Wow! The Orca

[Zak Gordon]

I think it was the first ship i really fell in love with, just on how it looks. I've not got into ED just yet, but the Orca (or maybe the Dolphin?) will likely be one of my first targets to aim for in my starting sidewinder. I'm looking forward to that journey

 

[CMDR Brock Samson]

I'm very interested in this ship, probably my next buy

This should be in Ships of Elite though.

 

[Ashnak]

Haven't flown a dolphin yet though, is it also really fast/nimble despite being a passenger ship?

Depends on how you build/engineer it. The Dolphin handles heat pretty well, so instead of maxing speed, I (usually) go for range and minimal heat. i.e. clean drives and low emissions PP. Still boosts around 450 m/s (with a good G3 roll - a very good G5 DD roll can give you 550) and with an engine focussed PD, can keep that up pretty much all the day. The only time the cops can get you is when landing at a planetary base and you don't keep an eye on the comms .

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Main profile is long range passenger or rares/small cargo transport, though (or exploration). Wth a small additional fule tank, you can do 200+ ly without refuelling, with a scoop you can refuel at max intake without overheating, or even reaching 70%.

 

[Kaybe]

Orca is a great ship! And since it's buff, has made the Beluga utterly redundant.

RIP Beluga

 

[5 Puppis]

Depends on how you build/engineer it. The Dolphin handles heat pretty well, so instead of maxing speed, I (usually) go for range and minimal heat. i.e. clean drives and low emissions PP. Still boosts around 450 m/s (with a good G3 roll - a very good G5 DD roll can give you 550) and with an engine focussed PD, can keep that up pretty much all the day. The only time the cops can get you is when landing at a planetary base and you don't keep an eye on the comms .

---

Main profile is long range passenger or rares/small cargo transport, though (or exploration). Wth a small additional fule tank, you can do 200+ ly without refuelling, with a scoop you can refuel at max intake without overheating, or even reaching 70%.

I haven't found a good niche for my Dolphin since I switched to using the Orca as my passenger running money-press. With its speed, agility, and cargo room I'm now considering making my Dolphin a smuggling ship. Now if I could only get a Black Friday paint job for it... it would look amazing.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

I haven't found a good niche for my Dolphin since I switched to using the Orca as my passenger running money-press. With its speed, agility, and cargo room I'm now considering making my Dolphin a smuggling ship. Now if I could only get a Black Friday paint job for it... it would look amazing.

The best niche for the Dolphin is as an Explorer craft, either single-passenger or cargo rack.

Personally, I keep one parked in Meene for when I want to visit the Guardian Ruins.

I actually downsized the fuel tank to increase my jump range and reduce my refueling time - it works amazingly well, and as a small ship its incredibly easy to land.

I also run one as a pure exploration ship for when I want to go see what's out there (I'll give you a hint, it's beige).

 

[RidingTheFlow]

The best niche for the Dolphin is as an Explorer craft, either single-passenger or cargo rack.

Why? Orca has better jump range and can do both at same time. Only reason to prefer Dolphin is that Dolphin costs less and can dock at outposts.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Why? Orca has better jump range and can do both at same time. Only reason to prefer Dolphin is that Dolphin costs less and can dock at outposts.

Cost and size are both contributing factors.

Jump range though...

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/orc...==.Aw18gjOQ..EweloBhBmcBYQFMCGBzANokICMF9A===

vs.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/dol...==.Aw1/kA==..EweloBhBGA2GAsICmBDA5gG2SGF9A===

The advantage actually goes to the Dolphin when laden, and it's always easier to land a small ship over a medium or large ship on a planet surface.

 

[RidingTheFlow]

Oh, sorry, I don't consider unengineered builds these days
Also "The advantage actually goes to the Dolphin when laden" because Orca can carry lot more, you know Try load Orca with same payload.

 

[Kaybe]

I haven't found a good niche for my Dolphin since I switched to using the Orca as my passenger running money-press. With its speed, agility, and cargo room I'm now considering making my Dolphin a smuggling ship. Now if I could only get a Black Friday paint job for it... it would look amazing.

Dolphin is the only luxury cabin ship in game that can land at outposts. It's also a generally excellent small ship in terms of cargo capacity, jump range, and speed. Only thing it can't do is combat.

 

[Cupsuki]

Orca, best choice I've ever made.

The ship is not the best at like anything at all but I just enjoy doing stuff in mine, it just makes me feel so off meta.

Combat is awesome for the lulz, exploration nice cockpit and awesome range though maybe lacking on internals, trade don't make me laugh, mining is actually usable.

I just love that ship, having gone to the top and back I just always keep coming back for mine, I enjoy it more than my corvette and putting it on my signature says a lot since I made it just for that.

