Powerplay Faction: Zachary Hudson Anaconda, Cutter, or Corvette?

Hello all:

Looking ahead in a few weeks on what would be better to have: a Corvette with superior firepower or an Anaconda with the ability to have a fighter (soon, hopefully) and good jump range.

The Cutter is not an option for me (yet), but was wondering if anyone has flown one and can make a comparison to the others and, which one of these three handles the best with Class A thrusters? (not sure of the other factors aside from weight)

I wish ED included specs on roll, pitch, lateral, vertical movement speeds, as these seem to be different even if their "maneuverability" specs are identical. (case in point: the FDL shows the same amount of pips as the Python, but the Python is slower to turn)
 
Anaconda - Best jump range, best explorer, poorer cargo than the other two, less hit points than the other two in combat but a class 8 distributor and has the best hard point placement..
Cutter - Best trader in the game, best miner in the game, medium jump range, poor maneuverability but makes a very tanky PVP turret ship if filled with SCBs, only a class 7 distributor, fast so makes a pretty good pirate ship..
Corvette - Worst jump range, slowest speed, most maneuverable, almost as tanky as the cutter with regards to shields, class 8 distributor so excellent fire power

The Cutter/Corvette are both popular PVP ships, the Conda isn't quite in the same class because it can't pack size 7/8 SCBs..
 
I wish ED included specs on roll, pitch, lateral, vertical movement speeds, as these seem to be different even if their "maneuverability" specs are identical. (case in point: the FDL shows the same amount of pips as the Python, but the Python is slower to turn)

this thread : https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=182465 together with this thread https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=164931 gives you those values :)

ED doesn't include them, but great CMDRs run tests!

which one of the three would be better to have, is very much depending on your playstyle. i own a cutter, because non of the other two can trade as much and fly as fast - but it is mainly taking dust/waiting for a trading CG. and i own an anaconda - mainly for exploration, and for a CG where i only want to do one or two runs. jumprange trumps. i do combat in small(er) ships - which explains, why i don't have a corvette.
 
Cutter i cant comment on but heard its the biggest ship in the game and holds its own, Anaconda i would not use for combat though has more & better hardpoint placement, corvette i can comment on, its like a vulture/fdl hybrid on steroids, i personally rate it very highly and enjoy my time in it, she is slow so no good for interdicting faster ships as they,ll just boost out, but with a class 7 SCB and immense fire power it will easily destroy and eat up a wing of 2 x a spec conda,s.
 
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sounds good to me! I will continue to pursue it... I have a power play question... do you only need 5000 merits per week to maintain rank 5?
 
I made Rank 5 this past Thursday with 10,200 merits. When I checked yesterday, I had 5,000 carry over from last week, and (before I even checked) earned another 1400 yesterday... I guess I already have enough for next week... but why 5334? and not just 5000?
 
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The initial merits, and decay lasts 4 weeks, the 5th week becomes 0 merits, the math for this decay over a few weeks (after the inital 10000 has washed out) becomes 8/15ths. For the first few weeks you'll be over 10K, but you need this carryover for when the merits smooth.
Make a schedule, you'll see what I mean.

WEEK 1WEEK 2WEEK 3WEEK 4WEEK 5WEEK 6MERITS
1000053345334533453345334NEW IN CURRENT WEEK
50002667266726672667M DECAY (PREV WEEK)
2500133313331333M DECAY (2 WKS PRIOR)
1250666666M DECAY (3 WKS PRIOR)
00M DECAY (4 WKS PRIOR)
100001033410501105841000010000TOTAL MERITS

 
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It still isn't clear to me... does the total required to maintain still be over 10,000 total or just 5000? If the former, does it require adding 5334 more the week after, then 2667, then 1333, etc... ?
 
Rating 5 requires 10000 merits per week.
Table probably needs labels, I cant seem to edit it.
The top is merits earned in the week, so 10k in wk 1, 5334 in week 2, 5334 in week 3, etc.
The second row is what happened to the previous week's merits.
the 3rd row is what happened to the merits from 2 weeks ago.
The bottom row is the total merits by week.
So, 10K from week one merits become 5000 carry over in week 2, + the 5334 you earned in new merits = 10334 total merits in week 2

In week 3, you see that the original 10000 has become 2500, week 2 has become 2667, and you have the 5334 you earn in week 3.
Week 5, from bottom up, the total = 10000, the original 10000 is now zero, week 2 has become 666, week 3 has become 1333, week 4 has become 2667, and you have your new 5334 merits.
 
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Anaconda - Best jump range, best explorer, poorer cargo than the other two, less hit points than the other two in combat but a class 8 distributor and has the best hard point placement..
Cutter - Best trader in the game, best miner in the game, medium jump range, poor maneuverability but makes a very tanky PVP turret ship if filled with SCBs, only a class 7 distributor, fast so makes a pretty good pirate ship..
Corvette - Worst jump range, slowest speed, most maneuverable, almost as tanky as the cutter with regards to shields, class 8 distributor so excellent fire power

The Cutter/Corvette are both popular PVP ships, the Conda isn't quite in the same class because it can't pack size 7/8 SCBs..
Don't forget Anaconda has best armour of the three too, so don't count it out yet.
 
