Would you care to elaborate some more on your perception of the exploration and scouting roles and the difference between the two, please?
It seems to me you want to use the DBS for planetary exploration. That is what the DBX is supposed to excel in.
Sure, I was originally posting from phone, but yes I can definitely elaborate.
Alright so my perception of a scout ship is a ship with considerable jump distance that is light, low on weapon, with a great range of scanning and diagnostic tools. The jump distance would be to stay ahead of the fleet or to quickly reconnaissance situations and back. An explorer would be a ship that could go long distance and be able to have multiple array of tools to deal with multiple types of situations. The problem is that the explorer at the moment takes both of these roles. It has a higher jump distance and more module capabilities to do that mission. Which is fine, I'm not here to portray that the scout needs to have a higher jump distance than the explorer. What I want to portray is that there is almost no role in which another ship is not better around the same price range for the same "scouting" missions.
Then get a DBX and throw some dirties on it? the DBS is supposed to be the cheapo alternative to the DBX, It's a bit like the Hauler, the Ship that *Can* work as a long range exploration ship, but wasn't *designed* to be a Long Range exploration ship. It feels like it was made for quick jaunts out of the bubble within, say 1000 lys, to go look at something close by, and the DBX is supposed to be the thing you bring if your gonna cram all your stuff into a ship and take off for a while.
Analogy time, maybe it won't run away this time.
A DBS is like a hatchback, while you could take it from one end of the country to the other, you'd probably feel a bit more at home in an RV, which is what the DBX is.
If I got a DBX why would I not just get an Asp E ? A fully upgrade DBX is about if not cheaper than an Asp E... and the stock Asp E would still be cheaper. When I getting ready to upgrade from my Cobra, it was easy for me to upgrade to the Asp E, as in I was already at a point where I could just get a few more missions and just skip the DBE for the Asp E. But that's not my point. My point is that the scouting ships have a role to play. The Asp S does it very well. It has 5 internal compartments which give it the flexibility it needs to accomplish it's mission. If it going to do far out scouting, it can still equip the 2 sensors, 1 fuel scoop, a shield, and a cargo slot. Or if it going to land reconnaissance it can equip an switch out the shield and the cargo hold for an AFMU and an SRV. See still flexible, for different scouting mission, but not robust enough for all the situations you could encounter while exploring.
The DBS is not a cheapo alternative to a DBX. The DBS is a cheapo alternative to an Asp S. As far as the Hauler goes, I would argue that the names of the Adder and the Hauler need to be swapped (but I'm not going down that road). That is an excellent analogy, a DBS IS like a hatchback. It should be more like a cruiser motorcycle (Faster, lighter, and still be able to get out and stretch your legs).
- problem with splitting of internals is, that it would screw up existing builds. people would end up with class 2 moduls in clss 1 slots. at least that is what i heard during the debate around the DBE
- problem with another class 2 slot for the DBS is, that it would add another 190 to 300 hitpoints to it via HRP
- i have taken a DBS recently to explore (parts of the silly ship expedition) - something i had done the last time before horizons. i went for a no-shield build. i had a large bounty on my head, and was interdicted several times on the way out of the bubble. the high top and boost speed of my shieldless dbs lead to no damage by the bounty hunters. i was surprised, that it really is possible to land shieldless without damage in the DBS. my conclusion was, that i will keep that build to scout planet surfaces for geysers and fumaroles.
as others have said - take a look at the DBE after 2.3. goes live - maybe that's the ship you are looking for? a cobra mkIII, a viper mkIV or a courier can perform similar roles of well defended and outfitted deep space recon vessels (not that it is currently necessary).
Yes, someone else brought it up that previously downgrading module slots, cause some crashes. I would say... ok just add another class 1 slot. I don't want a two. I would prefer to have two 1s to fit my two class one types of scanners.
Right now the DBE is getting this same type of buff for the same reason. THERE is almost no reason to take a DBE over an ASP E. Money wise is not that big of difference. If there wasn't an issue in usage and role... then why is the DBE getting a buff? The fact is that it needed it to make it viable.
As it stands, right now a Cobra MKIII does the same role as an DBS. Has more module slots, almost as agile, faster, and better internals. The Asp S does even better. IF PRICE is the issue here for the DBS to have one extra measly slot 1 internal... fine... raise the price. (I'd point out that the Cobra is also cheaper) But give the DBS a distinct role!
I believe like the DBE is getting an increase in internal modules, than the DBS should get one extra 1 slot.
Well as you pointed out that could mean more armor... 110, at the loss of mobility. So as with the having the extra module slot also drops down speed and range. It's self balancing!
I know the FDev staff is very receptive to suggestions, all I ask is that this get reviewed.
PS. If this becomes a combat balancing issue... I'd lose two of the hardpoints for one internal slot. Of course that would cause some public outcry from others, but I just want an actual scout reconnaissance ship.
