Bob Lighthouse
Banned
FDL, needing a little advice from seasoned Cmdr's
- Thread starter verbz
- Start date
I sometimes use the FdL for Pve and PvP.
Depends on my mood, but after g5 on everything internal and prismatic shields, SCB and HRP/MRP (obviously MRP not modded) and 2 x HD, 3 x RA boosters, 1 x HS - then guns:
Lasers, we don't need no stinking lasers (although fix beams can be fun if you can stay on target etc)
MC's gimballed (cos they fire ahead even when lock is broken) all round, 1 x corrosive, rest OC with multi servos.
or, a new experimental build, 1 x H MC corrosive, 2 x OC MC gimballed with MS and 2 x packhound g5, 1 x drag.
The trick is positioning and keeping lateral movement whilst staying on target. FdL can shift but personally I think FAS is much better at close manoeuvring. Chieftain is also worth a look and FGS for pure dakka-dakka pleasure.
My biggest issue these days is trying to find a good, really good setup for Python and Cutter as armed trader ships. Its getting there....
Depends on my mood, but after g5 on everything internal and prismatic shields, SCB and HRP/MRP (obviously MRP not modded) and 2 x HD, 3 x RA boosters, 1 x HS - then guns:
Lasers, we don't need no stinking lasers (although fix beams can be fun if you can stay on target etc)
MC's gimballed (cos they fire ahead even when lock is broken) all round, 1 x corrosive, rest OC with multi servos.
or, a new experimental build, 1 x H MC corrosive, 2 x OC MC gimballed with MS and 2 x packhound g5, 1 x drag.
The trick is positioning and keeping lateral movement whilst staying on target. FdL can shift but personally I think FAS is much better at close manoeuvring. Chieftain is also worth a look and FGS for pure dakka-dakka pleasure.
My biggest issue these days is trying to find a good, really good setup for Python and Cutter as armed trader ships. Its getting there....
It's kind of weird that I've never once seen you ingame before, Phisto, and then randomly encountered you in Kuk last night. I loved seeing all those Flechette Launchers btw
That was wild. The gods are clearly pleased.
Yeah! I'm hoping to bring them to bear this weekend. Been really mulling over options for the Huge hardpoint. I've settled on two firegroups - one for the Flechettes, one for the cannon, mainly because the firing solutions are so far apart just focus on one or the other.
Cannon right now is just a OC Auto Loader. Bang on 'em once the shields drop or if they're running. Need just a bit more power to run my true dream - Short Range PA with Thermal Conduit.
Will keep you posted.
I've really enjoyed efficient multis on mine. Ever give those a try?
The advice is much wanted dude, as a new player its always a good idea to ask for and receive great advice from players who know what they are doing from experience and i am really grateful for it, i just dont like the way rslg was bashed on, clearly theres a bit of history between ya from other posts but i would have expected that to not be dragged into my post, judging from the route i was already taking with my build and the advice been thrown out by others it was kinda obvious i wouldn't have changed my build to one like rs linked, the reason i was defending her is coz i thought it was totally uncalled for with the bashing... again really grateful for any and all advice or pointers in the right direction which is why i was asking about specific things in the first place...
Thanks to everyone else whos posted too
I find myself in the unique position of not being able to rep you again so soon.
But, yeah. This.
The best way to make an FdL into a multirole ship is to buy an AspX and park it next to the FdL.
The FdL just doesn't have the slots to waste on anything unrelated to combat.
At the best of times, it's just a bunch of guns and an engine duct-taped together.
If it's not related to making other ships go boom or preventing you from going boom, leave it off a FdL.
My build is fine depending on your perspective and what you are trying to achieve - I answered their question directly, gave the build I was using for context. Whether other individuals think my build is crap is moot - you and certain others are crossing into direct personal attack territory and viering off the OP's topic.
My build works, and works well enough for me - to imply it won't work at all or would work badly is just unconstructive trolling/bashing.
I use a soldering iron to heat up cups of coffee.
It works well enough for me but it's not something I'd suggest to somebody seeking advice about buying a new coffee-maker.
fair enough. the hilarity starts when you introduce it as the nominal build. i clicked the bait and, well, 'what i saw next' was bewildering to say the least.
anyhow, op seems to think himself entitled to decide who can and who cannot talk in this thread, so i'll shut my mouth and he will be well served with this crap advice.
peace!
