Chieftain vs Challenger?

Stealthie

Stealthie
I suspect this has already been discussed but, y'know...

I have a Chieftain which I've half-engineered.
It's intended for a "heavy Fighter" role - transfer it to a system and then use it for a bit of blasting in RES's or doing massacre missions etc.

Is it worth completing the Chieftain build and forgetting about the Challenger or should I just bin it and buy a Challenger instead?
Alternatively, are the differences distinct enough to make it worth buying both and then using them for different roles?

I've read a bit about the differences between the two ships but I'd appreciate some input from people who've flown both.

I suppose I could just buy both (it's not like credits are a problem) but I don't fancy the prospect of engineering the Chieftain only to park it up and always use the Challenger instead.
I've culled quite a few of my redundant ships recently so I don't really want to start collecting unneeded ships again.
 

Angus

Angus
From what I've gathered (which isn't that much) its difficult to see why you'd have a Chieftain if you have a Challenger. Maybe FD can help?
 

Stigbob

Stigbob
I'm undecided on which I prefer, the good news is you can swap everything between them so only engineer one switch it all across and do a direct comparison.

I'm teetering towards the chieftain because the twin large hardpoints are really nicely positioned for fixed weapons like c3 plasma chargers against thargoids. But I'm trying a challenger with a more all rounder weapon load, which seems to be a better ship so far (at that anyway).

The answer might be both.
 

Vardaugas

Vardaugas
Chieftain is a specialist fighter making a good hybrid tank that can deliver devastating damage up close with Cytoscramblers and fragment cannons. While the Challenger is more versatile, having a lot of slots for limpet controllers to go installations and megaship looting, while still carrying a heavy payload and some solid defenses.
 

Alexander the Grape

Alexander the Grape
Challenger is superior for PvE due to hardpoints and tankiness, Chief is able to keep up more in PvP due to far better speed. Both are worth keeping.

Bear in mind Chief may be better in PvE vs large ship[s due to superior piercing on the Large compared to 2 mediums
 

PiLhEaD

PiLhEaD
Stigbob said:
...The answer might be both...
Click to expand...

Deffo. That's the spirit!

E. Does anyone else think of these being a Hind attack helicopter, in much the same way that the DBS feels a bit like a Cobra (helicopter)? Just me.... I'll get me coat...
 
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Wasp0

Wasp0
IMHO, the challenger was a missed opportunity from Frontier. It is way too similar to its 'TWIN' bruv the Chieftain to warrant keeping both. Yes i am aware the are slight changes, but none to make it worth the hassle and cost of buying , fitting and engineering.

I repeat it is IMHO!
 

CMDR Corlas

CMDR Corlas
The Challenger seems to have less drift than the Chieftain, which I like. It also feels less "twitchy" and more actually under your control.

I prefer the Challenger.

They more flexible hardpoint layout, better internals, and overall more tankiness is just icing on the cake.

Also, and this shouldn't be undervalued, the Challenger is prettier.
 

Angus

Angus
henry1491 said:
Deffo. That's the spirit!

E. Does anyone else think of these being a Hind attack helicopter, in much the same way that the DBS feels a bit like a Cobra (helicopter)? Just me.... I'll get me coat...
Click to expand...

Put that coat back down, I had the DBS pegged as an Apache, but your analogy is probably better.
 

Stealthie

Stealthie
CMDR Corlas said:
The Challenger seems to have less drift than the Chieftain, which I like. It also feels less "twitchy" and more actually under your control.

I prefer the Challenger.
Click to expand...

That's a good point.

I recall a lot of people saying the best way to get used to fixed weapons is to buy a DBS and practice with that.
Personally, I found it easiest to stick fixed weapons on something like a Python because it's handling is so neutral that it makes aiming easier.
Once you get used to that you can improve as you use more agile ships.

I notice, in a lot of PvP video's that people miss with their fixed weapons an awful lot when they're flying things like FdLs and Vultures.
There's a lot to be said for flying a more stable ship and getting more of your shots on target, even if that means the ship isn't as agile.
 

BDelacroix

BDelacroix
I swapped over to a Challenger and pretty much just ported over all the things that were in my Chieftain. I think there are only weapon slot differences which I was still tweaking with anyway.

I am currently using it to kill thargoid scouts, but I have taken it to a haz res to try out the super penetrator rail guns. I don't use them on scouts, I use guardian gauss for that. The superpen rails are for shooting bad hummies.
 
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CapuchinSeven

CapuchinSeven
Stealthie said:
That's a good point.

I recall a lot of people saying the best way to get used to fixed weapons is to buy a DBS and practice with that.
Personally, I found it easiest to stick fixed weapons on something like a Python because it's handling is so neutral that it makes aiming easier.
Once you get used to that you can improve as you use more agile ships.

I notice, in a lot of PvP video's that people miss with their fixed weapons an awful lot when they're flying things like FdLs and Vultures.
There's a lot to be said for flying a more stable ship and getting more of your shots on target, even if that means the ship isn't as agile.
Click to expand...

Plus the extra defense doesn't hurt when you're lining up that shot.

Personally I like the Chief but I'm considering the Challenger.
 

GunnerBill

GunnerBill
I've tried both, fully engineered.

My Chief is a Beams + MC's build and does about 540 mps it has Bi-Weaves, no SCB.

I've tried to develop a different role for my Challenger, it's heavy on the HRP/MRP & is full Fixed MC's with 1 Corrosive and the rest Incendiary. It does about 460 mps.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Challenger, but like OP I'm thinking "why?". It hasn't turned out to be significantly better at any specific thing than the Chief but is obviously slower sooo...

I suspect I'll drift away from taking the Challenger out.


------------

To answer OP's question I'd complete the Chief and bin the Challenger.
 
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Ethaidan

Ethaidan
Eventually... Both I reckon.

Chieftain parked in the bubble - already fully engineered and ready to go with 2x large PAs and 3x rails.

Challenger (not even started) parked in Pleiades (sp) - planned for Thargoid multicrew... large turreted plasma perhaps, plus 3x medium gauss?

It's a long way off... still sorting my new Krait for snuggling.
 

Snowymonk

Snowymonk
We were talking about it in our group last night. The consensus we came out with was that a properly engineered Chieftain is better in a fight than a properly engineered Challenger.

The extra manoeuvrability you get in the chieftain takes it.

That said, I am not an ace pilot and can probably be beaten by most commanders flying sidewinders
 

Bunkerkind Anni

Bunkerkind Anni
probably depens on what "special" hardpoints you are using.

pacifier and APA are better on the chief, (two large slots)
anti-thargoid equip is better on the challenger (more medium slots)

if coriolis is right, then the challenger also has one more internal, so its probably better to get around (guardian FSD booster, fuel scoop) with a combat ready outfitting.

edit:
btw OP - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php/116-Ships-of-Elite <- isn't this the place to discuss SHIPs?
 
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TheGrimCorsair

T
If the only thing you're doing is duelling, which just amounts to helicoptering around and DPS racing, the Chieftain is your ship. The Challenger is better for anything else.
 
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