Newcomer / Intro Advice on Eagle combat build with limited funds :)

[Aelemar]

Hey guys, just got myself a brand new Eagle ship, and I was wondering: to do some bounty hunting missions (and get some combat practice)

What build would you guys recommend? Right now my budget is 220k credits, which isn't really a lot But hmm, could use a break from exploring and whatnot.

Any advice or ideas is greatly appreciated!

Also, I am on Veach Hub (or something like that). What system would you guys recommend for a newbie like me to go to?

Lastly, I haven't dipped my feet in Open mode yet, but would love to. Anyone feels like teaming up?

Thanks!

 

[the100thmonkey]

Try this. You'll need to set your FSD and cargo hatch to priority 2 in the modules menu (right hand UI panel) so that your ship doesn't turn itself off when you deploy hardpoints.

Get your ship into a RES and go bounty-hunting. In a couple of hours, you should be able to afford some proper upgrades. You really need an A grade shield and A grade thrusters as well as an A grade power plant to get the most out of the Eagle - its hull is made of paper, so get rid of that D class shield at the first available opportunity.

And ALWAYS keep 5% ofthe cost of the ship to cover the insurance excess.

 

[Frohike]

I got a small question:
You say that he should upgrade his Thrusters even beyond Type C, but is there any advantage of a better thruster even IF your ship mass is lower than the optimal mass of the thruster?

 

[adoredtv]

I got a small question:
You say that he should upgrade his Thrusters even beyond Type C, but is there any advantage of a better thruster even IF your ship mass is lower than the optimal mass of the thruster?

Yes, better thrusters are always better for both manoeuvrability and top speed.

 

[Undecided]

Going over optimal mass also improves the functionality of shields and FSDs

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

To be a little more conservative with your funds, you can try this build which makes use of the fixed pulse lasers the Eagle comes with:

[Low Budget Lightweight Eagle]

S: 1F/F Pulse Laser
S: 1F/F Pulse Laser
S: 1F/F Pulse Laser
U: 0E Kill Warrant Scanner

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 2D Power Plant
TM: 3D Thrusters
FH: 3D Frame Shift Drive (Priority 2) > 11 ly jump range
EC: 1D Life Support
PC: 2D Power Distributor
SS: 2D Sensors
FS: 2C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 4)

3: 3D Shield Generator
2: 2D Hull Reinforcement Package
1: 1D Frame Shift Drive Interdictor (Priority 2)

Also: Cargo Hatch deactivated

This build costs ~180k credits, rebuy is ~9k.

If you feel you need better weaponry and want to go gimballed because you are horrible at aiming like me you can up your power plant to C level and use a single spine-mounted gimballed burst laser and two bottom mounted gimballed multicannons. This will bring your cost up to just under 220k and your rebuy to 11k. You won't have to prioritize modules then.

 

[Aelemar]

Thank you very much for all your suggestions guys, definitely going to give them a try. Sorry for being a newb, what is an RES? And how do I find one. Lol

Thanks!

 

[adoredtv]

Thank you very much for all your suggestions guys, definitely going to give them a try. Sorry for being a newb, what is an RES? And how do I find one. Lol

Thanks!

They are mostly around gas giants with rings. Get yourself a KWS for the Eagle and head in there. You should be able to make a lot if you just jump into the right fights vs NPCs who are already in battle. Use Gimbals and target their power plants - especially easy to destroy unshielded targets that way even in an Eagle I'd say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featu...EWPPZZrH3GBG95wJkG4V1OqWx&v=52YW4B5K2_Y#t=649

 

[Aelemar]

Well, just tried the "budget" build recommended by InMemoriamSirocco (Thanks!) and also a few elements from the 100th monkey (about 215k?) and did a couple RSEs. Hmm, in one, it was too easy, got a 10k cr in no time. The other, had an Anaconda. While I had to use 1 shield cell, I lowered its power plant to 50%... then it frameshifted away.... XD

Any more suggestions are welcome. Thank you everyone!

 

[adoredtv]

Stick with it, you'll pick up some (really) big money eventually. You only need to hit a ship 10s before it dies and you'll pick up tens or hundreds of thousands.