Well, well then..let's try giving you some advice and see how you react to that then?
First thing, I'll address your FDL's hardpoints.
For basic PVE, you've got an Idea of sorts down - but I would strongly recommend against that many beam weapons.
The damage they do, even with efficient modding is mediocre in comparison to the distributor draw they will consume leaving you, the average FDL pilot, sorely pressed for keeping your Sys and Eng capacitor at top capacity using (what i would assume would be) FAon with Toggling.
If you wanted to stress PVE as your main focus for your FDL as she is right now, I would recommend you a few changes:
1: the Huge hardpoint, I would personally push you towards a few options:
A Huge PA,
A Fixed / Gimball Huge Beam [Preferably fixed] with Long range 5 (+) Thermal Vent,
or
A Fixed Pulse with Long Range 5, and honestly...idk about that secondary - (lasers are just meh, even in PVE - and you're always better off having other weapons.)
2: Medium hardpoins - personal choice for you really, but if you wanted to use multicannons - as that is what you feel comfortable with for now - I would recommend 4 Gimball or Fixed variants in those slots with either Efficient 5, or a mix of Efficient and High capacity mods.
Once, again - not the best choice, even for PVE - but if you feel comfortable using those weapons, stick with them for now.
For the Secondaries? I would stay away from Incendiary and gravitate towards maybe 1 Corrosion, on a High Cap, and probably some Autoloaders or Oversized modifications on the efficient variants.
Shields? You've really only got two choices on an FDL - Biweave or Prismatic, but b/c you're an FDL - you're pretty boned for anything other than Shields - either way, be sure to at least fit Reactive Armour on your base hull, with a Lightweight 5 modification and include a 2D HRP with Thermal 5 to help give you some cushion and to prevent you from falling into the standard PVE player idiocy of fitting lightweight bulkheads.
As for the remaining optional compartments, it really all depends.
A MRP could come in handy, but I would advise you to stay away from Fuel Scoops and Fuel tanks, and focus primarily on making sure you can keep your shields formed. Shield Cells are a prime choice. And I would stay away from trying to build around getting heals, even as a PVE player. It turns you into a lackluster pilot who struggles with even the most basic form of NPC combat - since you become entirely reliant on them to do anything.
As for my final bit of two cents:
While I won't fully address the way and why, to how you think rlsg was "getting bashed." I will say, all statements levied at her, were completely warranted. And it doesn't help to get up in arms about elitism when you ask in your OP for veterans to give you advice, and the actual veteran players call out a N00b for the poor information that player provided as "guidance."
It's just hypocrisy, and if you were asking for advice from veteran players and were unwilling to accept that your pre-conceived notions or ideas were wrong, then that's entirely your problem and has nothing to do with 'elitism.'
Elitism is thinking a trash build, like the one previously linked by rlsg is nominal for anything and is something that should be recommended to newer players.
It is terribly inefficient, poorly designed and more detrimental than beneficial for providing help or instruction. Her build needs a full rework to even be actually nominal for PVE. As it stood when it was linked, that build is nothing more than a Fer-de-glass, looking at the rebuy screen. Terribly inefficient, and poorly built. That's not bashing, that is legit constructive criticism about the build in question. There was no need to be overly sensitive.
It doesn't matter if the comments sounded like bashing, if they were true.
To claim it is bashing or "elitism," is to play the part of the carebear.
And let's not go there, shall we?
I just want to chime in for some points, I prefer gimbal led weapons because of one reason : not pointing my ship toward my enemy, fixed weapon mean you are forced to in crash course with your enemy, and that is actually making you easier to get hit. Believe it or not but gimbal weapon allow me to dodge npc rail guns while still hitting them with my weapons, also thanks to the outrageous performance of fdl vertical and lateral movement ability (much better with dirty drive mod)
Why not turrets then? Because they deal too little damage, outrageously expensive and have high friendly fire rate.
2ndly I found into conclusion that you do not want rapid fire mod on every weapons that use ammo, on paper it may give you similar dps to overcharged and significant advantage on distributor load (much less load) but you are wasting ammo and get utter terrible damage / ammo ratio (because it actually lower that damage).
