...and I'm not sure if I should sell my Cobra. I've grown rather fond of it. And anyway, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the ASP basically a better version of the Cobra? In other words, a general purpose ship? I mostly general purpose, and I want to take it to the next level. Other than for the sake of collecting shinies, is there any reason for me to keep the Cobra? I only have 11 million to spend, so the extra cash would be appreciated...
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Newcomer / Intro About to buy an ASP...
- Thread starter Astarox
- Start date
11 Million?
Keep the Cobra until you have 25-30 million. Buy a T6 if you want to trade and earn the cash faster.
Keep the Cobra until you have 25-30 million. Buy a T6 if you want to trade and earn the cash faster.
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IMO Don't bother with a T6 you will be sorry, I would say get the Asp and trade until you have enough for the Python which is the largest that can still land on outposts.. Then the Anaconda.
25-30mil is a vast overestimate, in my opinion. It all depends on what you want to use your Asp for. Most roles can make do with far less.
For a trading Asp, you want:
- Asp (~5.3 million at Irkutsk station, Alioth)
- A5 FSD (~4.5 million in Li Yong-Rui territory)
- A4 Power Plant (~1.4 million in Li Yong-Rui territory)
- A3 Shields (~430,000 in Li Yong-Rui territory)
- D-grade for all other internals (D-grade is lightest - call it another round million for that, low-end stuff is pretty cheap)
- Lots of cargo bays, plus perhaps one shield cell bank and some weapons and utility items for safety, though this is optional (does let you tussle with AIs quite effectively though - call it yet another round million)
- A fuel scoop (~900.000 for an 3A - not sure if this gets discounted by Li Yong-Rui, so assuming it doesn't)
That comes out to around 14.5 million. Round it up and call it 15 million, and that's your mark for a trading Asp, then add another million for insurance. For your convenience, you can see the build above Here. Note that the listed price there is slightly higher as it doesn't take discounts into account. Short version, once you have 16 million to spare, you're good to go for a decently-kitted Asp, which with its 100t cargo capacity can easily make you the money you need to get it fully A-rated. Even just rare trading, you can get there in a couple days once you have the basic model.
For a trading Asp, you want:
- Asp (~5.3 million at Irkutsk station, Alioth)
- A5 FSD (~4.5 million in Li Yong-Rui territory)
- A4 Power Plant (~1.4 million in Li Yong-Rui territory)
- A3 Shields (~430,000 in Li Yong-Rui territory)
- D-grade for all other internals (D-grade is lightest - call it another round million for that, low-end stuff is pretty cheap)
- Lots of cargo bays, plus perhaps one shield cell bank and some weapons and utility items for safety, though this is optional (does let you tussle with AIs quite effectively though - call it yet another round million)
- A fuel scoop (~900.000 for an 3A - not sure if this gets discounted by Li Yong-Rui, so assuming it doesn't)
That comes out to around 14.5 million. Round it up and call it 15 million, and that's your mark for a trading Asp, then add another million for insurance. For your convenience, you can see the build above Here. Note that the listed price there is slightly higher as it doesn't take discounts into account. Short version, once you have 16 million to spare, you're good to go for a decently-kitted Asp, which with its 100t cargo capacity can easily make you the money you need to get it fully A-rated. Even just rare trading, you can get there in a couple days once you have the basic model.
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An A-rated general purpose Asp will set you back about 20mcr. Sure, you can spend more, on a fuel scoop, for example. However, for trading, scooping is actually a waste of cr/hr - you will make more cash from buying your fuel and using the 8t (class 3) rack for cargo than you will from losing the rack and scooping your fuel. 1000cr/t profit on 8t is far more than you will save from scooping your fuel - about 1500cr per full tank.
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Philip Coutts
Volunteer Moderator
For me it depends on what you want to do with the Asp? If it's for trading you don't need to A rate the whole ship, you can get away with cheaper alternatives for a lot of the modules. The Asp is often described as the Cobra's big brother and it's a great ship for exploring and trading.
same for me. but you'll maybe come back to it at some later point, like i did. the cobra is exceptional good at speed and it's the best smuggling ship. the asp is the best explorer. so even if you are a "multi-purpose"-player, and flying, let's say, a python, those two ships have always their place in game.
for now i'll say: the asp is the next logical progress, and you'll win a lot (cargo space, jumprange, utility points) and not loose anything. sell your cobra, upgrade your asp, blaze your trail - and repurchase a cobra at some point later.
