Ships Federal Dropship is a miner?

CMDR Correa

C
Am I going crazy? I tried to use this ship as a combat ship, and it just didn't worked (ship's being outmanouvered by a Elite Python of all things), as a long range miner on the other hand it is better than a Keelback for large cargo - 96t I think - carries a lot more and it is not bad to avoid interdictions as well... What you guys think? Have you found another use for the Dropship? Can you make it a good combat ship against medium-hard foes/ships (if you can tell me plz!! :D)?
 

efoo

efoo
I just tried out my new FDS for a bit of mission running and combating. I find it pretty average in those tasks. Mine only has 72T cargo space. For those two tasks, my multi-role Python is better, it carries bigger 196T cargo, has stronger offensive and defensive capability. For mining, my mining Python is better with 192T cargo space. Looks like my new FDS will be sitting in the dock gathering dust.
 

CMDR Correa

C
efoo said:
I just tried out my new FDS for a bit of mission running and combating. I find it pretty average in those tasks. Mine only has 72T cargo space. For those two tasks, my multi-role Python is better, it carries bigger 196T cargo, has stronger offensive and defensive capability. For mining, my mining Python is better with 192T cargo space. Looks like my new FDS will be sitting in the dock gathering dust.
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Hi! I saw your comment on the other thread. I'm hauling 104t now, plus a 5C Fuel Tank for range (playing sole btw, so I'm not very concerned about defence). I would have bought a Python but since the FDS is on discount I thought why not? And since I'm trying to save for a FC it sounded like a good deal.
Thing is, I'm using it for long range mining (200ly from bubble, occasionaly a desert system inside) and from my experience on the Keelback you don't get attacked at all while mining an empty system (a pirate drops with you but goes away after a while).
That said I don't see it doing combat for there are better options like the Python as you said or even a good Vulture (managed to drop a Dangerous Python in one). I find it funny though that a combat looking ship would suit mining ops.
 

tolm

tolm
I really like the FDS / FAS / FGS design: looks like an ACTUAL ship that might be built rather than concept art on a 14 year-olds bedroom wall.

That said ... they’re just outclassed ... FDS? A Python or Krait will do everything the FDS can do but better. A Chieftain or FDL will outperform the FAS at combat and the FGS? Unless you desperately need to land on medium pads you might as well get a Corvette or an Ani if you’re going to be that slow.

Such as shame ... I think they need to mothball the FAS and FGS in favour of a “Federal Interceptor” combining the flight-model from the FAS with the internals / hardpoints of the FGS. And, no, I don’t think that would be OP - it would be a natural response to compete with (but probably still not outperform) the FDL and Chief.
 

Red Anders

Red Anders
The FDS is one of those ships that made a lot more sense when the price difference between it and say a Python was actually significant. Within the overall context of income levels in the game now though, they both cost chump change and the only real reason to fly something like the FDS is because you just want to.
 

Abysinth

Abysinth
The pilot reviewed the FDS:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I65NNMbSJFQ&t=287s


Where I posted:

I figured its sole purpose is to take part in ground assaults [which don't happen], to carry multiple SRV hangars [which it can], and drop off a large number [which it can't] of Combat SRVs [which we don't have] to support space-legged ground troops [that we also do not have] to mop up the remains of an air-attacked planetary base [which we cannot do either, since they're indestructable]. I also figure it was the prototype for the FAS and FGS that Core Dynamics decided to put on sale because the unwashed masses [us] will buy just about anything. I bought one, but only because it's a DROP ship, apples drop and I wanted to call it the "Isaac Newton"
 

Sensei Jacksama

Sensei Jacksama
tolm said:
I really like the FDS / FAS / FGS design: looks like an ACTUAL ship that might be built rather than concept art on a 14 year-olds bedroom wall.

That said ... they’re just outclassed ... FDS? A Python or Krait will do everything the FDS can do but better. A Chieftain or FDL will outperform the FAS at combat and the FGS? Unless you desperately need to land on medium pads you might as well get a Corvette or an Ani if you’re going to be that slow.

Such as shame ... I think they need to mothball the FAS and FGS in favour of a “Federal Interceptor” combining the flight-model from the FAS with the internals / hardpoints of the FGS. And, no, I don’t think that would be OP - it would be a natural response to compete with (but probably still not outperform) the FDL and Chief.
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The federal gunship is a good planetary assault ship. Load it up with all dumbfire missiles and put 2 fixed beam lasers in the small hardpoints and it will shred anything on the ground with one hit. Unfortunately ground bases now just infinitely respawn skimmers and missions to kill skimmers are so rare anymore it may as well not even be in game. It made more sense in a different era but now not so much.
 

