I can almost afford to buy and outfit one of these for combat, is it worth switching to one of these from my Clipper? If so what differences will I see, in terms of firepower, armour and handling?
Ships Fer-de-Lance
- Thread starter Darth-Simba
- Start date
Consider this move very carefully. I'm in the process of Imperial ranking up to get the Clipper for Powerplay as the FDL isn't really suitable for it (poor jump range, repairs too costly to be covered by early powerplay ranks). I've had the FDL for a while, and it suits me right down to the ground for my main role in the game though.
It depends what you are doing. If you're straight-up bounty hunting, FDL is the way to go (some like the Python, but the upgrade costs are far higher, and the speed and maneuverability is pants. Weapons are ace though). FDL has a class 4 mount, and 4 class 2 mounts. It's more like a properly-powered Vulture, with a much higher top speed, but worse handling (unless you get the best thrusters and also make it very light, with no hull armour, no hull reinforcment, and the worst FSD you can find that'll fit the ship.
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- It turns slower and boost slower, but drifts less.
- Expect your shields to be up to twice as strong as a Clipper's.
- Firepower is comparable, but you need to make good use of the huge hardpoint (with a large laser or a huge cannon or plasma accelerator), otherwise a Clipper's damage is higher.
I would keep both ships.
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I have one and I keep it, but tbh it's catching dust for a while now and the only reason I'm keeping it is that I bought it at a discount that's no longer available. It's a fun ship to fly - requires a little work to get the most out of it, but I like that, but comparing it to the clipper:
+ stronger shields
+ lands on medium pads
+ suboptimal hardpoint placement, but still better than the Clippers
- power starved
- lack of internal module slots
- slower boost speed
- terrible jump range
- tiny fuel tank (pretty much requires to fit a fuel scoop at least for travelling, which combined with the already limited internal capacity is a bit of an inconvenience)
With the mass-lock advantage gone in 1.3, I'd regard it as a smaller, slower Clipper with less internals that is really inconvenient to travel around in. Didn't list the hull price as a decently fitted clipper actually costs more...
As I said I like some aspects, but each time I think about taking it out for a change, i think of the drawbacks listed and end up thinking "ugh - no". Maybe when there's a wider variety of huge weapons, but I doubt they'll fit due to PP restrictions.
AND far less shield cell banks (which is actually pretty important for pvp), and i do not consider the FdL to be a good bounty hunter cause once we will have some tracking device and have to travel around more to find our targets it will even be one of the worst bounty hunters
it's just a great fighter, if you want to have the best fighter and that be slow at traveling is not a problem, the FdL is made for you, it's fast and powerful, smaller ships will have a hard time running away from you, and bigger ones can go down very fast if there shield goes off (huge cannon), it's like a bigger better Viper
now between FdL and Clipper, i would say it depends on what you want, both are equally safe (FdL more shield, Clipper speed), both have the same fire power, FdL will be better for the first minutes of the fight, Clipper will be better for the long fight (far more shield cell banks), FdL is harder to hit tho and can use fixed weapons
overhaul the FdL is a better fighter, the Clipper is better at everything else and is a good fighter, i suggest that you test both (with at least B thrusters) to see what kind you prefer
it's just a great fighter, if you want to have the best fighter and that be slow at traveling is not a problem, the FdL is made for you, it's fast and powerful, smaller ships will have a hard time running away from you, and bigger ones can go down very fast if there shield goes off (huge cannon), it's like a bigger better Viper
now between FdL and Clipper, i would say it depends on what you want, both are equally safe (FdL more shield, Clipper speed), both have the same fire power, FdL will be better for the first minutes of the fight, Clipper will be better for the long fight (far more shield cell banks), FdL is harder to hit tho and can use fixed weapons
overhaul the FdL is a better fighter, the Clipper is better at everything else and is a good fighter, i suggest that you test both (with at least B thrusters) to see what kind you prefer
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Slightly offtopic, but I believe the Vulture is by far best bang for the buck.
+ Strong shields (you dont need SCB's in CZ - FDL does)
+ Super agile
+ 2 C3 pulse lasers kills AI faster than the FDL
+ Perfect weapons position.
- Jump range sucks
- Fuel tank sucks
The FDL gives your more power, but it struggles to put it to good use.
