Ships Fer-de-Lance Fer-de-Lance Owner's Club

[Rankaze]

Finally got my FdL tonight. Probably could have had it a long time ago, but real life keeps interfering and causing me to take long breaks from the game.

I like it. It's like a shark - it's not as nimble as the small fish, but it doesn't have to be. It's fast, and it's nimble enough that once you get behind them, it's hard for them to get away before you rip them to shreds. At the same time, it's still more nimble than the larger prey and it has plenty of firepower to deal with them.

Since I don't really PvP much, I'm currently running a class 3 gimbaled burst in the huge slot (which I'll probably replace with a beam once I have everything else the way I want it).

Sure, it might be a little easier to kill in a Vulture, but the Vulture has no soul (and no peripheral visibility, either, which is really blasted annoying when you play on three monitors!). The FdL has both soul and style.

Besides, it's the most beautiful ship in the game. I went with the Cobalt Tactical paint for mine and have no regrets.

 

[Adeptus Kaze]

After several long weeks of Political Profiteering, I have acquired the 'Patience and Time'. This ship has been a goal of mine since I started playing the Xbox1 Preview. It's good to see that so many others love the FDL as much as I.
Sadly We can't get awesome color schemes... yet.
o7
Kaze

 

[vindicator jones]

Finally got my FdL tonight. Probably could have had it a long time ago, but real life keeps interfering and causing me to take long breaks from the game.

I like it. It's like a shark - it's not as nimble as the small fish, but it doesn't have to be. It's fast, and it's nimble enough that once you get behind them, it's hard for them to get away before you rip them to shreds. At the same time, it's still more nimble than the larger prey and it has plenty of firepower to deal with them.

Since I don't really PvP much, I'm currently running a class 3 gimbaled burst in the huge slot (which I'll probably replace with a beam once I have everything else the way I want it).

Sure, it might be a little easier to kill in a Vulture, but the Vulture has no soul (and no peripheral visibility, either, which is really blasted annoying when you play on three monitors!). The FdL has both soul and style.

Besides, it's the most beautiful ship in the game. I went with the Cobalt Tactical paint for mine and have no regrets.

FDL is an awesome beast, and its my favorite ship. I have a fully class A kitted anaconda, but I still prefer pew pewing in my FDL. PVP wise, its extremely powerful if your using your thrusters to effect. I dont run pips in my shields, only my engines and weapons, as you can easily stay out of the enemies fire arc with 2-4 pips to engines.

Dont bother with the C3 Beam on the huge hardpoint.. it drains way too much power to be effective.. Honestly I run 4 medium pulses, and alternate between the Class 4PA (which is freaking awesome, but hard to use) or a large pulse. I am experimenting with the canon again also, which is yielding some interesting results, as previously I found it useless.

But load out however you feel and see how you go, whatever works best for you, is your ideal loadout

Goodluck in your FDL, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

 

[CMDR Derrida]

Finally got my FdL tonight. Probably could have had it a long time ago, but real life keeps interfering and causing me to take long breaks from the game.

I like it. It's like a shark - it's not as nimble as the small fish, but it doesn't have to be. It's fast, and it's nimble enough that once you get behind them, it's hard for them to get away before you rip them to shreds. At the same time, it's still more nimble than the larger prey and it has plenty of firepower to deal with them.

Since I don't really PvP much, I'm currently running a class 3 gimbaled burst in the huge slot (which I'll probably replace with a beam once I have everything else the way I want it).

Sure, it might be a little easier to kill in a Vulture, but the Vulture has no soul (and no peripheral visibility, either, which is really blasted annoying when you play on three monitors!). The FdL has both soul and style.

Besides, it's the most beautiful ship in the game. I went with the Cobalt Tactical paint for mine and have no regrets.

It's pretty nimble if you keep the weight below 420 and use D class shields with boosters to keep the weight down...check out the link I posted above where the two FDL's back down the pythons...I know both those FDL pilots and can vouch they are very good pvp wise. I believe Hercules4 uses A shields though, but my point is, there are different approaches that are very good.

 

[Rankaze]

It's pretty nimble if you keep the weight below 420 and use D class shields with boosters to keep the weight down...check out the link I posted above where the two FDL's back down the pythons...I know both those FDL pilots and can vouch they are very good pvp wise. I believe Hercules4 uses A shields though, but my point is, there are different approaches that are very good.

