An honest review of the Imperial Clipper

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I got the clipper, and oh boy was it worth the grind. There are a few downsides, but those are down below

If you can't be bothered to read below, let me say this:
It's a multi purpose ship - trader, miner, explorer, fighter - you name it. If you like that, you'll like this.

Manoeuvrability:

At an impressive too speed and an exhillerating boost speed, this ship can reach up to 412 m/s with modules and weapons! Acceleration and deceleration speed are pretty good for a large ship. On paper, the manoeuvrability of the Clipper is pretty bad. This may be due to its slightly weak thrust vectoring from side to side. This is considered a major downside and drastically reduces its combat manoeuvrability.

As for turning, the clipper is pretty good at it. At boost speeds it is possible to turn nearly as fast as a cobra MK3. In its blue zone, it can turn nearly as fast. All in all, at a combat point of view this ship should always be able to aim at the target. Overall - 7/10

Offence:

With two large and two medium hardpoints, the clipper has more than enough firepower to hunt in Haz-Res sites. In fact, due to its surprisingly good manoeuvrability, it can take down a 'conda in under 39 seconds (tested with 2 large pulse lasers and 2 medium multi cannons, all gimballed). The engine nacelle hardpoints also optimise for dumb fire missile placement with good coverage. The weapons are good especially for a multirole ship of its type. 9/10 for the weapons (taking in mind ship size, cost and type)

Jump range:
The overall jump range at a bare minimum (grade a FSD, nothing else equipped) can hit the late 20s. With a large cargo hold, trading is definitely an option. Mining works too! The only letdown is the massive fuel usage. I need 64 tons of fuel (using a size 6 internal slot!) To maintain a nice robigo run, having to only scoop once. 6/10 for the FSD

Hardpoint placement:
The hardpoints on the Clipper are pretty badly placed. Using the engine nacelles as pulse lasers and the underbelly for multi cannons, you DEFINITELY need gimballed or turreted weapons. The hardpoints are able to converge and also target in a widespread fashion. Unfortunately, the hardpoints on the nacelles are a massive letdown for mining. 5/10 for hardpoints because its hard to use PAs on the large hardpoints.

Defence:

At a low shield strength and hull strength for its size, it IS able to fit a type 7 shield generator. This, however, requires some good thrusters otherwise the mass is too much. The 7a shield generator uses a lot of power. I have not yet tested this with the better shield generator (the uh... Can't remember the name)
As for the hull, that's not too bad either. It can take a reasonable beating and the modules are hidden partly by the engine struts. 6.5/10 for defence.

Mass:

Going to be brief on this one; the mass is alright. I would not recommend landing on high-g planets without protection or you may become splatted all over the new settlement's paint!

Cargo and fuel:

You are able to fit a nice amount of fuel and cargo, whilst balancing out the FSD. This is very customizeable so I won't rate it.
Internal compartments:

Not too good here. There is no (please confirm) type 5 internal slot, and 3 type 4s. This means a fuel scoop will have to be equipped to a type four and a shield cell bank on a 4/3. HRPs will need to be few on the clipper. Hopefully the hardpoints make up for that. 6/10 for internal.

Cost: at a budget of 120 million, the clipper can be fitted up to nearly grade A! The ship itself can be bought at a discount from kamito (15% off, out of stock as of current) or Hiyya Station? (15% off, in stock)
Cost is a solid 9/10 from me! The grind to get the rank to buy the ship should also cover the cost of the ship and the outfitting (HIP 10716, CTP and PR missions, needs horizons)

That's all I could put now. Overall, I give the ship a solid 8 for being good at its role - multirole. It can't excel in everything, but it certainly packs more than it seems under its luscious hull.
 
Also: the ship to get after the clipper is certainly the python if you are more combat based. Apparently that's a really nice fly, manouvreable and powerful!
 
Its a great ship, but a major negative point is for me the poor hardpoint placement of the C3 points. Maybe good for dumbfires (but essentially any ship can clear a base in seconds anyway), but horrible for fixed weapons of any kind. :(
 
A rate all power and engine related systems. You can boost up to 430m/s and it will dance like a leaf in the wind.
 
Best dogfighter in the game at the moment. Let down by weakish shields (but can be fixed if you have time and cash with 7 prismatic) and no outpost landing.

A Python is a downgrade in terms of combat - due to its poor agility, the amount of time it can bring its superior firepower to bear is a lot shorter, so less dps. And you cannot outturn anything other than a brick class opponent (conda, cutter, gunship etc) so you need to waste time recharging shields from inevitable damage (a Clipper can avoid damage altogether if it stays close, something the Python has no option to do).
 
Clipper is the safest ship to use in open. You can easily run away from combat ships or the big 3 when you get in trouble. Also probably the best pirate ship as you can catch everyone and it has good mass lock. You will however be forced to use gimbal/turret weapons, which is probably its biggest weakness, since you wont be very effective vs anyone using chaff and almost everyone equips chaff.
 
keep in mind that this is a multipurpose, the size 7 internal is great for cargo.

Having small shields doesnt stop much, it's drives and FSD are extremely hard to snipe out if it's running, as a ship that can run at like 430m/s you arent going to catch it very easily.

SCB's in the class 3 slot is less than optimal. When the FDL was released the clipper got outclassed in terms of combat, and doesnt really match well with it's hardpoints placement for fighting.

Trader, sure.
combat, nah.
 
Worth noting it's large size is a major drawback to it's multipurpose functionality, restricting it's ability to go to outposts, which is not am issue for the python.
 
The Clipper is great!
It's the Cobra Mk III's big brother. :)
Or sister, if you like. :)
Unfortunately, there are no good paint jobs available for the Clipper.
 
