Newcomer / Intro Fast Car?

[Harrowdown]

I need something checked over. Is it my correct impression that kitting a ship out for speed is kinda useless if you're not interested in combat?

1. I haven't seen data delivery missions with particularly threatening time constraints, aside from the timed bonuses (which were always easy to get). The game X3 had some that were totally worth investing in a racing monster, but I've seen nothing like that here.

2. Even if there are interesting timed missions, supercruise takes up the bulk of your travelling time. The three minutes it takes to dock somewhere isn't going to have much of an impact unless the delivery deadline is REALLY tight.

3. Speed is a way out of failing an interdiction, but failing them really seems to be rarely an issue unless you're flying a brick or encountering a player.

4. Not sure about smuggling. Speed seems crucial, but so does running cool to avoid detection.

That's about it. The only advantages I see are maybe timed data delivery missions that also require planetary landings. Does all of that sound about right?

 

[Factabulous]

The only advantages I see are maybe timed data delivery missions that also require planetary landings.

No. Planetary landing are little different from space landings - neither require 'fast' ships as most time is in supercruise.

Other uses of fast ships I can think of:

• Planetary scan jobs - the targets move around and being able to move fast is useful
• Installation scans /attacks - more efficient in a small / fast ship
• Planetary searches - some things have been found be searching planet surfaces - fast ships make this ... faster

So basically 'on planets' and 'in combat', though I'm sure someone will think of others

 

[Ashnak]

Real space:

• combat, it can be a bonus - but for most ships, you will exceed the thuster's minimum mass once you have them into a combat build, so it's usually your personal compromise between speed, offensive capability and armour/shields. Other uses for speed can be
• surface missions, especially planetary scans. Speed removes the need for heavy shields or weapons if you can get out under fire.
• smuggling. If you get into the station at 350 m/s or more, nobody will scan you.
• racing. Apart from running the canyons on your own, there are the Elite Racers and the Buckyball Racing Club. Some other groups like the Buur Pit also do occasional speed events.

Supercruise: not really, as all ships reach the same speed there
Hyperjumping: nice feature for long distance travel. But there, speed isn't related to real space speed but instead to a combination of jump range, scooping rate and thermal performance of your ship.

 

[Ashnak]

Oh, and if we're talking about "fast" - that usually starts at ~650 m/s boost speed

 

[aRJay]

In addition to the above fitting up a ship with the best thrusters may not depending on the ship make it fast but it can make the ships handling feel much better.

 

[d8veh]

If you're running missions, mining or trading, you need speed as insurance against losing an interdiction. Insurance is rarely needed, but when you have to make a claim, you'll be glad that you had it.

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

I need something checked over. Is it my correct impression that kitting a ship out for speed is kinda useless if you're not interested in combat?

1. I haven't seen data delivery missions with particularly threatening time constraints, aside from the timed bonuses (which were always easy to get). The game X3 had some that were totally worth investing in a racing monster, but I've seen nothing like that here.

2. Even if there are interesting timed missions, supercruise takes up the bulk of your travelling time. The three minutes it takes to dock somewhere isn't going to have much of an impact unless the delivery deadline is REALLY right.

3. Speed is a way out of failing an interdiction, but failing them really seems to be rarely an issue unless you're flying a brick or encountering a player.

4. Not sure about smuggling. Speed seems crucial, but so does running cool to avoid detection.

That's about it. The only advantages I see are maybe timed data delivery missions that also require planetary landings. Does all of that sound about right?

Having an exorbitant amount of speed is useful much in the same way an exorbitant amount of range is useful when doing a long trip involving numerous jumps. High speed cuts down the time to super from a star to destination, and is helpful when loosing the mini game when interdicted. High jump range is an asset when it come to missions or the desire to do numerous jumps. I rarely ever leave the bubble, thus five out of my six ships only need 22 or so range, which when doing anything buy long range tourist mission is more than adequate. I've got them loaded out and engineered for specific purposes and use my modified explorer Conda with a range of 60 to get to them.