Oh, it's vastly more nimble than anything in its size range. It's just not going to compete with an Eagle/Viper/Courier/Vulture in that regard (and it shouldn't, it's more than double their size). But once you get in a position of advantage, those smaller ships don't have enough of a maneuver advantage to get away from you before your superior firepower shreds them. The Vulture is an exception there, because it's got pretty heavy shields of its own... but the Vulture is slow, so the FdL can engage and disengage at will.

For a medium size hull, though, it's amazingly agile. Just like a shark, it can't turn like the small fish, but once it's behind you, it turns well enough that they'll have a very hard time shaking it before it rips them apart.

 

[Adeptus Kaze]

I have been training in Violent Protests with the Class 4 PA, and it is a tricky weapon; but that moment when You land a precise hit on an Anaconda's Power Plant, and it goes critical? *Priceless*

I also love how if you haven't shot an NPC yet, and You miss, the NPC doesn't even realize that You fired on them.

Thanks for the Tip on putting power to Engines rather than Shields. I was getting frustrated when I kept being outmaneuvered by everything up to an including a Federal Drop Ship... I guess You cant expect an FDL to handle like a Vulture where 4 in Weapons, and 2 in Shields is the default.

The FDL is a high performance machine, and I expected it to be temperamental; so no worries there.

The only trouble that I am having is that I overheat quickly when fuel scooping, and I have to fuel scoop a lot. any thoughts on improving this? :S

Kaze

 

[vindicator jones]

I have been training in Violent Protests with the Class 4 PA, and it is a tricky weapon; but that moment when You land a precise hit on an Anaconda's Power Plant, and it goes critical? *Priceless*

I also love how if you haven't shot an NPC yet, and You miss, the NPC doesn't even realize that You fired on them.

Thanks for the Tip on putting power to Engines rather than Shields. I was getting frustrated when I kept being outmaneuvered by everything up to an including a Federal Drop Ship... I guess You cant expect an FDL to handle like a Vulture where 4 in Weapons, and 2 in Shields is the default.

The FDL is a high performance machine, and I expected it to be temperamental; so no worries there.

The only trouble that I am having is that I overheat quickly when fuel scooping, and I have to fuel scoop a lot. any thoughts on improving this? :S

Kaze

Persist with the class 4PA eventually you will get used to it, and you will eventually land more and more shots.. Its awesome when that happens, it truly is an under appreciated weapon...

Yeah, the FDL runs really crap without pips into engines.. Im on hotas, so I am constantly shifting from full pips to engines and full pips to weapons.. I only worry about shields when I need to top them back up. Another good bit of advice is to use vertical thrusters when boosting at enemies, you will still move forwards to them, but you will also shoot down very quickly.. this allows you to spin 90 degrees up and quite often you will be facing their bottom hull.. from here you can either stay in this position or move behind them.. its a bit tricky, but with a bit of practice you will get the hang of it..

About the overheating.. yeah.. its a problem well known for the FDL.. you have to really carry a class 4 fuelscoop when bounty hunting through systems, and only use a class 2 when your res farming... the FDL is one hot little potato

 

[one zero]

Just became a new owner. First Impression: The scream of the boost in my wake is maddeningly beautiful...

 

[Acesforever001]

Been wanting an FDL since I first began playing the XB1 preview. It reminds me a lot of Boba Fett's Firespray class patrol ship, actually- fast, well armored, well equipped... with enough firepower to blow opponents to bits.

I've been using the class 4 gimballed cannon and have been loving it- it doesn't have the raw power of the plasma accelerator, but the WHUMP it makes when it fires is awesome, and it tears through subsystems well enough that one hit is all it takes. I would love a longer jump range (for more sensitive... political work in faraway climbs of human space), but given how pants on head amazing it is in all other aspects, I'm ok with it.

Also- anyone else loving how well placed its subsystems are? I upgraded to the Fer-de-Lance from a Vulture, and used to hate being spaced at 50% hull capacity because the stupid powerplant was practically hanging in the breeze.

One Zero- I hear ya. First thing I noticed was that the engines screamed like a banshee. I love it.

 

[Night Hawk]

The issue of jump range is something most FDL owners would like to see addressed.

