Clipper or Python?

Jerakeen

Jerakeen
Krow said:
Personally I think skipping the Clipper is a big mistake. <snip>

Not saying the Clipper is a superior ship, it isn't, I just think it would be a shame to skip past the ship I've personally had the most fun in. (second fastest in the game)
Sure you can come back and buy it when you're wealthy in your Python, but are you going to do that with a Hauler and Adder as well..

Awesome ship.
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I agree. I had my Clipper for a couple of months before I got the money for a Python. I don't like to buy a bare bones ship then struggle to make it good. I'd rather hold on to the smaller ship then upgrade the new one to a decent spec. That's why I used the time it took to get Baron rank to accumulate the credits to put a reasonable fit on the Clipper when I got it. I think I spent about 50 or 60 million on it then upgraded it further as I went along.

Then I used it for the long rare run for ages with BH on the side for light relief. It is a great all rounder, nimble and fun to fly and once you get used to the position of the weapons it's a very capable combat ship.

In terms of the combat I'd compare the Clipper to a rapier. Fast and agile, it darts in, does it's damage then gets away before it can be hurt.
The Python is a heavyweight boxer armed with a bludgeon. It stands there, takes whatever is thrown at it then retaliates with the knockout.

Both very entertaining ships but I didn't move up to the Python until I had over 100 million in the bank to do what I wanted to it. It's now worth 130 million and I don't feel that spending any more on it would make it any better.

I've found that whenever I've bought a ship before I had the funds to do it properly I've regretted it and sold it again to go back to my previous ship.
 

Hilight

Hilight
Silh said:
Because of the discount, I just picked up a Python and spent ~10M to get it to a trading configuration with 284 cargo (http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=605,mpX0_g0_g0_g0_g,2-6QA07_6uBaA08I,0AA0AA0AA08c08c0727Pc05U03w). The biggest expense was the A5 FSD, of course. Downgrading to a 4A power plant helped lower the mass, and I'm not running any weapons anyhow. Making about 760k cr per 12 minute round trip now... just a bit slower due to slower top speed in normalspace and can't turn as tight in supercruise for planetbraking.

Sorta sad that the 3A shield on the Python is stronger than the 4A shield on the Clipper. :p The Python has much better lateral thrusters, and if you can afford it, a ton of power to be able to run a good selection of weapons and shield cells. The Clipper's weapon placements are weird, and shields are on the weak side even when top rated... but is designed to move forward, fast! If you need to run from trouble, just keep on hitting boost. All that said, for me the Clipper is still more fun to fly, and I love the way the engine sound screams.

Plan is to keep on trading with the Python to be able to afford the 51 million 7A shield for the Clipper, and eventually fully combat fit it...
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That's a pretty nice trading loadout on your Python....I really like the jump range you ended up with. Here is the loadout I use use for mine

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=605,mpX01Q0_g0_g0_g,2-7_9Y7_6QB6A08I,0AA0AA0AA08c08c7RA05U05U2UI

...I've got an advanced scanner on mine because I move to new trading routes all the time and I like the bit of cash exploration data provides and it helps me move up in exploration rank while I'm busy trading. I've also got a 5A power plant as it provides 20 power and my systems together use around 17.7, so I never have to worry about power management
 

shadowwar

shadowwar
My take on these ships....wait and buy a Python. The Clipper shields are not man enough to protect it under sustained attack. I know because I am in an Anaconda (made possible by trading in my Python) and a clipper blows up after 8 seconds of sustained attack by my weapons and a Python takes me about 15 seconds to blow to bits and during this time a python can take a ring off my shields.

The Python while more expensive sounds and feels like a big ship but can land on a Medium Pad where a Clipper needs a Large Pad. I also think I can carry more cargo in a Python.

The Clipper is fast but not a good bet for even pirating in my opinion. The large weapon points are in the Wings and the Medium are in the body of the ship. This makes it I found difficult to get a fast kill.

For looks the Clipper looks real pretty but for versatility and functionality the Python gets my vote.

Ultimately you need an Anaconda!
 

woodhouse

woodhouse
I tried both, never liked the Python, love the Clipper. After flying the Clipper for some time, the Python feels terrible, the canopy is in the way of the view, and it just doesn't handle at all.

I am now working my way towards a T9 for trading, a Clipper as a general purpose, Asp for exploration and a Cobra for general purposes that involve small pads. I can't wait to swap the temporary Vulture back to a Clipper. When doing a CZ community goal, the Vulture has the advantage that you practically never need to go back to the station, but in the Vulture CZ fighting is a little mechanical and in the Clipper, it is easy and at the same time more exciting.
 
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Poseidal

Poseidal
shadowwar said:
My take on these ships....wait and buy a Python. The Clipper shields are not man enough to protect it under sustained attack. I know because I am in an Anaconda (made possible by trading in my Python) and a clipper blows up after 8 seconds of sustained attack by my weapons and a Python takes me about 15 seconds to blow to bits and during this time a python can take a ring off my shields.

The Python while more expensive sounds and feels like a big ship but can land on a Medium Pad where a Clipper needs a Large Pad. I also think I can carry more cargo in a Python.

The Clipper is fast but not a good bet for even pirating in my opinion. The large weapon points are in the Wings and the Medium are in the body of the ship. This makes it I found difficult to get a fast kill.