Why do you assume that? Li yong-Rui's controlled systems provide a stable -15% discount on ALL outfittings, weapons included, and obviously fuel scoops. His systems are therefore the best in the galaxy to fully equip your ships at a huge discount, much appreciated when modules you're looking for cost several millions. Go to Lembava (Li Yong-Rui's stronghold) or Pikum/Aasgananu (best selection of parts available) to equip your ship. As a note, ships are also discounted at -15% there, so your 6M ASP actually costs about 5.2M there (don't have the accurate price at hand, sorry).
/!\ Beware however, if you're going for a trading ASP, it seems that Edmund Mahon's systems offer better prices for hull and cargo upgrades (-20%, vs Li's -15%). So if you want to spare some extra cash, you might want to consider buying everything except cargo and hull parts at Pikum then head to Mahon's stronghold for the final outfitting.
This is the only case where Li Yong-Rui's beaten in discount rates; for everything else, his systems are THE place to go to spare huge loads of cash in outfittings. It's our secret, don't tell anybody I told it to you
Edit
@Carradin: prices vary very much depending of what you want to do with the ship; however, Astarox is right in his estimations as I calculated that a fully upgraded ASP designed for combat could be as expensive as 40+M (insurance not included). So, depending on your ship orientation, this ASP could cost between ~25M (trading) to ~43M (100% combat), with a middle average of 30-35M for a pirate/smuggling ASP... However, don't hurry upgrading everything from the start Astarox, upgrade your ship progressively if you buy it. But in Any case, never buy a ship you couldn't pay the insurance for.
I was also considering buying an Asp as a replacement for my Cobra, but the latter suits me so far so I decided to spare my money and go for the Python straight. When I reach my Tier 5 allegiance with Li Yong-Rui, I'll be earning a solid 50M/week, which would allow me to buy (56M) AND fully upgrade (200M) a Python within 5 weeks' time... Consider joining a Power in PP if you've not done it so far, could help you a lot
Edit 2
Here's a simulation of a basic trading ASP:
http://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/25A5D5A4D4A5D5C0s0s2424242400030204050402402t0101.Iw18WQ==.Aw18WQ==
You can get rid of the Military grade hull to save money, but the rest is the basics, and as you see, even with a very inefficient fuel scoop like this one your ASP costs around 22-25M (the price provided for the ship is biased, and I count Li's -15% discount). IMO, the ASP is not very well suited as a multi-purpose ship, more of a decent pirate/smuggling ship if you outfit it with a hatch breaker and a cargo scanner at the expense of some cargo space, but it's not the best ship for trading and the Cobra handles piracy missions better (lower profile, lower heat signature, much faster to smuggle in or evade conflict). I'd stick with the Cobra if I were you and would start saving for the Python.
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I parked my Cobra when I got my Asp, mainly due to sentimentality. I had around 25 million when I bought it, and spent around 20 buying the ship and outfitting her for exploration. When I got back from an expedition I set her up for combat using the profits. I would say, keep the Cobra until you're sure you won't use it again. Or strip down her more valuable modules for cash, keep the hull (if emotionally attached) and re-equip her when you have more money.
Definitely get the Asp in the Alioth System's Irkutsk station, it's 20% off there.
Definitely get the Asp in the Alioth System's Irkutsk station, it's 20% off there.
Asp is a great allrounder with good cargo capacity and jump range. Not great in combat but it can do. Also great for exploration. And yes, for your general purpose equipment go to Li Yong-Rui. Tell him I sent you and you'll get a 15% discount on EVERYTHING.
Yes, combat wise it's good on paper - good hardpoint placement, lots of firepower, decent power plant and internals. It definitely performs well enough, but for some reason I just can't shake the feeling of flying a space bus. A well armed space bus to be sure, but still a bus. I think I'll probably set her back up for exploration and use her just for that - she's really good at it.
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...beaten by the Diamondback Explorer, which is also much cheaper. Actually, I don't really see the point of buying an Asp: it's huge, hard to miss, poorly shielded, not very manoeuvrable from what I could see, and OK at best in most roles without being excellent in any of them. Of course, it might suit those who want to stick with a single ship in their garage for the different missions they might take (but would have trouble completing them correctly, especially the toughest combat and assassination missions), but I'd rather advise to have a few different ships excellent in one specific role than a single good-for-everything-good-at-nothing space truck. I run a Cobra for piracy and smuggling, a Type 6 for transport and trading, a Vulture and a Scout (heading towards the Courier atm) for combat, and an Explorer for exploration. It does cost a couple of credits to buy and outfit all of these ships, but it's worth the investment imo. Ultimately, I'll be heading for the Python which will advantageously replace all at once the Vulture and the Scout (being a better fighter with loads of guns and at least a DECENT generator, unlike that *:;!:,!:,?§/?§/, Vulture sh*t, goddam I hate this ship), the T6 (better cargo and can land on small pads) and maybe the Cobra (better pirate ship - I'll keep the Courier though in my collection). And I'll end up purchasing the mighty Anaconda.
