Is the Fer-de-Lance boring?

Does anyone even fly it anymore, or has everyone mothballed theirs to let it slowly rot away in a boneyard?

Do new players even covet the thing anymore?

When you see a hollow pip and it's an FDL, do you roll your eyes and mock?

Just curious as I never see them anymore and mine has not been flown for months. It's under a sheet at the back of the garage, like a sad old Aston Martin DB6 slowly dying.
 
Just getting back into the game and I have flown mine a little since, will probably engineer it at some point as I do still like it :)

Python to fully engineer first though.....
 
I still think it is one of, if not the coolest looking ship in the game!

But to answer your question... No... I have not taken my FDL out in months. There is always another ship in my fleet that would be a better choice for whatever mission or activity I am about to do.

The Chieftain's arrival didn't help, since that ship can do a lot of what I would have previously chosen my FDL for, but it does many of those things better.

One thing I can say with 100% confidence... Its low FSD Jump Range doesn't help it at all! ;)
 
I still think it is one of, if not the coolest looking ship in the game!

But to answer your question... No... I have not taken my FDL out in months. There is always another ship in my fleet that would be a better choice for whatever mission or activity I am about to do.

The Chieftain's arrival didn't help, since that ship can do a lot of what I would have previously chosen my FDL for, but it does many of those things better.

One thing I can say with 100% confidence... Its low FSD Jump Range doesn't help it at all! ;)

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the FSD range. Mine does about 15ly which is painful.
 
Ok Ok ok, there is nothing sad about an old Aston Martin DB6.

To me the FDL was the must have ship, after the Cobras.

I would say that with the Cutters, the T-10s and now the new ship to try out; most FDL users are 'testing out' the latest bad boys.
 
Low FSD range, asymmetric cockpit, lack of internal slots for utility...FDL has lots of little things that make it annoying to use. I mean, 5 internals? Do you know what else has 5 internals? Eagle. A Viper MK IV has 7.
 
so good, scrapped the vulture, so good, weapons choice is crucial as it overheats like crazy, I get 12 ly and have nearly run out of fuel many times, such an awesome combat ship
 
I'd fly mine more often, but I can't decide on a loadout for it. It's nice getting back into it after flying the Corvette for a while. Having the speed is definitely a boon.
 
Low FSD range, asymmetric cockpit, lack of internal slots for utility...FDL has lots of little things that make it annoying to use. I mean, 5 internals? Do you know what else has 5 internals? Eagle. A Viper MK IV has 7.

All ZPG ships have 4 or 5 sadly, abut 5,4,4,2,1 makes for a reasonable mission ship for regular BGS work, which you can usually make to with economic fuel settings as well

Love the Cockpit in VR
 
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Turn up to a CG in Open.

You'll soon figure out which are the most boring ships.

It's usually the Cutter. Or an Asp. Or Anaconda. Or Python.

FDLs are common too really. But only if it's a combat CG. :p

If anyone turns up in something else, I'm like "oh, I forgot they existed...!"
 
The FDL sure does look cool. It seems to me that the issue with the FDL is one dimensional and Elite really favors the multi-role ships. Ships like the almighty Python are just so useful in so many different spheres of play that the FDL will largely be relegated to a niche role within the game. It would be nice to see dedicated ships like the FDL shine more.

For example, with the internal slots on the FDL already so limited I don’t understand why it is necessary for the jump range to also be that poor. I am not a combat player myself though and I have not flown the FDL, so maybe I am missing out on its pure awesomeness from a combat standpoint.

I do feel though that the multi-role ships in this game are too strong at times. That I can say from experience. Especially the Python.
 
Don't like the Python as a conflict zone ship because it's a tuna boat in turns, I use the FDL instead. I'll use a Python as a BGS workhorse though.
 
The FDL sure does look cool. It seems to me that the issue with the FDL is one dimensional and Elite really favors the multi-role ships. Ships like the almighty Python are just so useful in so many different spheres of play that the FDL will largely be relegated to a niche role within the game. It would be nice to see dedicated ships like the FDL shine more.

For example, with the internal slots on the FDL already so limited I don’t understand why it is necessary for the jump range to also be that poor. I am not a combat player myself though and I have not flown the FDL, so maybe I am missing out on its pure awesomeness from a combat standpoint.

I do feel though that the multi-role ships in this game are too strong at times. That I can say from experience. Especially the Python.
It's not that the Multirole ships are too good, it's that the combat ships aren't good enough at combat to make up for all their short falls.

My Python is just as capable in combat as my FDL (if a bit slower), but it can also actually relocate to a distant system without refitting. I can also keep an SRV bay onboard, and even some collection limpets and cargo, without losing any of its combat potency.

FDL, none of that. Slightly faster and more agile. And that's it.
But you can't make combat ships any better, because PvP. So give them good range instead. All gimping the range does is make them a PITA to travel in. Lol
 
My Python is just as capable in combat as my FDL (if a bit slower), but it can also actually relocate to a distant system without refitting. I can also keep an SRV bay onboard, and even some collection limpets and cargo, without losing any of its combat potency.

I do think the Python desperately needs some competition. There are an entire class of missions on the mission boards (cargo missions to outposts over 150 tons) that you can only do in a Python. The Python stands so far above every other medium ship in the game to a colossal degree. I like my Python too but the game would be better if there was another choice at the top end of the medium ships.
 
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