ONe last question... for those who have any of these.. what is the total cost of a fully kitted Corvette and Anaconda? I am assuming the Corvette would be around 300,000,000 and the Anaconda around 250,000,000.. are these accurate?
 
ONe last question... for those who have any of these.. what is the total cost of a fully kitted Corvette and Anaconda? I am assuming the Corvette would be around 300,000,000 and the Anaconda around 250,000,000.. are these accurate?

more like 400 000 000 for an anaconda in your case (pve combat/mining anaconda).
 
I purchased an Anaconda last night- I couldn't A rate it out, but had at least C class.. I took it out for a test drive and got interdicted by a wing of three: a DBE and two eagles- I thought "ah, this is going to be easy".. I got PWNED! These were NPCs mind you. This thing turns like a slug, I never had a chance to line up anyone except the Explorer before my shields went down. I thought "this thing is a hull tank, I should be able to... 80% and dropping?? It's time to high wake out"...
NOPE, as it was warming up, it malfunctioned, I tried turning, then the thrusters started to malfunction.. AHH!!! I turned my laptop off. I started it back up, and my canopy was missing.. 3:50 and counting.. the ship wouldn't budge. I self destructed so I wouldn't have to hear the pilot gasp for air. It reminded me of the days with my Asp Explorer.. systems continually fail once the shields are down.. My expectations for the vaunted CONDA were high. What a let down.

I am now comfortably back in my FAS, but 24million poorer (lost 16mil trade-in and 8 million buy-back). I was NOT a happy camper last night. I will continue to grind credits and save up for the Corvette. The Anaconda laid a giant egg-
 
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dont dismiss the condo yet.. but you NEED A-rated thrusters, and also a lot of pip management to get the most out of it - and get used to that FA pushing you backwards often when you slide-turn around... can back you into rocks easily.

But the corvette is much more accomplished in agility.. but if you rely on size 3 lasers, it only has one - you will need to get used to other types of weapons (really the 2 huge PAs are the key thing for a corvette - it takes time and practice to get used to how to use them.. its a defensive ship with big damage potential for an instant, then back to defense. The conda is more offence with the ability to run 4 large lasers, 2 of which have superb placement, but not as strong on defence or agility (esp in super cruise where is a cow - don't go undermining in an anaconda...

The FAS is great agility and flexible - great for undermining, and equal to anaconda or corvette in HazRES in credits/hr. Anaconda or corvette great in a military strike or CZ, esp in a wing.

I mainly use my corvette as a trader, where it has huge cargo, great shields, albeit limited FSD range (but fine if you find the right trade route).. My current route is 2 9LY jumps, and yields 10M/hr.

Anaconda good for fortification with its capacity and large jump.. but vulnerable to CMDR wing interdictions where its a big and cumbersome target, so either wing up for protection, or have a SCB and plan on high-waking ASAP, as even as even a single FAS or FDL will kill you fairly easily if its a decent pilot, and you have no chance vs a wing. You'll easily survive long enough to high wake though with a SCB, and easily survive any NPC scenario.
 
I use two class 3 PAs on the FAS, and two pulse... it really tears up ships. I assume the Anaconda has it's niche, but a lot more money has to go into it.. I was going to buy the A thruster, but it was too expensive at the time. I was simply not used to being jacked up by NPCs. For me, maneuverability is 50% of the battle, 25% shields/hull, 25% HP loadout. My FDL was awesome, but too fragile.. I had to be quick on bailing when my shields went down.. The FAS, not worried so much.. it hull tanks very well. I can hear pops and sizzles for a long time and not worry about a system like my thrusters or FSD failing. It is truly an agile bruiser. I was close to kitting out a FGS, but it is just as much a slug as the Conda, so not going to go there.

I would reconsider the Conda only if they get that fighter bay completed, so we can install F63 condors to launch out and take care of business!
 
Seriously, W.T.F. did u have fitted? Just put 2 Medium Pulse Laser Turrets into the Class 2 Slots and it will melt everything below an Asp pretty quickly. I am recently only flying big ships and never had such problems. Conda works best on a budget if u use 4x Class 3 Gimbaled Pulse and the 2 Mediums and Smalls as Turrets.

Also, reverse Thrust and FA-Off are a must with the big ships.
 
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If I remember correctly, I built it to do head on attacks against other large, cumbersome ships- I fitted one huge PA and two large PAs, a Large beam, two small turreted pulse, and two medium gimbaled pulse. I seriously underestimated the two eagles.. I had a class 6 B SCB, but didn't use it in time.. wasn't expecting these knuckleheads to drop my shield so fast.

Roger that.. fly backwards... should have done that. I was so upset afterward that I sold it. Maybe I'll save some more and purchase it as a second ship so I can still undermine in my FAS- until I get my rear admiral rank (currently half-way through lieutenant) then I am getting a Corvette to replace my FAS
 
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