FA Off for the most part allows you to largely overcome turning issues in the first place.

All fed ships, 'vette included, reward a skilled FA Off flier. Imp ships are a little more forgiving if you can't manage it - just look at the iClipper's pitch rate. In fact the iClipper is the ship I am most cautious about regarding FA off; turning it off at the wrong moment can be utterly detrimental.

 

[Taranis Dekker]

With all credit to Rinzler.... the Federal Gunship... Better than the dropship it seems, though I have neither

Spoiler

[video=youtube;fJ1oBDQHhfM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1oBDQHhfM[/video]

 

[StiTch]

Better than the dropship it seems, though I have neither

Until the mil slots saved it, the FGS was too much of a glass cannon to be called unequivocally better than the FDS...in fact many would have rathered the FDS for its ability to pack in HRPs.

To be brutally honest though there's not much in the way of difference between the FSD and FGS now. The FDS still has an edge on HP thanks to internals. The FGS gets two small hardpoints extra, a distributor a class up, slightly better shields and fighters - though equipping a fighter bay digs into its hull survivability.

 

[zaikoji]

Many thanks for your thoughts and input!
As I thought, both the yays and the nays are compelling.. But I guess if I don't buy it, I'll never know.
Still, with my insane skillz (duff piloting), the drift could be a killer. My FA off experience is limited to more forgiving beasts.
But nothing ventured, as they say..

 

[StiTch]

Still, with my insane skillz (duff piloting), the drift could be a killer. My FA off experience is limited to more forgiving beasts.

FA Off drift firing with gimballed weapons is literally one of the easiest things you can do in ED. You should get the hang of it pretty fast - and once you can do it, it's a great starting point for learning the intricacies.

 

[Malfahri]

I had the FDS long before the FAS or FGS arrived. Now my ship of choice is the FGS and as others have said, flight assist off skills are a requirement.

 

[Marshall...]

I have very fond memories of flying my Dropship. It was way before engineers and it used to sliiiiiide all over the place - loved it! Which reminds me, i must step out of my Python and go mod mine!