Ship Builds & Load Outs FDL? 75M Versatility Combat Build

A While ago I posted asking for suggestions about the Python. A beautiful ship it is, But After watching many many videos i cant help fut feel the FDL may suit me better (and be a bigger return on investment right now seeing as i don't do much trading and already have a Lakon 6 should i feel the urge). Currently have 43m CR and a well outfitted Vulture. Still plan to go for the python after this. May sell the lakon 6 & cobra at that point

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,7RL4yH4yH7u57u53RY3wo0_g3RY01Q3hA,2-7_7_6Q729Y725A,0727RA7goA2M4wE
This is what I have come up with. It's a Do-Everything Combat built. 4A SCB, A Booster. A thrusters. A shields.

I've Opted to keep the 0t Lightweight alloys for best acceleration/handling to make getting that massive bottom mounted cannon on target easier. Imho if shields are failing its time to bail anyways. (Does anyone know if having the heavier bulkheads reduces damage to systems?)

Planned uses:

Running SSS with friends (We also have a Python and 2 A-spec Cobra pilots among us)
Assassination Missions (Kill anaconda)
Combat zones
More RES Farming
Pirating any NPCs with exceptionally valuable items on them
it still has a single 16t rack, I suppose i could use it for doing High-value cargo runs
Putting up a hell of a fight if other CMDRs interfere in our endeavors. (I don't actively hunt other CMDRs thus the lack of an interdictor. I honestly wouldn't want to be constantly repairing hull damage on this thing anyways)

Not sure if more lasers would have been better in the medium slots. the single Huge cannon may be enough to cover kinetic damage needs?
 
You can upgrade the 16T to a 32T cargo rack, as it's in the class 5 slot.

Or move it to the class 4 and use a 5D shield generator, saving you 2T and giving you a bit more power to try some other things, or a 5A generator which I think you still have power for.
 
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,7RL5Rg5Rg5Rg5Rg3we0_g0_g0_g0_g01Q,2-7_7_6Q6u9Y6u5A,7Sk0724_w03w02M

This is what I run on my FDL. I think shield cells are overvalued on combat ships.

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Hull reinforcement directly increases hull hp (they are a hull analogue of shield boosters). Things like military composite give your hull (and only your hull) damage resistance. None of these things affect damage resistance or hit point of subsystems. Class B subsystems have more hit points and are hardened vs damage. In return, they are worse than class A, and are the heaviest subsystem class. Some people run class B thrusters...

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FDL is kind of terrible for cargo runs, it has heavy overcharged components for its hull mass (class 6 distributor says hello), and its hull mass is quite heavy for its FSD (class 4). It's alright for doing like naval progression missions where you need to find 4 non-lethal weapons or something, but that's about it.
 
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http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,7RL5Rg5Rg5Rg5Rg3we0_g0_g0_g0_g01Q,2-7_7_6Q6u9Y6u5A,7Sk0724_w03w02M

This is what I run on my FDL. I think shield cells are overvalued on combat ships.

[...]

Arguably. While you not really need them against NPC apart from some SSS and CZ situations where you may get swarmed, they are very useful in PvP. But the ships who can take serious advantage of SCB need two things: strong base shields to tank incoming alpha damage until the SCB kicks in and plenty of power to support those.

The best ships for shield tanking are the Python and the Anaconda. Although the Pythons base shields are lower at 645MJ with 3xA Boosters (compared to your FdL 855), but it is enough to tank the alpha damage of most attacks. In addition I have 4 SCB which can charge simultaneously and add up to 620MJ. So basically I end up with full shields every time I use my SCB. As I couldn't strip my own shields with my alpha strike delivering ~600 shield damage in 6 seconds before the capacitor is empty (full laser), I basically won't lose my shields in any 1on1 alpha strike situation apart from a laser Anaconda 500m away on my six which I somehow oversaw (although even then instant chaff+boost+SCB may work - I need 5 seconds). So you'll need a wing to even touch my shields.

