Ship decision: Krait MkII or Python?

Episparh · Jul 28, 2020

Having an SLF can be considered a disadvantage. If you use an NPC crew it takes a share of all your income including the time it sits in station and you work hard with this or other ship. In addition, it worth mentioning that NPC crew halves combat progression.

Having additional class 6 slot of Python adds a lot of flexibility better protection for pew-pew, better cargo for hauling or better slots for every other tasks. You loose 40m/s in max boost speed and 4 degrees per second in pitch which is not such a big difference IMO. What krait mk2 have in speed and maneuverability python compensates with utility and protection.

P.S. Python is the King of all ships.

Darkman Returns · Jul 28, 2020

Episparh said:
In addition, it worth mentioning that NPC crew halves combat progression.

There seems to be some confusion about combat progression when you have fighters:

Crew members (NPC or human multi-crew) only take a cut of any kill they are involved in.*
As you will get kills faster with them and take less damage due to their ability to distract NPCs it's not a big issue.
Combat with a SLF is arguably more fun (and rewarding as you watch your NPC develop into a lethal killing machine).

* Source:

https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6c5pfj/_/dol9big

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6c5pfj/confirmed_using_npcs_hinder_combat_rank/dol9big/

Episparh · Jul 28, 2020

Darkman Returns said:
There seems to be some confusion about combat progression when you have fighters:

Crew members (NPC or human multi-crew) only take a cut of any kill they are involved in.*

As you will get kills faster with them and take less damage due to their ability to distract NPCs it's not a big issue.

Combat with a SLF is arguably more fun (and rewarding as you watch your NPC develop into a lethal killing machine).

* Source:
https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6c5pfj/_/dol9big
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/6c5pfj/confirmed_using_npcs_hinder_combat_rank/dol9big/

That is not true. Npc crew takes share of every earning. If you do not belive me, ditch one in station and go mine something. Check your logs after you sell the goods.

As for killing faster....maybe it is true if you use stock ships. I cannot see difference how fast I shred Npc.

Progressing Npc also rise the amount of money they take even not used.

The Nephilim · Jul 28, 2020

Personally, I love both sips but if I had to pick one, I'd say an engineered Python would be my choice. If you're not into engineering then I'd go for a Krait Mk II. Once you've engineered the engines on a Python, it flys almost as well as it did before they nerfed it.

I don't think either is a bad choice though.

Susanna · Jul 28, 2020

Dazza76 said:
So I'm slowly getting together the credits required for a medium sized allrounder. I've sort of narrowed it down to these two but would like people's thoughts on the relative merits and drawbacks of these two. Also open to other suggestions but I want a medium sized ship with decent offensive/defensive abilities and a fair sized cargo capacity.

Cheers
Daz

An easy one ... If you really MUST have a fighter (although Lordy knows why - they add very little to the game other than as a credit drain to keep a useless pilot) then the Krait MkII. In all other instances - go for the Python!

Dazza76 · Jul 28, 2020

Susanna said:
An easy one ... If you really MUST have a fighter (although Lordy knows why - they add very little to the game other than as a credit drain to keep a useless pilot) then the Krait MkII. In all other instances - go for the Python!

Haven't said anywhere that I'm bothered about the fighter. Possibly in future but doesn't matter to me yet. Python is tempting but I think I'll be going for the Krait due to reasons mentioned.

Susanna · Jul 28, 2020

Dazza76 said:
Haven't said anywhere that I'm bothered about the fighter. Possibly in future but doesn't matter to me yet. Python is tempting but I think I'll be going for the Krait due to reasons mentioned.

Then I wish you well with your Krait! (I'll though I haven't read your reasons for wanting one over the Python yet...)

The Krait Phantom makes a great explorer btw - I went to Beagle Pt in one

))

Dazza76 · Jul 28, 2020

Susanna said:
Then I wish you well with your Krait! (I'll though I haven't read your reasons for wanting one over the Python yet...)

The Krait Phantom makes a great explorer btw - I went to Beagle Pt in one ))

Mainly agility and cockpit view. Python's next on the list.

NCFCpaul · Jul 28, 2020

Truth of the matter is both are great ships. But you made the right choice!
Fly Dangerous Cmdr!

Darkman Returns · Jul 28, 2020

Episparh said:
That is not true. Npc crew takes share of every earning. If you do not belive me, ditch one in station and go mine something. Check your logs after you sell the goods.

As for killing faster....maybe it is true if you use stock ships. I cannot see difference how fast I shred Npc.

Progressing Npc also rise the amount of money they take even not used.

Yes it was true, read it again.

I was commenting on combat progression, not financial earnings

And isn't the point of a game to have fun, not see how fast you can rank up, or make money, or buy a big ship? It is for me, I don't care that my NPC has earnt 90 million credits, I have had fun and I don't need those credits anyway.

