FDEV, would you look into the T9's FSD capabilities?

[Oddity]

Contrary to many other players I actually like that ship and would like to gear it up instead of using it just as a stepping stone to a trade Anaconda. I'd like to fly it well armed with top-end equipment in open mode some day.

Once we harden our T9s to be more deterrent, to sustain in open mode, the jump rate goes from painful 13 LY towards 11 LY. The former already is, by experience, when medial routes becomes really circuitous and time/jump count/fuel curve becomes a hockey stick graph. Or destinations become unreachable, at all or with arguable expenditure. The system distances just don't harmonise with ~11LY jump limits. It is much like a cargo giant that can only cross half the atlantic.

Spoiler

I understand there need to be detriments to balance the large payload and gauge the revenue. In my opinion the time-consuming (reasonably) low turn rate, high fuel and repair costs and pad size restrictions already do that.

At the moment multi-purpose ships tend to beat cargo classes in their own game. Imo a specialised ship lacking in all other fields should stand out in it own. I've flown and compared T6 vs Asp, T7 vs Clipper and now the T9, though about the trade Anaconda I have only read.

So, any chance we'll see something like class-7 FSDs? Or a flatter jump range / total mass curve for decided cargo vessels? Perhaps in exchange for higher fuel guzzling, repair costs or higher component prices? Pretty please? I'll buy a metallic skin for my cargo giant right when available, I promise! ^.^

 

[777Driver]

I fly a Type-9 but don't agree with your analogy about getting half way across the Atlantic. the ship has a massive tank and great range. You can't compare these spaceships to ocean going vessels, the design is more like aircraft because these ship's jump.

Here's an example - A large cargo aircraft operator will plan routes with short hops (even over long distances) this enables them to carry more cargo, if they want the extra range they either load less cargo or reduce the fuel load. They cant just load up with full cargo and Fly London to Hong Kong non stop.

Am not against them implementing higher more expensive drives in the future, but at the moment the logic makes prefect sense. Operating these massive ships becomes a logistics operation.

My T9 now carries 500T over 13LY, most of my old high paying routes are accessible, the ship is heavily armed but carefully configured to give max jump range. Suddenly pushing up the jump range would just make things far too easy. Am making 5-6 million an hour, but that's after planning routes correctly

 

[Oddity]

I fly a Type-9 but don't agree with your analogy about getting half way across the Atlantic. the ship has a massive tank and great range. You can't compare these spaceships to ocean going vessels, the design is more like aircraft because these ship's jump.

Well, whether vessels or aircrafts, both are designed to traverse the distance necessary to avoid absurdly circuitous routes, which take the traveled distance through the roof, as shown above. Or cut off otherwise fit destinations. Range build for typical hops. That is what I'd like to see for our elephant.

My T9 now carries 500T over 13LY, most of my old high paying routes are accessible, the ship is heavily armed but carefully configured to give max jump range. Suddenly pushing up the jump range would just make things far too easy.

It's less the armament I worry about, more the hull plating which cuts in. Instead of a sudden push a well paid gentle... nudge would be nice. Just to get away from the hockey stick graph point where the time curve escalates. Or the trade Anaconda without that problem simply wins the competition.

Am not against them implementing higher more expensive drives in the future, but at the moment the logic makes perfect sense. Operating these massive ships becomes a logistics operation.

Agreed. Not asking for a free meal here.

 

[xiani]

I fully support the campaign for a better Type-9, though the limited FSD is the least of its problems.


Having trekked all the way to Founders world to buy one, and all the way back to my familiar, profitable Imperial trading routes...I just couldn't handle it. Credits per hour is better than a Python, but not by that much, and it's so SLOW to do anything.


Escaping mass lock from a station? That'll be 5 (crappy) boosts, even with decent thrusters & power distributor. Same thing on the way in, and you can forget about any fun approaches with flight assist off.


Spiralling in at high speed in supercruise to cut down travel time? Forget about that too.


Don't even start me on docking. OK, grinding little ships to dust in the mailslot is fun the first few times, but even with 484 tonnes of profit, this thing is just horrible.


I think that little experiment with heavy space-trucking ended up costing me more credits than destroying a Python full of imperial slaves whilst trying to dock too fast when drunk, but I'm back in the Python now, and enjoying it all the more.

 

[drenzul]

I fully support the campaign for a better Type-9, though the limited FSD is the least of its problems.


Having trekked all the way to Founders world to buy one, and all the way back to my familiar, profitable Imperial trading routes...I just couldn't handle it. Credits per hour is better than a Python, but not by that much, and it's so SLOW to do anything.


Escaping mass lock from a station? That'll be 5 (crappy) boosts, even with decent thrusters & power distributor. Same thing on the way in, and you can forget about any fun approaches with flight assist off.


Spiralling in at high speed in supercruise to cut down travel time? Forget about that too.


Don't even start me on docking. OK, grinding little ships to dust in the mailslot is fun the first few times, but even with 484 tonnes of profit, this thing is just horrible.


I think that little experiment with heavy space-trucking ended up costing me more credits than destroying a Python full of imperial slaves whilst trying to dock too fast when drunk, but I'm back in the Python now, and enjoying it all the more.

I wouldn't try that too often. Collisions are so bugged at the moment, had a Sidewinder run into my T9 (A grade shields with 4 pips in Sys, moving at under 100) and bang. Insta-killed my type 9.

 

[Vincent Starson]

I think Type 9 is great for what it is and what it does. I would like it if they increased the A class FSD range, even gave it more cost, by a couple light years. It wouldn't be overpowered to have it be 14 or 15 ly laden with 500ton would it?? It's the uber trader atm. 11 laden feels restrictive, for the time and money you spend to get there it is disappointing.

I love it to death, but I only have one wish. The one thing that bothers me the most, is the slow turning in super cruise. I often accidentally overshoot my target (planet load stutter) and turning around takes a painful amount of time. If we could just boost it a little so it takes a little less time to turn around in, that would be pretty fair I think.

 

[cpy]

It should either carry 50% more cargo or be more maneuverable. I'd live with everything, just make my slow big ship more spacey. It's huge ship why should it have same cargo space as conda? 750t with shields. Keep on truckin'! Because flying it feels like i'm loaded with 750t and not like conda that can go faster and turn faster and can carry same amount.

 

[Flyinpiranha]

I don't get why a huge freighter has such a short jump range. It's really odd to me.

 

[Vincent Starson]

I don't get why a huge freighter has such a short jump range. It's really odd to me.

It's likely because the unreleased uber trader (panther? boa?) will have better jump range / cargo.

4 more light years! 4 more light years!

 

[xtridence]

I wouldn't try that too often. Collisions are so bugged at the moment, had a Sidewinder run into my T9 (A grade shields with 4 pips in Sys, moving at under 100) and bang. Insta-killed my type 9.

I knew I have to re-buy a sidewinder...

 

[Oddity]

And I know I have to buy an Anaconda for trading soon if it stays the superior interstellar truck. Narf, I like my space walrus. -.-
Just killed two(!) NPC T-7s in one landing, one per frontal ramming, one by pushing them back into and therefore bring the station's wrath unto it. Someone please clear all the debris. *Muahahaha*

On the serious side, please spread the word to other T-9 pilots, we need support, or else FDEV probably won't even find this thread. And we'll keep flying 50 LY with 5 jumps for a 19 LY distance.