Ships Best ship for Planetary Activities

Kayin · Dec 21, 2015

What have you guys been using for your planetary activities?

I've found Top Speed and Cargo space are important, so I've been playing with:
- Imperial Eagle
- Imperial Clipper

Landing in highly manoeuvrable ships is also much nicer. The FdL for example seems to land on everything smoothly.

I'm curious about using a ship to blast away planetary defences to make certain activities easier. Believe it or not I'm contemplating a modified Vulture for such a task. It can carry a decent amount of cargo and packs the firepower / manoeuvrability to knock out anything. Its a bit slow though.

Thoughts?

AH_ImADot · Dec 21, 2015

I've used my Vulture for the past couple of weeks. It had a Burst and a Beam laser, plus some other stuff. I recently traded it in for an Asp Explorer and have started my first expedition outside the bubble.

Monk · Dec 21, 2015

For when I've decided to settle in a single system for a while...

I bring in the good ole Viper Mk III

It has excellent thrust to mass ratio and can lift you out of a tight spot or press you along a tight corner when you need it..

The Viper's strong shields mean that you can take a some bumps at speed without too much to worry

I usually keep them within system, so I put the lightest most energy efficient FSD on there...I won't be jumping to other systems with this ship. This makes room for more armor and more power for weapons.

For exploring planets as I jump around...such as doing missions and what not, I have a Clipper with all the things on it.

zxdc8 · Dec 21, 2015

I use my Conda-probably not the best choice, but can hold plenty of SRV's and cargo, and looks great on the surface

Ddraig · Dec 21, 2015

Anaconda.

Cdr Voorheez · Dec 21, 2015

Cobra MKIII is superb for surface work fast manouverable and brilliant to land.
Awesome piece of kit

Kayin · Dec 21, 2015

Cdr Voorheez said:
Cobra MKIII is superb for surface work fast manouverable and brilliant to land.
Awesome piece of kit

When looking at the numbers, The Viper Mk4 seems to do a better job than a Cobra MkIII for basically the same internals and cost. Why would you say Cobra over Viper? And Courier for that matter.

Space · Dec 21, 2015

Lakon Type 6. Plenty of cargo space, very fast (Max thrusters and distributor) and can land anywhere.

RG-870 · Dec 21, 2015

Cobra Mk III is a great planetary ship. If you want two SRVs and more cargo and do not mind its pathetic low speed the Cobra Mk IV is also a good choice in the lower tiers. Asp Explorer for mid-priced range. For higher priced ships I would go with the Clipper (speed) or the Python.

Cdr Voorheez · Dec 22, 2015

Kayin said:
When looking at the numbers, The Viper Mk4 seems to do a better job than a Cobra MkIII for basically the same internals and cost. Why would you say Cobra over Viper? And Courier for that matter.

Why?
Ok:
1. Personal preference.
2. All MkIV ships I've flown so far are crud.
3. Cost.
4. Cobra MKIII is the best smuggler in the game and it also provides PL as an extra element of exploration and synthesis farming.
5. I was answering the OPS thread question.

I'll knock it back to you, why would YOU choose a Viper MkIV or a Courier over the Cobra MkIII?

Lheim · Dec 22, 2015

If people like the viper III, I'm surprised there isn't much talk about the DBS. It's exactly what folks thought the viper IV was going to be. Slightly slower, more module space, and more agile with the same weapon hard points.

It's a mean little bumblebee. Highly recommended.

Cdr Voorheez · Dec 22, 2015

DBS are awesome agreed. I'll second that.

Kayin · Dec 22, 2015

Cdr Voorheez said:
Why?
I'll knock it back to you, why would YOU choose a Viper MkIV or a Courier over the Cobra MkIII?

