Chieftain vs Challanger against Thargoid Scouts

[Eckee]

I looked around and it seems noone cares about the scouts because they are easy target I guess. But I’m not a combat expert, competent at this point, and I need to chose one of these ships, money is not a problem. These two, because the other ships I considered were Krait mk3 and Python. They have inferior hull and corrosion resistance and I’m a noob so probably will take much damage, additionally I like the look and maneuverability of these ships even though it’s a real shame that FDev made those identical.

Thing is Challanger has better hardpoints on paper, 1xL+3xM > 2xL+1xM in terms of AX weapons, however I’m not sure if I can keep Challanger’s 4x turreted multicanons on the target at the same time, because large one is on top and mediums are at the bottom. Is there any workaround for this? Or should I use other kind of weapons, i.e railguns instead and go for burst?

Sorry if this is dumb, though I’m a double elite, I’m just a newbie at the combat, thanks.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

Personally I'd go for the Chieftain. Killing scouts is a bit like swatting flies, so manouverability is helpful here. Most of your damage is going to come from the ax multicannons, but if you need a little extra, maybe go for gimballed normal multicannons with overcharged engineering. I think both normal and ax multis have the same projectile speed, so only 1 target to worry about. Just remember lots of HRPs and shield boosters (don't worry about resistances- scout damage is absolute) .

Watch your shields as well, if they drop a group of scouts can do a fair bit of damage if you're not careful. I suggest you pack a decontamination limpet controller and cargo space for at least 8 limpets for dealing with caustic missiles. Those things hurt if not attended to.

Have fun squashing bugs!

 

[777Driver]

I was fighting scouts using triple plasmas on a Krait, was with a newbie using a standard pulse/mc loadout, he also got kills. Fly what you enjoy, scouts are easy targets. You don't need AX weapons.

There are plenty of Megaship distress calls out in the Pliedes, scouts come in waves so easily manageable.

 

[BDelacroix]

More discussion in the aliens thread but I use a challenger. Not sure it makes a lot of difference. I used gauss cannons to get good at using fixed weapons but I've placed turreted ax on there as well.

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

For pure combat, most prefer chief wonderful 3xS 2xL convergence, and a bit more speed + accelleration (lat/verts/turning nearly identical). Then you stick hounds/gimbals/fixed cannon w/ shock on the poorly converged M (or here I suppose turreted AX?).

That said, a 6a or 6b SCB on challenger can be very effective as well. But due to poor medium + large convergence you can't really run fixed on both unless you separate the fire buttons. Note the 1xL and 3xS still have great convergence on challenger.

Personally I prefer challenger because it can do more than just combat (piracy, armed [to the teeth] mining/trading with 64t cargo in open all possible with challenger if you are efficient with your build). But this is irrelevant to thargoid squishing.

Both are extremely fun ships to pilot.

o7