Hi! I wanted to find out which ship is the best bubble taxi or hopper, so I did a few quick comparisons in Coriolis. Then I thought that I might as well share it with you, and even get some input on the builds as well. ^^
Ideas
Yes, you can build up the Sidewinder to be a decent bubble hopper, but almost every other ship in the game will be a better alternative.
If you need a really cheap but still viable bubble hopper, the Hauler is a steal at only 1.6 M Cr with quite good jump range right off the bat. It's great first taxi. Its competitor is the Adder, which can be fitted with enhanced thrusters for quite a jump in price compared to what early pilots are willing to pay. But of the ships with enhanced thrusters, it's also the one that makes the longest jumps.
The Eagle has the same jump range as the Imperial Eagle, but the latter can fit enhanced thrusters giving it a boosting velocity of over 600 m/s and cruise at 460 m/s. Just make sure you don't crash into the back of the station!
Both the Diamondbacks do quite well, with the Scout clearly being a well-rounded but affordable alternative to the more expensive, but clearly farthest jumping Explorer. Interestingly the Dolphin jumps just as far as the Asp Scout at only a smidge more credits.
Even though the AspX jumps four Ly less than the DBX, it still costs three times as much, at least when you use that particular build. In either case I'd probably go for the DBS as a starting bubble hopper myself, and perhaps the DBX when I got a little more credits.
Ideas
- Build for jump range and speed.
- Downgraded shields just for basic crash protection.
- Downgraded power plant where it helps jump range without hurting performance too much.
- Best fuel scoop, because no waiting allowed.
- Heat sink just in case.
- Fuel tank trick for that sweet extra Ly.
- Detailed scanner, in case you are like that.
- Enhanced thrusters where applickable, bcos moar speed.
- Otherwise standard A-rated build with Life Support and Sensors D-rated.
- No engineering, bcos I just can't be bothered. It's supposed to be an easy ship to fit up in a pinch for when you suddenly need to move.
- No big and expensive ships taken into account either. It's a bubble hopper, not a limousine service.
- 20.57 Ly Sidewinder @ 0.9 M Cr
- 21.10 Ly Eagle @ 2.4 M Cr
- 25.09 Ly Cobra Mk. III @ 7.5 M Cr
- 25.89 Ly Hauler @ 1.6 M Cr
- 27.25 Ly Diamondback Scout @ 5.3 M Cr
- 28.21 Ly Dolphin @ 18.8 M Cr
- 28.21 Ly Asp Scout @ 18.4 M Cr
- 33.95 Ly Asp Explorer @ 46.5 M Cr
- 38.06 Ly Diamondback Explorer @ 12.2 M Cr
- 21.10 Ly Imperial Eagle with Enhanced Thrusters @ 7.1 M Cr
- 20.01 Ly Viper Mk. III with Enhanced Thrusters @ 7.2 M Cr
- 24.64 Ly Imperial Courier with Enhanced Thrusters @ 9.6 M Cr
- 25.25 Ly Adder with Enhanced Thrusters @ 7.1 M Cr
Yes, you can build up the Sidewinder to be a decent bubble hopper, but almost every other ship in the game will be a better alternative.
If you need a really cheap but still viable bubble hopper, the Hauler is a steal at only 1.6 M Cr with quite good jump range right off the bat. It's great first taxi. Its competitor is the Adder, which can be fitted with enhanced thrusters for quite a jump in price compared to what early pilots are willing to pay. But of the ships with enhanced thrusters, it's also the one that makes the longest jumps.
The Eagle has the same jump range as the Imperial Eagle, but the latter can fit enhanced thrusters giving it a boosting velocity of over 600 m/s and cruise at 460 m/s. Just make sure you don't crash into the back of the station!
Both the Diamondbacks do quite well, with the Scout clearly being a well-rounded but affordable alternative to the more expensive, but clearly farthest jumping Explorer. Interestingly the Dolphin jumps just as far as the Asp Scout at only a smidge more credits.
Even though the AspX jumps four Ly less than the DBX, it still costs three times as much, at least when you use that particular build. In either case I'd probably go for the DBS as a starting bubble hopper myself, and perhaps the DBX when I got a little more credits.