Indeed it does. Outsider for Eagle, Master for Courier, Baron for Clipper.
It used to be Serf during the Gutamaya rank discounts along with the Courier, but they went back to their normal requirements after the Emperor was assassinated.
It used to be Serf during the Gutamaya rank discounts along with the Courier, but they went back to their normal requirements after the Emperor was assassinated.
I lucked out and bought it back when I only had the Master rank; apparently the Emperor had just awoken from a coma so they celebrated by relaxing rank requirements a bit. Now, maybe stuff like this will happen again at some point, but it's impossible to predict when, and even if it will happen again. Another possibility is that it's rank requirement will drop when they introduce the Cutter, much like the Fed Dropship's requirement dropped when the FAS and FGS were introduced.
But honestly, if you want it, grind those ranks. Having A-rated mine and flown it a lot in all sorts of situations, I can say I really think it's worth it. Does cost a bundle to set up right but when you do she almost flies herself.
But honestly, if you want it, grind those ranks. Having A-rated mine and flown it a lot in all sorts of situations, I can say I really think it's worth it. Does cost a bundle to set up right but when you do she almost flies herself.
...in the sense the ship does absolutely nothing at all, in any way, unless you press a button or move a controller?
Last edited:
...in the sense the ship does absolutely nothing at all, in any way, unless you press a button or move a controller?
More in a sense that combat against NPC's seems almost effortless - I never feel threatened. What can outgun me can't outturn or outrun me. The ship is fast and packs a punch, so I find NPC combat easy in it. Almost as if I was on autopilot. Even though this ship is big, due to her good speed and maneuverability she's just easy to fly, dock, or navigate through an asteroid field (need to get used to inertia a bit but it's not a problem). That's what I meant by that - just taking a bit of poetic license here
Last edited:
Per one of the current community goals, Imperial Rank may not be much of an issue for a little while in less than a week.
Note that currently there is a as Imperial bureaucrats haven't yet gotten around to relaxing the Achenar permit requirements.
Galnet News 15 Oct 3301 said:
Note that currently there is a as Imperial bureaucrats haven't yet gotten around to relaxing the Achenar permit requirements.
UnderstoodMore in a sense that combat against NPC's seems almost effortless - I never feel threatened. What can outgun me can't outturn or outrun me. The ship is fast and packs a punch, so I find NPC combat easy in it. Almost as if I was on autopilot. Even though this ship is big, due to her good speed and maneuverability she's just easy to fly, dock, or navigate through an asteroid field (need to get used to inertia a bit but it's not a problem). That's what I meant by that - just taking a bit of poetic license here
Any place with lots of imperial sub factions surrounded with systems that are the same works fine. I got my last two at Kaliki and Zeta Horologii, but there other systems just as good..
Last edited:
Big thank you brother. Normally I'm against pretty much everything Imperial due to slavery, but I may have to grab some non-Imperial slaves to improve their lives for this one. Beside's, this saves me from having to do 100+ missions for them, thus furthering their goals just for a ship.
Last edited:
I just availed of this, but feel a little dirty...
When I started the game, getting the ranks for the Clipper (and Dropship) were my main goals in the game. Why? Simply because they were two of the only "goals" you could have in the game, and I love having longer term goals at which to aim. I got stuck on Lord and Warrant Officer (just below the rank required) months ago and gave up. I finally made Ensign and it felt great! Finally achieved something I set out to do back in March, and ended up with a shiny new Assault ship in return.
But the Clipper? I bought it without achieving the Baron rank, thanks to the recent Imperial ship rank change. I bought it with a massive discount, thanks to Powerplay. And all the money for it came from the recent long-range smuggling missions (no log-outs to refresh missions though).
I was flying around in my shiny new Clipper just feeling... I haven't earned this. Several months of (unsuccessfully) grinding rank, weeks of building money but not enough.. and I have it after a couple of days play thanks to the recent changes.
I feel dirty. I think I'll start hauling slaves now, murdering, pillaging. That's the calibre of pilot I am now...
When I started the game, getting the ranks for the Clipper (and Dropship) were my main goals in the game. Why? Simply because they were two of the only "goals" you could have in the game, and I love having longer term goals at which to aim. I got stuck on Lord and Warrant Officer (just below the rank required) months ago and gave up. I finally made Ensign and it felt great! Finally achieved something I set out to do back in March, and ended up with a shiny new Assault ship in return.
But the Clipper? I bought it without achieving the Baron rank, thanks to the recent Imperial ship rank change. I bought it with a massive discount, thanks to Powerplay. And all the money for it came from the recent long-range smuggling missions (no log-outs to refresh missions though).
I was flying around in my shiny new Clipper just feeling... I haven't earned this. Several months of (unsuccessfully) grinding rank, weeks of building money but not enough.. and I have it after a couple of days play thanks to the recent changes.
I feel dirty. I think I'll start hauling slaves now, murdering, pillaging. That's the calibre of pilot I am now...
