Ships Best ships for actual space combat tactics -- Expanse-style combat, no tailing . I'm into FA off maneuvers, reverski, high damage

[wolfhelius]

I dont like to focus too much on tailing as I'm not interested in atmospheric-based combat. This is a space game after all. So what ships are great at Expanse-style combat? Ships with great weapon placement, that are tanky, have great thruster responsiveness for FA off maneuvers, a good plant and distributor, and enough firepower to shred. So far I think that ships that fit the bill are the Python, the Mamba, the Anaconda, the Kraits, the Gunship... What do you think? Which one is your favorite FA off / drifter ship?

 

[Trollymctrollerson]

Iv never seen the expanse so im not totally sure what you saw in that show can really be replicated in ED since it is designed to play like aircraft in space. For flight assist off orbital fighting tactics i use a gunship, assault ship and sometimes anaconda. Lots of plasma and MC or cannons are my preferred weapons.

 

[wolfhelius]

Iv never seen the expanse so im not totally sure what you saw in that show can really be replicated in ED since it is designed to play like aircraft in space. For flight assist off orbital fighting tactics i use a gunship, assault ship and sometimes anaconda. Lots of plasma and MC or cannons are my preferred weapons.

I appreciate. You worded my request better than I did. Thank you commander!

 

[Zeeman]

Your best bet is to check the hard point locations of all the ships. I suspect the best candidates are going to be the "cigar" style ships (Anaconda, Python), and basically, it means turrets.

Thing is, it really isn't going to work in ED, short of some form of gentleman's agreement, and engineered A rated weapons with E grade armour and no shields, but even then the in game physics is designed for fun, rather than realism.

Z...

 

[Speedcuffs]

Cutter. Blocked.
Next!

 

[wolfhelius]

Cutter. Blocked.
Next!

Blocked? What do you mean?

 

[CMDR Sophie Joanne]

Probably something big and the right shape. You'll always be bugged by the retro/directional thrusters being the same power as the main thrusters (completely taking out the need to 'flip n burn'). The limited speeds kinda won't help either (it doesn't take long to reach top speed).
The closest youll get to the expanse style flight and combat is space engineers (there is a top speed removal mod).
Frontier Elite 2 / Frontier First Encounters are both great fun (They both use newtonian flight with almost unlimited speed! You'd have to run them through Dosbox though and they were made early/mid 90's so don't expect any fancy gfx).
I went on a quest across the internet to find an expanse-like game and didnt really find anything - if you do though let us know!

And don't stop playing Elite!

 

[Madrax573]

I dont like to focus too much on tailing as I'm not interested in atmospheric-based combat. This is a space game after all. So what ships are great at Expanse-style combat? Ships with great weapon placement, that are tanky, have great thruster responsiveness for FA off maneuvers, a good plant and distributor, and enough firepower to shred. So far I think that ships that fit the bill are the Python, the Mamba, the Anaconda, the Kraits, the Gunship... What do you think? Which one is your favorite FA off / drifter ship?

Rail Dropship....

Big and heavy so has a real weighty feel to it FA-off... great for lining up long range rails shots...

 

[Slange Lands]

Is this what you are after?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87cspdnvYUg&t=92s


There is no reverski in wing fights in asteroids, you will crash.

Imo the most challenging and satisfying PvP combat is in the most dense asteroid fields where you either:
1. crash into a rock
2. use the rocks evasively by very close fa off orbiting

For serious PvPers, that is, those who participate in organized PvP in rocks, there is no alternative other than the FDL because it is OP in everything. It is an incredible shield tank, has perfect weapon convergence and the best maneuverability of all the mediums. It's also smaller than the Chieftain or Mamba so it's harder to hit. In addition it permaboosts, which is crucial because during a boost a ship has even more maneuverability.

But it is incredibly drifty and therefore not easy to master.
The pilots that are in the above video are probably the best in game. Yamato makes it look very easy.



disclaimer: I am not a representative of Zorgon Peterson.

 

[Ceekay]

The old Freelancer game has engine kill mode (roughly analogous to FA off) but where boost in ED is a single huge burn in FL you were able to have small multiple "burns", so the ships could be orientated in the desired direction and some level of boost/burn applied.

Downsides are low quality graphics, small (200 km x 200 km)systems, in the vanilla game max speed was around 200 m/s but modded versions could reach around 900 m/s if I recall correctly.

 

[Mrat13]

Unconventional pick would be Orca. Weapon slots might look underwhelming, but the right build can make up for it with ramming.

 

[Badman76]

I want to try this with a Corvette, i know it'll take alot of damage but there's plenty of room for repair limpets and amfu's, plus watching 8 pdt's do there thing would be fun.

I'd probably go with, 2 huge fixed beams, 2 medium pack hounds, a large torpedo and 2 small mc's.

 

[ebomii]

Hi guys. Sorry for bothering with this question, but I'm new here.
If I've been using a Python for months, but my son want to use a Viper Mk3 instead of my Python (he is a beginner) where could we found a mission for Mk3?
All of the targets are much higher levels. Is there some option for this?

 

[GeoJase]

Hi guys. Sorry for bothering with this question, but I'm new here.
If I've been using a Python for months, but my son want to use a Viper Mk3 instead of my Python (he is a beginner) where could we found a mission for Mk3?
All of the targets are much higher levels. Is there some option for this?

Combat missions will generally be too difficult for a Viper 3. You could try non combat missions, like courier or recovery missions.

If you son wants combat, go to a Resource Extraction Site (RES) in any planetary ring. Shoot the bad guys.

 

[ebomii]

Combat missions will generally be too difficult for a Viper 3. You could try non combat missions, like courier or recovery missions.

If you son wants combat, go to a Resource Extraction Site (RES) in any planetary ring. Shoot the bad guys.

Thank you for your quick responde mate!!!

 

[Fenwe]

Talking about maneuverability, in a medium ship, I'd suggest the Alliance Chieftain. It's still my most loved medium combat ship for PvE and Thargoids.

If you are going for PvP, then as was mentioned - the FDL.

For a small ship - then I'd recommend the Vulture. It's relatively cheap (don't fly without rebuy), but to get best results you'll need to get into engineering, but A rating it will allow you to be successful in Haz Res and compromised nav beacons. But be careful of wings until you have some practice.