Northpin · Jul 28, 2020

Dazza76 said:
Sounds about what I was expecting. Probably won't make the purchase until I have about £150m ready.

My combat Krait mk2 costs 280 millions credits (with reactive armor, of course)
And it was purchased in LYR space (i'm that cheap so the 15% discount always matters, even tho i had billions in the bank at the time)

photomankc · Jul 28, 2020

Without engineering I doubt I could stomach flying a Python. With engineering an FSD booster and FA off it's a pretty credible ship. "Occam's Razor" has survived gank attacks, all the chain NPC pirates the game throws at it and even some mild bounty hunting though it's not built for that at all. 2 medium beams, 2 large multis, and a rail gun for going at the big guys power plants along with prismatic shields make a pretty good 256T cargo hauler. She was perfect for her original role, taking the 256T my explorer / miner Cutter brought home to get the best prices even on outposts. Now she's a good tritium getter or medium pad mission runner.

Krait MKII is a lot of fun as a bounty hunter but you are taking a hit on cargo capacity so it's okay for mission cargo, but hurts a bit on trade runs.

Dazza76 · Jul 28, 2020

Northpin said:
My combat Krait mk2 costs 280 millions credits (with reactive armor, of course)
And it was purchased in LYR space (i'm that cheap so the 15% discount always matters, even tho i had billions in the bank at the time)

I'll picking one up when I have the cash to buy one with 80-100m left over to kit it out. I don'y have to do it all in one go and having the ship will speed up getting the extra credits needed.

Mrat13 · Jul 28, 2020

photomankc said:
Without engineering I doubt I could stomach flying a Python.

A Python isn't that bad. It does non-combat perfectly fine. You don't need that much agility to do those. It's like motorway driving. And it has better agility than most large pad ships you'd be using for those tasks.

Episparh · Jul 28, 2020

Darkman Returns said:
Yes it was true, read it again.

I was commenting on combat progression, not financial earnings

And isn't the point of a game to have fun, not see how fast you can rank up, or make money, or buy a big ship? It is for me, I don't care that my NPC has earnt 90 million credits, I have had fun and I don't need those credits anyway.

I will put some personal data here for your consideration. I suggest you review it and then re-read your point 1

...

CREW CREDITS EARNED 1,223,753,732 Cr
PROFIT FROM Bounties 130,234,921 Cr
PROFIT FROM COMBAT Bonds 97,224,834 Cr
PROFIT FROM Assassinations 72,512,821 Cr

So if you think it is fair a crew to get 1.2bil from 300mil combat, enjoy your exciting game play with SLF.

EarlSinclair · Jul 28, 2020

Episparh said:
I will put some personal data here for your consideration. I suggest you review it and then re-read your point 1

...

CREW CREDITS EARNED 1,223,753,732 Cr
PROFIT FROM Bounties 130,234,921 Cr
PROFIT FROM COMBAT Bonds 97,224,834 Cr
PROFIT FROM Assassinations 72,512,821 Cr

So if you think it is fair a crew to get 1.2bil from 300mil combat, enjoy your exciting game play with SLF.

It's a bit much i agree. They should change that. Especially if the crew member is siting around doing nothing. But on the other hand. It's not like money is hard to come by in this game.

Episparh · Jul 28, 2020

EarlSinclair said:
It's a bit much i agree. They should change that. Especially if the crew member is siting around doing nothing. But on the other hand. It's not like money is hard to come by in this game.

From some time now I hire whatever NPC I find prior going to combat and after I finish I fire the Orc before claiming combat bonds, bounty vouchers, missions...
Having high ranked NPC is a real /dev/null, not to mention the insurance you need to pay if you die for some reason. And people focused on combat should min/max their gain anyway as combat do not pay much.

Stelar 7 · Jul 28, 2020

As others have said, Python is better at not combat. It's the super station wagon of ED.

Krait2 has better combat hard point layout as well as the SLF and a centerline cockpit. It can have a very respectable combat profile and 64tons of cargo. More if you don't want the fighter.

Krait was my everything ship.

Also, the Krait has a coffee machine, this makes it the finest ship in the game.

Drelthar · Jul 28, 2020

Episparh said:
P.S. ~~Python~~ Krait Mk2 is the King of all ships.

Fixed that typo for you.
No need to thank me.

alexzk · Jul 28, 2020

Episparh said:
From some time now I hire whatever NPC I find prior going to combat and after I finish I fire the Orc before claiming combat bonds, bounty vouchers, missions...
Having high ranked NPC is a real /dev/null, not to mention the insurance you need to pay if you die for some reason. And people focused on combat should min/max their gain anyway as combat do not pay much.

It takes 4-5 months to level Elite pilot for occasional combatant (like 1-2 evenings/week or less). And Elite pilot worse each penny.