FDL or Mamba, why and what's your build?

[Bloodsign]

I've flown both my FDL and my Mamba a fair bit in pirate missions, they are similar but distinct. Which do you prefer and what is your build/engineering?

For me, I prefer the Mamba since all its hard points are on the top side, and it has a centered unobstructed view. Mine is lightly engineered, all utilities are shield boosters, so it's very survivable. Working on maneuvering engineering, since that's the only thing the FDL has on it out of the box. Class 4 is a MC, the rest burst lasers.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

Between those two I prefer the Mamba for PvE. Topside huge multi too, large beams and small cascade rails for the pesky duracell builds.

 

[Chris Simon]

Another PvE player here. I've flown (and loved) FdL for a couple of years, so naturally now I prefer Mamba if only for the fact that it's new.
But there is also the fact that it has its weaponry on top, which is better for dogfighting. Using the C4 in FdL was always tricky.

I'm mostly using efficient pulses in C1s/C3s (I can fire them continuously with four pips in shields) and long range C4 PA for heavy hitting (I'm using long range mod on PA simply for the projectile speed, not necessarily for the long distance itself)
Engineering on my Mamba is fairly normal and never really done, because I'm not grinding mats, so I engineer stuff as it comes. Charge enhanced distro, the powerplant as cool as possible (not really problem with enough power on Mamba, just like FdL), dirty thrusters, shield resistances as high as possible (plus one heavy duty booster and two resistance ones).
The rest of the ship is engineered only lightly, mostly with mass in mind, cause I like speed.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

I'm using long range mod on PA simply for the projectile speed, not necessarily for the long distance itself

Out of curiosity, isn't focused a better option if you're not bothered about the range, or is this one of those things where there's actually no practical difference?

 

[Chris Simon]

Out of curiosity, isn't focused a better option if you're not bothered about the range, or is this one of those things where there's actually no practical difference?

Honestly, I can't say from the top of my head. It's possible I've done the long range simply because I had mats for it and not the other. Or I did it for some other reason like heat or something. Sorry.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

Honestly, I can't say from the top of my head. It's possible I've done the long range simply because I had mats for it and not the other. Or I did it for some other reason like heat or something. Sorry.

Didn't think about the mats. Just checked Inara and long range looks much easier to get stuff for if you're looking for that speed increase.

I did have a Mamba but sold because I didn't like the manouverability compared to the FDL. Thinking about it, I didn't like the Krait mk2 until I spent a good while tinkering with it. I probably need to give it another go and stop thinking about it in comparison to the FDL.

 

[Stealthie]

As a competitor for the FdL, the Mamba is undeniably inferior in almost every measurable way.

Having said that, I much, much prefer the way the Mamba flies (honestly, I'm surprised more people don't moan about how drifty the FdL is) so I use a Mamba for assassination missions instead of an FdL.

 

[Vedmo]

I can blow up npcs slightly better with the FDL, but much prefer flying the Mamba and I just do PVE so they are both overkill anyway.

This is my current FDL build. It does a great job as a bubble jumper and material gatherer.

 

[The Replicated Man]

I personally have ran both, but am more a hulltank/hybrid guy rather than shield stacking.

When I did run a FDL it was a 5A Prismatic, 2 4A Rapid Charge Banks and 3 boosters, Double chaff and a heatsink. 5 Plasma. Did alright.

I currently have a very light mamba. Bi weave and hull tank underneath. 3 Multis and 2 Lightweight Seekers. Boosts to 620. More a meme than anything.

My opinion? Sell both and buy yourself a Gunship. You won't regret it.

 

[jnTracks]

I haven't flown the Mamba yet, but love my FDL; I'm newish. I wanted to comment about weapons.

Out of curiosity, isn't focused a better option if you're not bothered about the range, or is this one of those things where there's actually no practical difference?

Focussed isn't listed as changing projectile speed, just range and armor piercing.
Long range seems to be the only mod that changes the projectile speed.

I'm interested in trying that on mine now; currently I have FDL with 4 beams and the C4 PA all with full Efficient mod. The 2 of the beams have thermal vent and the others are stripped down. I can fire the beams for so long with just 1 or 2 pips on weapons; Let up for a second or two and I'm still ready for a PA shot.
But I'd like to buy another PA and try out the long range mod for that shot speed. I hope the distributor draw isn't too high. The heat I'm sure I can bleed off. Yeah, I think I might try that out.
I love the PA and I don't find it that hard to hit large ships, but against small ships could really use that projectile speed boost. The FASs out there tend to last a long time against me since I can find it hard to land a PA shot and while the shields fall instantly the hull is just so massive.