Fair enough. I'm actually the OP and I'm asking to answer just this question. I haven't really decided yet. This is what I'm thinking:

Courier:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=707,5Rr5Rr5Rr0_g01Q0__,2-4s4s4s2C4s3m5A,7Py05U03w03wmpT02M

Viper IV:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70S,5Rr5Rr5QR5QR01Q0_g,2-6k6Q6Q3m4s5K6k,7RW07205U03wmpT02M

Cobra III:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=702,5Rr5Rr5QR5QR01Q0_g,2-6k6Q6Q5K4s5K6k,0720727RW03wmpT03w

Really, the trade off is combat prowess for cargo space. And that makes sense. Le sigh. I suppose this is the problem with options.

-K

Don Alvarez · Dec 22, 2015

Kayin said:
When looking at the numbers, The Viper Mk4 seems to do a better job than a Cobra MkIII for basically the same internals and cost. Why would you say Cobra over Viper? And Courier for that matter.

The Cobra Mk III internals are still slightly better, it handles well and is still the king of speed - that asset alone still makes it a better mission grinder. Even encroaching on a billion in assets, I still rely on my Cobra.

Cdr Voorheez · Dec 22, 2015

Kayin said:
Fair enough. I'm actually the OP and I'm asking to answer just this question. I haven't really decided yet. This is what I'm thinking:

Courier:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=707,5Rr5Rr5Rr0_g01Q0__,2-4s4s4s2C4s3m5A,7Py05U03w03wmpT02M

Viper IV:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70S,5Rr5Rr5QR5QR01Q0_g,2-6k6Q6Q3m4s5K6k,7RW07205U03wmpT02M

Cobra III:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=702,5Rr5Rr5QR5QR01Q0_g,2-6k6Q6Q5K4s5K6k,0720727RW03wmpT03w

Really, the trade off is combat prowess for cargo space. And that makes sense. Le sigh. I suppose this is the problem with options.

-K

Sorry wasn't being a plonker just wondered.
I personally use the Cobra as a smuggler. Yes it's cargo is less than a MkIV but it's infinitely better. I like the fact I can smuggle stuff between outposts and also farm synthesis materiel and also take on further base missions on surface.
She's a cheap robust and fast ship which I think has truly become even better with Horizons.
I have an ExploraConda and an A spec killer FDL but I still love flying my Conra MKIII.
Beautiful little ships.

Psycho Romeo · Dec 22, 2015

Has anyone tried an orca?

Agony_Aunt · Dec 22, 2015

Psycho Romeo said:
Has anyone tried an orca?

I did during beta. The speed is nice for skimming above a planetary surface, but its vertical thrusters are not great. Landing is tricky, if you are descending too fast it takes a while for those vertical thrusters to counter the descent.

I've settled on the Dropship as the ideal ship for exploring and doing missions around planets. Enough slots for everything you need including cargo space. Decent vertical thrusters (although slow moving). A size 3 beam laser on the bottom and 4 medium missile racks makes it nice for taking out skimmers without risking your buggy.

Kyokushin · Dec 22, 2015

ASP is the best for galaxy sightseeing. Fast, agile, good range, you can put a hangar with SRV and some cargo slot.

Cmdr Bernard · Dec 22, 2015

I don't think there is a "best" ship for anything. Some fill certain roles better than others.

Anyways, currently for planetary activities I switch between Cobra Mk III, Asp Explorer and Python, depending what I want to do. Smuggling? Cobra Mk III. Long-range haul missions? Asp. Big cargo missions? Python. Just deploying the SRV and having fun? Doesn't really matter.

Viper Mk IV looks like a good option, though I see it more in the combat department than as a mission runner like the Cobra Mk III.
Courier also looks good, many slots for its size. But I think the Cobra Mk III is more versatile. I love the Courier, though. Great ship, especially for combat.
Cobra Mk IV is actually not a bad ship for planetary missions/exploring, but it somehow seems to become obsolete once you have an Asp. Cobra Mk III never gets obsolete. The planetary flight model of the Cobra Mk IV seems excellent, though.

Dropship as the ideal ship for exploring and doing missions around planets

If you crash into a planet, your escape pod might be difficult to discover because your crashed ship looks like one of the rocks.

Krezan · Dec 22, 2015

Pah, it's the courier obviously. Cinch to land, got cargo space and good shields in case you crash. No contest (although extra cargo space would be welcome).