Advice on combat Asp Explorer

Maca07166 · Jul 3, 2016

Hi guys I just started playing ED again a couple of weeks ago up until now I was working towards getting out of my type 6 and into an ASP well I got that and I've fitted the asp out with decent components such as 5A rated thrusters/FSD/power plant etc.

What I want is to fit the ASP with a weapon load out so I can start doing some combat but also trade at the same time if I fancy doing a rare run.

Any tips/builds would be appreciated.

Community on this forum/game is awesome btw

goemon · Jul 3, 2016

my advice - don't fit an AspE Explorer for combat. you'll be better off with purchasing a small combat ship (viper, dbs ...), which will cost you less than the necessary upgrades, and will be more capable of combat. AspE Explorer has a huge hitbox and weak shields - it has a good a punch and a reasonable powerdistributor, though - and good hardpoint placements.

- internals. you want shield cell banks. problem of AspE is size of internals. 6A shield is very expensive and doesn't make it strong (class 5 is only 10% weaker and less weight), but you want either a 5A scb on your AspE, or 2-3 (!) class 3. this will cut the multipurpose/cargo capacity ... see above.

- weapons. if you are good with fixed weapons, 3 small railguns for stripping shields, or 1 or 2 medium railguns are devastating.

- assuming you are not good with fixed weapons, 3 small beams (put a turrett into the belly hardpoint) for stripping shields very fast, combined with seeker missiles and multicannons are great, too.

- AspE likes to be kept lightweight.

fly safe!

WOLFx288 · Jul 3, 2016

To be honest, can't help you much with the asp, the only times I flew one was just as a taxi between two of my ships.
That said, you'll want the best possible thrusters to increase its agility and an A rated power distributor. From there, trial and error, till you find a loadout you like

3Wood · Jul 3, 2016

Combat in an Asp? Don't.

Maca07166 · Jul 3, 2016

I read that an asp is a good multi role ship that's why I thought it would be ok for a combat role?

Guess I'll go for a viper then? I have about 6mill to spend on a new ship/outfit

3Wood · Jul 3, 2016

The multi role ships are good all-rounders except combat. For combat you need to go for a dedicated combat ship. Most players have at least two ships: one multi role / trading and one for combat / bounty hunting.

goemon · Jul 3, 2016

Maca07166 said:
I read that an asp is a good multi role ship that's why I thought it would be ok for a combat role?

Guess I'll go for a viper then? I have about 6mill to spend on a new ship/outfit

there is a difference between "ok for a combat role" and using it for combat.

i can take my AspE into a conflict zones, if i need a single kill (for some mission), or if i need to do a low-level assassination mission. aspE can do it. but if you plan, for exampel, to go bounty hunting in a RES - there are better, cheaper ships for that.

with 6 mio i'd either give a viper mk III (if you plan to use it around some base), a viper Mk IV (more tanky, bit of cargo and more jumprange) or a diamonback scout (good jumprange, fast, manouverable, very good hardpoint placement - less shields) a chance.

btw.: AspE is an awesome ship. basically you only need an AspE + a combat ship for everything ED.

Hea7hen · Jul 3, 2016

If your willing to invest some time into your Asp you can make it a competent multirole fighting machine. My Asp is capable of taking on and beating all NPC levels & ships. Having said that, I have spent a lot of time getting it spec'ed the way I want it - Prismatic shields, engineered thrusters, Power plant, Armour, FSD & Distributor.

The weapons I use are 2 small pulses & 4 missiles, all weapons with Engineer upgrades. It packs a punch and can be used for various other jobs. A true multirole.

AlexLar · Jul 3, 2016

Repd goemon for helpful, constructive advice. As an AspE flyer of many months, I run more than fight (though have won a fair few with Police Viper assistance lol).

Maca07166, have a look at the Forums specific for ship load outs, setups. There's a section for every ship. Don't make the mistake I did for months and only follow the Xbox section of the forums. There is a wealth of information on all sorts of topics which are cross platform relevant. Use it, I'm beginning to and finding it very helpfull.

Can't leave my Asp though.......just can't do it. Attachment is a terrible thing, explored, saved me a score of times, made me a fair few million....just can't let go though know I should if I ever want to bounty hunt now we have sensible (isn) AI.

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Hea7hen, doesn't reloading the missiles really hurt financially? Would you be king enough to outline the missile load out so I can consider this combat set-up for my use? I've not come across prismatic shields? You appear to have given me an excuse never to leave my beloved Asp........please expand.