 

[Kamiyoda]

Focussed isn't listed as changing projectile speed, just range and armor piercing.
Long range seems to be the only mod that changes the projectile speed.

Well whatever list this is, its wrong then.

 

[Stabby_Dave]

I have both, engineered to G5. I tend to use the mamba for assassination missions and the FDL if I want to sit in a CZ. 5C bi-weave in the Mamba, 5A prismatic (as of next week) on the FDL. For weapons (all gimballed), it's an efficient huge beam laser with thermal vent and 4x multicannon. all overcharged and 1 corrosive. I did have them with autoloader, but I found that against the big Annies, I'd be dribbling out shots when they ran dry. I'd rather wait a few seconds and have a full mag.

 

[Henri]

I wish I could retract the landing gear after take off
and in vr it is very immersion breaking to have the top cannon shoot through the cockpit all the time

 

[Bloodsign]

I wou

I personally have ran both, but am more a hulltank/hybrid guy rather than shield stacking.

When I did run a FDL it was a 5A Prismatic, 2 4A Rapid Charge Banks and 3 boosters, Double chaff and a heatsink. 5 Plasma. Did alright.

I currently have a very light mamba. Bi weave and hull tank underneath. 3 Multis and 2 Lightweight Seekers. Boosts to 620. More a meme than anything.

My opinion? Sell both and buy yourself a Gunship. You won't regret it.

I would agree with that last opinion if we didn't have engineering; I just did the dirty drive modification with drag and my Mamba is much more agile now. I've got my multicannons almost to G5, engineered for efficiency with experimentals like corrosive shell and incendiary, heat levels don't rise much when going full blast on the triggers any more.

 

[NCFCpaul]

Of these two the FDL, but personally I fly my Fed Gunship much more.

On my FDL I have one huge MC and four efficient pulse lasers, this let's me fire for a very long time.

For my FGS four rails and three thermal vent beams- heat can be an issue.

I can't find it now but there was a really good piece written by a guy called Ryan (?) on how to set up an FDL- it was really excellent

 

[jnTracks]

Well whatever list this is, its wrong then.

Oh, interesting. Yeah I was looking at Inara and it made no mention of that.
Yup. I'm at Bill's place now and the shot speed is the same for Long range and focussed. So now I don't know what to do! It's hard to imagine hitting anything from 4-7km with the PA even with the increased shot speed; more likely I'll be inside 3-4k tops at all times --probably less.
So that leaves focussed having a 5% increased thermal load, while long range has 15% power draw and 30% mass. I wonder which will bother me more. Probably the mass, eh?

 

[Kamiyoda]

Oh, interesting. Yeah I was looking at Inara and it made no mention of that.
Yup. I'm at Bill's place now and the shot speed is the same for Long range and focussed. So now I don't know what to do! It's hard to imagine hitting anything from 4-7km with the PA even with the increased shot speed; more likely I'll be inside 3-4k tops at all times --probably less.
So that leaves focussed having a 5% increased thermal load, while long range has 15% power draw and 30% mass. I wonder which will bother me more. Probably the mass, eh?

Yeah, I think its cause PAs are the only weapon that gets Focused that has travel time so it was just forget... For a few years ...

 

[Dillon Fallon]

Focussed isn't listed as changing projectile speed, just range and armor piercing.
Long range seems to be the only mod that changes the projectile speed.

Seems like a discrepancy in Inara.

Either way, just based on mat requirements it's long range for me.

Edit- rewrite. Too much coffee, not enough reading.

 

[Kamiyoda]

If so, my mistake. I got this from Coriolis, so if that's wrong, then apologies to anyone I've confused with this. Silly me for not verifying from Inara as well before posting.

Long range it is then.

Scroll up. And Coriolis isnt any better, they don't have the damage falloff modifer for focused, among other things. Its better to just check in game for this stuff if you really want to be certain.

Still though for PAs I would certainly use Long Range over Focused.

Also more on Topic I guess I prefer my Mamba just for its looks(Though I like both)

 

[Dillon Fallon]

Scroll up. And Coriolis isnt any better, they don't have the damage falloff modifer for focused, among other things. Its better to just check in game for this stuff if you really want to be certain.

Still though for PAs I would certainly use Long Range over Focused.

Also more on Topic I guess I prefer my Mamba just for its looks(Though I like both)

Thanks for setting me right on that one. Putting the coffee down and leaving the internet alone now.

Got to agree with you on the Mamba's looks. Definitely think I need to try it again. Oh joy, another ship to find engineering materials for!