Assuming I always use the SCB battery with ~200MJ left (1 ring) I have tanked 445MJ already, 3*445 again and have full shields after the fourth/last for another 645 which adds up to 2380 if my shields don't drop before (where the strong base shield comes into effect). And that didn't count in that I in fact overheal to counter the damage while the 5 second activation time; with perfect usage (unrealistic) it would add up to 645+4*620=3125 shield strength. Usually it's somewhere in between around ~2700 MJ. An Anaconda can have around 3500 shield strength (1500 with 8x Booster and 2x 6A SCB) and will reach it more efficient than the Python because its base shields are so strong it can use every SCB to its' fullest and won't waste any MJ. Maybe you can squeeze some more with a different booster/SCB combination.

Anyway: even the FdL can do this in a smaller scale. If you would switch 2 Boosters to 4C SCB you have 655 base shields but have 4*236=936 additional power in SCB. Using them around 50% shield doesn't waste any MJ at all and you have a max strength of nearly 1600 which is almost double of your current. But again, it's more important for PvP, I'm pretty sure your loadout works against NPC just fine.

On the other hand: although you can't touch us shield tankers, we actually can't follow you if you choose to leave so in the end nobody wins ;)

* values from https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=137188 and ED Shipyard
** by the way: this is pretty much the reason why they nerfed the Pythons' base shield for 33%. It could theoretically have even stronger shields than the Anaconda. I could live with that...;)
 
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What this is telling me is they should nerf clipper's top speed.

:)

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What this is also making me wonder is if wings > shield-tankers. That is, "if alpha doesn't do it, get a bigger alpha."
 
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I am currently running this as my all purpose combat build: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,5TE5Rg5Rg5Rr5Rr01Q01Q0_g0_q0_g0_g,307_7_6Q6u9Y6u5A,7Sk7gy7gy4xo9ok


  • 3x Fixed Pulse for attacking larger targets, 2x Gimballed Pulse for quick targets and to keep hitting enemies while I am maneuvering. Against shields the burst DPS for all Lasers combined is about 70 MJ/sec. It does not require ammo, only some power management.
  • The Dual SCBs can be brought online by deactivating 2 of the A Boosters. If used right the total shield strength should be about 2200 MJ (836 Initial + 2*702 from the SCB).

If you ask me thats not so bad for a ship that can boost with 400m/s and masslock almost everyone...
 
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http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60O,7RL5Rr5Rr5Rr5Rr0_g0_g0_g0_g01Q01Q,2-7_7_6Q729Y6u5A,7Sk4_w7go2jw2UI

There's too much going on in your build. You absolutely need a class 4 fuel scoop because of the way heat affects the FDL in fuel scoop (4a is supposed to do 342kgs but you can only comfortably do about 200). Beam lasers will also cause the ship to overheat, even with 4 pips to weapons and a grade plant+distributor. I go with 4 pulse and cannon since 4 pulse can rip and tear small ships on their own. Train yourself with the gimbal cannon and you can 2-3 shot powerplants in ships as big as annies. If you really like beams and multis, try a class 3 beam and quad multis.
 
For a active shield tank 1v1 build a clipper can actually be fit out better than a FDL, and...For less!
In a 4pipsinsys endurance brawl, the clippers extra fitting for nearly twice as much cell banked "active tank" MJ more than outweighs the larger initial "passive tank" MJ of the FDL.
The 58% damage mitigation of 4pipsinsys means that once you get to 400MJ initial shields(7D+3A0) you can recharge 2rings with a 3B+4B scb activation and have enough effective MJ of strength in the last ring to tank incoming damage for 5secs.

Outside of 1v1 duels(which are a bit pointless if only tiny/no bounties are involved) , in a group fight, or just tooling around killing NPCs , the better passive tank of the FDL is just better.
But the clipper still has more range and can be refit for trading or piracy easily.

Fdl is just really pigeonholed into wing combat only imho.
 
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