The Clipper is great!
It's the Cobra Mk III's big brother. :)
Or sister, if you like. :)
Unfortunately, there are no good paint jobs available for the Clipper.
I brought the tactical pack for the black paint job, about a week before they announced the Black Friday stuff. Dose look good though.
 
The only thing I don't like in a Clipper is the wide-set wing mounts - you're forced to use gimbals or turrets for them if you want to hit with both weapons (and if target is really close, one or the other will still miss, gimbal/turret/or-otherwise). Certain you can fly with one-side fixed, the other gimbal, but it makes you predictable in pvp...

Other than that, I love the ship. It certain has a whole lot of drift (which makes for the perceived 2/10 manouverability), but it spins on a dime if you want it to do so. FA-off is, IMO, the best way to fly that ship - FA-on you have the drift to fight against too much.
 
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Best dogfighter in the game at the moment. Let down by weakish shields (but can be fixed if you have time and cash with 7 prismatic) and no outpost landing.

A Python is a downgrade in terms of combat - due to its poor agility, the amount of time it can bring its superior firepower to bear is a lot shorter, so less dps. And you cannot outturn anything other than a brick class opponent (conda, cutter, gunship etc) so you need to waste time recharging shields from inevitable damage (a Clipper can avoid damage altogether if it stays close, something the Python has no option to do).

The agility of the python can be compensated by better lateral and vertical thrust.
The python handles well when you play on the thruster's strength: acceleration.
The top speed of the clipper however is a really sweet bargain,
yet the size and restriction to large pads, as stated before is to me a nogo.

Firepower with fixed weapons might be a bit restricted due to agility (pitch/yaw/roll) yet gimbals are a really good choice
on the python, it packs more punch, too.
 
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I brought the tactical pack for the black paint job, about a week before they announced the Black Friday stuff. Dose look good though.
Oh, I have all 3 available paint packs for the Clipper.
And they're not bad.
But they're not tasty either.
Those plain color paint packs are so simple it's close to fraud to take money for them. :D

Take, for example, the Cobra Mk III.
There you have several paint jobs that are tasty and sexy!
I want paint jobs like that for my Clipper.
They should put out tasty paint jobs for ALL the ships.
 
I bought my Clipper when the ranking was relaxed, and haven't found another ship I love as much as this, it is such a joy to fly!

Sure as a PvP fighting ship it probably has too many downsides. However, against NPCs, the only time I am slightly concerned is being interdicted by another Clipper; but now I'm fully A-rated it's rare that they can match me, so if they have weaker shields I will win.

HARDPOINTS: Probably the thing that causes most upset for players, is the nacelle placement. It does mean you HAVE to rely on gimballed/turretted weapons. BUT you don't need to fit exclusively gimballs/turrets. After playing around with it, I have settled on gimballs/turrets on the right, and fixed on the left. This works superbly. In the first stages of a fight, while I am trying to get my nose pointed at my opponent, I spin the ship in such a way that the right hand side is facing the NPC while I bring the left round. While I am manourvering, my large Beam laser on the top right is bringing his shields down significantly. Chaff is no so much of a problem so long as thy are running and chaffing, you can just keep a bead on them till the chaff is over. And even while the chaff is flying you can still get the turret beam to hit by weaving the ship as the beam tries to lock, hitting his ship on each pass. While doing this, I am also rotating the ship to bring my fixed beam from the top left nacelle, to join the turret beam. By now, I am either chasing him down through chaff, or have a bead on him and his shields wont last long once I have three lasers covering him. Then a multi cannon is on the lower left nacelle for the hull shredding.

This method has become second nature to me now, so that I automatically turn to bring my right-upper to bear first, then bring the ship round to bring the fixed beams on.

One of the best things with the Clipper is its ability to get out of trouble faster than it got into it! If there is a long run in to a station, you can go and make tea cos no one can catch you to interdict you until you've slowed down for the station.

Mining is only a small bit of a pain, but they don't have to hit the same spot, just the asteroid. It becomes an issues for very small rocks if are you very close, otherwise it's just a different technique but I find it totally acceptable for mining.

The Clippers biggest asset is also is biggest drawback. It is a jack of all trades, master of non. For every role there is a ship that does it better (except in a general role, perhaps a Python).

Being unable to land at outposts is a pain but I guess it is a necessary part of balancing, otherwise it would be too good. I had to swap into a T6 or a Python for CGs at Outposts.

It also looks absolutely fantastic, and with the skins for it, it is a beaut!

I adore my (Orange) Clipper, and it has been my day-to-day ship since the day I bought it, I only use other ships if it is absolutely necessary to do so!
 
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The Imperial Clipper is an excellent ship as long as you don't give it too much of a burden. I do think the type title of "Heavy Multipurpose" is legit because there can be situations when it outperforms ships that are dedicated for one purpose only. To me the Imperial Clipper is a perfect vessel to go on say a quick neighbor-system visit and hunt down some specific targets (Powerplay for example) I often complete random tasks that I just find fit perfect for Clipper only as it's so versatile with custom loadouts.

Despite it's weak shields and bad hardpoint placement, I think the Clipper does it's job pretty well with gimballed weapons, but only as long as your target is not using chaff or silent run. Using a single fixed hardpoint on Clipper is absolutely miserable. Every time when I can use 4 gimballed cannons on targets that don't spam chaff constantly it's really a blast to fly.

I admit I have bought, sold and bought again the Imperial Clipper probably more than any other ship because of how bad it performs in PVP combat vs. specific targets, but other than that not much to add.

Oh, probably the best engine sounds in Elite goes to Clipper! [smile]
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
The Clipper has been my primary ship for a long time. Love it.

Sounds great, too.
 
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