Best ship for a move to Colonia...and after.

[DukeIronHand]

Bought a 2nd Commander account specifically for a planned trip to Colonia about 7 months ago.
Never made the trip and have been playing it (somewhat rarely) as a "combat account." Well planning to make the trip soon. Think that's about the only "get away" trip that leads somewhere semi-practical?

With current ship (FDL which I would sell) and cash (8 million?) I have, guessing, 65 to 80 million in assets.

Now the ship type for the trip seems a simple enough thought (DBX or AspX) but the trip itself is not everything and I'll need to do something productive (and fun) upon arrival hence my question: A useful ship to play the game after arrival in Colonia. And for 70'ish million credits. Guess I could grind that up a bit prior to departure if needed.

The AspX is the obvious choice, to me, for the trip and playing the game after arrival.
Any (fun and useful) ship I am forgetting about and should look at?

 

[Factabulous]

Sidewinder

/thread

 

[JW667]

I'd go with a Python every time. Fill it with extra gear you might want to use and store it when you arrive.
With some engineering you can get a pretty decent jumprange out of it.

 

[MarkAusten]

Bought a 2nd Commander account specifically for a planned trip to Colonia about 7 months ago.
Never made the trip and have been playing it (somewhat rarely) as a "combat account." Well planning to make the trip soon. Think that's about the only "get away" trip that leads somewhere semi-practical?

With current ship (FDL which I would sell) and cash (8 million?) I have, guessing, 65 to 80 million in assets.

Now the ship type for the trip seems a simple enough thought (DBX or AspX) but the trip itself is not everything and I'll need to do something productive (and fun) upon arrival hence my question: A useful ship to play the game after arrival in Colonia. And for 70'ish million credits. Guess I could grind that up a bit prior to departure if needed.

The AspX is the obvious choice, to me, for the trip and playing the game after arrival.
Any (fun and useful) ship I am forgetting about and should look at?

This was the AspX load out I used when getting to Colonia. I also used EDPathFinder to plot waypoints 1000ly apart, using the Galaxy map to plot the route between these waypoints.

I scanned every system I jumped into and also detail scanned each waypoint stop. If you use this method it is probably a good idea to go 3000-5000ly out from the bubble at right angles to the direction to Colonia and then go from there in a straight line (ish). That way you'll scan more undiscovered systems.

With the 40ly plus jump range each 1000ly leg was about 23 jumps so I could do 3000ly in an hour comfortably. Then I'd land somewhere and stay there until I could next play Elite since an hour a day and not every day is the most I can play realistically.

 

[Cmdr Delmonte[VR]]

Python, Does it all, land anywhere, engineer your weapons leave them in storage and call them over. Keep the jump range high to get there. If it's a 2nd account. then you won't want to invest a lot of time if you do... THen I would go in a Conda, and have an engineered ASP ready to call over... Remeber no engineers out there, carry what you can. store the rest and pay for the transfer o7

 

[Kimosabe_X]

For me it was my mining Python last year when the first CG was held out there, took 120 t of cargo with me and 8 limpets and had' a laden jumprange of about 25 ly.
Still hanging around there but my second Commander is still buzzing around the bubble. I guess I've got to exchange that in the near future though...

 

[DukeIronHand]

Thanks gentlemen.
Yes - the always useful Python was my 2nd thought. Great ship at everything but dull as a Lakon slappy; bit of weirdness on my part. Can't argue with its ability to "play this game" however. I'll take a close look.
And thanks for the build ideas. I'll play around with the Corolis site and fire up this 2nd account next log-in to get an exact handle on my available money.

And I was presuming to leave off Large ships from my choices? Guessing that medium pad capability is a "must"?

 

[MarkAusten]

Thanks gentlemen.
Yes - the always useful Python was my 2nd thought. Great ship at everything but dull as a Lakon slappy; bit of weirdness on my part. Can't argue with its ability to "play this game" however. I'll take a close look.
And thanks for the build ideas. I'll play around with the Corolis site and fire up this 2nd account next log-in to get an exact handle on my available money.

And I was presuming to leave off Large ships from my choices? Guessing that medium pad capability is a "must"?

On my part I chose the AspX because of two things. The medium landing pad and the jump range. It is also fairly decent to fly. Cost was not an issue for me but for someone with limited funds it's probably also one of the cheaper options.

 

[DukeIronHand]

On my part I chose the AspX because of two things. The medium landing pad and the jump range. It is also fairly decent to fly. Cost was not an issue for me but for someone with limited funds it's probably also one of the cheaper options.

The AspX is always a great option. Probably, considering all factors, the best ship in the game IMHO.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Given your budget, the Asp is probably the best. Or you could save up a little, buy an exploration-fit Python, and then equip most of it when you get there. Or, you could fly out there with the Asp and buy a Python when you get there.

You'll make about 20-100 million in exploration data on the way out there, depending on how much you scan, how directly you travel, and whether you use neutron boosts.

You can buy when out there:
- any independent ship
- no Fed/Imp ships (rank-locked or otherwise)
- any weapon
- any mining equipment at A-grade
- most other equipment at B- or C-grade in most sizes
- no engineering
(so, basically, fine for non-combat roles and usable for PvE combat if you're careful)

You can use the exploration profits or money earned out there to have engineered/A-rated modules transferred. This will cost ~1.3x the base price of the module.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

And I was presuming to leave off Large ships from my choices? Guessing that medium pad capability is a "must"?