Long time Fer-de-Lance advocate, Vindicator Jones has started a petition to convince Fdev to make a small improvement to the jump range in line with FDL's intended purpose and to provide some parity with several new ships that will be released in 1.4 : https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=180777

As an FDL owner, how about showing your support to this petition by adding your name to the "signed" list.

Thanks

 

[ForeverN00b]

New member of the FdL club here.
At first I tried 4 gimballed beams with the huge cannon, the beams ran a little too hot to be effective in a CZ environment.
I then ran 4 pulses and 1 huge cannon, that worked a lot better.
The cannon is tricky to use, but it is great when it connects. I'll have to try the PA soon as well.
Farming CZs in a Vulture may earn more creds per hour, but the FdL is a lot more fun. I can't wait for my next gaming session.

 

[Dariiem]

There are allready many posts that show love and passion for this ship so i wont bother you with the fact that im in love with this ship...

Disclaimer: This is for PVE pilots from PVE pilot

Seriously, you have to try this out


I was doing missions and regular hunting in res sites and FDL with 4x Pulses and huge cannon was really killing it for me and it could tank quite alot. But i was getting kinda bored for its effectivnes (go figure ). So i went to cash in bounties and collect mission rewards and then i started browsing outfitting screen and comparing stuff in EDShipyards for power usage with a blurry idea of an loadout that was, at the time, quite unreasonable for me.
Then, looking at certain weapon, the idea struck me.
When i can tank alot of dmg in all kinds of situations using 4 A S-boosters, i could probably do with none and have faster shield recharge.

So i fitted my FDL with this loadout... and oh my god, im having soooooo much fun.
Its not intended for small ships however, its best and pretty hillarious against Dropships, Clippers, Pythons... you know, the usual stuff (i found nice system with pristine planets where i never had small spawn in res site)
And yes, you have to manage pips like an idiot (what a nice change from Vultures "on rail" dogfighting style).
Yes your ship will try to cook you alive if you let loose and forget to spit a heat sink now and then
But again, im enjoying my FDL way more now

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70O,A725CD5CD5CD5CD01Q01Q3we0Wg0Wg,2-7_7_6Q6Q9Y6Q5A,7Sk4_w9tQ5Bk0nE

Set the usual stuff on low priority: FSD, Fuel Scoop, Interdictor, Docking Computer and set or completely turn off cargo hatch and you will fit in at 20.33 deployed.
And yes, i have docking computer for roleplay reasons When i buy luxurious expensive ship i expect some benefits for my lazy butt

Again, it is so much fun and challenging now. Because, with the fact that i can no longer tank the ammount of damage that i was used to, i acctually have to FLY my ship.

But... when you strip dropships shields down with bursts and then manage to hit his powerplant with PA, killing it with one shot while doing fast flyby, that moment will make you grin so hard


Ill be trying same loadout with same base setup but change to 4x c2 Cannons (they look pretty nice those mediums on FDL dont they ).



Oh and have i told you how much i love this ship?

 

[drchek]

I just moved on from my longtime Vulture Fighter to a new FDL Fighter Build.

I have to say I'm really loving this new ship in the bounty hunter role. I've gone with an all laser weapon load out because I hate having to stop and pay for rearming. With this set up I can dispense of smaller ships before the WEP capaciter is drained in my usual 2/4 ENG/WEP attack power configuration. I opted for an extra Chaff instead of another Shield Booster because I find that you save more shield by avoiding hits with constant chaff than the extra shield that the booster would give me.

Power limits means that my SCB is disabled with weapons out, but if I ever need to pop one (which doesn't happen often), I can just retract my weapons, pop the SCB, and pull the weapons back out within a few seconds. Usually if shields take a hit, I can switch to a 1/1/4 power configuration to fill them back while I attack less dangerous targets.

Some would say I'm wasting the Huge hard point on a Large Pulse Laser, but I'm not too keen on any of the Huge options available (limited ammo, hard to aim on anything but the biggest targets...) so I'd rather have a weapon in there that I can use all the time, than one I'll barely use.

In the day that I've been in this new FDL I'm killing things much more quickly that I ever did in my Vulture. It's also an impressive sight having FIVE lasers blasting a target all at once.

 

[Dariiem]

Some would say I'm wasting the Huge hard point on a Large Pulse Laser, but I'm not too keen on any of the Huge options available (limited ammo, hard to aim on anything but the biggest targets...) so I'd rather have a weapon in there that I can use all the time, than one I'll barely use.