It's somewhat the contrary with lasers, with lasers rapid fire is arguably better than overcharged for one reason : it has better distributor load, providing overall similar dps and ammo is not an issue, on the other hand overcharged lasers not only kills your distributor but also overheat your ship too fast (unless thermal vent beam but then again overcharged beam use insane distributor power so that's moot point).
Why not turrets then? Because they deal too little damage, outrageously expensive and have high friendly fire rate.
2ndly I found into conclusion that you do not want rapid fire mod on every weapons that use ammo, on paper it may give you similar dps to overcharged and significant advantage on distributor load (much less load) but you are wasting ammo and get utter terrible damage / ammo ratio (because it actually lower that damage).
It's somewhat the contrary with lasers, with lasers rapid fire is arguably better than overcharged for one reason : it has better distributor load, providing overall similar dps and ammo is not an issue, on the other hand overcharged lasers not only kills your distributor but also overheat your ship too fast (unless thermal vent beam but then again overcharged beam use insane distributor power so that's moot point).
Last edited:
For PVE you can fit whatever you like really, no need to min-max at all. Beams are good for dropping shields.
Huge hardpoint needs to be kinetic for dakka, that's why you use beams for the shields.
You should never slow the FDL down with unnecessary armour, it's just wrong.
Fuel tanks all the way, especially when combined with PA's/rails & plasma slug.
RLSG was getting bashed for posting a perfectly fine multirole PVE build, some people are just triggered by PVE. RLSG's build was a secondary thing.
You haven't actually proposed a build, you've been really vague and wishy washy on everything citing personal choice (except armour where you are just wrong) whilst getting sniffy about RSLG's choices.
You just did, and it's all you've done.
The jump range on the FDL is pretty bad without Armour which is the main reason I personally try to avoid upgrading it on my FDL.
I have mused about Plasma Slug for the underslung Large PA, but fuel reserves are not great on the FDL. Based on your experience, how fast would the fuel be consumed with that mod on a single Large PA specifcally and with other combinations of Plasma Slug weapons?
Last edited:
I never stay in the fight long enough for my shields to drop, so for me armour is a total waste of time and maneuverability (not to mention nearly doubling rebuys).
On it's own you probably wouldn't need them, I go for all PA/rail plasma slug then it's fast, so that's when you need tanks and a scoop. But with just a pair of PA's or rails you don't need it as kinetic ammo runs out faster, one huge would probably be the same (ish).
With fuel scoop/extra tank all plasma slug loadouts you only return to stations to cash in, or when damaged. It's an efficient killer but less efficient at individual killing if you catch my drift, the main purpose is fun.
Dear op,
If I had to make a suggestion It would be to get a Python or a FGS (Fed Gun Ship). As the FDL has major problems like power, jump range and horrible base shields to name just a few (but these are not the least) though it does have great hardpoints, Huge Boosted Shield Capacity and incredable speed all working for it. How ever you are working the Ship in the wrong direction.
Here's the problem with what your currently running and what you will run into.
Power; Power is the main problem with the FDL, it just doesn't have any. Or atleast it doesn't have enough even if you G5 OverCharge its still going to be scraping by.
Recommendation, Drop all Heavy duty Shield Boosters, these are junk and it will take for ever for your shields to recharge. Get Thermal and kinetic resistance Grade5, get to 70-75% Thermal and Kenetic resistance. Get the Biggest non-biweave shield you can and engineer it for resistances.
Next get Four Medium Multi cannons, (prefer Gimballed) Engineer for OverCharged Grade5 (With Thermal), use the Large hard point for a 4A Beam Efficient (Pref Regen for Groups)
Doing this allows you to stay on target for extremely long periods of time with minimal pips to weapons for sustain, keep 2- 2 1/2 pips until enemy shields are down, then go 1pip as all you need is multicannons to fire, rest is 3pips to shields for bolstered defense and 1 - 2pips in engines for speed, boost and staying maneuverable.