CMDR Correa

C
Abysinth said:
The pilot reviewed the FDS:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I65NNMbSJFQ&t=287s


Where I posted:

I figured its sole purpose is to take part in ground assaults [which don't happen], to carry multiple SRV hangars [which it can], and drop off a large number [which it can't] of Combat SRVs [which we don't have] to support space-legged ground troops [that we also do not have] to mop up the remains of an air-attacked planetary base [which we cannot do either, since they're indestructable]. I also figure it was the prototype for the FAS and FGS that Core Dynamics decided to put on sale because the unwashed masses [us] will buy just about anything. I bought one, but only because it's a DROP ship, apples drop and I wanted to call it the "Isaac Newton"
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this ^^^^
 

S0rkvild

S0rkvild
In my career I totally omitted Asp Explorer and... from... Keelback I went to FDS. It showed me a different, unbeaten, non meta path. Anyways this ship can do everything besides exploring, but with Guardian boosters everything is possible.
FDS is very tough, tanky and very stable if you're into fixed weaponry such as railguns. FDS is quite drifty and heavy, but not as much as the the Cutter, nevertheless drift can be used as an advantage during sharp turns - just turn off the flight assist and decisively turn the stick towards desired direction, add some gas and then you can turn the fa on. If you're outmaneuvered by a Python while in FDS - simply you haven't touched flight assist button. In FDS you don't outmanuver other ships - you "OUTDRIFT" them. Flying FDS is like a driving a BMW 7 E32 with 100% locking slip differential :D

FDS is a pretty good medium miner. Can also haul 128 tonnes of cargo if you're into bgs or trading. Personally I'm using FDS with great success in bgs. If you want a combat version - just slap engineered hrp's all over and strap 5 multicannons and you're to ready to rock with 5000 points of hull and quickly recharging shield. Hardpoint placement is next to excellent, 4 mediums and one large and that is pretty close to fdl. Have you tried four railguns or plasma acc's on FDS? Try, she is very stable to do that. The best part when you boost on fa off and engaged yaw where you go into heavy yet very stable sideways drift thus allowing you to easily land hits with railguns. When compared to heavier dift machine - Cutter, FDS is much, much controllable, Cutter goes like brick out of control, so the only ship from drift junkies in Elite is FDS. Python and Crusader also have some drifting potential, but FDS simply provides more of that.
 

CMDR Correa

C
S0rkvild said:
In my career I totally omitted Asp Explorer and... from... Keelback I went to FDS. It showed me a different, unbeaten, non meta path. Anyways this ship can do everything besides exploring, but with Guardian boosters everything is possible.
FDS is very tough, tanky and very stable if you're into fixed weaponry such as railguns. FDS is quite drifty and heavy, but not as much as the the Cutter, nevertheless drift can be used as an advantage during sharp turns - just turn off the flight assist and decisively turn the stick towards desired direction, add some gas and then you can turn the fa on. If you're outmaneuvered by a Python while in FDS - simply you haven't touched flight assist button. In FDS you don't outmanuver other ships - you "OUTDRIFT" them. Flying FDS is like a driving a BMW 7 E32 with 100% locking slip differential :D

FDS is a pretty good medium miner. Can also haul 128 tonnes of cargo if you're into bgs or trading. Personally I'm using FDS with great success in bgs. If you want a combat version - just slap engineered hrp's all over and strap 5 multicannons and you're to ready to rock with 5000 points of hull and quickly recharging shield. Hardpoint placement is next to excellent, 4 mediums and one large and that is pretty close to fdl. Have you tried four railguns or plasma acc's on FDS? Try, she is very stable to do that. The best part when you boost on fa off and engaged yaw where you go into heavy yet very stable sideways drift thus allowing you to easily land hits with railguns. When compared to heavier dift machine - Cutter, FDS is much, much controllable, Cutter goes like brick out of control, so the only ship from drift junkies in Elite is FDS. Python and Crusader also have some drifting potential, but FDS simply provides more of that.
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Haha yeah that thing drifts more than a american driver in Tokyo! But anyways, playing with keyboard/mouse makes FA Off really hard to me so I guess that may be part of the reason. I can beat opponents at my combat rank or combat rank +2, but harder than that I get beat to a pulp, but I was thinking of adding 4 Frag Cannons to the medium hardpoints... According to coriolis, it may just work.
As a miner though it is, indeed, pretty good. Just made the first 30m with it.
 