I was just looking through the shipyard at Shen Terminal, and to my great surprise I see the Clipper available to purchase - and I have no rank in Imperial Navy, just Outsider I believe. This must be a bug or has it changed on purpose?!?
I have recently ranked up in Federal for the Sol permit, and got Achenar on the way, but that is it.
Edit: I see a community goal eliminates need for rank to purchase Clipper if you deliver slaves - but I have not and can still buy it.
I have recently ranked up in Federal for the Sol permit, and got Achenar on the way, but that is it.
Edit: I see a community goal eliminates need for rank to purchase Clipper if you deliver slaves - but I have not and can still buy it.
Last edited:
I bought one too, and have no rank with Empire. In fact never been in Empire space - and certainly never touched any slave cargo.
But what to do with it? It is very poor with regard to shield strength and agility, even maxed - surely no good for combat?
But what to do with it? It is very poor with regard to shield strength and agility, even maxed - surely no good for combat?
Last edited:
Playing with coriolis it can carry 232T cargo with 300mj shields, at 350/440ms. Would have been great when trading my way into my Python!
Last edited:
It has drawbacks as a trader too. Needs a L pad and has poor jump range. Again, what do people do with it?
Last edited:
Forget about the in-game maneuverability rating, it is -extremely- misleading. Put the biggest A rated thrusters on it and she's a joy to fly - really fast (fastest without boost, on boost second only to the Cobra mk.III) and she actually turns pretty well.
Shields cost a fortune to max out at 7A, if you put a few boosters you get kinda decent shielding but frankly, Clipper's shielding is far from impressive.
Firepower is great, but hardpoint placement isn't good for fixed weapons.
Lots of internals of all sizes, giving you good options.
Overall, this ship can be very effective in combat in the right hands, while still able to carry a decent amount of cargo. A clipper pilot is, on top of that, able to decide when the fight is over and withdraw in most situations, without the opponent being able to do much about it. So, you get great speed, good maneuverability and firepower, at the cost of shield tankiness, inability to land at outposts and hardpoints not being great for fixed weapons. But everything has some kind of a tradeoff - overall it's a great ship, forget that maneuverability stat and try her out.
I personally used her quite effectively in RES's, combat zones and also doing missions in order to rank up. Due to the generous internal compartments she's good at most tasks that don't involve landing at outposts, since you can have some mission specific equipment in your loadout without making major compromises (such as an FSD interdictor, or whatever else you might need).
I haven't done any pirating, but due to it's speed, firepower, and cargo capacity it's also a popular pirate vessel. Frankly, I haven't found inability to land at outposts very relevant. If I need to go to an outpost I either jump in my Courier or get a temporary ship if my Courier's not at my current location. Not a big deal at all, I had to go to outposts more earlier in the game, I find I need them less and less as time goes by.
Last edited:
Clipper's jump range is actually firmly in the mediocre area, and better than most dedicated cargo carriers. As for outposts, most outposts don't have enough goods in stock in their commodity markets to make them viable points in a trade route, anyway. Large pad requirement is really not as big of a deal as some make it out to be.
Last edited:
I have had a great time in High RES with this load-out
[Imperial Clipper]
L: 3D/T Beam Laser
L: 3D/T Beam Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
U: 0I Point Defence
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
BH: 1I Reactive Surface Composite
RB: 6A Power Plant
TM: 6A Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 5D Life Support
PC: 6A Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 4C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 16)
7: 7A Shield Generator
6: 6A Fuel Scoop
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner
---
Shield: 489.60 MJ
Power : 20.12 MW retracted (80 %)
24.68 MW deployed (98 %)
25.20 MW available
Cargo : 52 T
Fuel : 16 T
Mass : 713.0 T empty
781.0 T full
Range : 16.90 LY unladen
15.77 LY laden
Price : 236,173,730 CR
Re-Buy: 11,808,687 CR @ 95% insurance
[Imperial Clipper]
L: 3D/T Beam Laser
L: 3D/T Beam Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
U: 0I Point Defence
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
BH: 1I Reactive Surface Composite
RB: 6A Power Plant
TM: 6A Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 5D Life Support
PC: 6A Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 4C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 16)
7: 7A Shield Generator
6: 6A Fuel Scoop
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner
---
Shield: 489.60 MJ
Power : 20.12 MW retracted (80 %)
24.68 MW deployed (98 %)
25.20 MW available
Cargo : 52 T
Fuel : 16 T
Mass : 713.0 T empty
781.0 T full
Range : 16.90 LY unladen
15.77 LY laden
Price : 236,173,730 CR
Re-Buy: 11,808,687 CR @ 95% insurance
The phalic shape of the ship seems to be make many owners happy.
It seems to be a very good trader prior to Phyton. Also a decent miner. And a passable combat vessel.
The right question is, what can it not do?
It's the bets ship in the game if you choose to pirate.