 

[sinisalo]

Speed isn't only for losing an interdiction. It also gives you the viable option of submitting then boosting away. My ships are fast and I like doing this to avoid the silly interdiction mini-game. There is a very significant drawback, and that's the fact that submit-then-boost doesn't kill the bad guy or stop the interdictions. So they can start chaining which is annoying. You'd think with your superior speed, earlier jump and better jump range you'd lose him for good, but there he is, ahead of you and waiting in the next system. So I'm not saying this is better, but it is satisfying to show the bad guy your heels.

He was right there a moment ago!

In combat speed is life, in smuggling too and then there is the sheer awesomeness of having a fast ship and the convenience factor too. Boost around a station at 800+ m/s and bask in the glory, or boost past the Beluga that just left the slot ahead of you. at eight times his speed. Ever fly toward something like a wake to scan only to have it disappear moments before you arrive? Or some tasty mats floating in the RES? A faster ship would have already scanned or scooped it. As a matter of fact, speed is the single biggest priority I have when selecting and building my ships. I have eleven ships in my fleet (four are Kraits). The slowest is the DBX, which just edges 500 boost. The fastest is the iEagle at 850.

It's a personal thing, and I totally get it if others find speed less important. I mean, there are commanders who fly T-9s for Pete's sake!

shudders

My Courier is the fastest ship I fly regularly. The iEagle is a specialized ship for scanning wakes and joy rides. I don't fly it much. But the Courier I fly all the time. Last year I undertook the job of building a viable fast battle Courier and found it to be the most interesting build project I've done. Everything is so finely balanced on the knife-edge. Each and every half-ton has a significant impact. When a ship uses the enhanced thrusters mass is critical. So building a Courier that is very fast, well-protected and has effective firepower is a fun challenge.

Velocity


The OP argues that speed is not important, that it's situational, or for combat only. I won't argue against that, and there's merit in that position I reckon. For me though, speed is the very thing I want out of my ships. I like my ships to fly fast, run cool and jump far. I'm willing to trade utility, firepower and protection to get it.

A few months ago my friends and I were getting our groove on in a CNB. I was flying my battle Courier and my friends were in Vettes and the like. My Courier was outrunning their missiles. That's worth it right there

 

[the100thmonkey]

I have a Sidewinder that does 717m/s. She is deeply offended that you called her useless.

 

[Northpin]

smuggling. If you get into the station at 350 m/s or more, nobody will scan you.

Not necessarily
I used to get the prison taxi from WHN to Pleiades in a lightweight d-rated T9. It worked everytime even using the slo-mo speed that a T9 is usually capable

 

[Para Handy]

..... High speed cuts down the time to super from a star to destination, ..........

Are you confused or are you referring to something different to the actual supercruise speed which is uniform for all ships and all fittings - purely gravity related.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Not necessarily
I used to get the prison taxi from WHN to Pleiades in a lightweight d-rated T9. It worked everytime even using the slo-mo speed that a T9 is usually capable

Each ship has a hidden attention rating that determines how likely it is that the police will scan you. I get more attention in my Python than I do in my Krait, for instance.

 

[Simon Templar]

I just find that I enjoy flying all my ships more if they're pretty fast and handle well, so I'd rather lose some jump range and have a nice feel to the ship. With planetary landings and players going for me and landing anywhere including stations I just like it enough to be worth it. My explorer Asp-S is like a Ferrari. With long range tanks. And if I'm attacked by a player while mining it makes it much easier to play peekaboo darting away through the asteroid belt. So even my miners are fast.

 

[Harrowdown]

Thanks everyone, I've learned some invaluable things today.

The OP argues that speed is not important, that it's situational, or for combat only. I won't argue against that, and there's merit in that position I reckon.

I wouldn't put it like that exactly. I'm not argueing anything at least, I just wanted to check if my understanding of it was correct. As it stands, I see now that just didn't have the whole picture yet. I kind of suspected it.