Exploring in a Cobra

Firebeard

Firebeard
Greetings commanders

This weekend I fancy going sightseeing, I'm still pretty poor in cash terms but am thinking of trading in Ermintrude my Type 6 (class A FSD class D pretty much everything else worth about 2.5 mill) and buying a cobra to explore.

I'm just wondering if folk can give me a clue as to how much "spare" cash I'd need once traded in to get the ADS and Internals to be useful as an explorer.

I know the Cobra probably isn't ideal for the role but I know I don't have the cash to go to asp and am just trying something different.

Firebeard
 

mossfoot

mossfoot
You might want to stick with the Type 6. It has a great range and cockpit for views. You could go farther in it than a Cobra
 

EMarkM

EMarkM
Ooh, I was considering a Type 6 when I swapped my explorer Hauler for my explorer Cobra yesterday.

I've never flown one. As I'm not very combat oriented, would this be a good decision for me?

Sorry to hijack!

OP, the Cobra is a fine exploration vessel and has a slightly better cockpit view than some of the alternatives such as the Adder.

Watch out for those Class 4 components, though: too easy to buy a nice A3 only to find it doesn't work :(

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Oh and, from a cost point of view, my current Rebuy is about 300,000CR, if you can work it out from that.
 

mossfoot

mossfoot
Type 6 has one of the best cockpits for exploring. It ugly, yes (I call mind The Brick) but exploration is a non combat gig and short of an asp it might be the best you can get :)

Sides, I kinda like the idea of exploring in a non sexy ship. Kind of has a purity of purpose to it. ;)
 

Firebeard

Firebeard
Type 6 can hit pretty much nigh on 30ly range and has enough space for the deelies. And does indeed have a good cockpit.
 

Agony_Aunt

Agony_Aunt
The T6 can outjump the cobra.

To check out ship cost, go to edshipyard.com and configure your a ship.

Basically Class D everything except FSD which should be A, and you probably want a reasonable fuel scoop (but they don't weigh anything, so focus on refuel time vs cost)

Up to you whether to take shields. Personally i do.

This is a Cobra for 4.5 million that will get you around 26LY jump distance: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=302,,2-6u6u6Q5K5K5K6k,4-4mpT7Q4mpT2jw2UI (dropping to a 3D power plant will get you a little extra range if you want).

5 million for a T6 with a 30LY range: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=30W,,2-5K6u6Q3m5K3m6k,50ompV7Q42jw2UI

So, for a little extra cost, then T6 will get you the better explorer ship.

Of course, what you really want is an Asp, but an Asp decently configured for exploration runs to about 14 million, but you need around half a million for insurance.
 

Javert

Volunteer Moderator
Javert
If you want to go exploring in a Cobra won't you need a much better fsd, a good fuel scoop if going out of inhabited space, plus an advanced discovery scanner and a DSS? Those things are going to set you back a few million on top of the ship price.

Not sure whether you also need field repair units - do ships conk out on long journeys without one?
 

Allitnil

Allitnil
The T6 is better value for money than the Cobra, but I can't bring myself to head out into the vast unknown in a freighter designed for use in inhabited space, just kills the roleplay aspect for me. But if that doesn't bother you then the T6 is a logical choice, at least for now. I'm hoping that at some point there will be dangers out there that require good normal space speed, defence, etc a necessity to get back home alive.

Either ship you choose, class A FSD is a must. A small class A power plant is better than class D as it generates less heat. Best fuel scoop you can afford. Everything else class D. Sell weapons as you won't be fighting. Shield optional, but recommended (if going for the Cobra, downgrade to 3D)

I'm currently heading for the core in a Cobra as the final part of a challenge I set myself to do a virtual wipe & start again but ONLY using exploring to earn cash (absolutely no missions, trading, bounty hunting, etc). See https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=108483 for the journal.
 

RedFenrir

R
Don't forget the Hauler.I'm about 4000ly from sol with one.Jump range is 28,55ly.Sure,the hauler have a smaller fuel tank but it's enough to jump 3-4 times without scooping and the cockpit view is still better than Adder.
 

EMarkM

EMarkM
Well, I for one have been and gone and done it!

The view from this Type-6 is lovely...

Just one or two more upgrades to get - I'm on a B4 FSD (need an A4), I have A4 thrusters (want D4 really), maybe swap my A2 life support to D2, and I'll take a look at those "smaller but A-rated" power plants too :)
 

AnnuverScotinExile

AnnuverScotinExile
PatrickW said:
If you want to go exploring in a Cobra won't you need a much better fsd, a good fuel scoop if going out of inhabited space, plus an advanced discovery scanner and a DSS? Those things are going to set you back a few million on top of the ship price.

Not sure whether you also need field repair units - do ships conk out on long journeys without one?
Click to expand...
Until 1.1 there really was no point, because a field repair unit would not repair the things that mattered to an explorer. Same with heat sink launchers: you can not launch them from supercruise, so most of the times you would like to use them you can't. Now it looks as if it is worth packing a field maintenance unit or two (then they can repair each other), but be aware that the most likely damage to hulls through SC dropouts and getting too hot, still cannot be repaired. The danger in exploring is losing concentration or getting distracted and getting some hull damage. In other trades this is no real problem, because you just pop into your local space port and repair it. When exploring you can't.
 

mossfoot

mossfoot
Allitnil said:
The T6 is better value for money than the Cobra, but I can't bring myself to head out into the vast unknown in a freighter designed for use in inhabited space, just kills the roleplay aspect for me.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree. For one thing an explorer ship has no need to be combat ready, just good at what it does. So taking a clearly non combat ship seems more immersive.

You could RP it with the justification that you're pumping a lot of money into converting it. "isn't that a trading ship?" "Yeah, but she's got a hell of an FSD profile. I'm thinking I can get twenty five light years out of her, swap out some cargo space for scanning equipment and a top notch fuel scoop. I'll make an explorer out of her yet!"
 

Dominico

D
mossfoot said:
I have to disagree. For one thing an explorer ship has no need to be combat ready, just good at what it does. So taking a clearly non combat ship seems more immersive.

You could RP it with the justification that you're pumping a lot of money into converting it. "isn't that a trading ship?" "Yeah, but she's got a hell of an FSD profile. I'm thinking I can get twenty five light years out of her, swap out some cargo space for scanning equipment and a top notch fuel scoop. I'll make an explorer out of her yet!"
Click to expand...

Much more room for all the burgers and holovids. Even room for a cinema and pool.
 

Tarman

Tarman
Allitnil said:
The T6 is better value for money than the Cobra, but I can't bring myself to head out into the vast unknown in a freighter designed for use in inhabited space
Click to expand...

Do you mean like this one? :D

Melfal.jpg
 
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