Depends what you like doing. 3/4 or so of the stations have large pads so it's not absolutely necessary for most work, but mission running would really benefit from being able to visit outposts, and you'll miss out on some of the best trade routes as well.

 

[MarkAusten]

Given your budget, the Asp is probably the best. Or you could save up a little, buy an exploration-fit Python, and then equip most of it when you get there. Or, you could fly out there with the Asp and buy a Python when you get there.

You'll make about 20-100 million in exploration data on the way out there, depending on how much you scan, how directly you travel, and whether you use neutron boosts.

You can buy when out there:
- any independent ship
- no Fed/Imp ships (rank-locked or otherwise)
- any weapon
- any mining equipment at A-grade
- most other equipment at B- or C-grade in most sizes
- no engineering
(so, basically, fine for non-combat roles and usable for PvE combat if you're careful)

You can use the exploration profits or money earned out there to have engineered/A-rated modules transferred. This will cost ~1.3x the base price of the module.

Using the AspX build I posted above and only ADS honking the systems except for the waypoint systems which I detail scanned. I made nearly 18 million on the way to Colonia and only 4 systems were first discoveries. If you detail scan more systems or go in a ship with a small jump range then this will go up. The 40ly or so jump range gave me 503 systems from my home to Jaques Station. 18 million is not bad.

 

[DukeIronHand]

Given your budget, the Asp is probably the best. Or you could save up a little, buy an exploration-fit Python, and then equip most of it when you get there. Or, you could fly out there with the Asp and buy a Python when you get there.

You'll make about 20-100 million in exploration data on the way out there, depending on how much you scan, how directly you travel, and whether you use neutron boosts.

You can buy when out there:
- any independent ship
- no Fed/Imp ships (rank-locked or otherwise)
- any weapon
- any mining equipment at A-grade
- most other equipment at B- or C-grade in most sizes
- no engineering
(so, basically, fine for non-combat roles and usable for PvE combat if you're careful)

You can use the exploration profits or money earned out there to have engineered/A-rated modules transferred. This will cost ~1.3x the base price of the module.

Well. I guess I didn't realize that the Colonia area was so well set-up ship and equipment wise. Thought it was kind of the "Wild West."
My original thought was I would have to "bring the game", i.e., a mostly equipped ship, with me.
Guess that also puts the DBX back on the table if needed.

Probably go AspX though - how do you go wrong with that baby?
Thanks all.

 

[MarkAusten]

Well. I guess I didn't realize that the Colonia area was so well set-up ship and equipment wise. Thought it was kind of the "Wild West."
My original thought was I would have to "bring the game", i.e., a mostly equipped ship, with me.
Guess that also puts the DBX back on the table if needed.

Probably go AspX though - how do you go wrong with that baby?
Thanks all.

You can't find everything out there yet and I found that a lot of the A rated stuff was not available but it's not too bad.

 

[DukeIronHand]

You can't find everything out there yet and I found that a lot of the A rated stuff was not available but it's not too bad.

Which leads to a need of a little strategic thinking. And a plan for possible ship buying or game play there.
What A-rated modules and equipment should I buy and store in the bubble for transfer later. Oh, I like this game being a bit OCD with planning.

 

[Kimosabe_X]

Well it depends on what you really want, a fast journey or a multirole ship out there. I had about 43 jumps per 1000 lY with my Python back then x22 = approx 950 Systems to honk and scan at least the main star plus nearby HMC worlds, etc and a few Waterworlds and one Earthlike in the middle of nowhere. That resulted in a good 20 M Cr. back then, maybe nowadays worth somewhere between 70-100 M Cr. I guess, as I don't know exactly how much the income for exploration data has been raised.

If your jumprange is somewhat high, you might miss a good part of the systems. And if you don't mind, plot your very own course out there, that might reward you with some extra cash for first discoveries.
Out there you don't really need a high jumprange so much, star density is high out there... Well, except you want to go exploring a lot.

Edit: btw, ships are more expensive out there

 

[DukeIronHand]

Edit: btw, ships are more expensive out there

Really?
Makes perfect "real world" sense but I didn't expect the game to model such things.
Cool.

 

[Skip Rockbounder]

Whatever you decide on in the end is up to you but bare in mind that there aren't that many large landing pads out there... leastwise I only saw one when I was there some months ago, (the Asp that I bought there is still parked there) and the selection of ships for purchase is/was obviously quite limited too!

Whatever you do though good luck on it[up]

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Whatever you decide on in the end is up to you but bare in mind that there aren't that many large landing pads out there... leastwise I only saw one when I was there some months ago, (the Asp that I bought there is still parked there) and the selection of ships for purchase is/was obviously quite limited too!

Whatever you do though good luck on it[up]

I thought the Asp only needed a Medium pad?

 

[ChampN252]

I agree with these gentlemen. Python is a good choice. I'm going back in one of the big 3 next time. Try to A rate whatever you take and possibly engineer. No A rated modules there (mining like someone said) and definitely no engineers. They still have missions where they'll send FDLs after you and res hunting. Gotta be able to defend yourself. And you're probably on your own thargoid time. Whatever I'm in will be a war machine when i get there before the next patch.