For looks the Clipper looks real pretty but for versatility and functionality the Python gets my vote.

Ultimately you need an Anaconda!
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They do the same things, for the most part, but the Clipper's speed gives it something the Python can never have.

The Python is a better trader (though is that a bug? The Python in FE2/FFE had less space than the Imperial Trader, the Clipper's equivalent.)

A Clipper doesn't need to run Gimbals. While the Python has better fire-power and toughness, it can't dictate a fight the same way a Clipper can.

Thus the Clipper is as versitile (it loses on the medium pads), and for individual functions it depends what you are doing with it. The Python is probably stronger overall, but has fewer options if it gets into something over it's head.

I'm currently in a Python to use as a trader, but it's not as enjoyable. View is worse (the block in the top left is worse than the bars in the Fer de Lance for me, though I'm fine with the FdL canopy), it moves worse in SC, is uglier (though it's not a bad looking ship), the seat is on the wrong side (though it is quite comfy), and is 100 m/s slower.
 

pargyrak

pargyrak
Poseidal said:
The Python is a space Volvo.
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Nah... Python is sexy looking (to my taste) has big cargo space, room for a lot of extras, bug fuel tank, fast enough

So Python is a Space Passat 2008 CC 3.6lt 4x4. Does everything well but not perfect and it is expensive.

I know I own both :)

Figure I have a 10 day grinding ahead of me to get from my mostly C to A grade to a full A grade... Unless Diamondback proves to be a better choice
 
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Arithon

Arithon
Clipper
PROS: Sexy, fast, good cargo space, cheaper to fit out.
CONS: Glass jaw, small fuel tank giving limited range, Class 3 weapon points are on the wing pods and make aiming a struggle without gimbals, requires large pad and is a hazard getting into stations due to width.

Python
PROS: Tough, good cargo space, well positioned hard-points, can land on medium pads which makes it THE mission ship and tough (eats Anaconda's for breakfast).
CONS: Slower, very expensive to fit out (123M CR)
 

Iskariot

Iskariot
wire2k said:
Mostly im trying to get a sense of at which point a Python is operationally viable. With all previous ships ive been able to pretty much A fit them straight away but with the Clipper and Python theres a big $ difference between stock and A rated and so going to upgrade slowly bit by bit so its more C rated Clipper or E rated Python.

While I could afford to fit a Clipper quite well I have 2 main issues.

  1. Still need to reach Baron rank, im currently Squire and have done two Rank Ascension ’Kill X Pirates’ and still no change.
  2. Large pads only, with my T7 I have found large pads only has restricted my trading options.

For me the Clipper would be a stepping stone towards Python, I see the Clipper as a sort of Vulture/T7 combo and while it has a bit more firepower than a Vulture and a bit more cargo space than a T7 the Python on the other hand can do alot more firepower and alot more cargo AND land on Medium Pads.
If I had reached Baron earlier I probably would have bought a Clipper as soon as I could afford one but given that by the time I reach Baron ill probably have enough to skip it straight to a reasonably fit Python I may aswell go for a low Python now to take advantage of the Zaonce sale.

Playing around with others suggestions i figure minimum I can get a stock Python to an ok trader for 3 mil by shuffling the stock internals and adding a B5 FSD, 2xSize 6 racks and a Size 3 rack for 11Ly Laden range at 218tonnes.
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I agree with basically everything you said. The Imperial Clipper was a stepping stone towards the Python for me too and I also very much deplored the fact that it can only use large pads (FD should make the engine pods retractable :) ). As soon as I read that owning the Clipper and the Dropship depended on your rank in the respective factions I immediately took care of that. I want to be able to fly all ships in the game.

The Python is a great versatile machine. It is a good earner and a bad-ass combat ship. The fact that it can use all station types is a huge plus indeed.
Although I prefer the Python, the Clipper is a fun ship to fly. It is is fast and displays some interesting idiosyncrasies. It is the only ship which engines 'sing' and the placement of the hard points is unique too. Perhaps you will see a chance to have fun in one at a later time.
 

wire2k

W
I sold off my T7 and a Vulture and now have a little under 44mil for a Python. I still have a T6 and another Vulture aswell as a cobra and an eagle floating around somewhere. I could sell the 2nd Vulture but i want to keep it for BH while i build up the Python.
Im going to take advantage of the Diso CG and run rares between Lave and Altair (http://eliteraretrader.co.uk/?route=83,51,52,72,62,23,30,81,1,31,6&name=Lave-Altair) with the T6 for a while until i have a further 12 mil or so then i can sell the T6 for 2 mil more and buy my Python.
58mil should be enough for the Python, a little trade fitting and some buffer for trade/insurance.

Despite my skipping it the Clipper is something i want at some point and is likely my next buy unless the Diamondback or Imp Courier are especially interesting and with the larger capacity and Med size of the Python going Python then Clipper will probably work out the quicker way of earning both ships than Clipper then Python.
 

GRIZZWORLD

GRIZZWORLD
I have a T9 and my Python. The T9 is my heavy duty 18 wheeler and big Cash earner.
The Python i use when im a bit tired of trucking and feel its time to have a look around
unknown systems, Trading on outposts and generally going wherever the tradewinds take me.
 
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