Equal Terms thought experiment

[Screemonster]

A ship's performance in a duel is not always indicative of it's overall PvP utility or representation.

This is a big thing.
Like, if I wanted to go into an organised wingfight or duel, I'd have to put myself a completely new loadout together as none of my existing ships are really suited to that.
A duelling setup, likewise, wouldn't really be suitable for the things that I do tend to use my ships for. I mean... assassination missions, I guess? Even with massacres there's a stark difference in loadout between a ship built to take on a single tough opponent and a ship built to take on fifty weak ones.
If I stumble into another cmdr in a conflict zone, I'm not likely to be flying a dedicated pvp ship. I'm there for pve - and in open, that means "built to do pve, but capable of handling an encounter with another cmdr who is also there to do pve".

 

[Cmdr Snuffler]

you are implying an imperfect scenario, I'm implying that if both players have 500 hours of PVP combat in their respected ships (just to note 10 with over 2827 zeros worth of hours is mathematically going to always win, actually I don't even think that is theoretically possible to have played for that long.)

It certainly feels like I've played 10^2827 hours since ED was released
I think it's others who are implying an imperfect scenario. For two people to have exactly the same skill in something after x many hours practicing is an extreme edge case. There are so many factors that come into play...including genetics and past experiences...some people just have faster reaction times or can process information faster for example.
Now if we're talking identical twins who have had the same upbringing, enjoy the same things, have the exact same experiences for the exact amount of time, then yea, they "might" have the same skill in something new after the same amount of time put in...but even this isn't set in stone.
Brain development at a young age also plays a big role in skills in later life. Edge case I know, but if a 0 year old learns to speak a language for 2 years then usually they are talking by the age of two, or at least muttering certain words...but this isn't always the case, it all falls into a normal distribution curve.
If a child hasn't learnt a language by the age of 6 then they will never, ever, be able to talk or learn a language...ever. There are lots of studies on this.

 

[Cmdr Snuffler]

With a Cutter, no one sane will even attempt to attack a well build PvP Cutter in a FdL because you'd have to synth yourself
poor to get through the umpteen zillion mj of shields. And it's boooooooring.

I love doing this Never managed to drop a PvP Cutters shields in my Vulture before I have to wake though...but I find it fun trying.
While I have used phasing lasers before I have never kitted my FDL out as a full phasing build...how does a cutter handle this or a fletchet build? Both of which bleed past shields.

 

[Bigmaec]

I love doing this Never managed to drop a PvP Cutters shields in my Vulture before I have to wake though...but I find it fun trying.
While I have used phasing lasers before I have never kitted my FDL out as a full phasing build...how does a cutter handle this or a fletchet build? Both of which bleed past shields.

Yeah, I mean I have a rapid fire phasing pulse Vulture myself, I'd love to take on a prismatic Cutter with that.
37 minutes later, I'd have reduced it to 60% hull and one ring, and it wakes out

 

[Cmdr Snuffler]

Last post on the subject...
Today after talking to some professional snowboard and football coaches on the topic of skill vs hours put in I learnt a few interesting things myself.
Two of the most striking things I learnt were:

1. People with light coloured eyes have faster reaction times than people with dark coloured eyes
2. Top athletes in the NHL all have their birthdays within 3 months of each other

They suggested that people have a read of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, which explains in detail why people have different level of abilities even though they put in the same amount of learning/training into a given activity.

"This absolutely applies to computer games" was what they both 100% agreed on.

 

[Stealthie]

Well...

what Morbad says… but...

A FdL generally can't take out a Corvette alone, before it wakes out, if it even has enough ammo to get through
a class 7 shield gen and two class 7 banks.

A Corvette generally can't take out a FdL because it's too evasive and can use the superior agility to engage and disengage
at will.

With a Cutter, no one sane will even attempt to attack a well build PvP Cutter in a FdL because you'd have to synth yourself
poor to get through the umpteen zillion mj of shields. And it's boooooooring.

All 1v1 and no rock-paper-scissors.

This is the thing.

It's all very well saying "In a fight, where both players are this, and both ships have that and the other..."

But it doesn't work like that.

If, for example, Formula 1 had no rules, I'd enter the race in bulldozer.... and I'd win.

As Bigmaec says, fundamentally, ED combat is "rock/paper/scissors" and smart players are always going to try to build ships that have attributes that an opponent can't undermine easily.

Also, lastly, a lot of the reason big ships are "frowned upon" for PvP is simply because they can be built too tough.
I've seen PvPers getting salty after attacking a Cutter which obviously has a squillion mj of shield and then can outfly it and outshoot it but it's like trying to knock down a house with a water pistol.

 

[zimms]

Last post on the subject...
Today after talking to some professional snowboard and football coaches on the topic of skill vs hours put in I learnt a few interesting things myself.
Two of the most striking things I learnt were:

1. People with light coloured eyes have faster reaction times than people with dark coloured eyes
2. Top athletes in the NHL all have their birthdays within 3 months of each other

They suggested that people have a read of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, which explains in detail why people have different level of abilities even though they put in the same amount of learning/training into a given activity.

"This absolutely applies to computer games" was what they both 100% agreed on.

 

[Greasetrap42]

You could have played for 10^2827 hrs and yet someone with 10 hrs experience could be a better combat pilot that you.

How does someone with 10 hours experience have the credits for these ships? How did they rank up for the Cutter & Corvette? How did they get the engineering?

I'm gonna guess maybe you mean 10 hours PvP experience, assuming the player has already learned the game, leveled up their ranks and purchased the ships, and PvE combat to unlock engineers, and experienced with modules and ship outfitting for combat. The player must already have competence in the game and know lots about it. In which case yes, a player that just started PvP mght be really fantastic in under 10 hours.

Isn't this all way off topic to the OP? The original question was obviously trying to compare the ships assuming equally experienced & capable PvP players.