With 4 C2 weapons it has the firepower of an Asp (2xC2 4xC1). The huge hardpoint can be put to use with a C3 beam, but the placement still sucks.
For PvP its fun to fly (and lots do), but I struggle to find other uses for it really. Shame for a 51 mil credit vessel.
+ Strong shields (you dont need SCB's in CZ - FDL does)
+ Super agile
+ 2 C3 pulse lasers kills AI faster than the FDL
+ Perfect weapons position.
- Jump range sucks
- Fuel tank sucks
The FDL gives your more power, but it struggles to put it to good use.
With 4 C2 weapons it has the firepower of an Asp (2xC2 4xC1). The huge hardpoint can be put to use with a C3 beam, but the placement still sucks.
For PvP its fun to fly (and lots do), but I struggle to find other uses for it really. Shame for a 51 mil credit vessel.
ALERT ALERT!
Do NOT change ship!
I sold my clipper and bought a FDL....
I have not been so sad in a long time!
Would take my clipper back any day, but not able to get it where I am currently!
If you want to upgrade from clipper wait for the Python! Its only 5 million more.
Do NOT change ship!
I sold my clipper and bought a FDL....
I have not been so sad in a long time!
Would take my clipper back any day, but not able to get it where I am currently!
If you want to upgrade from clipper wait for the Python! Its only 5 million more.
Are you aware of the 15 percent discounts you can get in "Li" thingies systems? You can't buy a clipper there, but the reduction you get from the modules for the clipper might save you the cost of reselling your FDL - and the insurance rebuy will also be lower on discount modules...
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I cannot speak to the Clipper, other than when RES farming the only NPC ships in High Intensity locations that take out one bar of my shields is the Clipper when Deadly or Elite ranking, so I will be short on the comparison as far as which one is better. However, I do love my FDL, which I graduated to it recently from a Vulture. It is a monster. You have to get acquainted with the handling, but once you get proficient with your reverse thrusters you can pretty much keep up with anything, large or small. Its 6 size distributor basically leave you with infinite power to attack - at least from a standpoint that you will destroy most ships before you need to allow the power to recycle to refire your weapons. And it just looks and sounds incredible. I still keep a DS for bounties in case I want to switch it up a bit since it is pretty much the antithesis of the FDL, light, quick, but less resilient.
The jump range is not in the high teens, but lower part of the mid teens, but I wouldn't say that it requires you to travel twice the jumps to reach the same distance, more like an extra one or two stops for every 4 or 5 jumps in a longer range ship with a comparative jump range of the higher segment of the teens but under 20. The shields are incredible, as running 4 boosters on A shields and I am pushing over 850. Here is my build, bear in mind it is for Bounty Hunting, not PvP, since it lacks sufficient Chaffs and any SCB whatsoever:
http://coriolis.io/outfit/fer_de_la...4a346of2f1.Iw18aQ==.EwBhEYy6bdJEA===?bn=FDL 1
The jump range is not in the high teens, but lower part of the mid teens, but I wouldn't say that it requires you to travel twice the jumps to reach the same distance, more like an extra one or two stops for every 4 or 5 jumps in a longer range ship with a comparative jump range of the higher segment of the teens but under 20. The shields are incredible, as running 4 boosters on A shields and I am pushing over 850. Here is my build, bear in mind it is for Bounty Hunting, not PvP, since it lacks sufficient Chaffs and any SCB whatsoever:
http://coriolis.io/outfit/fer_de_la...4a346of2f1.Iw18aQ==.EwBhEYy6bdJEA===?bn=FDL 1
Bhritzameno / Feyman Terminal had an FDL for 41,253,632cr. Also 20% off outfitting costs.
Having now flown both I'd say FDL is best for PVP, they are about even for RES hunting but Clipper takes it in combat zones. Personally I'd go Python since its quite tanky (shield is amazing and tons of space for boosters).
To answer your questions precisely FDL has better hardpoint placement but arguably is not better 4 Med & 1 huge to the Clippers 2 med, 2 large.
Armour goes the Clipper's way but not by a great deal 485 to 405.
Handling is FDL's by a substantial amount which is why I said above that its best for PVP.
Other key differences, FDL suffers both heat and power problems whereas you can fully A grade the clipper, stuff in cell banks and still have a smidge of power to spare.
Combat grade they get about the same jump range but the Clipper has a minor advantage (around +2-3Ly on the FLD).
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