Many thanks

goemon · Jul 3, 2016

AlexLar said:
Hea7hen, doesn't reloading the missiles really hurt financially? Would you be king enough to outline the missile load out so I can consider this combat set-up for my use? I've not come across prismatic shields? You appear to have given me an excuse never to leave my beloved Asp........please expand.

Many thanks

- prismatic shields are a powerplay modul, you need to be pledged for some weeks and get into rank § (i think) to get it.

- missiles aren't that expensive. i run two racks on my cutter, and two racks on my cobra (which i'm attached to like you to your aspE). don' really feel a difference in terms of income - mission rewards have gone up massivly, and because missiles kill fast, you won't get expensive repair bills.

Maca07166 · Jul 3, 2016

Guys I appreciate your help as usual this community is really friendly and helpful.

Think I'll go for a viper and have a look at builds.

AlexLar · Jul 3, 2016

Cheers goeman.

Hea7hen · Jul 3, 2016

goemon said:
- prismatic shields are a powerplay modul, you need to be pledged for some weeks and get into rank § (i think) to get it.

- missiles aren't that expensive. i run two racks on my cutter, and two racks on my cobra (which i'm attached to like you to your aspE). don' really feel a difference in terms of income - mission rewards have gone up massivly, and because missiles kill fast, you won't get expensive repair bills.

...also you can now reload your missiles inflight using materials. Fortunately the restock materials are common ones that you can stockpile fairly quicky.

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AlexLar said:
Hea7hen, doesn't reloading the missiles really hurt financially? Would you be king enough to outline the missile load out so I can consider this combat set-up for my use? I've not come across prismatic shields? You appear to have given me an excuse never to leave my beloved Asp........please expand.

Many thanks

I have 4 banks of missiles, 2 on small hardpoints, 2 on medium. they have sturdy mount engineer upgrades with experimental overload and thermal cascade mods.

bikertox · Jul 3, 2016

I can hold my own in combat with my aspx as long as they aren't a wing of deadlies or a high level single in a true combat ship e.g. vulture or fas. But to the op I have had success with 4 class 1 gimballed pulses to bring down the shields, and 2 class 2 gimballed multi cannons to crack the armor.

The aspx is generalist, it is good at everything, great at nothing.

BulletTrev · Nov 21, 2016

Hi all , just thought I would necro' this thread as I am gaining favour / rep' with The Blue Mafia faction
with the aim towards gaining access to the Engineer who can upgrade Missiles. Was flying missions till gone 0100 GMT this morning transporting refugees ala' Han solo stylie !
Anyways I will post results of modded missiles if / when I get 'em.

Cmdr Bullet' out.

DustyArne · Nov 21, 2016

So a Munkie just necro'd a thread..

My internet can be turned off for today... i've seen it all now..

Keep us posted

Imo · Nov 21, 2016

I fitted as many A-rated parts into my ASP Explorer as possible. A prismatic shield generator, four A0 shield boosters and 6 gimballed multi-cannons. As already mentioned before you can of course take it into a conflict zone or go bounty hunting! By using all multi-cannons I have a bit more power left for pips on sys to strenghen my shields! I flew the ASP Explorer as a combat vessel until I became deadly. Then I switched to the Python. [hehe]

My ASP Explorer in the conflict zone:
[video=youtube;5PLykmkGCUE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLykmkGCUE[/video]

My ASP Explorer bounty hunting:
[video=youtube;HKf_T0JIAiI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKf_T0JIAiI[/video]

who? · Nov 21, 2016

A well-engineered AspE is faster and more agile than most craft pre-Engineers. It packs a decent punch too. But for anyone working your way up the ship scale, it's a costly replacement if destroyed. Probably a Cobra or DBS would do the combat side of multi-role better, and cheaper.

Roasted1982 · Nov 21, 2016

3Wood said:
The multi role ships are good all-rounders except combat. For combat you need to go for a dedicated combat ship. Most players have at least two ships: one multi role / trading and one for combat / bounty hunting.

I wouldn't go that far. One word.......Python. You can also add Anaconda to that list.

LostLegend · Nov 21, 2016

I was using my Asp to bounty hunt way before any of these fancy schmancy engineers were about.

While not a dedicated combat craft, it can more than hold its own in a fight.
Fit all multicannons and use it as a bullet hose! [big grin]