S0rkvild

S0rkvild
I have 2500 on count, mostly m+k and some gamepad when I do exploring. Many hardcore pvp player rely on mouse and keyboard. Generally it's a matter of proper set setup, and you don't have to fa off all the time, persoanlly I rely on fa off mostly when making turns and flips in combat.

Yeah, nothing can go wrong with frag cannons, but I think for dropship multicannons are better choice. Or three frags + two railguns. When you are far - pound with railguns, when you're close you fire frags. Or large gimballed beam laser and four cannons are pretty awesome. There are plenty of reliable loadouts for this ship.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dD7LbDOaDU
 

CMDR Correa

C
S0rkvild said:
I have 2500 on count, mostly m+k and some gamepad when I do exploring. Many hardcore pvp player rely on mouse and keyboard. Generally it's a matter of proper set setup, and you don't have to fa off all the time, persoanlly I rely on fa off mostly when making turns and flips in combat.

Yeah, nothing can go wrong with frag cannons, but I think for dropship multicannons are better choice. Or three frags + two railguns. When you are far - pound with railguns, when you're close you fire frags. Or large gimballed beam laser and four cannons are pretty awesome. There are plenty of reliable loadouts for this ship.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dD7LbDOaDU
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I'll answer this with an update:
Update:

Eh, what do you know! Put the four frag cannons + reactive armor + some hull reinforcements on the thing and it is now unbeatable (take this with a grain of salt). I'll try it with railguns now
 
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SergMx

SergMx
S0rkvild said:
I have 2500 on count, mostly m+k and some gamepad when I do exploring. Many hardcore pvp player rely on mouse and keyboard. Generally it's a matter of proper set setup, and you don't have to fa off all the time, persoanlly I rely on fa off mostly when making turns and flips in combat.

Yeah, nothing can go wrong with frag cannons, but I think for dropship multicannons are better choice. Or three frags + two railguns. When you are far - pound with railguns, when you're close you fire frags. Or large gimballed beam laser and four cannons are pretty awesome. There are plenty of reliable loadouts for this ship.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dD7LbDOaDU
Click to expand...
On the joystick and gamepad it is difficult to keep the target in sight when in FAOFF mode. In the case of using the mouse, there is a special function RELATIVE MOUSE and it all becomes much easier.
 

CMDR Correa

C
Here's a last update (and a short story) about this all just for fun:

Yep this thing (FDS), can absolutely be a good miner (IF you do more than just deep core mining). I bought it on discount while a little concerned it could not be that good, but, having my ass handed over to me repeteadly by the FAS on incursion Elite, (and having done no other research) I thought it could be a good combat ship.
100 million credits (not accounting the buy price), 7 rages and 7 rebuys after (I don't give up easy when I have a meta), I finally found a loadout where this thing can work as combat ship for me. It's not superb mind you, but depending on your piloting it can take a FDL or two before having to go repairing.
I tried using railguns as suggested, and while it can be awesome in the right hands, it didn't work for me unfortunately. I think I have to learn FA off before attempting that. Anyway, here's the build if you wanna check.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone s.orbis.zone
 

WeComeInPeace

WeComeInPeace
efoo said:
I'm not sure. I don't see the resemblance between FDS and Firefly :unsure:
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They certainly don't look the same. In that way one of the Alliance ships is closer. But Serenity was sort of a crappy loveable trade ship, that still did it's job. The Chieftain of course would be a better combat ship, with the "looks", but you can't squeeze cargo into that, and afair Serenity had no guns. Maybe the FDS could be one of those ships that everyone don't like, but is actually a hidden gem in an overlooked way. Or maybe it's just crappy ;)
 

CMDR Correa

C
WeComeInPeace said:
They certainly don't look the same. In that way one of the Alliance ships is closer. But Serenity was sort of a crappy loveable trade ship, that still did it's job. The Chieftain of course would be a better combat ship, with the "looks", but you can't squeeze cargo into that, and afair Serenity had no guns. Maybe the FDS could be one of those ships that everyone don't like, but is actually a hidden gem in an overlooked way. Or maybe it's just crappy ;)
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Well I'll tell you, despite it playing hard to get with me at first, it serves it's purpose pretty well with a good loadout. That's why it is called a multiporpose ship. For example, I saw one guy doing mining with a Krait MkII, but the FDS is much cheaper than a Krait (even more now on discount) and if it wasn't for the short jump range there wouldn't even be a doubt.
 
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