 

[Chrisfs]

And ALWAYS keep 5% ofthe cost of the ship to cover the insurance excess.

Yes and No. You automatically get up to a 600,000cr loan when your ship is destroyed, so you really only need money on hand if your ship is worth more than 600,000 cr. Otherwise, you are much better off investing that money into parts or goods for trading.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Yes and No. You automatically get up to a 600,000cr loan when your ship is destroyed, so you really only need money on hand if your ship is worth more than 600,000 cr. Otherwise, you are much better off investing that money into parts or goods for trading.

It's gone up then. In which case, I agree - that amount o money is far better invested in parts.

Shame that.

 

[Aelemar]

Hey guys, well, got some good combat practice today So far, got into some RES, and have fought a couple Anacondas, an Imperial Clipper and other smaller stuff... I have a long way to go in my piloting, but well, practice makes perfect.

I was pretty happy when one of those Anacondas paid up 180k XD.

Anyway, been slowly upgrading some parts, since today's few battles netted me a humble 400k or so

Thank you all so much for all your advice! What other weapons would you recommend? I am using Pulse Laser on my top hardpoint, and gimballed multicannons on the bottoms ones (laser for shields, cannons for armor).

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

I would upgrade the top laser to a gimballed burst laser, not a beam laser.

Beam laser does more damage per second, but increases the risk of friendly fire tenfold at least! A burst laser gives you the ability to apply trigger discipline but at the same time increases your damage output and has decent hull penetration capabilities, too.

The most expensive Eagle build I ever flew was equipped like this:

S: 1G/G Burst Laser
S: 1G/G Multi-cannon
S: 1G/T Multi-cannon
U: 0D Kill Warrant Scanner (2.5 km range, 10 sec scan)

BH: 1I Mirrored Surface Composite (projectiles can be avoided, tracking lasers can't)
RB: 2A Power Plant
TM: 3A Thrusters
FH: 3A Frame Shift Drive (15-16 ly range) - Module priority 2
EC: 1C Life Support (10 min emergency oxygen supply)
PC: 2A Power Distributor
SS: 2C Sensors (5 km range)
FS: 2C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 4)

3: 3A Shield Generator
2: 2D Hull Reinforcement Package
1: 1A Frame Shift Drive Interdictor - Module priority 2

With cargo hatch deactivated manually, this thing can fly and fight despite being over the power limit.

Shield Cells are not possible with this build, though... you'll have to rely on your skills to avoid getting hit.

You need 3.1 million for this Eagle and a rebuy of 155k

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The thing is, though.... if you come to a point where you have enough money to build an A-grade Eagle, you might as well switch to a Viper for bountyhunting:

[Viper Bountyhunter]

M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
S: 1E/G Cannon
S: 1E/G Cannon
U: 0I Chaff Launcher
U: 0D Kill Warrant Scanner (2.5 km range, 10 sec scan)

BH: 1I Military Grade Composite (equally good against any damage)
RB: 3A Power Plant
TM: 3A Thrusters
FH: 3A Frame Shift Drive (12 ly range) - Module Priority 2
EC: 2C Life Support (10 min emergency oxygen supply)
PC: 3A Power Distributor
SS: 3C Sensors (5 km range)
FS: 2C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 4)

3: 3B Shield Cell Bank (5 cells rate C)
3: 3A Shield Generator
2: 2A Fuel Scoop - Module Priority 2
1: 1A Frame Shift Drive Interdictor - Module priority 2

Deactivate Cargo Hatch again and you have a very capable combat craft.

You just need 4 million and 200k in the bank as rebuy compensation for this.

 

[Aelemar]

Thank you very much Sirocco

Well, a couple of those parts I already upgraded (right off the top of my head, I have the power plant and the power distributor), since well, hmm... my weapons were going wonky with the previous setup (or whatever that means, not enough power).

When I get home, I'll fit as much of these as I can in my current budget, and do some more hunting to get more.

As for the Viper hmm, for that money, yes, I could totally buy one. But to be honest, I am a bit in love with the incredibly maneuverability of the Eagle. I might still upgrade the Eagle fully, then take my time to build on that Viper.

Thank you very much!