In a nutshell, my advice is to start the game with a number of specialized ships until you eventually manage to replace all of them at once with a Python, which at a second thought is not that expensive for the impressive jack-of-all-trades aspect and power it provides.
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Same. Just strip out the expensive modules and leave her parked. Once I've named a ship, I could never sell her. We've been through too much together.
I wouldn't actually call that basic. If you look at the one I linked in my post (Link), you'll see it's almost 10 million cheaper while still retaining passable combat capability. The savings mostly come from dropping down to a 4A power plant (which is both lighter and more powerful than a 5D. You don't need a 5A power plant for trading) and getting rid of the armor. It includes a shield cell bank for extra survivability to make up for the lack of armor, which does drop the cargo capacity a little... but it is still over 100t, and can still defend itself against AIs.
I agree, your outfitting is fine indeed. However, as you say it yourself, it's more than enough to defend yourself against AI interceptions, but does definitely not stand a chance both against human players (whatever the situation) and in the context of combat missions against pirates (not to even mention pirate lords) and assassinations. Which confirms that this ship is an OK trader and a good explorer, but not even close of a fighter*** and therefore doesn't really match the "jack-of-all-trades" criteria.
Actually, the Cobra fits this role better because, in spite of its lack of firepower and cargo as compared to the Asp, it has a much lower profile and its WAY faster, which at least would allow you to run away from most dangerous situations if you found yourself trapped and outnumbered - something the Asp cannot do.
This is why, even if the author of this thread badly wants an Asp, he definitely should at least keep his Cobra at hand, because it's better suited for some missions the Asp couldn't manage well enough. I'd still suggest investing in a Diamondback Scout - an extremely manoeuvrable, fast and well armed little ship which only lacks a good shield to really shine - or a Courier (which features an OP shield, even better than the Vulture, and a nice decent fire power) for pure combat missions, and limit the Cobra and the Asp to all of the other roles - trading, exploration, smuggling and mining.
*** I should remind you that, if I'm not mistaken, the ASP is manufactured by Zorgon Peterson, a notorious trading ships builder, author of the Types Series (6, 7, 9) and the Adder. The Asp clearly shared the same DNA, i.e. it's little more than a better armed, slightly more agile Type 6...
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Only partly right, but for the important part. The manufacturer is Lakon, and not Zorgon Peterson, which is the creator of the Adder and the Hauler, but not the Type 6-7-9, which is Lakon, like for the ASP.
Excellent points about the Cobra. I couldn't agree more.
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My bad, I also thought I might be mistaking something... But the Asp is indeed the "bodybuilded son" of the Lakon trading ships' family.
And yes, I didn't use the Cobra for a while now but started using it again lately and the more I fly in it, the more it surprises me and the more I like it... It's a marvel of a little versatile ship. And an affordable one on top of the rest, as you can purchase it quite soon after starting the game and outfit it to the max for a reasonnable price... Definitely one of the very best early ships in the game, and one most players will keep even after acquiring heavier ships.
And yes, I didn't use the Cobra for a while now but started using it again lately and the more I fly in it, the more it surprises me and the more I like it... It's a marvel of a little versatile ship. And an affordable one on top of the rest, as you can purchase it quite soon after starting the game and outfit it to the max for a reasonnable price... Definitely one of the very best early ships in the game, and one most players will keep even after acquiring heavier ships.
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My bad, I also thought I might be mistaking something... But the Asp is indeed the "bodybuilded son" of the Lakon trading ships' family.
And yes, I didn't use the Cobra for a while now but started using it again lately and the more I fly in it, the more it surprises me and the more I like it... It's a marvel of a little versatile ship. And an affordable one on top of the rest, as you can purchase it quite soon after starting the game and outfit it to the max for a reasonnable price... Definitely one of the very best early ships in the game, and one most players will keep even after acquiring heavier ships.
I'm babysitting 10 millions just because I don't want to get of my Cobra... I know I should buy a T6 to do some "serious" rare trading and get more money, but still, I can't find myself able to get off that beauty. I love that little, FAST ship... actually seeing the docking computer doing 2-3 boosts around the station with the Cobra is something really really funny