Well, tbh, i was using all laser (c3 in huge) then moved to 4x burst + gimb cannon, and it wass pretty effective in both ways. Now im dismantling targets with PA and keep bursts for small ships and for when my target or me is moving too fast to fire PA with enough accuracy.

However, PA requires some skill (but i found it not that difficult when you fire it at the right moment), but it really pays off to learn to use it
In my last PVE duel few hours ago i was able to rip apart deadly Vulture with PA

 

[drchek]

Well, tbh, i was using all laser (c3 in huge) then moved to 4x burst + gimb cannon, and it wass pretty effective in both ways. Now im dismantling targets with PA and keep bursts for small ships and for when my target or me is moving too fast to fire PA with enough accuracy.

However, PA requires some skill (but i found it not that difficult when you fire it at the right moment), but it really pays off to learn to use it
In my last PVE duel few hours ago i was able to rip apart deadly Vulture with PA

I should give the PA a try, but then there's the issue of what to cut to fit it within the power budget.

 

[Dariiem]

I should give the PA a try, but then there's the issue of what to cut to fit it within the power budget.

My best advice is to cut defences, add 3rd chaff wich you turn on when you run out of other. In my build, i run base shields, chaff for avoiding turret damage and heat sinks that are quite useful when you have a chance to put 2-3 PA shots in your target fast.

This is my build. You can ignore Docking computer and fit in whatever you like. Turn all supercruise and cargo related stuff to low priority and you are on the spot.
With FDL, from my point of view, its either great firepower or great defences. As combat ship, it just doesnt have juice to power everything.

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70O,A725CD5CD5CD5CD01Q01Q3we0Wg0Wg,2-7_7_6Q6Q9Y6Q5A,7Sk4_w9tQ5Bk0nE

You might swap bursts for pulse and maybe fit one or two boosters but in the end, you will need those two heatsink launchers.

However if you go down the way of glass cannon just forget about Vulture-style dogfights. Zoom and boom is, again for my flying style with this build, the answer to avoid damage and make shield related buffers not needed if you cant reliably outmaneuver targets that are simply more nimble than FDL (prime example being Vulture, smaller targets tend to die fast unless you encounter wing of 3 elite Eagles

You may like it or not, that depends, but fact is that i was able to melt down pythons dropships etc in seconds with this, IF you manage to fire your PA fast enough (Heat sinks, theres not enough of em )

It may not be the best build for long Res farms, but it compensates for it because of the sheer fun

Good luck

 

[Adeptus Kaze]

I woud advise downgrading from Burst lasers to Pulse Lasers in your Quad-Laser set. The dps loss is negligible, and the added firepower from the 4pa more than compensates.
-I only have 1 Heat Sink Launcher, and I get along ok. Just take care not to use the 4pa in continuous fire. I'll tap an enemy with one to three rounds, then switch to the Pulse lasers.
-I don't bother with Shield Boosters; Shield Banks, and superior manueverability have kept me safe(ish) even in High Intensity CZs. Don't be afraid to run away and dodge like mad while You recover downed shields.

 

[Dariiem]

I woud advise downgrading from Burst lasers to Pulse Lasers in your Quad-Laser set. The dps loss is negligible, and the added firepower from the 4pa more than compensates.
-I only have 1 Heat Sink Launcher, and I get along ok. Just take care not to use the 4pa in continuous fire. I'll tap an enemy with one to three rounds, then switch to the Pulse lasers.
-I don't bother with Shield Boosters; Shield Banks, and superior manueverability have kept me safe(ish) even in High Intensity CZs. Don't be afraid to run away and dodge like mad while You recover downed shields.

True. I use Bursts because they sound pretty awesome (much better than pulse lasers ). And maybe also because im not a fan of SC-banks, so i have power to spare.
Again, my build is purely for fun, not to be effective to the last Mw

 

[Mephane]

True. I use Bursts because they sound pretty awesome (much better than pulse lasers ).

FYI, the medium pulse laser sound is currently not in line with the small and large ones. In 1.4 their sound is getting improved.

 

[quickr]

I've recently bought it and fell in love instantly. Great looking ship with amazing sound when boosting. It requires constant power management and it's not as maneuverable as vulture but it's much more fun to fly in.

Still struggling with loadout though. I'm currently using this one.

Any advice?