Bad Juju, ID: BD-JJ, I love it.

Thanks to rinzler and his Git Gud guide i got guided to her, oh and also Mars.

 

[Mrat13]

Oh, sorry, I don't consider unengineered builds these days
Also "The advantage actually goes to the Dolphin when laden" because Orca can carry lot more, you know Try load Orca with same payload.

Does anybody? It's kind of off putting to new players though, who may not have access to engineers yet.

 

[RidingTheFlow]

Does anybody? It's kind of off putting to new players though, who may not have access to engineers yet.

Really? Its not hard to unlock many of engineers, at least first tiers. Its also great way for new players to learn about variety of game activities they otherwise would never experienced.
Obviously new player should be realistic and not expect to get Tier 5 straight away, but even Tier 3 could be pretty damn good upgrade.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Dolphin is the only luxury cabin ship in game that can land at outposts. It's also a generally excellent small ship in terms of cargo capacity, jump range, and speed. Only thing it can't do is combat.

[video=youtube;MqwpA_bL7cU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqwpA_bL7cU[/video]

Dolphin in combat, in SBS 3d no less.

It CAN combat, just not great combat - but it's not a combat ship.

 

[KellyR]

Orca is a good ship. I explored all the way to the Horse Head nebula in one. When I got back, she looked like she had been through an acid bath, but she made me lots and lots of exploration money and increased my exploration rank to Pioneer. My only problem with the Orca is it's rather weak defensive capability. 3 hard points? But then it is a luxury liner not an armed freighter or combat courier. For what it is, it's a great ship. A combat ship it's not, but for hauling passengers or exploring in style, It's about the best bang for the credit.

 

[Cupsuki]

Although thinking about it, the buff to the orca actually was a nerf for me since I used to ram everything with it XD

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Orca is a good ship. I explored all the way to the Horse Head nebula in one. When I got back, she looked like she had been through an acid bath, but she made me lots and lots of exploration money and increased my exploration rank to Pioneer. My only problem with the Orca is it's rather weak defensive capability. 3 hard points? But then it is a luxury liner not an armed freighter or combat courier. For what it is, it's a great ship. A combat ship it's not, but for hauling passengers or exploring in style, It's about the best bang for the credit.

Orca is a fine example of Quality over Quantity. Those three hard points are two medium and one large. A pair of beam lasers and a multicannon work wonders. My own favorite loadout though is 3 medium cannons with Force Shell. You really don't want to get in a pushing match with that in a ring system. I love bouncing enemy ships off of rocks, and nothing makes me laugh quite as hard as seeing a little sidewinder or eagle spin like a flipped coin from a good shot - except when that spin ends with said ship going Boom! against a chuck of rock or ice.

Conversely a large beam and a pair of double shot modded frag cannons will ruin someone's day, especially right after being rammed by a Steely Dan.

Gods I want a Chrome Paintjob for my Orca.

 

[SpaceScania]

If I was going to purchase an Orca that was optimized for doing 2-3 ~300ly sight-seeing missions at a time how does this build look to all of you Orca enthusiasts/experts? (estimating engineered parts with random rolls on coriolis)

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/orca?code=A0patkFflsdasif5---02020404mnmkmh3745022i2f.Iw18SQ%3D%3D.Aw18SQ%3D%3D.H4sIAAAAAAAAAz2OvQ7BcBTFT1utlkiDtmmY6qOj3cIs4h2s4hGERTyAweRB7DYxW00Su4TBx%2F%2B4f0nd4eTknnN%2FuYbqA%2FjkRNxZCfBXNzI6eQBNFenIEvHPTzI4vMlwmAfirSybn6qULFXTJVuXJg%2By0isDQSJRvNYQW3Wz3LMVWZi6QKJdQ7u2dql2dNT4T9pdhbS%2FkJ3BnWRVjbInzehFOnMTKC4MoHwUCZdyVE%2BF1NrIYyR%2B8wV7d6Vl2wAAAA%3D%3D.EweloBhBmSQUwIYHMA28QgIwV0A%3D&bn=Mount%20Assiniboine

 

[RidingTheFlow]

I'd optimize powerplant & thrusters for low heat instead and ditch the heatsinks.
Also I usually put lightweight-engineered weapons on all my "runner" ships - helps when some Harmless assassin in a Viper keeps pestering my customers

 

[Kevin Kyle]

Its probably the best ship I have. Its great for smuggling and it boost away from just about anything. Ive never been scanned successfully yet. Has decent jump range. Can boost like crazy. Love this ship and I have a good choice of ships to fly. That includes the Ani and the Cutter and a Python. This ship is just an awesome ship. Nothing else I can say.