Personally I recommend selling the FDL and going to a python, using near the same setup. Four Multi Cannons, 2x Large, 2x Medium. Over Charged G5 Thermal, and One Large Beam or Pulse Efficient Regen. Python has better jump range and more firepower at the cost of some speed and shield booster strength, while it has higher base shields. Same setup with shields and boosters, Focus on Resistance, primary focus is Thermal resistance on boosters. Heavy Duty booster I would avoid unless you know how shield tanking works.
If I had to make a suggestion It would be to get a Python or a FGS (Fed Gun Ship). As the FDL has major problems like power, jump range and horrible base shields to name just a few (but these are not the least) though it does have great hardpoints, Huge Boosted Shield Capacity and incredable speed all working for it. How ever you are working the Ship in the wrong direction.
Here's the problem with what your currently running and what you will run into.
Power; Power is the main problem with the FDL, it just doesn't have any. Or atleast it doesn't have enough even if you G5 OverCharge its still going to be scraping by.
Recommendation, Drop all Heavy duty Shield Boosters, these are junk and it will take for ever for your shields to recharge. Get Thermal and kinetic resistance Grade5, get to 70-75% Thermal and Kenetic resistance. Get the Biggest non-biweave shield you can and engineer it for resistances.
Next get Four Medium Multi cannons, (prefer Gimballed) Engineer for OverCharged Grade5 (With Thermal), use the Large hard point for a 4A Beam Efficient (Pref Regen for Groups)
Doing this allows you to stay on target for extremely long periods of time with minimal pips to weapons for sustain, keep 2- 2 1/2 pips until enemy shields are down, then go 1pip as all you need is multicannons to fire, rest is 3pips to shields for bolstered defense and 1 - 2pips in engines for speed, boost and staying maneuverable.
Personally I recommend selling the FDL and going to a python, using near the same setup. Four Multi Cannons, 2x Large, 2x Medium. Over Charged G5 Thermal, and One Large Beam or Pulse Efficient Regen. Python has better jump range and more firepower at the cost of some speed and shield booster strength, while it has higher base shields. Same setup with shields and boosters, Focus on Resistance, primary focus is Thermal resistance on boosters. Heavy Duty booster I would avoid unless you know how shield tanking works.
shut up and take my rep
Where the FDL is concerned, I would be inclined to agree - higher grade armour does seem to help with maintaining integrity though or at least gives you a greater hull reserve if/when you overheat. On the FDL, MGA has a gob smacking effect on the rebuy when compared with the rebuy impact on other ships.
Thanks for the info - may look at LR Plasma Slug PAs for the Huge HP's on my Corvette at some point. For my FDL, I think I will stick with my original plan for now - LR Phased Sequencing PA. May trial the Plasma Slug option on the FDL when I look at it for the Corvette (no point wasting materials).
Last edited:
Depends - FDL does seem to be better suited for combat against the big 4 - the FDL has a huge hard point, better shields, 2 more utility points, and is faster/more-manoeuvrable - the Python on the other hand is an excellent multi-role craft. Would probably favour the FDL over the Python in a combat setting but BrianM may have a valid point for the OP. The OP's specific goals are unclear at best, though if the OP are more combat focused the FDL is a fair choice - as a stepping stone for (or economic alternative to) the big 4, the Python is an excellent suggestion.
Yea sorry i should have been more clear....
I have a type9 for when i want to make some credits running basic meds...
Ive got a dbx for if im needing to travel which i can then order a ship taxi and get my girls transported to me...
My vulture is taking the back seat at the moment.
My fdl is for combat alone... for hazres, bounty hunting, assassination missions (i mean err im just a normal pilot on a business mission, this is not a gun in my pocket... well hello there mish moneypenny). im just dipping my toes into cz's...
I've not been playing a month yet so im still learning... ive not even looked into superpowers yet lol...
I have a type9 for when i want to make some credits running basic meds...
Ive got a dbx for if im needing to travel which i can then order a ship taxi and get my girls transported to me...
My vulture is taking the back seat at the moment.
My fdl is for combat alone... for hazres, bounty hunting, assassination missions (i mean err im just a normal pilot on a business mission, this is not a gun in my pocket... well hello there mish moneypenny). im just dipping my toes into cz's...
I've not been playing a month yet so im still learning... ive not even looked into superpowers yet lol...